Top Santa Monica Outdoor Activities

On this small-group kayaking or paddleboard tour, you’ll hit the scenic coastlines of Marina del Ray for a hands-on nature immersion. Learn kayaking or paddleboard techniques from your guide, and get a chance to spot local wildlife like sea lions, dolphins, and different varieties of seabird. Tours are capped at only seven participants for a personalized experience.

Learn to surf at one of California’s most famous spots during this introductory surfing class at Venice Beach. This class is suitable for all levels, whether it's your first time surfing or you are advancing your skills. Spend some time training on the beach, then hop in the Pacific Ocean for instruction in the water, followed by time for practice.

Enjoy a relaxing and luxurious attended brunch buffet with sparkling wine as you sail the waters near Los Angeles during this 2-hour cruise. Set sail from shore as you dig into a mouth-watering selection of breakfast favorites like fresh-baked pastries, French toast and eggs, and gourmet lunch specials like vegetables, pasta salads and chef-carved meat accompanied by a complimentary glass of bubbly. Then kick back, take in the gorgeous views of the nearby coastline and lay out in the sun with some background jazz music during your ride. Your brunch cruise includes meal service, and free-flowing sparkling wine.

Explore Santa Monica on a private tour by electric bike and see the highlights of the vibrant coastal city. Follow your guide along Santa Monica’s palm-lined streets. Stroll the boardwalk at the Santa Monica Pier, dip your toes in the Pacific Ocean and experience the laid-back culture and classic scenery of this iconic beach town. Cruise to vibrant Venice to see the skate park, street art and the bustle of the crowd on the oceanfront walk and onward to the "gem of the tour" or the Venice canals. Then a final stop at Muscle Beach before zipping back to the shop.

Immerse yourself in the SoCal lifestyle—and learn the basics of surfing in an accessible, hands-on way—with private surfing lessons. Choose from multiple convenient class times, and meet your instructor right on the legendary Venice Beach. With personalized guidance, you’ll learn the basics on the beach before grabbing your board and trying out your skills in the waves.

Visit many of Los Angeles’s highlights and landmarks on one fun and convenient outing. Learn about LA history and culture—its historic filming locations and crime scenes, celebrity homes and trendy restaurants—from a narrator as you traverse the city in a convertible bus. Stop at the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, a farmer's market for lunch, and the Hollywood Sign on this easy and affordable tour.

Leave the bustle of Los Angeles behind—and explore peaceful Catalina Island at your own pace—with this convenient package deal. In the morning, meet your driver directly at your LA accommodation, hop aboard your vehicle, and then transfer to the ferry to Catalina Island, where you can admire the seaside views. Once on the island, head to the Undersea Expedition (tickets included), and explore the sights independently.

Swap the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles for something a bit more relaxing—a scenic ferry trip to Catalina Island. Once you arrive, enjoy a guided tour of the main city of Avalon to help you get your bearings, and learn about its top sights. No need to worry about rushing back—the tour factors in some free time to explore Avalon’s shops, restaurants, and famous landmarks independently.

Soak up the sand, surf and sun of the waterfront cities of Venice, Santa Monica and Marina del Rey during this 3-hour sightseeing trip aboard an electric-powered Cadillac Escalade limo. Feel like a Hollywood player as you cruise the streets of these beachfront meccas aboard your open-air ride, enjoying live commentary from a guide during the trip. Along the way you’ll also have 90 minutes to enjoy these areas’ excellent shopping and dining options on foot.

Cruise around Malibu in a vintage 1972 VW camper van on this half-day tour. Take in scenic views of the area’s coastline and mountain landscapes as you see popular attractions like Malibu Pier. Plus, make a short visit to a winery for a tasting. Choose between a morning or afternoon departure time.

Explore Hollywood, Los Angeles, and beyond on this all-day guided excursion from Anaheim, downtown L.A., or North Hollywood. After a convenient hotel pickup, head out with a knowledgeable guide and experience classic sites and neighborhoods like the Hollywood Sign and the Walk of Fame, Memorial Coliseum, Griffith Observatory, Venice Beach, and Santa Monica Pier.

Santa Monica is one of the best neighborhoods to explore by bike with its colorful characters, sights and sounds. Since it's also an artistic and creative area of LA, this tour seizes the opportunity to introduce you to legal graffiti street galleries and the best of the local sculpture and architecture. Clocking in at nearly three hours long, this two-wheeled adventure will leave your legs a bit more toned and your stomach ready for lunch.

