9 outdoor activities for exploring LA and beyond this summer

It’s always the right season to get outside in Los Angeles, but summer’s longer days make it even easier to enjoy the many outdoor activities the city and surrounding area have to offer. The beach is an obvious place to start, but don’t stop there. LA has tons of parks, gardens, and outdoor museums to discover. This list should help get you started.

With locations up and down the LA county coastline, Perry’s has everything you need to make your Southern California fantasy a reality. Rent surfboards and paddleboards if you want to take on the waves, or stay on dry land and cruise the boardwalk with one of their bike rentals. If you want to go all out, take advantage of the Beach Butler service and enjoy chairs, an umbrella, a cooler, and wait service right on the beach. Seven of the 12 locations also have beachfront cafés, so you can refuel with a gourmet burger or a refreshing fruit smoothie.

When: Hours vary by location

Where: Santa Monica, Playa Del Rey, Redondo, and Venice

Located in the city’s vast Griffith Park, the LA Zoo is a great place way to spend an afternoon outdoors. With over 1,100 animal residents and 800 plant species, the zoo offers plenty to explore. In addition to checking out newer additions like the Rainforest of the Americas exhibit, which houses everything from jaguars to piranhas, you’ll want to make time to get up close and personal with the giraffes during one of their 2 daily feedings. General admission is $20, children ages 2 to 12 get in for $15, and kids under 2 are free.

When: Open daily, 10am – 5pm

Where: 5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90027

All summer long, thousands flock to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery to watch movies that are projected onto the Cathedral Mausoleum. It may seem morbid, but Angelenos have been gathering on the Fairbanks Lawn of the cemetery to watch movies together for over a decade. In fact, proceeds from the screenings have helped to revitalize the aging cemetery. Admission is $16 per person, and seating on the lawn is first come, first served, so you’ll want to arrive early to stake out a spot for your picnic blanket. Every screening includes a pre-show DJ and a themed photo booth (costumes strongly encouraged).

When: Saturdays, gates open at 7:15pm

Where: 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90038

The Getty Villa is the lesser known of the two LA outposts of the J. Paul Getty Museum, but the spectacular views more than make up for the smaller collection. Located on the Pacific Coast Highway near Malibu, the Getty Villa offers the perfect vantage point from which to view the coast. You could spend the afternoon admiring the architecture and wandering through the expansive gardens, but if you do decide to venture inside, you’ll be treated to an incredible collection of antiquities with pieces dating from 6,000 BC to 400 AD. Admission is free, but space is limited and requires a timed ticket.

When: Wednesday – Monday, 10am – 5pm, open until 9pm on Saturdays through August

Where: 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Located just 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, Descanso Gardens is a 150-acre garden retreat. Descanso features a wide variety of trees, plants, and flowers, organized into collections like the 5-acre Rose Garden, the Japanese Garden, and the Oak Forest. Little ones will enjoy the Enchanted Railroad, a 1/8 scale replica of a diesel train that takes guests around the park. General admission is $9, children ages 5 – 12 are $4, and children under 5 are free.

When: Open daily, 9am – 5pm

Where: 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

This outdoor adventure will involve a few hours in the car, but the star-filled skies and desert silence will make you feel like you’ve traveled much farther than that. Joshua Tree National Park is massive, slightly bigger than Rhode Island, straddling two desert ecosystems – the Mojave and the Colorado. There are 8 different campsite locations with a range of amenities and costs, and all are first come, first served during the summer months. Once in the park, you can enjoy hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and rock climbing. Whatever you decide to do, keep your eyes peeled for the bighorn sheep and mule deer that populate the park.

When: 24/7

Where: 74485 National Park Drive, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277

If you’re trying to fit some hiking into a busy workweek, the Eagle Rock Trail near Pasadena is a great bet. The trail clocks in at just under a mile, so you could probably squeeze this one in before work or on your lunch break. Despite the minimal effort, you’ll be rewarded with great views of downtown and the ocean. Thanks to its proximity to the Eagle Rock neighborhood, once you’ve wrapped up your hike, you’re just minutes from the hip bars, shops, and restaurants of Colorado Boulevard.

When: 24/7

Where: Eagle Rock View Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90041

In order to enjoy El Matador, you’ll first have to negotiate a steep dirt trail and some rickety stairs, but this spectacular beach is well worth the extra effort required to get there. If you tire of sunbathing, you can explore the massive rocks and sea caves that dot the beach or hunt for sea anemones, crabs, and other sea creatures during low tide. There is a port-a-potty at the top of the trail, but there are no other amenities, so you’ll want to bring your own food and water if you plan to spend the day.

When: Daily, 8am – sunset

Where: 32215 Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu, CA 90265

Located on top of Hotel Erwin, High Rooftop Lounge is the only rooftop bar in Venice Beach. Whether you’re looking for a cold beer at the end of a long beach day or you’re just kicking off a night on the town, you can’t beat the views or the atmosphere at High Rooftop Lounge. They have everything from pitchers of draft beer to bottle service with plenty of specialty cocktails in between. You won’t go hungry either. Their bar menu includes lamb sliders, grilled veggie skewers, and grass-fed asada tacos.

When: Monday – Thursday, 3pm – 10pm; Friday, 3pm – 12am; Saturday, 12pm – 12am; Sunday, 12pm – 10pm

Where: 1697 Pacific Avenue, Venice Beach, CA 90291

From the rugged desert landscape of Joshua Tree to Malibu’s pristine beaches, LA has an outdoor adventure for everyone. Whether you feel want to rough it on a camping trip or you’d rather enjoy the ocean breeze with a cocktail in hand, you’ve got plenty of opportunities to soak up that California sunshine.