DK Travel : Los Angeles : Outdoor

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Self-realization Fellowship Lake Shrine

Bathed in an ambience of beauty and serenity, this hidden sanctuary was created in 1950 by Paramahansa Yogananda, an Indian-born spiritual leader. Wander over to the shrine to Mahatma Gandhi or the spring-fed lake, meditate inside a recreated 16th-century windmill, or study the Court of Religions that honors all of the world’s major religions.
Six Flags Magic Mountain

The Holy Grail for roller coaster junkies, Six Flags has more ways to catapult, spin, loop, spiral, and twist than you or your stomach can imagine. Favorite white-knuckle rides include X, the world’s first four-dimensional coaster, and Super-man: The Escape, which has you free-falling for 6.5 seconds.
Surfing

The archetypal California watersport is practiced all along the coast – Surfrider Beach (see Malibu Lagoon State/Surfrider Beach) in Malibu is one of the most famous, but Manhattan Beach and Palos Verdes (see Palos Verdes Peninsula) are equally popular.
Venice Beach

The beach itself plays second fiddle to Venice’s outlandish Ocean Front Walk, which is a magnet for freaks and those who love watching them. Against a backdrop of trinket shops and cafés, your encounters may include chainsaw jugglers, hulky musclemen, or even a singing Sikh on roller-bladess (see Venice Boardwalk).
Ventura & Channel Islands National Park

Ventura’s revitalized Main Street is a fun place to browse through antiques and second-hand stores and for a look inside the Mission San Buenaventura. The town is the gateway to the magnificent Channel Islands National Park. Boat excursions to the islands leave from Ventura Harbor year-round.
Virginia Robinson Gardens

The 1911 estate of department-store heiress Virginia Robinson is one of the oldest in Beverly Hills. Stroll in gardens with fountains and statuettes past towering king palms and elegant camellias flourishing in this quiet hideaway.
Watts Towers

This folk art masterpiece is a whimsical trio of spires, adorned with rainbow-colored pieces of tile, glass, pottery, shells, and other scavenged materials. The sculpture, completed in 1954, represents the life’s work of Italian immigrant Simon Rodia. Located in a high-crime neighborhood, avoid after dark.
Windsurfing

Cabrillo Beach, nicknamed “Hurricane Gulch,” is LA’s windsurfing mecca. The harbor side is good for beginners, while advanced surfers can make for the open ocean.
Wrigley Mansion & Garden

The winter home of William Wrigley Jr. (of Wrigley’s chewing gum fame) is backed by a lovely green rose garden and now serves as the headquarters of the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association.
Zuma Beach

This 2-mile (3-km) ribbon of fine, sparkling sand is one of LA’s most popular beaches. Its clean water and mostly mid-sized waves are great for sports such as bodysurfing, boogie-boarding, and swimming. It teems with families and hormone-crazed teenagers on sunny summer Sundays but is nearly deserted the rest of the week, making it perfect for quiet picnics and extended walks along the beach.