eight outdoor activities to do in Los Angeles from beach bonfires to 10,000
foot Peaks there are endless ways to enjoy the natural beauty of Los Angeles
great outdoors surfing and sunbathing are a given but Los Angeles has far more
to offer than salt water and sunburn from beach bonfires the 10,000 foot
Peaks there are endless ways to enjoy the natural beauty of Southern
California
bike through the lesser-known beaches Venice and Santa Monica our to eval ace
most iconic beach towns and definitely worth visiting but if you're looking for
something a little more off the beaten path head self to explore some of the
city's lesser visited beach communities including Manhattan Hermosa and Redondo
one of the most scenic and engaging ways to do this is fly a bike along the
Marvin broad trail which runs under the palm trees at the edge of the sand rent
a loft so you can make stops along the way and take notice of the way the towns
transition each is compact and sports its own attitude and interests and
seeing as many as you can back-to-back is a good way to gain perspective and
their different personalities be sure to watch and participate in the large
surfing and volleyball communities that dominate all A's southern shore
drive route 1 to El Matador Beach there's a reason Route one AKA the
Pacific Coast Highway is America's most tilted coastal drive so don't make the
mistake of writing it off as a tourist trap it is an absolute must do when you
visit California and the segment that runs through the greater LA area happens
to be one of the most scenic drive north in tonality and keep doing about 6 miles
past Paradise Cove to El Matador Beach this sharp rock formations and tide
pools are sure to impress and if you go during the offseason you might even have
it to yourself
dole pier fishing deep-sea fishing tours depart every day of the week and are
certainly popular with tourists especially in Dana Point but but you'll
notice up and down the coast of California is the number of locals who
gather at their neighborhood piers to toss in a line why well first off its
inexpensive perhaps more importantly it's social scenic and practical whether
it's Venice Redondo Balboa or Santa Monica all you need is abroad a cooler
and a chair
have a campfire cookout on Dockweiler beach the ongoing drought might be
limiting opportunities in the hill sites and mountains but having a campfire on
the beach is not only OK it's one of the best ways to experience
California's kickback culture doc Mahler's State Beach and Playa del Rey
is the only place that it's legal to have a bonfire on the beach in Los
Angeles County and the shoreline has dozens of fire pits where residents of
all ages gather get there early in the day to secure rain and bring plenty of
wood food drinks and entertainment to last you well past sunset keep your eye
out for hang gliders and planes taking off from nearby lacs
paddle board around Balboa Island technically a group of three artificial
islands the Balboa Island community is located in the harbor of Newport Beach
some locals say it has lost part of its charm as a result of rising rent prices
that have replaced mom-and-pop stores with chain establishments but none of
that matters once you get on the water rent the paddleboard and enjoy exploring
the calm waterways that run through and around islands don't be afraid to gawk
at the beautiful real estate or stop off for a break at one of the small beaches
local tradition says that no visit to Balboa Island is complete without
devouring a chocolate covered frozen banana
sail to Catalina Island to snorkel a part of the Channel Island archipelago
Catalina Island is located off the coast of Southern California only an hour from
the mainland by boat it is a great day trip option for those looking to escape
the city crowds the protected waters surrounding Catalina are ideal for
snorkeling since they feature tell kelp forests healthy coral reefs clear water
and an abundance of outgoing fish there are several daily boat departures
as well as a handful of Outfitters for snorkel gear and tours consider spending
the night at a campground or one of the hotels in the town of Avalon
summit Mount Baldy also known as Mount San Antonio Mount Baldy is the highest
peak in Los Angeles County topping out of 10,000 64 feet its name comes from
the lack of trees it's ball terrain which allows for sweeping views that go
as far as Catalina Island on a clear day part of a ski area during the winter the
defrosted trails make for great hiking during the summer for experienced
climbers that hike to the summit is 11 miles roundtrip if you're short on time
or stamina cut a few miles off the trek by riding the lifts up to seven thousand
eight hundred feet from there it is only six and 1/2 miles to the summit and back
by the way stop in and have lunch at top of the notch restaurant on the way down
visit Joshua Tree National Park remember what absolute silence sounds
like most days neither do we that's when we escape into the Mojave
Desert the Joshua Tree National Park a treasure trove of its namesake Joshua
trees and rock formations like skull and arch rock king of phillips our resident
national parks expert suggests spending days bring among martian looking
landscapes exploring the palm-fringed oasis watching fiery sunsets and
experiencing silence so golden that you can hear the rush of air through a
bird's feathers as it flies overhead