Daniel Royse's Blog

The often overlooked, and sometimes hard to find, Arroyo Seco Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail is one of a handful of bike and running paths that follow the rivers (drainage canals) that zigzag the city of Los Angeles. The Arroyo Seco, like most “rivers” in LA, was an existing river that was later cemented over to create a solid drainage canal to prevent seasonal flooding. In addition to the function of moving water, a bicycle and pedestrian path was also built. And that is precisely what we’ll be discussing in this guide.

Orientation:

The Arroyo Seco Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail runs along side the Arroyo Seco River and the 110 freeway. The trail is approximately 3 miles in each direction and mostly flat. Most of the trail runs directly next to the river, so could be subject to flooding during heavy rains.

Where to Start and Finish: From North to South

START: Lohman Ln, at South Pawsadena Dog ParkEntry Point: Arroyo Verde St, at Arroyo Seco ParkEntry Point: Ave 60, at Hermon Dog ParkEntry Point: Ave 52, at Audubon Center at Debs ParkFINISH: Mosher Ave, at Montecito Heights Community Center

Scenery:

The scenery on this trail is pretty good considering it runs next to a freeway. You’ll have water flowing on one side of you, and the hills of Ernest Debs Park on the other side, and most of the path has decent amounts of greenery. On the downside, its also a popular spot for homeless encampments so you’ll see a lot of tents, garbage and people hanging around.

Difficult Level:

EASY. The trail is mostly flat and relaxing. There is nothing hard or technical about this bike path.

Safety:

Despite a sizable homeless population living around the river, it feels pretty safe. Its like anything else in life, people just mind their own business. That being said, I probably wouldn’t try hanging out there alone at night.

Things to See and Do:

Ernest Debs ParkHermon ParkArroyo Seco Golf CourseArroyo Seco Racquet Club

Food and Drink:

Nothing available. Bring what you need.

Review:

Overall the Arroyo Seco Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail is a decent trail/path. Its short, easy and mildly interesting if you live around the area. Its suitable for bike riding, running and families.

So you’re up in the High Desert with a few days to kill? We got you covered…well, kinda. Although this part of southern California is mostly known as a stop-off point on the way to Las Vegas, or a jumping off point for the offload trails through the Joshua Trees, there are a handful of destinations that can keep you busy for a few days.

Joshua Trees:

They’re unique, rare, endangered and endemic to the area….so yeah, you’ll probably want to take a gander at some of the Joshua Trees that dot the landscape up here. Outside of taking a few pics, these trees don’t have much else that will keep you entertained. Just be sure to leave them be. They are endangered, so messing with them is prohibited and comes with a hefty fine.

California Route 66 Museum:

Located on the historic Route 66, this museum showcases the history and development of the route and its transition from pioneer trail to international tourist attraction. Admission is free, but the museum is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch:

An outdoor art installation in the middle of the desert on Route 66, the Bottle Tree Ranch is essentially “garbage art” or “recycled art”…quite similar to what you might find at Slab City. It mostly consists of “trees” made of steel and old bottles, but you’ll also find various antiques and various metal work creations. Its definitely worth a visit if you’re into the quarky Americana culture that has developed along Route 66.

Mojave Narrows Regional Park:

The largest park in the metro area, the Mojave Narrows is an oasis in the middle of the High Desert. Its essentially a wooded ravine thats fed by the Mojave River. The area includes two lakes and offers bike paths, horse back riding, picnic areas and fishing. Just south of the park is Spring Valley Lake which is an upscale area with some of the High Deserts more affluent residences.

So there may not be a lot that draws you to the area, but if you’re up in the High Desert for more than just a break on the way to Vegas, check out a few of these outstanding locations.

After a 20 year hiatus, Stabbing Westward is back with the much anticipated EP, ���Dead and Gone.  For the younger generation, they���ve probably never heard of the band.  But if you can remember as far back as the 90s, you���ll recall that Stabbing Westward was popular within the Industrial Rock scene, alongside other notable acts such as Nine Inch Nails, KMFDM and Skinny Puppy. 

Background:

Over the course of the 1990s, Stabbing Westward released 4
studio albums that included a number of semi popular radio hits including ���Shame���
and ���What Do I Have To Do���.  Then in
2002, they disbanded. 

Now, they’re back…although only briefly. To promote the new release of ���Dead and Gone���, the band booked a single show.  Yes, just one show to promote the new album.  But that didn���t stop the die hard fans from descending on the tiny gothic venue in the heart of Hollywood; Bar Sinister.

