26-Mile Bike Path

Santa Monica gets an average of 340 days of sunshine a year, making it an ideal location for bicycling. To help riders enjoy the area's scenic beaches and great weather, Los Angeles County constructed a paved 26-mile bike path along the Pacific shore. At its heart is Santa Monica Pier, as the path it runs north and south past some of California's most famous strips of sand.

For three and a half miles, the 26-mile bike path parallels Santa Monica Beach, from the 100-year-old concrete pier to the original "Muscle Beach." Sights to see along the way include artistic sea walls, the International Chess Park, and plenty of beachgoers swimming, surfing, and playing volleyball.

To the south, the 26-mile bike path heads to Venice Beach and Marina del Rey, where the huge yachts that ply the waters of the Pacific are moored. To the north, the path passes through Will Rogers State Beach, with its one and three-quarters miles of shoreline for swimming, skin diving, volleyball, and working out with gymnastics equipment.

Those who wish to rent bicycles to ride the 26-mile bike path will find them in easy supply. Santa Monica's Perry's Café has eight locations along the way and offers both bike and roller blade rentals, along with a Beach Butler Service delivering lunch, towels, beach toys, and more at the end of a long ride. Two-hour guided bike tours can be booked at Perry's, too.