Cruise the scenic waters near Los Angeles in style during this two-and-a half hour, high-end dinner cruise. Climb aboard and enjoy a sumptuous duet entrée freshly prepared on-board. Then grab your drink and make your way to the outdoor decks to soak up the amazing views of the marina.

Learn how to hang ten with a surf lesson in Venice Beach. Before you head into the water, you’ll learn about board design and dynamics, ocean safety, surf etiquette, pop-up technique, and form. Plus, learn about California surf culture. The lesson includes all of the necessary equipment: surfboard and a wetsuit.

Live the Mediterranean dream in Southern California on a sailing adventure in the Santa Monica Bay. We are a boutique luxury sailing charter with gourmet cuisine and a love of the sea. We take our guests on a safe, fun and memorable sailing past the mountains of Malibu, the famous Santa Monica pier and Venice Beach boardwalk. Let us share the joy of sailing with you!

Relax as you take a ride on a private rickshaw along the streets and beaches of Santa Monica. Enjoy the fresh ocean breezes while touring the area to locations such as the Santa Monica Pier, Muscle Beach, Venice Boardwalk and the Venice Skatepark. Sit back and let your guide do all the work! Two people per rickshaw, please.

Explore Santa Monica and Venice like a local on this guided bike tour. Ride through these coastal towns on a classic beach cruiser. Experience the famous boardwalk and canals, go to hidden spots, and learn about the history of these Los Angeles neighborhoods. The tour passes by the Santa Monica Pier and stops at Muscle Beach. You’ll be able to visit Abbot Kinney Boulevard for juice or coffee before heading up Main Street.

Kapowui, was awarded best surf school in Venice beach for the last 5 years in a row. Kapowui is a family run business and and an icon of southern California. We live, eat, and dream surfing and teach surfing because we want to share our love and stoke for the sport. This is a life choice for us and what gives our lives meaning. All of Kapowui's instructors are imbued with the Aloha spirit, live within blocks of the beach (4 of them live in surf vans), surf every day and have many years teaching experience. When we are doing a lesson with you, we are 100% focused and in the moment with you. At Kapowui we truly care about your experience. Whether surfing is a one time bucket list item or a new sport you want to pick up, we will have you up riding waves, 100% guaranteed! Additionally you will be immersed in the surf culture, giving you the opportunity to feel the true surfer vibe, while learning a skill you can use forever.

Our very unique, immersive adventures are the only ones of their kind. We, unlike other companies, provide your very own remote, interactive, live host to assist and encourage you along through your phone. We are an Austin, TX-based global custom event design company offering scavenger hunts and other events in 300+ cities in North America and beyond. Our specially hand-crafted adventures are equal parts tour, creative challenge, detective hunt, and social experiment! Guests get to discover in an alternate reality our favorite hidden gems off the beaten trail and creatively interpret fun art, history, and culture clues - for points! They get to enjoy fame and glory while appearing on our website’s international leaderboard, no matter what their score. They get to essentially race other teams in other cities, even if they don’t have competitors who have signed up in their city that day. Get ready to discover unusual oddities, laugh out loud, and make the experience your own!

When you take a surfing lesson from Kapowui, you are learning from the best. Not only do our instructors live, eat and dream surfing, they are imbued with the Aloha spirit, live within blocks of the beach (4 of them live in surf vans), surf every day and are experienced teachers. Come feel the surfer vibes with us, and we'll be sure to have you up riding a wave!

Join this small group tour and cruise your way from Santa Monica to Marina del Rey on a full suspension e-bike. This will take around two hours from place to place, where you'll stop at the Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach boardwalk, and Marina del Rey Harbor to see all the ships docked there. Sip on provided bottled water the entire way, and learn about the areas you visit from your guide.

Explore Santa Monica and Venice Beach on a OneWheel Board, a safe and incredibly fun way to check out this happening area of Los Angeles. The motorized board is propelled by a self-balancing wheel, giving the rider the impression of surfing on land or snowboarding on the beach. Learn how to ride on our training-wheel device and practice in our obstacle course until you are ready to go. Have fun!

This experience is perfect for families, solo riders, couples, and friend groups. Explore Santa Monica like a local! Start in Santa Monica by the the Santa Monica Pier and ride along the beach path Visit the Venice Canals, a historic district within the residential Venice suburb Ride through Marina del Rey, take pictures with the Art Walls and explore Muscle Beach

Santa Monica is full of amazing views and panoramic vistas, which will make your photo shoot shine. During your 2-hour shoot, we’ll find the picture-perfect locations suited specifically to you. After the shoot, you’ll receive 50 professionally captured and edited photos for your use. Ideal for Instagrammers, bloggers and anyone who needs a great set of photos in California.