Since the moment man stepped on a wooden board on wheels, there has been a great debate as to which is better? Skateboard or long board? Well, whether you like to pop a few ollies and kickflip your way down the street on a skateboard, or rather you like to kick and push down the street while you cruise in style on a longboard and let the warm Southern California sun rays beam across your face and the salty smells of the fresh cool ocean breeze waft across paths with your nostrils, there is one thing you can count on for sure. This straight shot down just off the scenic Pacific Coast Highway is without a doubt, the best beach route to skate in all of Los Angeles!
THE TRAVEL VIDEO OF THE DAY
Let’s Start Here
So where we begin on this journey is at the intersection of Montana Ave and Ocean Ave in Santa Monica, CA. We begin here because of a few important reasons. Firstly, this is where public parking begins and since it’s further removed from the Santa Monica Pier, usually you are able to find a spot there. Since it is street parking along Ocean Ave, you must pay for metered parking which accepts both cash and/or card, and $2.50 per hour in the Downtown and Beach Meter Zones and $1.25 per hour in all other Citywide Meter Zones.
protip: If you or anyone in your party has a disabled placard either on your vehicle’s license plate or via rearview mirror placard, then you do not need to pay for street parking as the city as well as all of the Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area provides accessible street parking for free and that applies as well to any regular metered spot too.
Safety First
The second reason comes down to the bike lane. The bike lane here also begins at the same cross street of Montana Ave and Ocean Ave so it is a fantastic place to start your cruise because the bike lane gives you a little bit of time before you get into the thick of things, so that you may be able to get your balance and bearings about yourself. Take the time to feel out the board meaning your foot placement and balance as well as the road, meaning feels the textures and grip of the street as they change with speed and material. Traffic can be pretty busy and even though you will inevitably end up sharing the road with cars, trucks, and the like, beginning your session with a little breathing room is nice. Remember, there is always more than one plane in the sky but they never share a runway!
We’re Cruising Baby!
Finally, our third reason for beginning our skate here is the sloped road! Since the road declines at an estimated 10-degree angle, you get a lovely start where a mild push will carry you about a quarter-mile while you gain steam without the need to propel yourself. Coupled with the bike lane, you will be able to open your arms wide and feel the rush of the cool sea breeze caressing your face as you float effortlessly down the road. One would describe it as blissful as when Leonardo DiCaprio stood at the front of the ship in Titanic and proclaimed, “I’m the king of the world!”
Watch Out For The People!
Now when you get to going and you’re now smoothly gliding downhill without a care in the world, you’ll notice a few of Santa Monica’s most famous landmarks most notably of which would be the Santa Monica Pier. That area is very compacted with tourists and local foot traffic alike. Do your best to navigate them as they cross the crosswalk in the street. Fun, but nerve-racking. The best of the best skaters can easily avoid pedestrians but if you need a little more practice before you get to that point, I’d advise you just wait out all traffic lights and pedestrian crossings so you don’t end up sharing your board with a stranger in the unfriendliest of ways!
Choices, Choices
The best part about this route is that once it levels out and you cross over Pico Blvd, you realize that you have two options. You can either stop for some chicken and a margarita at Cha Cha Chicken, or you can keep going but then this presents a new choice entirely. You can either stay on the beachfront bike path which leads all the way down from Santa Monica to Venice Beach and gives you picturesque views, especially during golden hour or sunset hours, or you can go left and take the next street two blocks up from here which would be Main St and take a detour past multiple shops and businesses from numerous bars where you can stop in on a hot day and cool off with a nice beverage, or on those rare chilly days grab a shot to warm up really quick. You can also grab a bite to eat at the many restaurants off the Main St. strip or grab ice cream at Ben and Jerry’s along the way!
Cruising Into The Sunset
By this point, the street tour is coming to an end as we ride all the way down Main St. until we hit a traffic circle that links Main St. with Windward Ave. This is where we want to take a right turn up the short hill and straight through underneath the famed Venice sign at the intersection of Pacific Ave and Windward Ave. Skate real casual from this point on as you absorb all the energy that comes with being at Venice Beach. Consider the sights, smells, and sounds all-encompassing you as your prize for blessing yourself with such a chill cruise down the beachy streets of LA ends with possibly some sand and sun and maybe even a dip in the cool arctic waters of the Pacific Ocean !
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