Enjoy the Great Outdoors in LA with Friends and Family

With incredible weather virtually year-round, it’s easy to see why Los Angeles is the destination of choice for approximately 50 million visitors each year. Of those millions of tourists and visitors, many come as groups, and L.A. does not disappoint when it comes to offering activities that even large groups can enjoy together. Here’s a look at some of the best outdoor activities for groups in L.A.

Los Angeles is well-known for its love of cars. But the best way to get up close and personal with the city's history is by exploring on foot. Explore historic Downtown L.A. with a Los Angeles Conservancy group tour; discover old Hollywood with the aptly named Only In Hollywood tours; or immerse yourself in the L.A. art scene with LA Art Tours.

If you’re into all things oceanic, a sportfishing tour or a whale watching tour will fulfill your desire to spend time on the sea. Watch for pods of dolphins, sea lions, and whales while appreciating the beauty of the Pacific. Sportfishing trips and whale watching excursions for groups leave from both Marina del Rey and San Pedro.

If your group includes animal lovers, rest assured, L.A. has you covered. Experience some of the best views in L.A. thanks to 1 hour, or 2-hour horseback riding tours available from Sunset Ranch Hollywood. You can also opt for a sunset ride and ensuing BBQ dinner, while taking in 360-degree views of the city from your saddle.

Alternately, you can connect with rescued wolves at the Wolf Connection sanctuary, where you may book a semi-private group tour, a private visit, or reserve your spot on a community hike, allowing your group to learn more about wolves, meet and engage with dozens of rescued wolves and wolf-dogs just north of L.A.

You can also spend the day giving love to animals that were severely neglected, abused, or otherwise unable to be adopted, with a group visit to The Gentle Barn. Home to horses, donkeys, cows, pigs, sheep, goats, turkeys, peacocks, emus, and more, The Gentle Barn invites you to book a tour for you and up to 20 friends and spend time with the animals, helping to groom, feed and pamper them.

Group tours from Bikes and Hikes are sure to delight everyone. Indeed, private hikes to the Hollywood Sign, celebrity bike tours, and beach bike tours through Santa Monica and Venice afford your group plenty of exercise, while enjoying the incredible outdoors in L.A.

No visit to L.A. is complete without spending time on the gorgeous coast. But at Dockweiler State Beach, your fun doesn’t have to end when the sun goes down. Complete with BBQs, firepits, volleyball courts, picnic areas, and even a hang-gliding facility, your group can make the most of the best coast by spending a day at Dockweiler.

L.A. loves to support local artisans. If your group is interested in shopping while enjoying the pleasant weather, you’ll love a visit to an outdoor flea market. Every second Saturday of the month, you’re invited to explore and enjoy “the greatest flea market on earth," the famed Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena. You can also bring home a gift or a keepsake from Artists and Fleas in Venice, or shop the Silverlake Flea (both held every Saturday).

Sunshine and comfortable temps make L.A. the perfect place for a group picnic. From Downtown L.A. to the coast, there’s a sweet spot for you and your group to enjoy a day of relaxation at numerous locales. Some of our favorites include Grand Park in Downtown L.A., Echo Park Lake, Pan Pacific Park adjacent to The Grove, and Will Rogers State Historic Park in Pacific Palisades.

Music under the sun or stars is yours to enjoy with tons of outdoor concerts all year long. The iconic Hollywood Bowl offers groups the opportunity to take in a LA Phil concert (or free rehearsal). Likewise, the Greek Theatre and Ford Theatres offer an evening of fun in open air settings.

If you’re visiting in the summer, head to Chinatown’s Summer Nights on the second Saturday of the month (June-August), or to Downtown for Dance DTLA (Friday nights June 21-Aug. 30). At Live at the Arboretum, you’ll find headliners such as Dwight Yoakam from June-September. Additionally, Sunset Concerts at the Skirball Cultural Center begin July 18, while Jazz at LACMA is held every Friday evening from April through November. During the day, you can also enjoy Sunday Sessions at Grand Park (June-September). And later this summer, Twilight at the Pier returns for its 35th year at the Santa Monica landmark.

Watercraft rentals in L.A. allow your group to spend a self-guided day on the water. From stand-up paddleboards to Duffy Electric Boats and jet skis, renting your own aquamobiles while in L.A. is sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

Collectively known as the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Getty Center and the Getty Villa are must-sees for groups. Perched on a hilltop above Brentwood, the Getty Center offers group tours of the stunning grounds and architecture tours year-round. Be sure to enjoy the view of the Santa Monica Mountains while having lunch (complete with locally sourced ingredients) at the onsite restaurant.

Located in Pacific Palisades, the Getty Villa hosts Tea by the Sea - perfect after you take a free group tour of the Roman Villa and the gorgeous gardens.

World-famous Observatory? Check. Zoo? Check. Hiking trails and beautiful vistas? Check. Gardens for picnicking? Check. There is truly something to delight everyone in your group at the Los Angeles treasure known as Griffith Park. Explore as a group or break off on your own.  Either way, you’ll find that you can fill a whole day exploring this gorgeous 4,210-acre park in the heart of L.A.

L.A.’s year-round sunshine means that the city is constantly in bloom. While you’ll see trees, shrubs and flowers nearly everywhere you look, you’ll find mind-boggling blossoms at Descanso Gardens (viewable on foot, or during your enchanted railroad tour), the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens (which houses 16 themed gardens), and the Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanical Gardens (where docent-led adult walking tours are available October-June).

You needn’t head to a concert hall or theatre to find world-class performances in the entertainment capital of the world. On the contrary - plays and musicals are readily available outdoors. Interested in a live performance deep in Coldwater Canyon? Purchase tickets for Once Upon a Canyon Night and take your pick from stand-up comedy, radio plays, show tunes and other carefully curated performances.

Got a hankering for Shakespeare? Head over to the Old Zoo at Griffith Park for the free Griffith Park Shakespeare Festival (through September 1) to catch Pericles or Twelfth Night. Likewise, in Topanga you can enjoy Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream courtesy of Theatricum Botanicum, which is also presenting Moby Dick, An Enemy of the People, and The Skin of Our Teeth during the 2019 season.

We’ve got professional sports galore in L.A., which means there is no shortage of games to attend outdoors. Enjoy group ticket pricing to support the Dodgers, and added perks as a group when attending an LAFC or LA Galaxy match. This fall, cheer on the Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum or the Chargers at Dignity Health Sports Park.