Bike Along the Beach
A bike parked on the beach
Southern California offers miles and miles of pristine beaches. Los Angeles hosts miles of excellent bike trials. Put the two together and you get some of the most pleasurable, relaxing, sunny bike paths in the area. For one of the best bike beach rides, start at Marina Del Rey and ride south to Manhattan Beach.
While Redondo Beach is also along this same bike path, it is advisable to skip this area when cycling as police are adamant about enforcing the bike walking laws around this area, meaning you could get an $80 ticket just for cruising on your cycle.
L.A. Beach Bike Path:
62nd At Pacific Ave. To The Strand At Manhattan Beach Blvd.
labikepaths.com
Explore the Angeles National Forest
The wonderfully retro welcome sign at the Angeles National Forest
When you want to escape the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, take a trip to the Angeles National Forest. There are all types of recreational activities permitted in this massive park, including swimming, hiking, camping, horse riding, canoeing, fishing, winter skiing, off roading and cycling. Whatever your favorite activity to do in park areas, you're sure to find it here.
Don't expect to be able to relax and roast smores under the stars though. Fires are almost always forbidden in this area due to the high forest fire risk in this dry, warm park.
Angeles National Forest:
Supervisor's Office
701 N. Santa Anita Ave.
Arcadia, California 91006
(626) 574-5200
fs.fed.us/r5/angeles/recreation
Take a Pit Stop in Griffith Park
The observatory in Griffith Park
For some hiking that won't take you to the edge of the city limits, take a trip to Griffith Park and enjoy the area's pristine wildlife trails. This park is best known for hosting the "Hollywood" sign on the hill, but it also is home to the Los Angeles Zoo, a world-class observatory, sports fields, playgrounds and hiking trials. Whether you spend an hour or a whole day in the largest municipal park in America, you're certain to enjoy the time you spend here.
Griffith Park:
4730 Crystal Springs Dr.
Los Angeles, California 90027
(323) 913 4688
laparks.org
Relive Movie Making History in the Santa Monica Mountains
Birds sitting atop a tree in the Santa Monica Mountains
Los Angeles is best known for its role in producing the films and television shows enjoyed the world over. It's only logical that anywhere filled with such stunning natural beauty as the Santa Monica Mountains would be used for filming. Producers loved the area so much that it was continually been used for movies and television projects since 1927. This beautiful park has historical movie settings turned into a replica western town and an ex-racetrack deemed too dangerous to use after only 18 months of use.
Even if you aren't interested in movie history, you'll still find quite a bit to do in this stunning national park. Activities include hiking, cycling, horseback riding, camping and guided tours around the chaparral, beach and forest areas of this one-of-a-kind national park.
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area
401 West Hillcrest Dr.
Thousand Oaks, California 91360
(805) 370-2301
nps.gov
Enjoy A Theme Park
Special effects in a Universal Studios stage show
Los Angeles is home to many fine theme parks including Knott's Berry Farm, Universal Studios, Six Flags Magic Mountain and, the most famous, Disneyland. Each park offers something a little different from the others and each draws its own type of crowd.
Knott's Berry Farm was one of the countries first theme parks and has smaller, older coasters that are perfect for wooden coaster enthusiasts and children who like fast rides but aren't tall enough for really scary rides.
Universal Studios is ideal for people who love movies. The famed tram ride brings visitors through a spiced-up backlot where actual movies and shows are filmed. The park offers top-quality stage shows packed with special effects and a handful of heart-pounding rides.
Magic Mountain is always working on bringing visitors the biggest and scariest roller coasters around, including the twisting and turning Xtreme coaster and the tallest coaster, Goliath. This park is generally best for teens and adults who are fans of big coasters.
Lastly, Disneyland and its California Adventure Park are perfect for youngsters and fans of cartoons. The parks have a few bigger rides for adults and teens, but most of the rides and the general park atmosphere favor a younger crowd.
Knott's Berry Farm:
8039 Beach Blvd,
Buena Park, California 90001
(714) 220-5200
knotts.com
Universal Studios:
100 Universal City Plz
Universal City, California 91608-1085
(818) 622-3801
universalstudioshollywood.com
Magic Mountain:
26101 Magic Mountain Pkwy
Valencia, California 91355-1095
(818) 367-5965
sixflags.com
Disneyland:
1313 S Harbor Blvd
Anaheim, California 92802
(714) 635-2300
disneyland.disney.go.com
