Los Angeles: Santa Monica and Venice Beach Segway Tour

The fun begins before you reach Venice: you learn to steer a Segway, then roll along the broad waterfront paths from Santa Monica toward one of California’s most offbeat beach districts. I like the way this tour covers both the polished side of Santa Monica and the bohemian side of Venice in only two hours. I also like that the route includes the Santa Monica Pier and Venice canals, not just a straight ride beside the sand.

The main thing to consider is the price: at $199 per person, this is not a bargain beach stroll. You are paying for the guide, equipment, short training session, and the chance to cover much more ground than you could on foot. Wear the right footwear, arrive at the correct hotel entrance, and remember that sports shoes, sandals, and flip flops are not allowed.

Key points to know before you book

• The route links two very different beach communities: Santa Monica feels polished and open, while Venice brings canals, unusual homes, street performers, and an artsy edge.
• A practice session comes first: You get safety instruction and time to learn the Segway before riding among other people.
• The Santa Monica meeting point is easy to miss: Look for the beachfront entrance of Casa Del Mar Hotel, not Segway of Santa Monica.
• Muscle Beach is part of the ride: This famous outdoor fitness spot gives the tour a strong pop-culture connection.
• Past guides have included Luce and Cameron: Guide assignments can vary, but English and Spanish tours are offered.
• The tour suits families with older children: Participants must be at least 8 years old, and helmets, snacks, and beverages are included.

From Casa Del Mar to the Santa Monica waterfront

Your starting point is the beachfront entrance of the Casa Del Mar Hotel at 1910 Ocean Way in Santa Monica. The meeting spot is near the toll booth just south of the hotel. This detail matters because there is another business called Segway of Santa Monica, and it is not the company running this tour.

Look for a guide wearing an Another Side Tours shirt and riding a Segway. If you have trouble finding the group, the supplied contact number is 310-289-8687. A cash parking lot sits beside Casa Del Mar, with parking listed at $7 to $12. Build that extra cost into your budget, along with time to park and walk to the beachfront entrance.

Before setting off, you receive a helmet and a safety lesson. You also get time to practice. One useful detail from the tour experience is that the initial instruction takes place on a parking area, giving you a calmer place to get comfortable before joining the waterfront paths.

A Segway is simple once you understand the controls, but it does require balance and attention. You lean slightly to move, shift your direction to turn, and use the controls to manage your pace. I would not rush this first stage. A few extra minutes of practice can make the rest of the ride much more relaxed, especially if this is your first time using one.

Santa Monica Pier and Ocean Front Walk

Once you are comfortable, the tour heads along the waterfront toward the Santa Monica Pier. The pier is one of the city’s best-known sights, with its long reach over the Pacific and its familiar place in films and television. From a Segway, you get a moving view rather than a long stop devoted to every attraction on the pier.

That distinction is important. This is a sightseeing ride, not a full pier visit with time for rides, games, or a long meal. You should expect to see the pier as part of the route and enjoy the view, but you should not book this tour if your main aim is to spend half a day exploring the pier itself.

The ride continues along Ocean Front Walk, where the scene shifts between beach activity, seaside homes, galleries, and public paths. Santa Monica has a more polished feel than Venice, and the route lets you see some of that change without needing a car or a separate transfer.

I like this part of the tour because the Segway gives you a useful middle ground. Walking from Santa Monica Pier to Venice and back would take time and energy, while driving would separate you from the waterfront. On the Segway, you remain outside, move at a steady pace, and can take in the shoreline as you go.

You should still expect a public beach setting, not an empty coastal road. The ride shares space with people on the boardwalk and other beach users. Listen closely to your guide and keep the pace set by the group. Your guide’s job is not only to point out sights, but also to help you ride safely through changing conditions.

The California Heritage Museum stop

The route includes a stop at the California Heritage Museum. This gives the two-hour ride a small cultural pause between the long waterfront sections.

