Renting a bike cruiser and riding up the down the beach of Los Angeles on the Strand is a must-do for a day activity on your next visit to LA. Bike through Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Marina Del Ray, and Manhattan Beach. Try some local brunch and dessert and make it a full day out!
Last Sunday [12.7.14] was supposed to be hiking with my friend, but since the trail I wanted to do was too far and we were on a time crunch, we decided to go beach biking instead… also because it has been awhile. It’s always a good day when it’s just the two of us.
We went back to our usual lunch spot at C&O Trattoria. We saw someone order waffles with strawberries last time that looked really good so we wanted to try it this time. We ordered the waffle with fruit and calamari… and minutes later they told us their waffle machine was out of commission. I started to crave pasta right before that, so I guess it’s a sign we should just stick with the pasta. The complimentary garlic knots here are insanely delicious and a must–try when you’re in Venice Beach! Just don’t fill up too much on the bread before your food arrives!
We biked from 1:11 – 4:04 pm and rented from the place right outside (to the left if you are facing it) of the restaurant; it was $6/hr. Biking this time seemed so much easier than the first time. We did the exact same trail, which according to Google maps is 8.6 miles each way.
We stopped at the end of the Ballona Creek Bike Path by the water, where the bridge connects to the Marvin Braude Trail is. A lady told us she just saw dolphins in the water, so of course we wanted to wait to see it too. You can walk further closer to the water but it’s restricted from bikers, but the garbage men had to open the gates so they told us we can take our bikes in. Sure enough, we saw dolphins peep out of the water just a little bit. They didn’t come out very high so you have to be patient so you can spot them. About half hour later, we carried on.
It was a breezy day so not too many people were out, but it was nice weather still.
Book a 3-hr guided beach biking through Santa Monica, Venice Beach, and Marina Del Ray.
We wanted to get dessert after so we tried Sinners and Saints Desserts in Venice which was so good. I tried the tres leches cake and red velvet cupcake which were both really moist and yummy!
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Tiff, the owner and author of Follow Tiff’s Journey, is a California/ Colorado-based adventurer and outdoor connoisseur who divides her heart between the Eastern Sierra Mountains and the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Despite her fear of heights, she’s become a seasoned mountaineer, ultralight hiking and backcountry camping enthusiast, expert road trip planner, and a fervent explorer of alpine lakes, natural hot springs, and sandstone canyons.
With 10 years of experience exploring the outdoors, her blog is your go-to source for all things wilderness, offering invaluable insights and pro tips, essential gear recommendations, and awe-inspiring stories from her adventures.
Join Tiff on her quest to share the wonders of nature and inspire others to follow their own path in the great outdoors.