Universal City Outdoor Activities

Steve Ellis and Ken Lindsay have traveled far and wide to hone their fly-fishing skills—they bring knowledge gained in Belize, New Zealand, Argentina, Chile, and several US states to their Van Nuys fly-fishing shop, Fishermen’s Spot. For the past four decades, the shop has stocked high-quality fishing gear from makers such as Sage, Simms, Winston, and Abel, as well as vintage equipment such as bamboo rods and ancient flies that still haven't evolved wings. To complement these wares, the shop offers classes that help students master fly-fishing basics, such as casting, selecting tackle and flies, and tying knots.

The staff members at Another Side Of Los Angeles Tours take an unconventional approach to sightseeing. The goal is to fashion an experience that is as much about the sights as it is about the tour itself. Sightseers take to the air during helicopter tours, hot air balloon tours, and biking tours with optional ETs.

The company’s segway tours wheel saunterers through Mission Bay or the Gaslamp Quarter and the Embarcadero at sunset, when San Diego twinkles and teenage werewolves cycle through awkward states of half-transformation. In addition to information and adventure, the company frequently gives tour takers round-trip transportation, waives entrance fees, and serves bites to eat.

Red Line Tours specializes in one thing: Hollywood. Its signature tour, the Hollywood Behind the Scenes walking tour, explores Hollywood with the intimacy of a native Angeleno, diving into famous landmarks that are generally closed to the public. In just three blocks, the tour explores sites such as Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the Kodak Theatre, and the Walk of Fame. Guides also lead groups to the El Capitan Theatre, Grauman's Egyptian Theatre, and the Roosevelt Hotel, imparting intimate knowledge about Hollywood lore, such as how the Hollywood sign got its name and how the baby from Baby's Day Out became LA's first mayor. Red Line Tours' special live-audio system ensures that every visitor can hear the guide, even at a distance. While Red Line Tours specializes in the Behind the Scenes tour, it also partners with other local tour agencies to offer packages that include tours of sites including Universal Studios and neighborhoods of celebrity homes.

Strapped under 30-foot wings, students at Windsports Soaring Center work with instructors to fly as far as 100 yards on their first day. Windsports Soaring Center also offers comprehensive hang-gliding instruction along the shores of Dockweiler Beach, allowing students to test their solo skills for flights of up to 100 yards—approximately 25 times longer than the Wright brothers' first pet boa constrictor. In addition to helping students trespass on bird territory, Windsports Soaring Center also sells flying equipment and coordinates flight trips for experienced gliders.