One thing I know about myself is that I will never “settle down” anywhere that does not have a park or trail a walk or bike ride away. I have this in my hometown of Columbus, Ohio. While I backpacked through South America, I was always happy to find a city with a fitness culture because it was not common. I was spoiled living near Parque Palermo in Buenos Aires. I enjoyed running along the water in Valdivia, Chile and even found a park frequented by joggers in Sucre, Bolivia. This guest post is about a city in the US with a huge fitness culture Venice Beach, and I hope to jog along the beach there one day.
Venice Beach for a “fit” holiday
Sun seekers and culture vultures are typically really well catered for in the holiday market, but I tend to find that fitness fans are a little less so. I mean, you rarely see breaks directly geared towards physical activity advertised – though that’s not to say they don’t exist. So, if you’re into your fitness and want to make this a big part of your next getaway, I recommend booking a hotel in Venice Beach, Los Angeles.
Venice is a beachfront area in Los Angeles, which is famous for its boardwalk full of colourful characters and its beach full of everyone from fitness-phobic sun seekers to avid exercisers. Venice Beach is a good destination for activities for a number of reasons, including the fact that it’s sunny virtually all year round here, and that its population is known for its love of sports.
What this means for you is that you get a lot of variety in terms of exactly what you do, as well as a decent setting to do it in. Below, you’ll find a list of what I think some of the best activities to try here are.
Get active on the beach
Let’s start with the simplest things, shall we? If you’re looking for something that’s active without being too challenging, head straight to the sand. Great for sunset walks and light jogs, Venice Beach provides a pretty unbeatable backdrop to any workout. Personally, I really enjoy both walking and running, so this would be ideal for me.
That said, there are plenty of other options on the beach itself. For instance, you could get a game of football, volleyball or even Frisbee going, which is a particularly good choice if you’re traveling as part of a group. Turning our attention to the water, Venice Beach is a brilliant place for surfing and there are several companies that offer all the gear you need for hire.
The boardwalk
Venice is famous for its boardwalk, which is also known as Ocean Front Walk. This pedestrian-only street is renowned for being packed with everyone from circus performers to fitness fanatics, so it’s a great place to walk down and indulge in a little people-watching.
This is where you’ll find a cluster of Venice’s sports facilities, including the basketball and handball courts, as well as the Skate Dancing Plaza (yes, this is exactly as it sounds – it’s somewhere you can see people dancing on roller skates!).
Venice Beach’s basketball courts are particularly famous, since they have featured in films like White Men Can’t Jump, and they offer open play with no reservations. Bear in mind they’re very popular and tournaments are often held here, so it can be tricky to snap up a court!
I’d also recommend giving paddle tennis a go, since this is a sport that’s really popular among the locals. Plus, it’s pretty easy to pick up and it’s likely to be new to you – and it’s always nice to try something a bit different while you’re on holiday!
The paddle tennis courts are also on the boardwalk, and you can pick up rackets and balls from the Recreation and Park Office, which is at 1800 Ocean Front Walk. So, what exactly is paddle tennis? Well, it’s like a cross between table tennis and normal tennis, with a relatively small court and a racket that looks like a larger table tennis paddle.
Last on my list is a visit to Muscle Beach Gym – but I warn you, it’s always populated with serious bodybuilders, so it’s probably not the best place if you just want a light workout. It is the only weight room in the area to be located outside and has previously been visited by the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger. Day passes to the gym cost $10 (around £6), and you should remember that there is a strict rule about not bringing guests in.
Have you taken part in outdoor fitness activities in Venice Beach?
