Cruising LA Beaches By Bike

A post-Turkey Day bike ride seemed like the perfect way to shake off our tryptophan overdose. Instead of taking a car and burning ever-pricier gas, my husband and I got the satisfaction of burning calories and burning thighs.



We started the roughly 30-mile roundtrip ride from the Santa Monica Pier, but you can cut your biking time down by starting from Venice. No bike? No worries. There are rental shacks near both the Santa Monica and Venice piers, with a decent cruiser running about $15/day. Check out Spokes n’ Stuff at 1700 Ocean Front Walk (310) 310-395-4748 or click here for other options.

The beauty of this ride is that you’re on a bike path, free of cars, almost the entire time, which may eliminate the adrenaline rush of swerving to avoid oncoming four-wheelers. But for inexperienced riders like myself, dealing with the speedy bike racers decked out in sleek, spandex gear, who whiz by in packs, is enough of a rush. Just remember that yells of ‘On your left’ are code for move your bootie to the right fast if you don’t want to get mowed down.



Following the bike path is pretty self-explanatory until Washington Blvd, where you turn left, battling cars and oblivious bikers. Ease into the bike lane and head east for several blocks until you hit Mildred Ave. where the route morphs back into a bike-only path.



Believe it or not, LA area beaches are not created equal. It’s not all Baywatch, and each strand of sand offers something different. In Santa Monica, watch people – adults and kids alike – bust out gymnastic moves on the rings, or just take in the fab view of the bay and carnivalesque pier.



Funky shops and characters await you in Venice. Stop by to listen to the street musicians, see break dancers, have your fortune told, or pump iron at the infamous Muscle Beach. On the weekends, you may be lucky enough to catch a drum circle in progress. If you have time, make a side stop at the Venice Canals.



With its modern high-rises and yacht-filled harbor, the Marina breaks up any illusion of coastal monotony. As you go around the Marina’s harbor, you’ll pass by the Fisherman's Village – a Disneylandesque take on a New England seaport. Despite the contrived setting, this is a great place to grab a bite at one of the waterfront restaurants or at the very least, enjoy views of the Marina.



After skirting the Marina, you’ll pass Playa Del Rey followed by Dockweiler, a long sandy beach known for the planes roaring overhead. (LAX is directly inland.) Dockweiler may not have the restaurants or charm of nearby beaches, but it’s one of the only area beaches to allow bonfires and is LA’s only on-the-beach campground.



Besides numerous restroom facilities, the El Segundo beach boasts hang gliding, along with a couple power plant eyesores.

Keep pedaling because my favorite stretch of sand, Manhattan Beach – the quintessential Socal beach with great waves, sea-green water, and a picturesque pier - is just around the bend.



Take heart, 30 miles might seem like a lot (and it is), but the terrain is almost entirely flat and there’s tons of places to break along the way. If my husband and I can do it, almost anyone can.

Undersea Delights Under The Santa Monica Pier

“I saw an octopus,” said one little boy. “Look Daddy, there he goes to the bottom.”

At the small aquarium hidden under the Santa Monica pier, watching the kids’ reaction to the sea creatures is almost as enjoyable as the sea creatures themselves.



Sponsored by Heal the Bay, a non-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting Santa Monica Bay, both kids and grown-up kids alike can get acquainted with sea life through tanks and exhibits.



Long snake-like eels greet you in a tank along the entryway. Swell sharks and horn sharks spurt water, if agitated, out of the open-top shark tank. And like any aquarium worth its (sea)salt, they have touch tanks - three! – where you can gently handle sea stars, crabs, sea urchins, snails, and other tidepool creatures.

The docents here aren’t afraid to get their hands wet in the name of learning. Tara, on-duty during our visit, happily dipped her hand in one ice-cold tank to point out some egg cases, housing unhatched swell sharks. As she shined a flashlight on the cases, we saw the shadow of the giddily-moving crab fetus inside.




Be sure to check out the ‘Sarcastic Fringehead’ in the Kelp Forest exhibit. Yes, that’s the fish’s actual name! Described as a ‘grumpy old man’ by Tara, the Fringehead is highly territorial and has creepy-looking bug eyes. Plus, I could’ve sworn he grinned sardonically a few times.



While it’s not out yet, they’re preparing a Jellyfish exhibit that should be on display in a couple of months. Described as “Living Art,” I reached a meditative state just watching the jellyfish float around and around.

Don’t forget your sticker on the way out. With sayings like ‘Waste ruins my taste’ or ‘Toxins tick off turtles,’ the stickers remind people how pollution is life-threatening to these ocean residents.



The aquarium is small and should take most people no more than an hour or so to peruse so it’s probably not worth making a special trip just to see it. But if you’re at the pier, the aquarium is a must-see, especially if you’re with little ones. Kids enter free, while adults pay $2.

Click here for specific information on hours and directions.