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.

Experience Los Angeles' best kept secret, the waters of Marina del Rey by coming on board one of our boats (boat depends on group size - we have 2 options). Bring your own food or beverage , your friends, and have a relaxing time on the water. Guests will take a tour around the marina, see the ocean, wild marine life such as sea lions and dolphins. The luxury yachts of the rich and famous are also on full display. Our tour guide is very knowledgeable about the area, and you'll often get more information than you bargained for - our ears our definitely on the ground and are up to date with all the cutting edge happenings of the location.

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.

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.

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, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles' famous beaches, and beyond on this all-day guided excursion starting from Anaheim or Los Angeles. 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, Griffith Observatory, Rodeo Dr., Venice Beach, and Santa Monica Pier.

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!

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.

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.

There are many tours offering to show guests the Sea Lions - and yes, while you'll likely see sea lions on this tour, and our others, we've decided to offer the coveted opportunity to set your eyes on one of the ocean's most magnificent sea creatures - DOLPHINS. With our extensive maritime experience, we've come up with a tour that maximizes your chances of seeing wild dolphins feeding in their natural habitat. Dolphins are on a schedule, so this tour isn't offered all day, it's only offered at sunset. And while there's no guarantee that we'll encounter dolphins on every tour, we can guarantee that you'll see a beautiful oceanic sunset.

Enjoy the best of Los Angeles with this three hour guided bike tour that begins in Santa Monica near the famous Santa Monica Pier! Take in the ocean breezes, visit the historic Venice Canals, ride through Marina del Rey, take pictures with the Art Walls, and explore Muscle Beach. The sunny California weather makes this tour a fun and beautiful experience for culture enthusiasts and history buffs. Our guides will provide you with fun facts, surprising secrets, and photo opportunities while you soak in the beauty of Santa Monica and Venice Beach. Upgrade your tour to an electric bike for an easier ride! This guided tour takes about 3 hours and is perfect for families, friend groups, couples, and solo riders! Get the local feel while you learn on this relaxed ride! Attachments like tag-a-longs and trailers are not permitted on this tour.

We are a surf school based on Venice Beach. Our goal is for you to have an excellent surfing experience, whether it's your first time trying surfing or you are trying to advance your skills. For the first 30–40 minutes, we will be training on the beach, and then it’s one hour with the instructors in the ocean. The remaining time is yours to practice your skills and have fun with the surfboards that we provide. We’ll be giving lessons on Venice Beach, one of the most famous beaches in California. You’ll be able to not only enjoy the ocean and get surfing experience, but also explore the unique spirit of the eccentric cultural hub of Venice Beach.

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.

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.

Learn all about Santa Monica while having fun solving challenges on this app-led scavenger hunt. You’ll also have a remote, live host to help you and encourage you along the way if necessary. You’ll have to be creative detectives on this tour, which you can participate in with up to 30 members. Be as competitive as you dare.

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.

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.

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.

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.