Bikes And Hikes LA Allows Couples to See a Different Side of the Famous City

The Short Version: Bikes And Hikes LA changes the way individuals, couples, and families see Los Angeles by allowing them to explore places where buses can’t go. The tours are perfect for an active date, as participants can see the sights while getting some exercise and not get stuck in traffic. Bikes And Hikes LA offers three different biking tours, and its hiking tours set out for the famous Hollywood sign twice a day. The tours are an excellent option for visitors and locals alike who are looking for something a little different.

Meeting at a bar or a restaurant is a pretty standard first date, even though it can be challenging for singles to differentiate themselves — or have a memorable experience. But getting outdoors, doing something active, and even engaging with other people can provide a laid-back, refreshing way to get to know someone.

In fact, a simple walk in the park can be a great date idea for a variety of reasons. First, it can demonstrate your interest in physical fitness and wellness to the other person, which many singles find important. Second, you and your date will likely feel better because of all the endorphins you naturally produce during exercise.

Bikes And Hikes LA allows couples to experience the city in a different way.

Another benefit is that it opens up conversations with new people as you explore the world around you —with less awkward eye contact than what you’ll find when you try and start a conversation at a bar.

Jason Bowers, of Bikes And Hikes LA, told us the group’s hiking and biking tours around Los Angeles are incredibly popular with couples for many of those same reasons.

The company offers two guided hikes and a variety of bike tours each day. According to Jason, they provide an ideal way to get to know someone — whether it’s a first date between two Los Angeles locals or a romantic getaway for a long-time couple.

The group tours may not seem like a romantic date at first, but there’s something meaningful about seeing how your partner interacts with you and others in the group.

“It’s easier to be real when you’re exercising,” Jason said. “With a hike or bike tour, you’re outside and doing something active. You’re not at a movie where you don’t have a chance to interact.”

Jason said the idea for the company began nine years ago when founder Danny Roman was traveling and participated in bike tours in cities around the world. He realized that there was no such option in Los Angeles, where people often get stuck in traffic while trying to experience the city.

“And it’s beautiful year-round here. Compare that to a country like the Netherlands, where they are constantly biking — even though it rains all the time,” Jason said. “This is a great way to showcase the city without being stuck in a bus or impacting the environment. You’re getting exercise and seeing more of the city because you can bypass the traffic.”

Participants have a lot of opportunities to go where buses can’t.

Today, the company is based in West Hollywood and offers six biking and hiking tours each day throughout Los Angeles. The company offers group tours as well as private VIP and corporate outings.

Bikes And Hikes LA is considered one of the best things to do in the city — and for a good reason. Although Los Angeles is filled with fitness-minded individuals, many residents — along with visitors, of course — don’t know where the best hiking trails are or where to go for a safe and fun bike ride.

The business is open 365 days a year, and it also rents bikes to couples and families for unguided day adventures. The full-time mechanics on staff ensure the bikes are always in excellent condition, making the excursions run smoothly.

The company even offers electric bikes for those who may want to take it a little easier.

Many of the Bikes And Hikes LA tour guides also work in the entertainment industry. They are often actors, singers, or comedians who want to stay fit for their roles, and they enjoy putting smiles on the faces of those who sign up for the tours. It’s the kind of workplace that is perfect for juggling gigs. That makes all of the employees pretty happy, Jason said.

“We don’t have behind-the-scenes drama. We don’t see fights breaking out. It’s a young, fun environment,” he said.

That relaxed vibe translates well to the tours. Its hiking tours set out twice a day, one at 10 a.m. and the second at sunset. Both last about 2.5 hours and cover 3.5 miles as the group makes its way from Griffith Park to the Hollywood Sign.

Along the way, participants will see the famous Griffith Park Observatory, the Greek Theatre, Mount Hollywood, views of downtown Los Angeles, and many prominent film locations. Plus, there’s a good chance you may even see a celebrity walking the trail with their dog.

Then, there’s the company’s signature LA in a Day Bike Tour, which is a 32-mile loop from West Hollywood to Santa Monica and back — with a few stops in between, of course. It also offers two shorter tours — the Celebrity Bike Tour and the Hollywood Bike Adventure.

“The Celebrity Bike Tour rides through West Hollywood and Beverly Hills to see where the rich and famous eat, play, and shop,” Jason said. “The Hollywood Bike Adventure offers all the sites in Hollywood that you would otherwise have to see while stuck on the bus.”

Jason said that most people who sign up for a tour are visitors, but many locals who sign up are pleasantly surprised to learn things about Los Angeles. For example, the Greystone Mansion is a massive estate in Beverly Hills that has a fascinating history, but many locals don’t even know that it’s there — or that it’s open to the public.

The tours are open to people of all ages, and many participants return to take another tour since each guide makes the experience unique.

“It’s nice to just ride through the streets of Beverly Hills on a tour to see all the lavish mansions. and it will feel different the second time you do it,” Jason said. “Plus, you get to see places in Los Angeles that the buses can’t reach.”

Many couples look for date activities that have more adventure. Jason said Bikes And Hikes LA even shies away from using the word tour since it offers a unique experience.

“Professionals often do their meetings on a hike. They don’t do their meetings in a coffee shop or bars,” he told us.

To cater to that executive crowd, the company also offers corporate outings and VIP tours for groups who want to learn all the fun facts without being around strangers. Those excursions continue to grow in popularity as more organizations want to use hiking and biking as a team-building activity, Jason said.