100 Free Things to Do in Santa Monica – Health & Wellness Activities

Posted September 8, 2023

 Explore #1-57 of Santa Monica’s 100 Free Things to Do: Family & Outdoors

Health & Wellness Activities

58. Rollerblade, walk or jog along the boardwalk that stretches parallel to the Pacific, taking in magnificent views of mountains, the beach, and ocean.

59. Bike your way through Santa Monica with self-guided bike itineraries that range from wellness to art-themed experiences.

60. Gather a crowd of friends or office mates for a game of frisbee on the beach. Pick-up ultimate frisbee games can be found south of the pier.

61. Enjoy a game of volleyball at Santa Monica’s many beach volleyball courts, where several US Olympic beach volleyball competitors have trained. Dotted along the length of the beach, there are courts available to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. Olympic Gold Medalist Misty May-Treanor notes the courts south of the pier are her favorite.

62. Flex your muscles at the Original Muscle Beach, which beckons visitors to test their strength and work on their beach body in an open-air gym. Test out the fully restored areas featuring chinning bars, parallel bars, rings, and small jungle gyms for children. Celebrities such as Jack LaLanne, Jayne Mansfield, and Mae West were frequent visitors at Muscle Beach, helping to establish Southern California as a bodybuilder’s paradise.

63. Explore the nearby Santa Monica Mountains Recreation Area, which offers visitors a stunning coastal mountain range with opportunities for hiking, exploring, and biking.

64. Live like a true Californian and try your hand at skateboarding along the sidewalks of Ocean Avenue.

65. Work out by jogging one of the many stairways that lead from Ocean Avenue down to the Pacific Coast Highway.

66. Relax and unwind with a sunset meditation in a Santa Monica park.

67. The South Bay Bike Trail runs for 22 miles from Will Rogers State Beach to Torrance County Beach and provides a unique way to see a long stretch of Pacific coastline and get some exercise. With easy points of entry and exit, cyclists can make the ride as long or as short as they desire.

68. Bicycle along on of Santa Monica’s great city bike paths, such as the Santa Monica Pier Bridge at Colorado Avenue, Bickness Avenue, Ocean Park Boulevard, or Ashland Avenue.

69. Enjoy the winding stair walk and great views from Ocean View Park, off Barnard Way.

70. Take a dip, surf, or bodyboard in the Pacific Ocean.

71. Polish your forehand with a few games of tennis at Marine Park (Other free courts are available at Memorial, Douglas, Clover, and Los Amigos Parks).

72. Enjoy fabulous ocean views as you jog along the cushioned crushed asphalt path in Palisades Park.

73. Take your hockey stick and rollerblades down to the beach parking lot for a game of roller hockey.

74. Jog along the path through Clover Park.

75. Get a 360 view of Santa Monica and Los Angeles when you hike to the top of the Inspiration Point trail at Will Rogers State Park.

76. Grab your mat and hit the beach for some sunrise yoga. It is a perfect way to wake up your muscles and start the day.

77. Get into the competitive spirit and play a game at one of the many public pickleball courts around the city.

Explore #78-100 of Santa Monica’s 100 Free Things to Do: Art & Music

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