The Best Outdoor Activities in Santa Monica, Summer 2026
Calibunga Podcast Episode Transcript
EPISODE 9 — THE BEST OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES IN SANTA MONICA & LOS ANGELES THIS SUMMER
Hosted by Lucas Coleman | Calibunga Surf Lessons Podcast
Recorded: April 15, 2026
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ABOUT THIS EPISODE
In this episode, Santa Monica surf instructor and Calibunga Surf Lessons owner Lucas Coleman answers a listener question from the Fernandez family — a family of four visiting from Madrid, Spain in July 2026. Lucas shares his personal, insider picks for the best outdoor activities in Santa Monica and Los Angeles that go far beyond the typical tourist traps. From pier-to-pier walks and e-bike rides along the oceanfront path, to hidden tide pools in Malibu, seal kayaking in Marina del Rey, and stargazing at the Griffith Park Observatory — plus why a family surf lesson in Santa Monica might be the best memory you bring home from LA.
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FULL TRANSCRIPT
[00:01]
Hello, welcome, hola, bonjour, konnichiwa, and djendobre to another episode of the Calibunga Surf Lessons Podcast, brought to you by Calibunga Surf Lessons. We are your go-to guide for learning to surf in the Los Angeles area. From Santa Monica Beach, I'm your host, Lucas Coleman.
[00:43]
I am a permitted professional surf instructor. I'm here to answer your questions, share some insider tips, some big booming advice, and help you ride your first wave with confidence. Whether you are a total beginner, curious about surf lessons in Los Angeles, someone looking to take private or group surf lessons in Santa Monica, or just researching things about surfing and the best surf schools near the Santa Monica Pier — this podcast is for you.
[01:14]
Every episode, we're going to dive into questions people are actually asking about surfing. We've got a really good one for you this week, and I think we should just dive right in — because this listener question affects pretty much anyone who is going to be visiting Santa Monica Beach or the greater Los Angeles area over the 2026 summer season.
[01:49]
Our question of the day comes from the Fernandez family, who wrote to us via email from Madrid, Spain. They say: "Hi Lucas. We are a family of four visiting Santa Monica this summer from Spain — July 2026. Our kids are 12 and 15 and both speak excellent English. We've been watching videos of Santa Monica online and it looks incredible. We want to plan our whole trip around outdoor activities. We love being active and adventurous as a family. Surfing is at the top of our list, but we want to know what else there is to do in and around Santa Monica and Los Angeles this summer. Do you have any insider tips? That would mean so much to us."
[02:50]
Thank you so much, Fernandez family. This is a really, really good call — because working in the travel and tourism industry and promoting a business online, I find it is actually very easy to find niche, cool, local things to do when you're traveling to Los Angeles, if you know where to look.
[03:24]
When you Google "things to do in LA" or "fun outdoor activities in Los Angeles," the top results are usually very big, corporate, generic experiences. About 90% of what comes up is a Hollywood mansion tour, a walk-of-fame tour, or a ghost tour. Big corporate things that are just kind of moving the line. But there is so much nature and so many real memories you can create in this city. So I'm going to give you a handful of things that are awesome but not heavily promoted.
[04:34]
SANTA MONICA PIER
Obviously, visiting the Santa Monica Pier is super fun and costs nothing just to walk up onto it. There is a whole theme park with a couple of roller coasters and rides. There are people making live music — some of it is pretty good, some of it is absolutely atrocious, and that's part of the fun.
[05:00]
PIER-TO-PIER WALK: SANTA MONICA TO VENICE BEACH
About a half-hour walk south of the Santa Monica Pier, you can visit Venice Beach. Venice Beach is its own vibe — a lot grungier, a lot louder, some very eccentric people. But if you start at the Santa Monica Pier and look south, you can actually see the Venice Beach Pier. Doing that walk from pier to pier, you'll pass the Venice Boardwalk, with street artists, performers, cool hole-in-the-wall food spots, street art, and a lot of things to interact with. Walking from the Santa Monica Pier to the Venice Beach Pier and back is a great way to spend an afternoon — and an even better way to spend the sunset. That's when the energy is most electric.
