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Top 10 Ways to Work Out and See LA

By Kayte Deioma, About.com

For travelers who want to burn off all those calories from LA's top restaurants, here are ten fun ways to experience LA and stay fit at the same time.

1. Rollerblading on the Venice Boardwalk

Join bikini-clad babes and muscle-bound boys rolling through the outlandish street performers, artists and vendors on the Venice Beach Boardwalk. If you don't want to fight the crowd on the boardwalk - which is paved, not boards, by the way - you can aim your wheels toward the paved beach path.

2. Dancing at a Hollywood Hot Spot

People dancing at Basque Photo © 2006 Kayte Deioma, courtesy of www.KayteDeioma.com
It doesn't feel like a workout, but burns plenty of calories. Don you party rags and shake your booty at any of the Top LA Dance Clubs.

3. Self-Guided Walking Tour of Hollywood

Forecourt of the Stars at Grauman's Chinese TheatrePhoto © 2004 Kayte Deioma, courtesy of www.KayteDeioma.com
You can pick up a Walking Tour map at the Visitors Center at Hollywood and Highland. Then stroll the Walk of Fame and admire the landmarks as you make a loop of Hollywood Blvd., Vine St., Sunset and La Brea. You can reward yourself afterwards with ice cream at the Disney Soda Fountain and a movie at El Capitan or Grauman's Chinese Theatre. For a preview, visit the Hollywood Photo Tour.

4. Hike up Runyan Canyon

Runyan Canyon Park, Hollywood, CAPhoto © 2005 Kayte Deioma, courtesy of www.KayteDeioma.com
Just a few short blocks from the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Runyan Canyon Park offers several hiking trails into the Hollywood Hills where you might chance upon actors and musicians out walking their dogs. There are some great views over Hollywood from the trails. The park entrance is at the north end of N. Fuller Ave. From Hollywood Blvd, Fuller is one block east of La Brea and the park is two blocks north on Fuller.

5. A Walk or Run at the Beach

Running on Hard SandPhoto © 2007 Kayte Deioma, courtesy of www.KayteDeioma.com
With over eighty miles of coastline in the LA metro area, you're rarely more than an hour from the beach and usually much less.

Check out the Traveler's Beach Workout Gallery with fitness trainer Justin Rudd.

6. Biking on the Beach Path

Biking the Beach Path in Long BeachPhoto © 2006 Kayte Deioma, courtesy of www.KayteDeioma.com
If you'd rather ride than walk, there are over 25 miles of paved bike path right across the sand. One 20 mile stretch reaches from the northern edge of Santa Monica to Redondo Beach in the South. Another 5.5 mile stretch crosses Long Beach.

7. Go Surfing

You'll probably want a wet suit to join the surfers and boogie boarders in the cold Pacific waters off Southern California, especially in winter. You can surf at just about any beach in LA or Orange County except Long Beach, which has no waves due to the breakwater that protects Alamitos Bay and the Ports. Surfing lessons are available in Santa Monica and Huntington Beach.

8. Kayaking in Huntington Harbor

You can go ocean kayaking anywhere along the coast. There is also flat-water bay kayaking available at Huntington Harbor in Sunset Beach, around Naples Island in Long Beach and Newport Back Bay in Newport Beach.

9. Horseback Riding at Sunset Ranch

There's a reason Hollywood made a lot of cowboy movies. The horses and ranches are just on the other side of the Hollywood Hills.

10. Join an Outdoors Club Activity

If you want to get outdoors and see another side of LA, but you don't want to go alone, OutdoorsClub.org has activities all around Southern California that you can join in.

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