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Five Great Outdoor Activities For The First Day Of Summer In Los Angeles

Summer in the city of Los Angeles means going about your day while soaking up the sun outdoors in fun activities that can also be productive. From hitting the City of Angels' hottest flea markets to taking some time to play with your dog at a park specifically meant for that activity, following are five of the best outdoor expeditions meant to make this new season packed with pleasant things to do.

segway tour
(credit: Segway)

Segway Los Angeles
1660 Ocean Ave.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 395-1395
www.segway.la

Price: $79 two hours/$35 additional hours/$275 24 hours/$495 one week/$995 one month

Nothing says summer like the sea salt in the air and a little wind in your hair. To catch that wind, rent a Segway and cover the paths in front of the Pacific by exerting little to no effort on one of these electrified two-wheelers. Pack a picnic and jet to any number of beaches in the area for an impromptu picnic, or spend the day shopping without those new-flip-flop blisters. Be sure to commit to beach hair: Between the wind and those awesome helmets, this is a fun, but maybe not-so-sexy summer trip.

A Lion and Lioness at the Los Angeles Zoo
(credit: MARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images)


Los Angeles Zoo
5333 Zoo Dr.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 644-4200
www.lazoo.org

Price: $16 adults ages 13 and older/$13 seniors age 62 and older/$11 children ages 2 to 12/free children 2 and younger/free parking

Take a trip to the city's stellar zoo to celebrate summer in a furry way. Enjoy new critters just settling in this wondrous Griffith Park sanctuary as well as time-honored zoo favorites. The nursery on the premises promises a treat for the whole family with close-ups of the cutest babies in the zoo. Take a stroll through the zoo's botanical gardens for a glimpse into the seasons around the world, with everything from Hong Kong orchids to Mexican fan palms.

Related: Best Unique Summer Day Camps

22 Landing
Photo Credit: 22ndstreet.com

22nd Street Landing
141 W. 22nd St.
San Pedro, CA 90731
(310) 521-0222
www.22ndstreet.com

Click here for charter boat pricing

No two words say more about taking a break than "gone fishing." So do it. Go fishing. Simply head for San Pedro and the 22nd Street Landing, which launches rental boats for some of the best sportfishing in the world. Perfect for a spontaneous half-day trip, welcome summer in nature's catch-and-release paradise. Rent tackle and anything you could need right here, so just get in the car and go.

Long Beach Antique Market
(credit: longbeachantiquemarket.com)

Long Beach Antique Market
Long Beach Veterans Stadium
4901 E. Conant St.
Long Beach CA 90808
(323) 655-5703
www.longbeachantiquemarket.com

This is arguably Los Angeles' biggest bargain spot for unearthing treasures for vintage collections or as conversation pieces to place in any Southland abode. For the best area in which to barter your way to owning a new piece of memorabilia, head through the entry gate and the first section of the market until you reach the back. There, last-minute sellers who did not reserve a space set up with sales galore. Enjoy, and make sure to wear your shades. It's hot out there.

Related: Have An Endless Summer

dog catching frisbee
Photo Credit: ThinkStock

Silver Lake Dog Park
1877 Silver Lake Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
www.laparks.org/

Price: free

There's nothing like finally getting back outside with the pups when spring is over. This small dog park on the east side is ideal for pooch playtime and introducing them to others in the neighborhood. Here Silver Lake's brigade of residents and visitors swap stories about their pets and other passions while the dogs get all of that pent-up winter energy out. Volunteers are encouraged to help make this community-run enterprise even better. 

Los Angeles freelance travel writer Jane Lasky, contributes to publications such as Travel + Leisure, Vogue and Esquire. Her weekly sojourning column ran in 40 newspapers for 20 years. Jane is anything but an accidental tourist. Check out her articles on Examiner.com.

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