Wellness Walks to Offset Flight Fatigue
A long flight means you’ll need to figure out how to incorporate exercise into your plans once you land. In the Venice, Los Angeles area, use nature as your gym. Along this stretch of beautiful coastline, you’ll find enough people engaged in physical activity to capture and hold your imagination. With people of every age finding a reason to engage physically and routinely in that California-esque way, you’ll feel encouraged to keep walking. Here’s a sampling of what you may discover during your healthy walks along this stretch
Venice Beach Boardwalk
Photo credit by Robert M via trover.com
Venice Beach Boardwalk
Many movies are filmed along the Venice part of the ocean front. Plan to sight-see during your regular walks along the Ocean Front Walk. It’s an extremely busy area since the locals, tourists, shopkeepers and vendors who make their living converge here. You can walk, ride, whichever you choose; then sit at the FigTree Café for probably the best cup of coffee or tea along the Ocean Front just as you would if you were sitting at the Deux Magot in Paris.
Skate Park
How interesting can it be to watch people skating on irregular concrete? Very. Go to watch the skateboarders at the Skate Park that is within walking distance of Muscle Beach. Once you see the skill level of these amateurs who are out here for sheer pleasure, you’ll understand the connection they seem to have with nature as they put their lives in danger with every swirl on concrete.
Muscle Beach
You may have never seen anything like this but Muscle Beach is the official outdoor weightlifting platform in Venice, California just south of the Santa Monica Pier. It’s been there since 1934. There is a real sign saying “Muscle Beach.” Muscle Beach is considered the birthplace of the physical fitness boom of the Twentieth Century. You will think of Rocky and every gymnastics and strength athlete who has ever dreamed of getting ripped when you watch people working out at Muscle Beach. It was originally known simply as the “Santa Monica Beach Playground.” Over time that changed.
Venice Bike Path
Although most of this Ocean Front path is flat, distance riders will be thrilled to learn there is almost 8.5 miles of ocean to ride on this urban bike path. Be mindful while riding because the Venice part of the ocean front tends to be busy. If you need a bike or if you have any problem with your bike, stop at Perry’s Cafe.
No matter when you choose to walk the ocean front from Washington Boulevard in Marina Del Rey to Venice Beach to Santa Monica Pier to Temecula Canyon Road and ending at Pacific Palisades, the people you meet will engage your senses, raise your heartbeat, and help keep you fit. You simply have to walk. If hiking the mountains is preferable to the walking the ocean, choose from another slate of physical activities available in the surrounding area. Also check my previous post on cheap flights to Venice when you are ready to make flight reservations before heading home.
Disclosure: This post is part of the Hipmunk City Love Series. The opinions are my own.
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