Southern California - Help me give some tourists the Santa Monica bike path beach experience...

I have some bike-friendly friends coming in to LA from out of town this weekend, and they say they want to ride up and down the bike path around the South Bay.

Unfortunately I don't know my way around there and wouldn't know the best place to park and start riding. Can anybody help out?

Are they staying on the Westside (Santa Monica) or the South Bay? Do they like leisurely, recreational riding or hills?
Do they need to rent bikes or are they bring some with them?

Staying in Pasadena and they'll have bikes with them.

They just want to cruise the beach and be tourists. I guess parking on Venice Blvd would probably be the best bet, right?

If they're in Pasadena, they can drive west south on the 110 through downtown, and head west on the 10 (Santa Monica Freeway) until it stops at the beach. There is plenty of parking if they go early.

Here's an earlier thread about the paths and a link. It's very easy to follow, although they will have to detour through Marina del Rey.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=270137
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Los-Angeles-Beack-Bike-Path

If they don't mind a few hundred feet of (not terribly steep) climbing, they can go to the lookout on the Palos Verdes Peninsula for some spectacular views. It's only 3 additional miles and the view is worth it. http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Bike-Path-to-PV-Viewing
If they want to go farther, they can follow PV South through some easy rollers for several more miles. It's quite picturesque.

If they're in Pasadena, they can drive west south on the 110 through downtown, and head west on the 10 (Santa Monica Freeway) until it stops at the beach. There is plenty of parking if they go early.

Here's an earlier thread about the paths and a link. It's very easy to follow, although they will have to detour through Marina del Rey.
http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=270137
http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/Los-Angeles-Beack-Bike-Path

If they don't mind a few hundred feet of (not terribly steep) climbing, they can go to the lookout on the Palos Verdes Peninsula for some spectacular views.

Thanks!

:D

Oops, I meant they so south on the 110 from Pasadena, not west.

How far do you want to ride and what particularly do you want to see?

Parking all along The Strand is tough no matter but it's particularly bad in Venice up to Santa Monica.

There is a marina vilage in Marina Del Rey. I think you have to pay for parking but it's a nice place to start. You imediately get on the bike path and can ride a couple of miles to venice. I used to park in Playa Del Rey - they are many public lots towards the marina and then ride over the bridge (which is nice) into Marina Del Rey. Or we used to park at some of the shopping centers off Sepulveda and ride the mile or so down to the beach. Other option is to park up in Santa Monica at the paid beach lots and ride down to Venice.

Or if they can do some mileage, park down at Rat Beach in Torrance and take The Strand through Torrance, Redondo, Hermosa, Manhatten, Dockweiler, Playa, Marina, Venice to Santa Monica and back. About 30 - 40 miles round trip. Lots to see and do.

How far do you want to ride and what particularly do you want to see?

Parking all along The Strand is tough no matter but it's particularly bad in Venice up to Santa Monica.

There is a marina vilage in Marina Del Rey. I think you have to pay for parking but it's a nice place to start. You imediately get on the bike path and can ride a couple of miles to venice. I used to park in Playa Del Rey - they are many public lots towards the marina and then ride over the bridge (which is nice) into Marina Del Rey. Or we used to park at some of the shopping centers off Sepulveda and ride the mile or so down to the beach. Other option is to park up in Santa Monica at the paid beach lots and ride down to Venice.

Or if they can do some mileage, park down at Rat Beach in Torrance and take The Strand through Torrance, Redondo, Hermosa, Manhatten, Dockweiler, Playa, Marina, Venice to Santa Monica and back. About 30 - 40 miles round trip. Lots to see and do.

Park at Dock 52 in Marina Del Rey. Large free parking lot down the street from the Village. Ride down just past the Village to pick up the bike path.

Sheldon

Park at Dock 52 in Marina Del Rey. Large free parking lot down the street from the Village. Ride down just past the Village to pick up the bike path.
Sheldon
2nd that. And take the 405 fwy south from the (edit) 10 to the Marina Fwy. then west to Marina Del Rey.

2nd that. And take the 405 fwy south from the 110 to the Marina Fwy. then west to Marina Del Rey.

Correction: "from the 10"
;)

Correction: "from the 10"
;)
affirmative

Correction: "from the 10"
;)I stand corrected. Thank you. My error.