Hello hello! Today we will be talking about popular Californian hobbies. A hobby is an activity done for pleasure or enjoyment. As I've mentioned, Southern California has everything from rugged mountains and hiking trails, to beautiful beaches and coastline. This means that there are plenty of hobbies for people to enjoy, many of which are outdoors. I want to share with you my favorite hobbies and hear what some of your's are.
1. Hiking
One of the most popular past-times in Southern California, by far, is hiking. Hiking is one of my favorite hobbies as well. It allows you to connect with nature, get exercise, talk with friends, and enjoy beautiful views. There are many famous hiking trails in Los Angeles, but the most famous is the hike to the Hollywood Sign (pictured above). Walking up to this sign is almost a right-of-passage for many Californians!
2. Yoga
Another hobby that is extremely popular in Los Angeles, and California in general, is Yoga. Yoga has become one of the most popular forms of exercise around the world, and for good reason. It combines exercise and movement with meditation and relaxation techniques. Yoga helps you become strong, flexible, and calm. Since it can be done anywhere (even in your house), yoga could be a great activity to try during quarantine!
3. Biking
All around the world, people from many different countries enjoy biking. It's another excellent way to get exercise, fresh air, and scenic views. In Southern California, both mountain biking and beach cruising are popular past-times. My favorite activity, for example, was to ride my bike with friends from my house to the Santa Monic Pier. All along the way, we would chat and look out at the ocean. It is such a fun and relaxing hobby!
4. Kayaking/Paddleboarding
Many of you may know what kayaking is but a hobby that is less well known is called paddle-boarding. This activity can be done in the ocean, however, it is more popular in bays where there are little to no waves. To paddle-board, you need a surfboard and long paddle. As shown in the picture above, you take both pieces of equipment far out into the ocean, stand on the board and try to balance using the paddle. It can be difficult but relaxing once you are able to balance.
5. Cooking
Cooking is a popular hobby in every country and culture. I've included it on this list because, in California, many people like to cook healthy food as a hobby. Right now, the vegan diet is very popular. This is a diet that consists of mostly plant-based products and no animal products (milk, butter, cheese...). Many people also try to eat gluten-free, or products that do not contain gluten (which is found in many slices of bread, pasta, pastries...). A very popular hobby is, therefore, creating different recipes using fruits, vegetables, and vegan or gluten-free ingredients.
6. Creative Hobbies
Finally, in Los Angeles, there are endless amounts of creative hobbies that people like to do. These hobbies can include anything from photography to drawing and painting. Taking time to embrace creativity is very important in Los Angeles because many people need to be creative for work. Los Angeles is filled with artists, actors, dancers, and even influencers. A list of LA hobbies would, therefore, be incomplete without mentioning the many creative ways people in California spend their time.
Here's a matching game I've created with the vocabulary used in this post. Try to match the photo to the correct hobby name. Enjoy!
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