Visiting Los Angeles: How to Swim, Ski, and Hike all in the Same Day

Los Angeles is famous for celebrity sighting and incredible coasts. But visiting Los Angeles could have you skiing, swimming, and hiking, all in one day?

Los Angeles is a fantastic city to visit but can be pretty difficult to navigate. Unlike most large cities, L.A. is very spread out, pretty much requires a car (or a big Uber budget). However, with a little research and a few recommendations, you can have an amazing trip to the City of Angels, especially with kids!

First things first: decide what kind of trip you want to have. If you’re like most people, you’ll arrive in LA expecting celebrities, and at some point, you’ll head to Hollywood. But if you limit yourself in that way, you’ll miss out on so much! In fact, Los Angeles is a great place to visit if you love the outdoors. In fact, you can visit the beach for a swim, ski in Angeles National Forest, AND hike the Santa Monica Mountains – all on the same day. Here’s how:

Ski at Mountain High

Start your morning early and head to Mountain High Ski Resort for skiing or snowboarding. Mountain High is about an hour and a half from Los Angeles, located in Angeles National Forest. If you’re new to the sport, they offer first-timer, kids, and adult courses. Or, if your kids are too young for skiing, anyone over 36” can go tubing on site as well.

For families with extended trips, you can drive a bit further out to Snow Valley or Bear Mountain Resort for a fun weekend up in the mountains. Big Bear is a great place to spend a weekend in Southern California as they have plenty of activities year-round. You can check out our complete guide to planning an awesome ski trip with kids here.

Hike in the Santa Monica Mountains

After you get your snow fix in, head to the Santa Monica Mountains for some hiking. For those that want to get a view of the Hollywood Sign, you can actually hike up above it for some incredible city views. There are a number of routes, from kid-friendly to tougher hikes, listed on their website here.

Don’t limit yourself there though – there are dozens of hiking trails in and around Los Angeles. The National Park Service has a great list of parks and hikes on their website that you can look through when preparing for your trip.

Swim in the Pacific Ocean

Undoubtedly one of LA’s best features is the beaches of Santa Monica and Malibu. My favorite way to experience them is to head out there a bit before sunset. We’ll pull out the sand toys and play for a bit as the sun goes down, experiencing the whole sunset from the beach. And being on the West Coast, the beaches usually get spectacular sunsets. Since it’s later in the day, you’re less likely to be sitting on a crowded beach too. Of course, any time is a good time to visit the beaches here. You can swim or surf, depending on how old your kids are, but either way, it’s fun for all ages.

The most accessible beach from Los Angeles is along the coast of Santa Monica. Although they tend to be the most crowded, they also have a ton of activities and restaurants nearby. The Santa Monica Pier is a great place for kids too with a few roller coaster rides. If you’re looking for something a bit less crowded, head up north into Malibu where you’ll find Zuma, Lechuza, El Matador Beach and more. These are some of the most beautiful beaches around and definitely worth checking out. For something more unique, check out Venice Beach where you’ll see a giant melting pot of Angelinos, funky restaurants, and of course, a beautiful beach.

Looking for more to do?

If that’s not enough, Los Angeles really does have endless things you can do for fun, especially if you’re in town for a bit. Here are some of our favorite things to do:

• Visit an amusement park: For younger kids, you can visit Universal Studios Hollywood, which now includes The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. For older kids, Six Flags Magic Mountain has a ton of roller coasters for the adventurous families. And just south of LA is Disneyland, our personal favorite.
• Visit a museum: There are dozens of museums to see in Los Angeles, from the famous Getty Villa and the iconic Griffith Observatory. You can also visit the more touristy places like Madame Tussauds Hollywood wax museum.
• Head to the desert: Just a couple hours outside of Los Angeles, you’ll find Joshua Tree National Park. If you’re a family that loves to camp, this is such a beautiful place to camp out for a night or two. During the days, you can hike and explore the park’s unique ecosystem and at night, you’ll get some incredible stargazing away from the city’s lights.

However you end up spending your time in Los Angeles, don’t forget that it’s much more than Hollywood celebrities and mansions. LA is a city with a vibrant culture and beautiful and diverse landscapes. We hope you enjoy our city as much as we do!

We are excited to share a Guest Post on Wandering Wagars! Laura Gibbons lives and works in Venice Beach, CA with her husband, son, and dog. When she’s not traveling with her family, Laura is usually at Disneyland with her son or planning their next trip.

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