The museum is valuable here because it breaks up the ride and adds a place-based stop beyond beaches and celebrity associations. The supplied details do not promise a long museum visit or a particular exhibition, so I would treat it as a stop during the route rather than plan your entire booking around museum time.

If you enjoy tours that mix scenery with a little local culture, this makes the itinerary more varied. If you want a fast, nonstop ride, the stop may feel like a brief interruption. The overall schedule is fixed at two hours, so your guide will manage the timing.

Entering Venice Beach and Abbot Kinney’s unusual idea

From Santa Monica, the tour continues into Venice Beach. Venice was laid out by developer Abbot Kinney as a fantasy version of Venice in northern Italy. The canals are the clearest reminder of that plan, but the neighborhood has grown into something very different from its European model.

This is where the tour becomes less polished and more unpredictable in character. You ride past unusual architecture, distinctive homes, art galleries, and an active beach scene. Street performers add another layer, though their presence and performances naturally vary from one day to the next.

The canals are one of the strongest reasons to choose this route. They offer a change from the open beach and give you a look at a residential side of Venice that is easy to miss if you only visit the boardwalk. The homes and paths around the canals also make the ride feel more local and less like a simple sweep past tourist landmarks.

Do not expect Venice to look uniform. Its appeal comes from the mix: carefully designed homes, creative spaces, beach culture, and a bohemian feel. Some people will love that variety. Others may prefer Santa Monica’s cleaner, more orderly appearance. I think the contrast is the point of combining both neighborhoods in one ride.

Muscle Beach and the famous Venice Boardwalk

The tour also passes Muscle Beach, the outdoor workout area made famous by films and television. Even if you have never visited before, you may recognize the idea: athletes training in public, with the beach as their backdrop.

This stop gives the tour a strong connection to popular culture, but it is also a real part of Venice’s public beach identity. You see how exercise, performance, and sightseeing overlap along the boardwalk. The experience is more about seeing the setting than joining in.

Venice Boardwalk brings the largest concentration of local color on the route. Street performers, galleries, shops, beach users, and unusual buildings create plenty to watch. You will want to keep your attention on the path as well as the scenery, since the boardwalk can require careful riding.

I would book this tour for the chance to see Venice in motion, not for a quiet, slow look at every storefront. The Segway helps you cover the distance, but it also means you will not stop at every gallery or performer. If a particular shop or artist catches your eye, note its location and return later on foot.

How the guides shape the experience

A good guide matters more on a Segway tour than on a standard walking route. You need clear safety instructions, sensible pacing, and useful directions while riding in a public beach setting.

Guides associated with this tour have included Luce and Cameron. Luce has been singled out for strong service and an engaging approach, while Cameron has been remembered for being a great guide. Assignments can change, so you should view those names as examples rather than a promise of who will lead your departure.

English and Spanish are available. The guide handles the route and helps you get used to the equipment, while you remain responsible for listening to instructions and riding within your comfort level.

One useful family detail is that a tour guide helped two teenagers enjoy the ride by making the sights interesting rather than treating the outing as a basic equipment lesson. That is the right way to think about this experience. You are not merely renting a Segway. You are using it as a way to connect Santa Monica and Venice with someone directing your attention along the way.

What is included, and what you still need to plan

The $199 price includes the two-hour guided Segway tour, helmet, safety instruction, professional guide, snacks, and beverages. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you must make your own way to Casa Del Mar Hotel.

The value depends on how you like to explore. If you already planned to rent bikes or walk the waterfront, the price may feel high. A cheaper option could let you travel independently, though it would not include the initial instruction, guide commentary, or organized route.

I see the strongest value for a first-time visitor with limited time. In two hours, you can connect Santa Monica Pier, Ocean Front Walk, the California Heritage Museum, Venice Beach, the canals, Muscle Beach, and the Venice Boardwalk. Doing all of that on foot would take more effort, and driving would make the beach setting harder to enjoy.

