9 Out-of-the-Box Activities for Groups in Los Angeles

Ziplines at Pacific Crest offers high-flying group adventures in the San Gabriel Mountains, 75 miles northeast of Los Angeles. The company has two zip line courses ranging from 200 to 1,500 feet in length; tours are entirely tree-based, and designed to minimize environmental impact. Regular tours cost $109 per person and last two-and-a-half hours. For more experienced participants, the company offers Full Moon Tours at night, followed by outdoor refreshments. Each tour can hold as many as eight people; for larger groups, multiple customized tours can be booked back-to-back. The company offers a discount for groups of six or more; parties should call ahead to make reservations.

Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes offers unconventional spins on typical golf outings. Designed as conference breakout sessions, options include Foot Golf, which combines golf and soccer; Glow Golf (pictured), where groups play the glow-in-the-dark course at night; and the Full-Swing Golf Studio, which has a state-of-the-art Foresights Sports GC2 Golf Simulator and software that provides real-time statistics. The 102-acre oceanfront resort offers 60,000 square feet of meeting and event space.

Rage Ground opened in the Garment District downtown last summer. The venue allows guests to take out their anger on a variety of inanimate objects, such as glassware, household appliances, and piñatas. Rage Ground is available for groups and corporate teambuilding, and accommodates as many as 25 people at a time. The venue provides coveralls, a face shield, gloves, and a vest, as well as tools such as bats and sledgehammers.

The Hollywood Entertainment District launched a new public tour earlier this year. The Old Hollywood Walking Tour covers the years 1886 to 1960, telling the story of how Hollywood transformed from a small town into the entertainment capital of the world in fewer than 50 years. Stops include Hollywood’s first movie theaters, the longest continuously operating restaurant in the neighborhood, and architecturally significant buildings. Tickets cost $25 per person, and customized tours are available for groups.

Bulletproof 360, the brainchild of biohacker and author Dave Asprey, opened its Upgrade Labs venue in June. Billed as the “world’s first human upgrade facility,” the Santa Monica lab features out-of-the-box treatment options including cryotherapy, virtual float tanks, bone trainers, and more services usually only available for elite athletes or celebrities. Groups as large as 30 can host private, two-hour experiences where guests can experience the full range of treatments; private events cost $250 per person for the first two hours, and $100 per person for every additional hour. Services such as IVs, vitamin boosts, and snacks such as collagen bars can be added, as well as catering from the Bulletproof Cafe and wine from Dry Farm Wines.

Southern California’s largest escape room, Escape Room L.A., opened a new experience called the Pyramid in November. Inspired by the secrets and rituals of the ancient Mayans, groups work their way through an "undiscovered" Mayan pyramid, solving puzzles involving cryptic Aztec calendars and fighting indigenous creatures. The room holds eight people for 60 minutes; tickets cost $32 per person on weekdays and $37 per person on weekends, though group rates are available. Escape Room L.A., which is located downtown, has four additional themed rooms, and can accommodate private events and teambuilding activities.

The new BMW Performance Center, located in the Palm Desert a few hours east of Los Angeles, offers driving schools for a fast-paced teambuilding option. Groups of five to 250 can be accommodated for two-hour, half-day, full-day, or two-day classes; prices start at $299 per person. Classes are taught by BMW professional driving instructors on a private, 5.1-mile course with mountain views. The center itself has a conference room, a coffee bar, and Wi-Fi, so work can be done throughout the day.

In June, Catalina Island Company launched a new line of guided adventures at Two Islands, a community located on the island’s more rustic, less crowded west end. The tours aim to give the experience of a local, with opportunities for groups to hike, kayak, paddle board, and snorkel. Adventures are limited to groups of eight people, and pricing varies; for example, a 1.5-mile hike to Ballast Point costs $30 per person, while a kayaking trip to the island’s Blue Caverns is $40 per person. A new Cyclone powerboat can bring visitors from Avalon—the island’s more popular tourist destination—to Two Harbors in 40 minutes, making it possible to visit both sides of the island in one day.

Host an upscale event—with a competitive twist—at the Hotel Palomar Los Angeles—Beverly Hills, which debuted a $12 million renovation last year that brought its total event space to 5,000 square feet spread over eight versatile rooms. A new addition was Double Take, a full-service restaurant, bar, lounge, and activity venue. The stylish space is designed to resemble a Hollywood backlot, with exposed ceilings and movie-theme touches. The highlight of the venue, though, is the 934-square-foot gaming lounge, which holds 35 guests and features Skeeball, darts, pool, and other games for some friendly competition. Double Take’s main dining room holds 55, while a lounge seats 50 or holds 60 for receptions. The three interconnected areas can be rented together for a large event.