Discover ... the Best of Lodi, the Delta and the Mother Lode

Adrenaline junkies will love Lodi

Do you get a thrill out of jumping from an airplane at 13,000 feet? What about being tossed about in a boat in the middle of churning whitewater or descending hundreds of feet into the earth?

If your idea of a good time is risking life and limb, than the area around Lodi will not disappoint. From jet skiing, wake boarding and kayaking to sky diving, rock climbing and caving, thrill seekers can get their fix all within an hour's drive of Lodi.

Only an hour from Lodi, in the picturesque Sierra foothills, a network of caves provides an adventurous day trip.

Just off Highway 4 near Murphys, Moaning Cavern is California's largest cave chamber.

Walking tours of the massive cave are available with an optional 165-foot rappel.

Other local caves with guided tours include Black Chasm, California Cavern and Boyden Cavern.

For those seeking non-terrestrial thrills, the Parachute Center at Lodi Airport offers tandem jumps for first timers and training programs to groom advanced skydivers. A 13,000-foot jump provides a 60-second freefall with spectacular views of the surrounding agricultural land as it rushes toward adrenaline junkies.

For rock climbers, the closest place to Lodi is the Cosumnes River Gorge, about an hour away near Placerville. There are dozens of 100-foot granite climbs of all difficulties, and guiding companies take beginners to the area.

From its source high in the Sierra Nevada until it spills into Lodi Lake, the Mokelumne River provides whitewater kayaking opportunities.

Above the Pardee Reservoir, the river is gushing with Class V rapids, while below the Camanche dam, it still runs fast, said to Mary Dils, owner of Sierra Adventure Outfitters.

The store, on Pine Street is the place in Lodi for paddling, hiking and camping gear. Dils and her boyfriend, Joseph Mann, paddle area rivers every Sunday and encourage customers to join their growing paddling club. The store rents canoes and kayaks for beginners.

"The Mokelumne right here is a great place," she said. "Between Camanche and Pardee is still pretty mellow. Above that, it's pretty fast water."

Other area rivers such as the American and Truckee offer exciting rapids, and companies lead guided rafting trips.

Down river from Lodi, the Mokelumne widens and spills into the San Joaquin Delta where it becomes a playground for water skiers, wind surfers and wake boarders.

Paradise Point Marina rents packages that include boats, skis and wake boards.