Things to do near LAX
 

I have a Monday 4:00 PM flight in a few weeks from LAX to JFK and I'm looking to do something with the morning that will leave me time to get to the airport by 2:00 (whether I need to or not, I like to get to the airport 2 hours early).

I am interested in something to do with nature, mountains or scenery (not interested in Hollywood or amusement parks or art museums, etc.) that would be nice on a Fall Monday.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

S

The Ballona Wetlands are very close to LAX less than five minutes just North on Lincoln Blvd.

www.ballonafriends.org/

The Getty Museum is approximately one-half hour North of LAX. It is great...you could spend days there. Check the website. Be wary of traffic conditions.

Depending on your actual location in LA, get to Santa Monica (bout 20 min No of LAX. Park in lot west of Lincoln/Pico or just valet at Shutters. Walk down to bike path (south of Shutters) and rent a Bike. Ride south thru Venice Beach towards Marina Del Rey, then back.

Another website worth looking at for many hiking trails would be the Santa Monica Mountain Conservancy site.

http://smmc.ca.gov/

I assume you'll have a car. Just parking your own car, or need to allow time to return a rental car and then take a shuttle to the airport?

Yes, knowing where you're starting from is important in giving suggestions. What's feasible will be rather different if you're starting in Orange County vs. Hollywood vs. the San Fernando Valley vs. downtown L.A. vs. Santa Monica. Not just in terms of distance, but also what rush hour traffic you'll likely encounter in the morning.

LAX isn't exactly in an area famed for natural beauty. I haven't been to the wetlands. They could be interesting. I'm not sure about hiking in the SM Mountains unless you are starting near there and/or plan on getting a very early start, since you'd likely need to allow up to an hour to get to LAX. The Getty is great (free entrance, but $15 for parking). Again, not exactly nature, but the art is great and you can get nice views of the L.A. area, from the San Gabriel Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Again, depending on where you're starting point is, Griffith Park could be doable: nice, for the zoo, the planetarium and the trails. You could also drive up Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu, or even Zuma.

If you can let folks know where you're starting from and how early a start you plan on getting, I think you'll get better ideas.