THE DOG DAYS ARE HERE: THE 5 BEST THINGS TO DO IN LA BEFORE THE END OF THE SUMMER – 2025 EDITION
Hello and happy August to you! Can someone please explain how it’s already back to school season? Honestly, it still feels like spring. But here we are – August is in full swing, and while the school bells are starting to chime in the distance, there’s still plenty of summer left to enjoy in Los Angeles.
Whether you’re a local looking for a last-minute adventure or a remote worker craving a change of scenery, there’s never been a better time to escape outdoors and soak up some sunshine in LA. We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again: there’s no bad time to visit Los Angeles, but August might just be the crown jewel of the summer season.
Here are 5 epic, unforgettable, and totally LA things to do before the summer fades into fall. Let’s make some memories:
1. Hollywood Sign E-Bike Tour
Our Hollywood Sign E-Bike Tour is a thrilling 2.5-hour, 12-mile ride that gets you up close and personal with LA’s most legendary landmark. With the power of an electric bike, you’ll cruise effortlessly through the Hollywood Hills, winding your way to the best vantage points of the world-famous Hollywood Sign.
Along the way, you’ll pass film studios, celebrity homes, and secret scenic overlooks, while your expert guide shares behind-the-scenes stories, movie history, and fun LA trivia. It’s the perfect mix of adventure, photo ops, and star-studded sightseeing – without breaking a sweat.
Lights, camera, pedal! The Hollywood Sign has never looked so good.
Available daily. Can be booked as a private.
Book your Hollywood Bike Tour here
2. Griffith Observatory Hike Tour
If you haven’t visited the Griffith Observatory, it’s time to change that. This iconic structure has starred in everything from La La Land to Rebel Without a Cause, and it offers some of the most breathtaking views in all of LA.
Our Griffith Observatory Hike Tour takes you on a 2.5-hour, 3-mile trek through the Hollywood Hills, with 360° views of the city and an expert guide to fill you in on the history, Hollywood lore, and natural beauty of Griffith Park. You’ll also get an insider look at the Observatory itself. This is an LA must-do.
Book your Griffith Observatory Hike here
3. A Luxury Picnic
A gorgeous picnic setup in the park
You can’t spell luxury without L.A., baby (sort of…)! One of the best things about living in (or visiting) Los Angeles – aside from the celeb sightings, endless sunshine, and year-round smoothie weather – is that it’s always picnic season here.
I don’t know if it’s the golden light, the soft ocean breeze, or the fact that cheese just tastes better outdoors, but there’s something especially magical about a luxury picnic at the end of summer. (Maybe it’s the whole “main character in a Nancy Meyers film” vibe?) Either way, one of our favorite ways to savor the season is by booking a curated luxury picnic experience.
Whether it’s toes-in-the-sand at a beach in Manattan, golden hour underneath the Hollywood Sign, or perched cliffside with sparkling water and champagne (non-alcoholic or otherwise – your call), our team handles everything. We’re talking dreamy setups, plush blankets, stylish low tables, seasonal florals, charcuterie boards to die for, and serious Instagram bragging rights. All you have to do is show up, sip, snack, and soak it in.
Planning something special? We LOVE birthdays, proposals, anniversaries, and surprise date nights. Book your end-of-summer picnic now before the last of the rosé runs dry. Trust us—it’s the easiest “yes” you’ll say all season.
4. Private LA in a Day Bike Tour
They said it was impossible..they said it couldn’t be done…and yet…there IS a way to see LA in a day.
YES! Who would have thunk that it’d be possible to experience allllll of a city that spans hundreds of miles and is home to millions in just one day?
Not to brag..but we’ve got the best tour in LA on lockdown. For the past decade, we’ve been offering our world-famous full day tour of LA by bike to guests from all over the world. Our LA in a Day tour is a 35 mile, 5 hour bike tour, encompassing the best of the best of LA. Beverly Hills? Check. West Hollywood? Check. Bel Air? Check. Celebrity Homes. World famous filming locations. Beautiful beachside vistas. History, trivia, fun facts, celeb gossip galore- this tour has EVERYTHING. It’s the best way to check off all of the bucket list items you’ve been waiting to see in Los Angeles, while getting an incredible outdoor workout the whole time. This tour can also be made private, for guests looking for a safe, VIP style experience. If you needed any other incentives to book this tour, does anything else scream “END OF SUMMER” like cool ice pops and refreshing beverages? You’ll get those post-tour, too. Truly…this tour has everything. Book LA’s hottest tour, LA in a Day, here.
Book your LA in a Day Bike Tour here
5. Hollywood Sign Hike (Or Tour!)
And for the grand finale, our fifth favorite thing to do in LA at the end of the summer is just SO Hollywood. Bikes and Hikes LA has proudly presented our famous ORIGINAL Hollywood Sign Hike for the past several years. Our hike to the Hollywood Sign is the CLOSEST way to get to the Hollywood Sign in LA- we will get you up close and personal with the Hollywood Sign (ever heard of it?) on this 2.5 hour, 4 mile hike tour. If you’ve ever wondered “how to hike to the Hollywood Sign,” look no further. This guided tour has got you covered- you’ll get the BEST pictures of the Hollywood Sign, you’ll hear all of the juicy, made-for-the-movies history behind the world’s most famous sign, you will see, truly, the most EXQUISITE views of Los Angeles.
Are you not much of a hiker? Would you prefer an easier way to get those instagram worthy pics with the sign? Opt for our 90 minute Hollywood Sign Tour – Express! – It will take you to the best photo opportunity in front of the sign and back!
Tip: Sunset hikes = next level Instagram material.
Book your Hollywood Sign Hike here
Book your Hollywood Sign Tour – Express! Here
Wrap It Up, Roll the Credits…
Now that we’ve covered that…what are you waiting for? Time’s a tickin’! It’s not too late to still have the best summer of your lives, and do it safely, too- give our office a call today and let us know how we can curate the dreamiest, most cinematic, best LA summer tour of all time for you. Florence and the Machine may say “the dog days are over,” but at Bikes and Hikes LA, they’ve only just begun. See you in LA!
– The Bikes and Hikes LA Team