The Venue: Bar Sinister

Upon entering Bar Sinister, you know immediately that you’re in a unique kind of place.  Like walking into a real life Marilyn Manson video, half naked girls are pole dancing, people are strung up on spikes while others are opting to get whipped while a crowd eagerly watches.  It���s a fitting place for the single promotional show for Stabbing Westwards return. And if you get bored of the band, you can always walk up stairs for some light S&M.

The Sho w: 4 Stars

A legendary band, in a small eclectic venue, for only $15 pre-sale…you cant go wrong! The sound was good, the beer was averagely priced….and you could smoke in the outdoor concert section…if you’re into that sort of thing.

The only downside was the size of the crowd. It was packed! Although, Christopher Hall (lead singer) sounded great and didn’t look like he aged a day since the late 90s, it was very difficult to get a good glimpse of him or any of the other members. But for $15 bucks, I won’t bitch too much.

Track List: Dead and Gone

Dead and GoneColdCrawlDead and Gone (StoneburnerRemix)Cold (StabWalts 12″ Dance Mix)

Summary:

Band: Stabbing WestwardAlbum Tour: Dead and Gone EPVenue: Bar SinisterDate: 01/11/2020Time: 12AM – 2AM

The LA River Bike Path actually consists of two sections, the
Elysian Valley section and the Long Beach-Veron section.  Here, we are only talking about the Elysian
Valley section.

The LA River Bike Path (Elysian Valley Section) is a 7.4-mile
trail that follows the LA River from Burbank to Cypress Park.  The trail is paved and features underpasses and
overpasses that allow riders and runners to avoid crossing busy streets.

Where to Start and Finish:

START:�� Confluence Park/Faces of Elysian Valley at 2011 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Parking at Home Depot.END:�� Forest Lawn Dr and 134 Freeway. Parking near Travel Town.

Scenery:

While most of the LA River is simply a concrete flood
channel with nothing more than cement walls, this section actually has a soft
bottom.  As a result this section of the
river has managed to trap sediment, seeds and organic material which has
allowed for small islands to form that can support trees and shrubs, making it
look like an real river once again. 

Difficulty Level:

EASY.  There is
nothing hard or technical about this trail. 
Its flat, paved, shaded and not very long.  But the views are nice!

Safety:��

Despite what you may see on your journey down the trail, it���s
mostly safe.  The one caveat that I want
to mention is that there is a large homeless population that lives on the islands
that have formed on the rivers soft bottom. 
From the path above you can see small encampments with tents, tables and
clothing lines.  Personally, Ive never
had any issues along this path.

Things to See and Do:

Shockingly enough, this trail actually feels like you are
biking along a real river���well, for some of it. 
Things to see and do consist of:

River Kayaking: 
There are three licensed rental companies currentlyBiking and RunningFishing: 
Just don���t eat them fishes!Restaurants and coffee houses

Food and Drink:

One of the nice things about this path is that food and
drink spots are starting to open up. 
They typically cater to a young and hip crowd.  Some of the most notable are:

Spoke Caf��Colombe CoffeeFrog Town Brewery

Review:

This is actually one of my favorite places to ride my bike
in LA.  Only the beach probably tops
it.  Reason���.it has nature right next to
downtown, ���interesting��� people, and food and drink along the way.

A big budget film…..about old timey travel…..with an outdoor screening at the Rose Bowl in sunny Pasadena…..SOLD!

Amazon Prime Video is doing it right by holding this creative outdoor event to launch their new film; The Aeronauts. Rather than your standard LA screening at a theater somewhere around Hollywood, they decided to do something unique and create an interactive event that could get peoples attention for the films release.

The Aeronauts at the Rose Bowl:

On November 23 and 24 The Aeronauts will be taking over the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA. If its anything like what we attended on Friday night, you can expect great old-timy events, hot air balloon rides, tight rope walkers and food and drinks. And with the event being FREE, its definitely worth checking out if you’re in the area.

The Film: The Aeronauts

The Aeronauts is true story about a pilot and a scientist who set out to “make discoveries” in a hot air balloon. The story follows their adventure while flashing back to the events that lead them there. I took my mom to the screen of this film and she described the movie as a “heart warming adventure”…so there ya go!

Release Date: DEC 12 2019

The Aeronauts opens in theaters on December 6th 2019 in the United States. However, the film was originally released in IMAX theaters for one week only during October 2019.

