Give the Gift of Adventure – Riding the Ziplines at Margarita Adventures
Margarita Adventures hosted our family so that we could experience and share about the Zipline Tour.
Each weekend we have all the kids together, we try to plan something fun. Whether it’s camping, going to an amusement park, heading to the movies, or bowling, we try to get out and do something together as a family. One thing we’ve never done is ride the Ziplines. In fact, neither my husband nor I have been on a real Zipline before, even with our travels where going to the Ziplines is a big thing for other tourists around us. Personally, I’m afraid of heights, but riding the Ziplines is something I’ve always wanted to do, so I was thrilled when Margarita Adventures offered to host our family so we could experience and share about our adventures with you!
Booking Your Tour
So how does the process work? The first thing you need to do is head to Margarita Adventures online HERE. Choose the adventure package you want and then schedule the date and time you’d like to go. You can choose from Zipline Tours, Kayak Tours or a Wildlife Hummer Tour. We chose to do the Zipline Tour and it was awesome! Be sure you have a head count so you can have everyone together on the same tour. Our tour included 21 people (7 of which were members of our family). Once you’ve booked your tour, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions on when to arrive and where to go. If you have a hard time booking online, simply call them at (805) 438-3120. The staff members are super friendly and helpful from beginning to end.
When you receive the confirmation email, you will also receive waivers to sign. If you forget to sign them prior to arriving, don’t worry because there are waivers for you to sign when you arrive. The address of the office is 22719 El Camino Real in Santa Margarita, California. This is where you will park your vehicle and depart from in a company bus.
What Should You Wear?
- Keep it comfortable, casual and outdoorsy.
- Keep it simple with closed-toed shoes suitable for light hiking.
- Clothing doesn’t need to be tight, but please shy away from flowing attire or jewelry.
- Bring layers, as temperatures can change during your tour.
What are the Health Requirements?
- Tour guest weight range is between 30 and 275 pounds.
- Children weighing between 30 and 90 pounds fly tandem with an adult family member. We had this with a couple of our kids on a few of the ziplines.
- Please be prepared to complete two short, moderate-intensity hikes unassisted.
- If you are pregnant or have other health concerns, please consult your physician prior to ziplining.
Arriving for Your Tour
Be sure to arrive at least 15 minutes prior to your tour time. I would personally suggest arriving 30 minutes or more prior to your tour so you have first dibs on fanny packs (if you so choose to use them) and renting GoPros. We arrived about 30 minutes prior to the tour and had plenty of time to wander around the store, use the restroom and figure out the fanny packs. While a few people might laugh at the idea of wearing a fanny pack, it’s actually a really good idea when it comes to holding your stuff while you’re ziplining. I held 3 iPhones and a set of keys in mine. Then a few of our kids wore fanny packs too and held their iPhones. If you have a child who wears glasses like we do, I highly suggest getting Croakies so their glasses don’t fall off on the ziplines. Our son wore them ziplining and now wears them all the time!!!
When it’s time to go, everyone will board the bus and head out to the property where the ziplines are. It was a nice ride and our tour guide was both friendly and funny. He talked about the history of the land, as well as livestock and animals that reside there, as well as vineyards, original owners and more. At the end of the tour, you can tip him or her if you would like.
You’ve Arrived at the Ziplines. Now What?
When you arrive at the location of the ziplines, you’ll get off the bus and your tour guides will outfit you in your gear, including harnesses, gloves and helmets. If you have a GoPro, be sure to request a helmet with a mount. They have everyone line up at individual stations and you literally step into your harness. The staff members will come around and make sure your harnesses are tight and secure. Then you’ll head over to get your gloves and helmet.
Once you’re outfitted in your harness, gloves and helmet, you’ll board a Hummer (yes, how cool is that??!!!) and head to the first zipline. Our kids were super excited to get into the Hummer and get started! Now it’s time for the Ziplines!
6 Epic Ziplines
The Zipline Tour includes six ziplines and a suspension bridge. On the ziplines, you can choose to ride side-by-side with a friend or tandem. You’ll fly over Pinot Noir vines, pine trees and through an archway of companion oaks. Their ziplines do it all! You should plan on the ziplines lasting from two to two and a half hours.
The Double Barrel
Their newest, longest and highest zipline is also double the fun! On this zipline, you can zip right alongside a friend or family member on two tandem 2,800-foot lines. This is definitely the ultimate adrenaline rush to kick off your tour! For me, this was the scariest because I didn’t know what to expect, but it was also a great way to warm me up for the rest of the ziplines! I loved it!
The Renegade
Take a leap of faith on the Renegade as you step off the edge of a tall hillside and find yourself gliding 1,200 feet over a broad valley before landing on the oak-studded flanks of the Santa Lucia Mountains. I think the hardest part of this one was stepping off the edge. Once I did it, I loved the view and knew I could do any of the other ziplines there were on the tour!
The Woodlander
Try to touch the treetops on the Woodlander as your soar for 600 feet right over the canopies of native blue and white oak trees before descending into a mountainside forest. This was one of my favorite ziplines! The view was beautiful and I loved how I descended into the forest of trees. The staff were ready to catch me when I came flying in. It was awesome! I managed to snap a shot of Frank coming in for the landing too!
The Hilltopper
The Hilltopper really gets your blood pumping, sending you across a downslope for a fast and furious 430 feet out of the forest and onto a rocky outcropping with panoramic vineyard views.
