Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [114]
The most legendary surfing spots are of course in Malibu. Surfrider gets tops marks, but Zuma and Carrillo also have their devotees. South of Santa Monica, you’ll find mostly west-facing beach breaks. Venice Beach, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach all have decent waves, but more experienced surfers head to Torrance Beach/Haggerty’s and Lunada Bay in Palos Verdes. For the latest surfing and beach conditions, call 310-578-0478 or check http://beaches.co.la.ca.us.
If you want to learn surfing, expect to pay about $70 to $120 for a two-hour private lesson or $40 to $60 for a group lesson, including board and wet suit. Contact these schools for details.
Learn to Surf LA ( 310-663-2479; www.learntosurfla.com) Great for beginners, in Santa Monica; they guarantee you’ll get up on the board on your first lesson.
Malibu Long Boards ( 310-467-6898; www.malibulongboards.com) Private lessons in Malibu by college-level surf instructor; email for free surf video.
Surf Academy ( 310-372-2790; www.surfacademy.org) Founded by a US surfing champion, they offer lessons up and down the coast.
Yoga
No matter whether you can twist yourself into a knot or are as stiff as a log, these studios will have you doing the downward dog and sun salutation in no time.
Bikram Yoga Studio Mid-City (off Map; 310-854-5800; www.bikramyoga.com; 1862 S La Cienega Blvd; per class over/under 25 $20/10) International Bikram headquarters; Silver Lake (off Map; 323-668-2500; www.bikramyogasilverlake.com; 3233 Glendale Blvd; per class $17) If you like it hot, try these rigorous 90-minute workouts in a studio heated up to between 95°F and 105° (bring a bath towel).
Bryan Kest Power Yoga (Map; 310-458-9510; www.poweryoga.com; 1410 2nd St, Santa Monica; class by donation; 5:30am-10:45pm Mon-Thu, 8am-8pm Fri-Sun) You’ll sweat, you’ll tone, you’ll meditate, you’ll feel great after these ashtanga (power) yoga classes. The recommended donation is $12, but give what you can.
Trüyoga (Map; 310-829-2227; www.truyogala.com; 2425 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica; per class $16; daily, call or check web for class schedule; ) Beginners to gurus, everyone will find a favorite class at this ‘green’ yoga studio built entirely from recycled and ecofriendly materials. No toxic fumes here. The entrance is next to Tully’s Coffee inside the Yahoo Center complex.
YAS (Map; 310-396 6993; www.go2yas.com; 1101 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice; per class $15; 7am-7.30pm Mon-Thu, 7am-6pm Fri, 8.30am-6pm Sat & Sun) This studio offers the yin and yang of workouts, combining 30 minutes of yoga and spinning each to put both your body and mind into a state of bliss. Also popular is their Yoga for Athletes classes. Weekends get busy, so pre-register.
Yoga Works (Map; 310-664-6470; www.yogaworks.com; 2215 main St; per class $18; 7am-9pm) Dozens of classes per week for all levels of expertise, plus one- and two-day intro courses. Call about other branches.
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WALKING TOUR: DOWNTOWN LA
Downtown LA is rapidly changing its stripes and is on the verge of becoming, once again, a dynamic and vital part of the city; this is a great time to take a closer look and witness history in the making. The area is reasonably compact and packed with trophy sights and countless hidden little gems. Along the way, you’ll be treated to tremendous architecture, world-class museums, interesting nosh spots and plenty of places you might recognize from TV and the big screen.
Kick-off is at LA’s major transportation hub, Union Station (1; Click here), an elegant vestige from the era when the railroad was the main method of transportation. Crossing Alameda St plunges you straight into folkloric El Pueblo de Los Angeles (2; Click here), the city’s historic heart with buildings dating back to the Mexican period. Work your way south along Main St across the Hwy 101 overpass, from where you can already espy your next stop, the hulking Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (3; Click here), a provocatively modernist house