Run Time: 101 Minutes

Rating: PG-13

Getting There:

1001 Rose Bowl Dr, Pasadena, CA 91103Lot HFree Parking at F and K

Look up the best things to do in Bangkok, and you���ll find a number of popular attractions headlining most lists: the Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Chinatown, and the floating markets, to name a few. These have become popular recommendations for a reason, and should absolutely be incorporated into your travel plan. But as is so often the case when it comes to big cities and popular getaways, there���s plenty to do that isn���t at the top of the travel lists.

These are our recommendations for five things to do beyond the obvious in Thailand���s bustling capital.

1. Shop At The Amulet Market:

Most major cities you can travel to in the world have exciting markets that can be visited. But the Amulet Market in Bangkok is unlike any other. It takes up multiple footpaths along Th Maha Rat and Th Phra Chan, and consists of a vast network of covered spas selling innumerable amulets and similar trinkets. These amulets are said to carry protections, though no two are exactly alike in this regard, and some of them – though they may be difficult to spot – are extremely valuable. Religious figures, collectors, and people who work in dangerous professions are known to frequent the market in search of talismans that can be of assistance in bringing them good fortune. It���s a fascinating place to stop by even if you���re just there to watch these people sift through the offerings. But of course, it���s a good place to find a one-of-a-kind souvenir also!

2. Explore Erawan Museum:

Because there is so much culture and artistry to enjoy out and about in the city, Bangkok���s museums don���t get a whole lot of attention in the average travel guide. The Erawan Museum, however, is worth your time. Located in the Samut Prakan Province (south of the main Bangkok urban area), it is best known for the massive, three-headed elephant statue that adorns its roof. However, the museum���s interior is actually far more interesting. It consists of three ornately designed floors filled with antiques and religious relics. The museum is also constructed to represent a sort of journey through the Hindu universe, with the first floor meant to represent the Underworld; the second, Earth; and the third, Heaven.

3. Take Part In Gaming Culture:

The gaming culture – incorporating video games, betting, and sport – is widespread and exciting throughout Thailand. Most notable these days is the rise of eSports around the country, with Bangkok gaming caf��s accounting for much of the activity. There are also online casino gaming resources available, which help Thai gamers to find the best slots and similar games outside of the eSports arena. And if the casinos and eSports competition don���t appeal, you can also experience something akin to gaming by attending a Muay Thai match in the capital. This popular sport, like a more complex form of kickboxing, is played at numerous venues around the city, and inspires a busy betting market that allows spectators to take part in their own way. Altogether these various forms of betting and gaming comprise a fun part of Bangkok���s culture that you ought to experience one way or another.

4. Dine At Muslim Restaurant:

Many of the dining possibilities in Thailand get a lot of publicity, from the local dishes and legendary street food to more common places to eat, like the Hard Rock Caf��. It���s even well known at this point that fast food has become popular – perhaps too popular – around Bangkok. Don���t be fooled, however, into thinking only local Thai food and international chains are available. There are plenty of other interesting places to eat around Bangkok, and Muslim Restaurant is one of the best. It���s unimaginatively named and extremely minimalist in its design, but it’s still a very inviting place. And its menu of authentic Indian-inspired twists on Thai dishes is just about universally beloved. Do yourself a favor and try the fried mutton!

5. Learn Massage:

Thailand may be more famous for massage than any other place in the world, and accordingly, the spas of Bangkok are legendary. However, many don���t realize that you can also learn massage while in the capital. Granted, it���s not as relaxing as simply going in for a treatment, but it���s still a fascinating experience, and one that will result in your gaining an enviable new skill. This may be of particular interest to couples visiting Bangkok. Go in together to one of the massage classes in town, and you���ll learn new, effective techniques that you can continue to practice on one another on a regular basis even after your trip.

Located just north of downtown Los Angeles sits a small, often forgotten park called Ernest E. Debs Regional Park. In fact, you’d probably never hear a word about it if it weren’t for the ultra-cute lake that sits, surrounded by trees, at its summit. In fact, the lake and the surrounding hiking trails are what makes this tiny park locally famous…yet still virtually unknown to anyone outside of the northeast LA area.

