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world-class Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. The lone school in the country to offer open lapping sessions in a Formula car on day one, Allen Berg Racing School gives racers the chance to drive perfectly prepared Formula race cars for a full 30 minutes, and then take in a data debriefing session with analysis and feedback from a pro- fessional race engineer. "If you can drive a road car, you can drive a race car," reassures Berg, retired Formula One World Championship driver. "Our coaches are specialists so we're able to create an exciting, fun, and safe experience that's very well organ- ized and well operated." For the foodie in your life, fine dining options abound, and restaurant reservations make great gifts. For a more casual and inimitable introduc- tion to Carmel's restaurants, Carmel Food Tours is an unforgettable experience. Not only does the three-hour walking tour combine a wide variety of culinary styles and locally sourced del- icacies, but your knowledgeable guide will have you laughing and learning fascinating tidbits about Carmel's history and architecture along the way. You could opt for a more adventurous tour, paragliding over the Monterey Bay and sand dunes. At Monterey Sky Sports, paragliding les- sons are available, as are tandem flights for those who want to experience a 10- to 30-minute flight without committing to classes. A less dare-devilish but still stimulating way to take in the Central Coast's stunning sights is to visit local galleries featuring spectacular land and seascapes. Carmel Art Tours' 90-minute walking tour offers an insider's peek into handpicked gal- leries tucked away throughout the town's charming streets and courtyards. Carmel artist Rich Brimer's fine art oil land- scapes capture the local ocean, shoreline, and pastoral scenes so well that he's been commis- sioned by several visitors to memorialize their Monterey Peninsula experience, as was the case when a groom recently hired Brimer to create 140 C A R M E L M A G A Z I N E • H O L I D A Y 2 0 1 7 (Top) Monterey Sky Sports provides paragliding flights over the Monterey Bay. (Bottom) Rohana LoSchiavo of Carmel Art Tours takes visitors through local galleries. Photo: Kelli Uldall