Recess!

Santa Monicas Clover Park Circuit

Remember hanging upside down from the monkey bars? Indulge a blast from the past at a grown-up's version of a jungle gym followed by lunch at a retro-themed airport diner. Santa Monica's Clover Park is the place to break a sweat before breaking for lunch. It's got a 1-mile circuit of 15 exercise stations, including a rope climb, dip station, hamstring stretch, and vault bar. Start at any point and make your way around the perimeter of the park, jogging or walking between each workout. When you've completed the course, walk or jog 1.5 miles to the Spitfire Grill at the Santa Monica Airport. After your retro workout, this retro-plane-themed diner is the perfect spot to refuel. The outdoor patio is a prime viewing area for watching tiny planes take off and land. Although it's changed names over the years, this grill has been catering to the airport and surrounding neighborhood since 1954. Today its walls are covered with military and aircraft memorabilia, and menu items are named after planes and pilots, like the Spirit of St. Louis Burger, Howard Hughes salad, and Frequent Flyer—a classic Cobb salad. Kickin' it old-school.

Clover Park, 2600 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica. Free parking onsite. Spitfire Grill, 3300 Airport Ave., at the Santa Monica Airport. Both the park and the patio at Spitfire Grill are dog-friendly!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Afternoon on the Island

    What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!

    View
  2. Golden Gate's Blue Heron

    Golden Gate Park’s Blue Heron Lake is home to birds of many feathers, turtles lounging on rocks, visitors from afar, and locals who love this urban oasis in San Francisco. Try the "Boats and Breakfast" rowboat or pedal boat deal.

    View
  3. Rio Del Mar-velous

    Rio Del Mar State Beach in Aptos might be one of the best places for a treasure hunt. Its location between two other beaches makes for a good stroll featuring a spectacle of wildlife as you search the sand for sea glass and seashells.

    View
  4. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Gentle Giants

    Some people visit national parks to marvel at the iconic sights, while others come seeking solitude in nature. With visitation on the rise, it can be hard to find both. But in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, this pair of trails offers both....

    View
  2. Walking the Los Angeles River Trail Through Frogtown

    Frogtown Strutter’s Stroll

    Don’t go dismissing the Los Angeles River as merely a 51-mile concrete channel. It’s a genuine urban artery that links real neighborhoods, and its riverside bike/ped paths endear i

    View
  3. Griffith's Golden

    With over 4,200 acres and hundreds of trails, Griffith Park is the gold standard. Opt for the lesser-hiked northwestern end of the park and visit the 2.25-mile Skyline and Oak Canyon loop from Travel Town.

    View
  4. Sponsored

    Fall for It All in Reno Tahoe

    The best kind of getaway? Less time on logistics, more time on memory-making. Jackpot! You’ve got Reno Tahoe.

    View