Ernest Debs Park is not a large park but it is hilly, so getting orientated can be challenging if its your first visit. To make sense of it all, Ive broken the park down into 4 sections that Ive defined myself….so no, they are not official in anyway. But here ya go…

The Flats:

The flat area of the park is probably the first section that you’ll encounter, as it includes the park’s main parking lot. Its basically a flat grassy area with bathrooms, picnic tables and lots of space for your general park activities….frisbee, football and bbq-ing.

Debs Pond:

Heading north (and uphill) from the Flats, you will eventually encounter Ernest Deb’s main attraction; Debs Pond. Its a man-made lake surrounded by trees that sits on top of a steep hill. Its a very picturesque place that even has some moderate fishing. The lake is small and only takes about 5 minutes to walk around.

The North Trail Circuit:

If you go even further past Debs Pond, you’ll continue on the North Trail Circuit. Essentially this is a single trail with a few out-shoots to various parking lots. The trail is not very hard, but it does have some slight elevation changes and some great views overlooking the 110, Mt Washington, DTLA and the Angeles National Forest off in the distance.

The South Trail Circuit:

On the southern end of Ernest Debs, you’ll find the South Trail Circuit that surrounds Rose Hill Park. This area is rarely visited and far less remarkable than other areas of the park. It consists of a few small trails that meander around the hill sides. Its probably great if you live around the area but not a destination in itself.

HIKING TIMES:

If you start at the main parking lot (in the Flats) and head up to Debs Pond and continue around the North Trail Circuit, it should take you about an hour to complete.

The hiking trails of the South Trail Circuit are less defined, so there are numerous routes to take, but I imagine you can hike the entire area in a hour or two.

Some Stories by Yvon Chouinard is the kind of book that,
after even a quick glance, makes you feel like you could have done more with
your life.  The book consists of a series
of previously published short stories and letters on adventure sports, business
and environmentalism that follows the course of Yvon���s life from childhood to present
day. 

The stories that Yvon shares with us are broken out into 13
chapters complete with amazing full-page photography.  The book showcases the extraordinary life of
Yvon Chouinard who was a pioneer of many of today���s adventure sports and the
founder of the Patagonia clothing company.

Starting from humble beginnings in southern California, Yvon
began rock climbing and forging his own gear to support his lifestyle.  Over time he was able to climb, surf, fish and
kayak his way across all seven continents. 
Over the course of his life, Yvon developed a deep connection with
nature and has been a vocal advocate for environmentalism and our need to take immediate
action to address climate change and the global pollution problem.

From simply hand forging his climbing gear by hand, Yvon was
able to eventually expand his company into a full-fledged international
clothing brand that is known in the adventure world for quality and
durability.  Today Patagonia is a
household name.

THIS BOOK IS FOR���.

This book is for anyone who is a fan of adventure sports or
the Patagonia brand.  The book focuses
heavily on rock climbing, surfing, kayaking and fishing and emphasizes
environmentalism and corporate responsibility.

In addition, this book would make an excellent ���coffee table
book��� as its large with tons of interesting photography that would appeal to
adventurists and thrill seekers alike, or anyone who enjoys risk taking or
inspirational stories.

As a traveler myself, I found it fascinating to read about
all the places that these sports took him. 
While reading the book, I consistently found myself jealous that I
didn���t grow up in the 1960���s���or have any notable athletic ability.  By the end of the book you feel as if you can
do anything you set your mind to.

THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR���

This book is not for the casual reader and probably wouldn���t
appeal to a broad audience.  For someone
who is not into adventure sports there probably is not a lot of appeal.  Some of the detail in which Yvon goes into
about the various sports would be lost on the casual reader.

In addition, some parts of the book come off as slightly promotional,
indicating the superior qualities and social responsiveness of the Patagonia
brand.  Let���s hope they live up to it.  

SUMMARY:

I wasn���t actually expecting to like this book.  I envisioned it to be a chore to read, having
to go through someone���s life stories. 
However, I was surprised that it kept my attention and I finished it much
faster than I expected.  Over all, I
would recommend this book to travelers and adventure seekers of all kinds.  But beware; you may end up feeling that
you���ve lived a mundane life in comparison. 
In the end, I walked away addicted and inspired. 