[06:15]
E-BIKES ALONG THE SANTA MONICA TO VENICE BEACH PATH
There are bicycles and e-bikes for rent from several vendors, practically from the Santa Monica Pier all the way to Venice Beach. There is a dedicated bike-only path that runs flat along the sand the entire way — no hills, ocean views the whole time. Renting e-bikes is a fantastic family activity. Many run around $20–$30 an hour, you leave your passport as a deposit, ride as long as you like, and return when done. A great way to see the whole coastline without spending it in an Uber.
[07:56]
ZUMA BEACH & THE TIDE POOLS AT LITTLE AND BIG DUME, MALIBU
In the opposite direction up the coastline is Malibu — not just one beach, but an entire coastal area with several different beaches. One standout is Zuma Beach. It's quieter, more out-of-the-way, and at the southernmost end of Zuma you'll find Little and Big Dume. These are two coves that run along 200–300 foot sea cliffs, with a simple trail that goes right along the edge. You walk from South Zuma, around Little Dume, downhill through Big Dume, and it spits you out at a stunning tide pool. The ocean floor here is bedrock, so it never changes. At low tide, the ocean leaves behind pools full of starfish, sea anemones, sea urchins, and other marine life hiding in the nooks and crannies of the rock. It is completely free — you park and you walk. This is not a hardcore trail. Anyone can do it. Watch your step so you don't step on the sea creatures, but absolutely go here. It is one of the most underrated things to do near Los Angeles.
[10:45]
SEA KAYAKING WITH SEALS IN MARINA DEL REY
Head the opposite direction — south down the coastline — to Marina del Rey, which locals just call "the marina." There is sea kayaking available for around $20, very informal, usually no appointment necessary. You just walk up and rent. Because it's a marina with breakwaters and jetties keeping the waves out, the water is completely flat and calm — no waves, no obstructions. You can kayak around and check out houseboats, super yachts, and the little docks that have been taken over by seal colonies. There will be 20 or 30 seals piled on top of each other taking naps, and you can paddle right up alongside them. Safety tip: don't touch the seals — they'd rather not be bothered. But seeing seal families and seal cubs up close from a kayak in Los Angeles is genuinely special and one of the most affordable adventures you can have.
[12:50]
GRIFFITH PARK OBSERVATORY, LOS ANGELES
Right in the middle of Hollywood, adjacent to the Hollywood Sign, is the Griffith Park Observatory — a massive stargazing observatory on top of a mountain. In summer, if you go at sunset, you can hike up via the trails or take the paved road. If you'd rather not walk, Uber and Lyft are allowed all the way to the top. Once up there, they set up powerful telescopes and have experts talk you through the constellations and give a lecture on space and the stars. Then, just after sunset, you get to use the telescopes for actual stargazing. And since Los Angeles sits in a valley, the view from up there is brilliant — you can look in every direction and see the entire city spread out below. Even as a longtime LA local, I go back to the Griffith Observatory once every summer. It's just a special, mellow evening every time.
[14:30]
TAKE A FAMILY SURF LESSON IN SANTA MONICA WITH CALIBUNGA
And of course — if you're an adventurous family, take a surf lesson with us. Calibunga Surf Lessons offers lesson plans specifically tailored to families learning together. Yes, we do serious training for people looking to ride big waves and develop high-performance surfing skills. But we also have a lesson plan designed to give families a magical, memorable experience. We make it a little competitive between family members, and honestly — that's when people learn the fastest. There is a lot of fun humility in wiping out in front of your kids or your parents. And those group photos at the end? I always joke that I'm probably hanging on the living room walls of a thousand families around the world. If your kids are getting ready to head off to college and this is one of your last chances to all be together, a surf lesson in Santa Monica is a photo and a memory worth having.
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CONNECT WITH CALIBUNGA SURF LESSONS
Email: info@calibungasurflessons.com
Website: www.calibungasurflessons.com
Instagram, Facebook, TikTok: @calibungasurflessons
Find us in person: In front of Lifeguard Tower 26 at Santa Monica Beach, in the area locals call Ocean Park.
Music: "Funky Golden Sun" by Jimmit
Host: Lucas Coleman, owner and surf instructor, Calibunga Surf Lessons
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