Los Angeles

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Famous around the world for its beaches that are backed by the Santa Monica Mountains, nature lovers and sports enthusiasts regularly flock to this diverse city where you can hike mountains, skate beside the beach, swim in the ocean, dine on gourmet cuisine and enjoy a variety of professional sports games that include baseball, basketball, hockey and soccer.

Biking

Since the city is predominantly flat, LA is a great place to go biking while offering a 22-mile trail beside beaches, harbours, LAX and towns like Venice, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach. The first 8 miles of the trail runs south from Pacific Palisandes’ Will Rogers State Beach through Santa Monica and Venice to Marina del Rey. You have a choice of taking a 15-minutes detour around Marina del Rey or starting the second part of the trail—known as the South Bay Bike Trail—from Marina del Rey’s south end. The trail is busy on weekends as it’s appropriate for all levels of cyclists and is well-supported by snack stands and public restrooms along the way.

Mountain-bikers should explore Malibu Creek State Park’s trails, which are in the Santa Monica Mountains that run between the San Fernando Valley in Calabasas and Malibu. The 15-mile trails are suitable for mi-level to experienced bikers and lie at 3,000 feet at their highest point. Trail maps are available from the park’s entrance, which is located north of Mulholland Highway and 4 miles south of US 101 off Las Virgenes Road. Admission to the park is $12 per car.

Fishing

Redondo Beach, which lies at the foot of Torrance Boulevard, offers the city’s best location for saltwater fishing.

Golf

There are over 100 golf courses in the greater Los Angeles area although they’re not all equal in quality. The Department of Recreation and Parks oversee the public courses and allow players to reserve tee times online 8 days in advance. If you’re only looking to play nine-holes, it’s easier to arrive at a course and put your name on the call sheet.  Avoid the early morning tee times as these are most popular and will have you waiting much longer.

Hiking

Although the Santa Monica Mountains are a small ranger of only 50 miles on Malibu’s north coast, they’re a great choice for hiking and have a peak of 3,111 feet. The mountain range, which runs from Griffith Park to Point Mugu, is part of a 350-public park conglomerate—covering 65,000 acres—in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. You’ll see many animals on your hikes from deer, rabbits, hawks and quail to rattlesnakes, skunks, coyotes and foxes. There’s also a diverse range of fauna with over 1,000 species that are resistant to drought.

The hills are best for hiking after the spring rains when the air is clear and nature is in bloom. If you’re planning to hike in the summer, be sure to carry a lot of water with you and be careful of poison oak, which is common in the area. To identify it—usually near oak trees—the leaves of poison oak are grouped in threes with prominent veins and waxy surfaces. The plant produces an itch that is guaranteed to lead to holiday regrets, so it’s best to avoid it entirely.

For a more challenging climb with a steady three-mile incline, head to Santa Ynez Canyon in the Pacific Palisades. The views of the Pacific Ocean are worth the trek. Trippet Ranch, at the top of the Canyon, offers restrooms and picnic tables with water facilities for you to recuperate after the climb. To get there from Santa Monica, head north on the Pacific Coast Highway, then turn right onto Sunset Boulevard and left onto Palisades Drive before turning left (2.5 miles) onto Verenda de la Montura. You’ll find the trailhead and the park at the end of the street.

A far easier—and more popular—alternative in Pacific Palisades is Temescal Canyon where hikes tend to be 5 miles or less. To get there from Santa Monica, head north on the Pacific Coast Highway and turn right onto Temescal Canyon Road. At the end of the road, you’ll see the entrance to the park where you’ll have to sign in with the gatekeeper.

Yet another great hiking option in Pacific Palisades is the Will Rogers State Historic Park where you’ll find hikes suitable for intermediate hikers. The trail begins at the entrance to the park and culminates at Inspiration Point where you’ll have great views of LA’s Westside.

Sailing

Paradise Bound Yacht Charters launch from Marina del Rey, which is the world’s biggest man-made marina. Captain Alex’s 42-foot sailing boat can be booked for $340 an hour and can accommodate up to six people (you must reserve it for at least two hours). You can also choose your course to cruise the harbour or to explore the coast and sea-life among others.

Sea Kayaking

Another popular sea sport in southern California is sea kayaking. You can rent a range of kayaks—sit-on-top, sit-inside, foot-peddled, hand-double and tandem—which can be used in the bay or, at the Newport Beach base, on the open ocean. Day rentals start at $50 per person and lessons are available with pre-registration on their website. You can also participate in guided outings, which are not strenuous, that are advertised on their website. The Back-to-Nature costs $55 per person and highlights Newport’s marine life.

Skating

One of the country’s top locations for skating is the 22-mile South Beach Trail that runs to Torrance from Pacific Palisades. Although inline skating is more popular, you’ll see other skates, too. You are allowed to skate on all bike paths, but be aware that cyclists have preference.

Segway Rentals in Santa Monica

Explore Santa Monica in style from a Segway. Rentals include a free tutorial of 25 minutes before you’re free to explore the Santa Monica Pier and Venice Beach on the paved paths. These nifty vehicles are guaranteed to attract celebrity-like attention, are a blast to ride and easy to handle. For two hours plus the tutorial, you’ll pay $79 plus tax. You can also request guided tours for four or more people.