A New Way to Sightsee in West Hollywood

Sightseeing. What does that conjure up? A gigantic tour bus, driving for hours around a city to see the sites, looking through a window to get a glimpse at the points of interest?

Today, I went on a tour unlike any I've ever experienced. I wasn't on a bus, I was on a bike. And, it was more than a tour. It was an exhilarating adventure.

Bikes and Hikes LA, an eco-friendly tour company does sightseeing by bicycle (and on foot for hikes). It's a hands-on, visceral kind of touring that gets you up close and personal with Los Angeles. Plus the well-versed and entertaining tour guide tells you how many calories you'll burn! Their "LA in a Day" tour takes you on a big loop all around Los Angeles from Beverly Hills to the beach towns and everything in between. (and by the way, they provide the bikes!)

We started on Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood and headed for Beverly Hills.
We then parked our bikes for a brief walking tour of The Greystone Mansion, impressive to say the least.  Afterward, we cruised along the quintessential wide fancy streets filled with palm trees and mansions. The tour director pointed out famous homes of big Hollywood stars, celebrities and legends. "One of the unique things about Beverly Hills is that each street is uniformed with a specific specie of tree, and it extends through the entire city" he explained.  I’ve been living here for many years and had no idea.

As we strolled down one street we stopped at a driveway. "This was where Michael Jackson Lived. Remember the footage of the ambulance backing out of the driveway? It was right here." As I stood next to my bike at the gate of this gigantic home, I was suddenly transported to that fateful day in 2009 when Jackson died." Then, I looked down and there was Michael Jackson's image stamped on the cement.

We continued gliding through the gorgeous streets, filled with celebrity estates; Dr. Phil's home, the previous home of Lana Turner where  her daughter shot and killed her boyfriend (rumors are that Lana may have been the shooter) the last place Lucille Ball lived, Frank Sinatra's former home, Jennifer Lopez and Mark Antony's new home, Elvis Presley's former home and so many more.

There's something about being on a bike, immersed in the environment, feeling the wind at your back, smelling the pine trees, roses and manicured lawns and feeling your heart pumping, that takes touring to a whole new level. It makes you feel more alive.

As we cruised through Bel Air, it was time for a short break. The Japanese Gardens were the perfect rest stop. We walked through the entrance right into Shangri-La with cobble stone paths, little waterfalls, bamboo plants, Birds of Paradise, Koi ponds, even a traditional Japanese Tea Room. In an instant, I was at peace, so I had to do a quick meditation!  The sweeping views add a magical feel to this special place. Now I was reinvigorated, ready for the next part of our journey.

We headed off to the flatlands toward the beach. Suddenly, we were catapulted into a completely new environment, with tall buildings, sidewalks and city streets. Then the city streets morphed into expansive roads, filled with beautiful Santa Monica homes.

When we turned a corner, I got a huge whiff of ocean air. I could feel it. We were getting closer to the beach. We rode along the beach path  to the artsy enclaves of Venice.  Suddenly I was transported to the hippie days of the 1960s. From there we cruised along Venice's famous street, Abbot Kinney.  We stopped for lunch at this local pizza place and had their special salad pizza. Then we hopped back on our bikes and rode along the Venice Canals lined with adorable cottages. I was transported once again. This time it was a quaint European town.

It was time to head home. I put on my iPod and sailed on the bike path along a river. I was the perfect end to a great day. I was in sort of a biking meditation, feeling great in my skin.

The final stretch of the LA in a Day Ride  was cruising through some fascinating ethnic neighborhoods,  women strolling with their children, adorned in colorful, flowing, garb. And then just as I thought we were done, we ended our tour with a cruise up the paparazzi infested Robertson Boulevard (they were out en mass waiting at a famous restaurant to get their money shot of some celeb).

As we rode our last block, I was deliciously spent. It was a full day of touring, experiencing, exercising and pure fun.

Adventure Tip: Go off the beaten path. Be a different kind of tourist. Get out of your comfort zone (and your car!) and have an up close and personal adventure.

This Thursday, May 19, is West Hollywood's "Bike to Work Day."