CHAPTER LIST:

North America Wall, Yosemite ValleyCathedral Rocks, Yosemite ValleyYosemite Valley, CaliforniaPatagoniaDoug TompkinsFlamingos, PatagoniaSandhill cranes, NebraskaFiordo de las Montanas, ChileHeadwaters of Lago Inexplorado, ChileBonefishing
in the Bahamas Hatchery
fish being released into San Francisco BayCoastal
Wolves, British Columbia12,000
young voters, Washington, DC

Earlier this month I got the opportunity to chat with Stephen Friedman, filmmaker and host of Ovation���s new show, Chasing The Sun.�� For a lot of travelers out there, Stephen has the worlds greatest job, so I wanted to pick his brain on how he got there, what its like and what we can look forward to in the upcoming season airing on the Journy network (by Ovation) on October 2nd.

Stephen was born in South Africa and started his career as a
pro surfer.  After working as a model and
appearing in COSMO he created his first television show, The Blueprint at the age of 23. 
We meet Stephen now as he promotes his 2nd season of Chasing The Sun.

Q: In your opinion, what separates Chasing The Sun from other travel shows out there right now?

A: Well to sum it up, Chasing The Sun is kind of a metaphor for chasing your dreams and what inspires you to do that.  I���ve found that most travel shows focus on the hosts��� journey.  Whereas, we wanted to tell the story of the country through the people, while the host was on the journey.  It���s the people telling their story while the host is on this journey experiencing it.  That���s mainly what separates it from your traditional travel show.

Q:  That makes a lot of sense.  I did notice that as the host you were slightly removed from a lot of the story.

A: Yeah, exactly.  Because most of the travel shows in the past would focus on the hosts, but I never really cared what the host is doing.  I wanted to know more about what the people were doing.  So that���s kind of what kicked it off.  So I try to be somewhat removed as best I can.

Q: How do you decide who gets included in each episode?

A: We have topics that we always try to cover like music, art and culture.  For example in India, we found this amazingly talented artist called Ara Farrah.  We were able to find her online and I contacted her on social media.  It took a little bit of convincing to get her on board, but that was the beginning of India for us.  So for us to choose the topics, there is a lot of research that goes into it, and we don���t want to do the usual story.  We want to turn over every single rock and see what���s underneath in order to tell the stories of those people.

We also work with a lot of tourism boards.  They help us coordinate a lot of the subjects
and help us reach out to them because obviously not everyone will speak
English.  Hong Kong for example, was one
of the best tourism boards that we were able to work with.  We were able to send them a list of the
subjects we wanted to film and they were able to send us back a list of
contacts which turned out to be way better than what we could have found.  So it���s a big team effort at the end.

Q: After two seasons of filming Chasing The Sun , do you have a favorite or most memorable experience that you could share with us?

A: It���s really hard to sum it up.  But for me, it really opened up my eyes to humanity in a positive way and how some people are really making a difference in the world we live in and how others are really following their dreams.  The story that really stands out for me was in season two, the Malaysian episode we filmed an orangutan sanctuary.  That was a really heart warming and quite sad at the same time to meet these amazing people who are trying to save these animals.  And then in season one, we worked with an organization that helps doctors perform cleft palate surgery.  So it was really great to see a community of doctors and surgeons work together to help these poor families with their newborn babies.  So for me, what really stood out were the humanitarian aspects.

Q: That���s great.  It really allows you to be a part of the not-so-obvious side of all these cultures���sometimes the parts that we wouldn���t normally get to experience.

A: Yeah, that���s exactly it.  We���re so exposed to the world through social media with people Instagraming their lives and holidays that sometimes a picture is lost to what is really out there.  The experiences that you share on social media versus the experiences you share internally, sometimes it���s hard to showcase that.  And with everyone trying to show off what they���re getting up to in the world, it sometimes gets lost.  ���Off The Beaten Path��� is kind of just a hashtag, but you have to go discover that story that has never been told.  That���s our motivation.

Q: I think a lot of our readers are backpackers that are seeking out that same idea.  So a lot of them are going to look at you and think you have the world���s coolest job.  What did you do to get this this point?

A: I think being in the world surf tour, traveling has just been in my blood the whole time.  I injured myself and I just needed to figure out what I was doing in the world.  So I came up with my first TV show when I was 23 years old (The Blueprint), where I was also the host.  And I thought, ���Oh, I���m going to do this���.  In a way it was kind of a selfish thing because I got to travel again, but it was a big awakening.  I soon realized that this isn���t a holiday; this is a job.  And I had to do serious adjusting.  So despite this being a passion project of ours, its still a job.  We want to help promote people the best way that we can because they���re the ones who tell the story.  So I���d rather go save my money and go travel (laughs) than do something like this from a job perspective.   There���s a lot of pressure but when you look back at the end, you think ���oh, that was an amazing experience���.  While you���re there on location and doing pre-production and post-production���and it���s all very exciting but it���s kind of a blur.  There���s no time for photos or Instagram.

