The pronunciation of the name of this town, Gualala, often
leads to confusion because the local people chose to drop the first letter and
call their town “wa-la-la.” The origin is Indian of the name is Indian and it
simply means that the place is “where the water flows down.” Thus, with the
river’s delta at the town’s center, the Gualala is undoubtedly picturesque. But
being picturesque alone may not intrigue the kids who have a wholly different
concept of fun in family vacations. The good news is that the growing tourism
industry in Gualala is not only focused on how whales and seals make stopovers
in its waters but also on how children can have fun during family vacations.
If the family vacation is scheduled during spring or summer,
the Gualala River is expected to back up and form a winding pond that is
sheltered by redwoods along the banks. This means that the whole family can hire
a local outfitter, such as the Adventure
Rents, to reach the upriver and then paddle downstream in a kayak or canoe.
The children can also enjoy swimming in order to hide temporarily from the warm
sun. If the thirst for adventure is keener, the family can try diving for abalones.
The outfits can be obtained from the Anchor Bay Campground. Of course, the
whales that play offshore will continue amaze children from age two to
ninety-two.