A getaway year in review

Another year, another busy schedule of trying out a variety of California getaways — and now it’s time to revisit our favorites for our annual look back at the best trips of the year. Yes, it’s time again for the Cary Awards.

Our 2008 awards cover a broad range of getaways with something for everyone. From canoe rides to historic theme parks, from beach getaways to weekends in the Big City, we found lots of new places to explore right here in the Golden State.

Let’s start off with our Best Family Getaway, which this year goes to Burke’s Canoe Trips, on the Russian River just north of the Bay area. Summer is prime season for this Huck Finn type of getaway, a fun destination that is neither expensive nor difficult to get to. For decades people of all ages have made their annual pilgrimage to the Russian River to get a river-level view of some of the best scenery and wildlife California has to offer.

The Russian River flows through such famous Wine Country destinations as Geyserville and Healdsburg before it makes its way out to the sea through gentle hills covered with thick redwood forests and teaming with rare birds and other wildlife. About a 10-mile stretch of the river from Forestville to Guerneville is ideal for calm-water canoeing or kayaking and a Burke’s Canoe Trips helps make it even easier by providing canoes, kayaks and a shuttle service that will return you to your car near Forestville.

The water here is so tame that it’s really not all that good for inner-tubing because in some parts you can’t keep enough forward motion without a lot of paddling. For that reason, canoes and kayaks — which seem to glide over the water with little effort — are ideal. For more information on Russian River canoe trips, phone (707) 887-1222 or visit www.burkescanoetrips.com.