Q: So it���s proper work���it���s not a holiday?

A: Yeah, you have all those bloggers out there that are going to these cool destinations and I do take my hat off to them that they are able to create a cool story but I think for us, and I���m a little biased, they are living a cool life, but a lot of the time are missing the true nature of what travel is all about.  It���s about the experiences, not about you standing on the beach.  It���s about what���s breaking underneath the waves, which is what I think a lot of bloggers are struggling to portray. 

Q: I noticed the same thing when we started our website.  A lot of bloggers really wanted to write about their personal experience���.and it turns out, those kinds of articles don���t get a lot of attention.

What is your ultimate travel destination?….for the show, or otherwise?

A: Well, I���ve been very fortunate to have traveled to about 80 countries.  So I���ve been very lucky.  But I will say that we were supposed to go to Sri Lanka for filming and I hadn���t been to Sri Lanka yet, but then the terrorist attack happened, and we were like ���oh shit���!  That���s why we threw Taiwan into the mix.  So Sri Lanka would be one of the places I���d really like to check out.

We were also talking about the next season with the network
and Africa was mentioned.  So Africa
could be in the cards.  I���ve traveled to
Africa, you���ve traveled to Africa���you know what its like.  So it could be even more challenging.  But also Europe.  I���ve traveled through most of Europe but I
didn���t do it the way Chasing The Sun
is.  The neighboring countries are right
next door to each other and they���re so different.  So I think showcasing Europe would be kind of
cool too.  There are so many places but
it boils down to the people.  The world
is a small place but at the same time there���s so much to see and so much to
do.  I don���t think you can do all of it
in a lifetime.

Q: I would agree.  And by the time you���ve seen it all, it would have changed on you���or you would have changed.

I���ve heard you described as a ���vegan film maker���.  Do you feel that being a vegan limits your cultural experience?  Or do you ever specifically try to frame your story within a vegan context?

A: I think when it comes to travel, I just use food as an energy source.  If it���s delicious, then great.  If it���s just a bowl of rice, then that���s what it is.  I think the nice thing about it is that when you���re invited to lunch with a complete stranger and they ask ���what do you want��� and you say ���I don���t eat any animals���, it kind of starts a conversation, which is kinda cool.  But other than that, I don���t really use the vegan thing.  It���s a life choice, that���s about it.

Q: So you���re a surfer from South Africa.  How does the surf in LA compare to South Africa?  You can be honest.

A: To be honest, surfing California is fun but it���s not as consistent just because of the position of the continent.  With South Africa your exposed to so much more swell, it just is what it is.  This winter there might be some good waves.  We���ll see, its still fun. 

Q: Is there anything else you���d like to add?

A: Just that Ovation has been absolutely great to work with.  They���ve really stood by us.  Its great to have a partnership with them and at the end of the day they give us the tools to capture some amazing stories.  So we���re very honored to be working with them.

CHASING THE SUN

Season 1:  Available
on the Ovation network starting October 3rd 2019

Season 2:  Available
on the Journy network starting October 2nd 2019

The Santa Ana River trail is a 30-mile trail that follows the Santa Ana River from Yorba Linda at the base of the Chino Hills State Park to its end point in Huntington Beach.  The trail is paved most of the way and features underpasses that allow riders and runners to avoid crossing busy streets.

Scenery:

The scenery around this trail is definitely lacking a
bit.  While the trail is great for uninterrupted
riding or running, it���s not so easy on the eyes.  Although there is one golf course that offers
some nice green space, most of your trip will be looking at the sides of a
cement channel.

Difficulty Level:

In a word���.EASY.  The
trail is mostly paved and mostly flat. 
The only aspect that would make it more challenging is its length, but
that you can set yourself, as there are many on and off ramps.

Safety: 

The trail is very safe. 
At one time there was a homeless problem but that has mostly been
cleaned up.

Things to See and Do:

Nothing really.  But
at least if you reach the end of the trail you���ll be at the beach���.so you cant
be mad at that!

Review:

While I like the fact that this trail exists, since it���s a great
place for bikers and runners to avoid traffic, its not something that would
keep you coming back just for the sake of being there.  The scenery and terrain are pretty weak but
if its in your backyard���.why not.