Overview
From the old geezer skating on the Venice Boardwalk to the loose-limbed ingénue posing on her yoga mat, Angelenos love their exercise. All the fun options, not to mention the year-round sunshine, make it easy to join the city’s tanned and toned without becoming a gym drone.
Play in the Park
The Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks oversees over 175 parks, including 59 swimming pools, ten lakes, 13 golf courses, 69 tennis courts, eight skateboarding parks, nine dog parks, as well as numerous basketball, volleyball, and handball courts and baseball, softball, and soccer fields. Archery ranges are also available, as are beautiful, well maintained hiking trails. A variety of sports leagues and camps are offered for both children and adults and pick-up games of sports such as basketball and soccer are also popular. Visit www.laparks.org or call 888-LA-PARKS for more information.
Some of the cities within the Los Angeles metropolitan area maintain their own park and recreation departments including Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena. Information about park and recreational opportunities in these cities can be found at: www.smgov.net or 310-458-8411 for Santa Monica, www.beverlyhills.org or 310-285-2536 for Beverly Hills, weho.org or 323-848-6400 for West Hollywood, www.burbankca.gov or (818) 238-5330 for Burbank, www.ci.glendale.ca.us or 818-548-2000 for Glendale, and www.ci.pasadena.ca.us or 626-744-4000 for Pasadena.
Table Tennis
If you own your own paddle and watch the tournaments on ESPN, stop by the Westside Table Tennis Center (www.alphatabletennis.com) for tips from the pros.
Horseback Riding
If you are more equine-inclined, check out one of the many companies offering guided trail rides and riding lessons. Looking for a novel way to spend a Friday night? Try one of the Sunset Ranch dinner rides through Griffith Park, which include a stop for margaritas at a restaurant with hitching posts.
Roller Skating
Here’s your chance to dig those hot pants and leg warmers out of the far reaches of your closet. For the ultimate dance party on wheels, take to the streets of Santa Monica, Hollywood, or Downtown with the Friday Night Skate crew. Visit www.fridaynightskate.org for details.
Paintball & Other Forms Combat Play
For information about local activities check out www.paintball-players.org or perhaps www.streetwars.net if this controversial urban stalking game is your thing.
Dodgeball
The Los Angeles Dodgeball Society offers a fun take on that sport you missed out on when you ditched 7th grade PE to go smoke cigarettes behind the dumpster. Two leagues are offered—Staypuft Marshmallow, fun and co-ed, played with “no-sting” balls; and Charles Bronson for the more Death Wish types. League and open gym play are at various times throughout the year, and at different locations. Costs are low but vary. Checkout dodgeball4ever.com for more details.