The snacks and drinks are a small but useful touch. You do not need to stop the ride to find refreshments during the short outing. They do not transform the price into a bargain, but they make the package feel more complete.

There is no stated hotel transfer, so this is best for someone already staying near Santa Monica or willing to arrange transportation. The nearby cash parking lot helps, but you should bring cash if you plan to use it.

Age, clothing, and comfort

Children must be at least 8 years old. That makes the tour possible for families with older children, but it is not designed for younger kids.

Pay close attention to the footwear rule. Sandals, flip flops, and sports shoes are listed as not allowed. The information does not provide a more detailed clothing list, so check with Another Side Tours if you are unsure what footwear meets the requirement.

The ride takes place outdoors along the beach, and the tour description points to California sunshine as part of the setting. Bring the level of sun protection you normally use for a beach outing, but do not forget that anything you carry should be manageable while riding.

The tour may suit you if you like an active sightseeing format and are open to learning a new vehicle. It may not suit you if you want long indoor visits, extended time at the pier, or the freedom to stop whenever you choose.

Timing, cancellation, and who gets the most from it

The tour lasts two hours, with starting times available according to the booking calendar. Morning departures can offer a quieter feel, based on the experience of an early ride when Santa Monica was still calm and the temperature was pleasant. Later departures may give you a livelier beach scene, but the exact feel depends on the day.

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Confirmation is sent by the activity provider within 48 hours of purchase, so keep an eye on your booking details before heading to the meeting point.

I think the tour is best for:

• First-time visitors who want a fast introduction to Santa Monica and Venice
• Families with children aged 8 and older
• Couples who want an active way to see the waterfront
• People who enjoy guides, local stories, and a set route
• Anyone who would rather glide than walk the full distance between the two beach areas

I would think twice if you dislike group pacing, feel uneasy on balance-based equipment, or want to spend most of your time inside museums and galleries. The tour gives you an overview, not a deep visit at every stop.

Should you book the Santa Monica and Venice Segway Tour?

Book it if you want to connect two very different beach communities in a short time and like the idea of learning a Segway with a guide. The route has a good mix of major sights and local character: Santa Monica Pier, Ocean Front Walk, the California Heritage Museum, Venice canals, Muscle Beach, galleries, and unusual homes.

At $199, it is a premium activity. I would choose it when time is limited, when walking long distances is not appealing, or when you want a guided introduction rather than an independent rental. I would skip it if the price stretches your budget or if you prefer to explore Venice slowly on foot.

For the smoothest outing, arrive at Casa Del Mar early, confirm that your footwear is allowed, and give yourself time to practice. Do that, and the tour offers an efficient, good-humored way to see the famous Santa Monica and Venice waterfront without spending the whole day on foot.

FAQ

How long is the Santa Monica and Venice Segway Tour?

The tour lasts two hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $199 per person.

Where does the tour meet?

It meets at the beachfront entrance of the Casa Del Mar Hotel, near the toll booth just south of the hotel, at 1910 Ocean Way, Santa Monica, California 90405.

How do I identify the tour guide at the meeting point?

Look for a guide riding a Segway and wearing an Another Side Tours shirt.

Is the meeting point the same as Segway of Santa Monica?

No. The meeting point is for Another Side Tours, and it is not Segway of Santa Monica.

Is parking available near the meeting point?

Yes. A cash parking lot is next to Casa Del Mar Hotel. Parking is listed at $7 to $12.

What does the tour include?

It includes the two-hour Segway tour, helmet, safety instruction, professional guide, snacks, and beverages.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

What languages are available?

The tour is offered with live guides in English and Spanish.

What is the minimum age?

Participants must be at least 8 years old. Children under 8 cannot join the tour.

What footwear is not allowed?

Sandals, flip flops, and sports shoes are listed as not allowed. Contact the provider if you need to confirm suitable footwear.

Can I cancel for a refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.