For a hands-on, guided experience, head to Terranea Resort. Located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the oceanfront property is a wellness escape for luxury travelers. It’s also an excellent place to go kayaking, as it’s surrounded by picturesque cliffsides, sea life — including migrating whales and sea lions — and less crowded waters than its neighboring city Redondo Beach. You can choose from a range of excursion times, but it can get windy here, so go in the morning if you want a smoother paddle. (I went at 10 a.m.) When you book through the hotel — don’t worry, you don’t need to be a guest — friendly and experienced instructors will take you on a 1.5-hour ride along the coastline, through kelp beds and to rocky shorelines where you’ll spot small fish and marine plants. You’ll get a glimpse of the Point Vicente Lighthouse, Catalina Island in the distance and leisurely hikers strolling along the coastal pathways. Make sure to keep your eyes peeled for dolphins and migrating whales: Gray whales migrate here from …