The Archway
Enjoy a picturesque 800-foot high-speed ride under a natural archway of companion oaks—and try your hand at dropping a bean bag into an awaiting bucket for a chance to win some Margarita Adventures swag! This one was a lot of fun and believe it or not, I actually got my bean bag into the bin and won a prize! I chose a shirt for my husband to wear. Pretty awesome, right?
The Pinot Express
Finally, it’s time for a short hike up the ridge to ride the Pinot Express, a mindblowing 1,800-foot descent that sends you zipping right over Pinot Noir vines and into the P.W. Murphy Mining Company, a replica old California mining camp constructed by The Redwood Kings.
Suspension Bridge
When installing the landing point of their Double Barrel, there was only one hitch—a deep canyon that separated it from the next zipline. And so they created a 300-foot suspension footbridge, providing us with a high-flying stroll that is an adventure unto itself!
Check Out Our 360 Video!
Have you been to Margarita Adventures before?
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I have always wanted to do this! Oh wow! Seriously one of my dreams 🙂
I love your photos!
We red- headed moms have all the best times 😉 Sounds wonderful, though I might’ve been too chicken 🤣
I love how thorough your reviews are and the photos are equally beautiful. Your family is such fun sport and brave if I may add. A great outdoor activity for sure.
i am not afraid of heights, but ziplines just never interested me. It’s really cool that your family had so much fun though!
I would love to do something like this with my family; looks like it was a lot of fun for everyone!
These sound like such awesome excursions to go on. The zip line alone is so adventurous and gutsy. But wow. Even a five year old could do it which means it is a great trip for the entire family. I like that idea. You must have gotten some amazing photos on that expansion bridge. I would have loved to see the pinot vines. Pretty cool trip.
Oh my goodness this looks absolutely amazing! I have always wanted to go on a zip line but never gotten the chance… maybe someday soon 🙂
I am almost brave enough to do a zipline. They look like fun but I still feel too big to do it. One Day!!
This looks like so much fun! I love having family activities like this. They make the best memories!
I’d love to do this when my daughter gets older! Thank you for sharing these memories with us.
Now this is my kind of adventure, it looks so much fun!!
I wish I was brave enough to do this! One day, I’ll try this kind of adventure for sure!
Zip lining is tons of fun! It’s been a while since I’ve gone but I hope to go next year. You guys look like you had a great time!
What a blast for a family! An experience that will remain cherished forever…assuming you don’t mind heights! Thank you for such a thorough post about how to embark on this adventure. Put me right in the action!
This looks like an awesome way to see the countryside! I did an aerial course a few years ago which I struggled through because I’m also terrified of heights . . . the ziplines were the best part, though!
That sounds like such an amazing experience! My family and I have ziplined in several different locations, and it’s always been so much fun!
Now this is one amazing adventure! I often feel like gifts like this can last so much longer, due to the memories they create. I think it is such a great thing to do as a family or with friends.
I love to gift an experience! This is so so cool! Thank you so much for sharing!
Chad
http://www.mosaicslab.com
It looked like a lot of fun! I love the open fields. I’ve never tried zip lining because I’m afraid of heights but everyone I know keeps asking me to do it lol I don’t think I can
Ziplines are so much fun… even though I am afraid of heights! haha. We’ve done it together before, and my family loves it! Great idea for a gift too!
I think ziplining would be a lot of fun. Sure looks like your family had a blast!
Ooooo how fun! I once went zip lining in Costa Rica! Definitely an experience I will never forget!!!
This looks like so much fun! I’ve never ziplined before, but this looks like the perfect spot to try. Such great scenery, plus lots of lines to try out.
I haven’t been brave enough to try a proper zipline. Did one once from a ‘tree top’ adventure place where the zipline just splats you into the ground. This one looks way better!
You will definitely conquer your fear of heights with ziplining. It’s a great adventure too! You guys did have a great family bonding!
Oh my goodness doesn’t this look like SO MUCH FUN! My kids would LOVE this!
Looks like you all had a blast! My first time ziplining was in Jamaica and I couldn’t get enough!
This looks like so much fun. My girls would both love ziplines and to go on an adventure like this. Thanks for the recco!
Looks like such a fun adventure. I’ve never gone zip lining, but I have watched my kids experience it. I’m afraid of heights but want to face that fear with ziplining some day.
That looks like so much fun. I know my family would really enjoy this. My youngest has already asked me if we could do this someday.
This looks like a great day out! My husband would love this so much!
Looks like TONS of FUN! Something to remember years after. I would love to take part too
Oh this looks epic. My kiddos absolutely love to zipline. Adding this to my list!
I went ziplining for the first time this summer and it was a blast! I’d love to take my kids.
The Double Barrel seems like so much fun! I would so love to do this with my family one day – I have only ever been ziplining once but I loved the experience.
Wow! This looks like such an incredible zip line adventure! This would be an incredible gift!
I’ve never been zip lining before, but I’m glad I can refer to this whenever I decide to not be a chicken! haha!
“Non material” gifts are best ever! This sounds a great idea
Giving the gift of an experience will last far longer than a plastic toy
This looks like so much fun!! My girls would love it!!! Great pictures too
I’ve always wanted to zipline!!!! Good for you, looks amazing!
Looks like you guys had a blast zip lining! Margarita Adventures looks to be a good time for any family! 🙂 xo, Suzanne