When you imagine Los Angeles, you probably envision images of glamorous Hollywood celebrities and ritzy beaches featured on television shows. While LA does, indeed, allure visitors with its high-end environment, there are also many opportunities to unwind and recharge in the Golden State. With mild temperatures and sunshine nearly 300 days a year, Los Angeles provides a haven for outdoor activities. While you’re attending CHEST 2016 from October 22 to 26, we encourage you to trade your stilettos for hiking boots or athletic shoes, and get outside during your free time.
The San Gabriel Mountains are about an hour’s drive from the Los Angeles Convention Center. Visitors can hike, picnic, and enjoy equestrian trails. Our favorite LA experts – CHEST members – have recommended renting a mountain bike and riding up to Mount Wilson. You can also hike the Eaton Canyon Trail and find the Eaton Canyon Waterfall, a 40-foot waterfall with a pool at its base. You can find more mountain ranges and hiking opportunities in the Santa Monica mountains, as well. Find more tips on trails and hiking at discoverlosangeles.com.
If you’re not interested in retreating from Los Angeles’s urban oasis, but you still want to enjoy some fresh air and exercise, you have a couple options closer to downtown. Runyon Canyon is about a 20-minute drive from the convention center. It features a gently paved path for beginners, a rugged outer path for a more intense workout, free yoga near the Fuller Avenue entrance, a great setting for watching the sunset, and strong possibilities of celebrity sightings. You can also rent a bike and cycle along the beaches. You can stop off for a bite to eat, some sand volleyball, or just to do some people watching.
And if you’re a golf enthusiast, there is a bevy of options for golfing in and around LA. The most iconic golf course is the Trump National Golf Club located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, about a 40-minute drive from the convention center. You’ll experience uncompromising luxury overlooking the beautiful Pacific Ocean. If you’d like to stay close to the convention center but still get out to play 9 holes, you may want to check out Wilshire Country Club (20-minute drive) or Monterey Park Golf Club (12-minute drive).
While Los Angeles refreshes you with outdoor beauty and sunshine, CHEST 2016 will energize and recharge you with the latest information in chest medicine. You’ll connect with an international community of the best minds in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. Find everything you need to know to make the best clinical decisions and inspire your patient care. Learn more at chestmeeting.chestnet.org.