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Long Beach Rowing Association, 5750 Boathouse Lane, Long Beach, CA 562-438-3352 longbeachrowing.org

For a special Christmas holiday treat, drive down (or up) to Alamitos Bay in Long Beach. There are hundreds upon hundreds of boats that festively decorate the twinkling sunset scene. Framed by tall, swaying palms atop the nearby hills, you may think it's dark but give yourself another five or ten minutes. Extra bursts of light will often change the colors of the sky in those waning minutes that sun has dropped below the horizon. 

My first Christmas after moving to California was spent in shirt sleeves, visiting some new friends who were students at Cal State University Long Beach (CSULB).  They introduced me to Naples and the Alamitos Bay on Christmas day. We paddled the waters in our little kayaks, enjoying sunshine and a privileged feeling. Having just moved from freezing, stormy, wind-blown Chicago where I was sure the next blizzard would claim me, I developed fondness and attachment for this bay and fine Southern California weather. Both my loves have only grown since that time. I feel incredibly lucky as I remember those days.

When large portions of the U.S. are socked in snow and the airports are closed due to ice storms, Southern Californians shamelessly bask in sunshine on a balmy December day. You can jump into a boat (there are many available for rent in Alamitos Bay), or stand on a dock and watch the rowing clubs skillfully, swiftly glide back and forth in the bay as the sun goes down. Synchronized, powerful and focused, you can see them work in unison as one. Navigating the waters, they breeze by sailboats, Duffy boats and smaller kayaks. This very bay provides the workout and training for stiff competitions that include the CSULB university team's foray into national races. In recent years, Cal State Long Beach's team has ranked with Ivy League school teams in a competition in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. The team beat out Harvard, USC, UCLA and San Diego State, and even won a West Coast collegiate competition. It's pretty amazing, considering the Ivy League schools and other California colleges have groomed their teams for many years, while the students who sign up at Long Beach may never have rowed until they joined and began training.

In addition to watching the college teams, the bay is home to a rowing club, Long Beach Rowing Association. Anyone can join the organization as they accept all levels into the group. From there, you can learn to row and work your way into the teams the club sponsors. Rowers quickly develop a feel for their boats, their crew-mates and the water. The beauty, tranquility and excitement of rowing makes the initial learning curve well worth the effort, especially knowing that you're enjoying some of the finest rowing water in the world.

Alamitos Bay encircles Naples Island and is sheltered from ocean swells and waves, providing 5000 meters of smooth water for non-stop rowing; approx. 1500 meters of the 1932 Olympic Marine Stadium offer a straight, marked course for sprint training, practice and competitions. Needless to say, some serious rowing occurs on a daily basis in the Alamitos Bay.

And when it is winter and the sun goes down around 5 p.m., that's when the holiday lights go on in the bay. Lighted tree shapes floating on platforms decorate Naples and Alamitos.  There's such a powerful feeling during this time of year. Warm days (up to 80 degrees) give way to cool nights as the ocean scent becomes more noticeable. Orange or yellow glowing skies provide the backdrop for striking silhouettes of the local mountains and hills at San Pedro and Signal Hill and, if the sunset is subtle, the pinks and pale grays bring a feeling of peace and serenity.

Alamitos Bay is one of the most scenic spots on the California coast, especially when the sun goes down on a perfect Pacific day just around the warm winter holidays.

Getting there:  Alamitos Bay is located on Marina Drive near  2nd Street and Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach, CA.

Where to dine: Restaurants include Khoury's, Joe's Crab Shack, Schooner or Later, Buster's Beach House, Mimi's Cafe, El Torito, Claim Jumper and many more

Where to stay: Seaport Marina Hotel ; The Pacific Inn Seal Beach ; Best Western Golden Sails Hotel