All right, you or someone you know just took the plunge and made the ultimate purchase: a self balancing scooter.
There’s a lot of buzz surrounding this little self balancing scooter, and we’re here to help. If you’re looking for the 411 on decent hoverboard prices, how your board works, or basic operations, we’ve got you covered here.
So, we’ll assume you’ve put in some time practicing and are ready to take your riding experience to the next level – and we bet you’ve asked yourself one of the most common questions:
“Where can I ride my self balancing board?”
It’s the quandary that occupies a lot of our riders’ minds. There’s a lot to consider – especially with all of the evolving laws and regulations revolving around hoverboards across varying cities. Well, that’s why we’re here: To answer any questions our riders pose!
Whether you’re seeking an easy urban sightseeing route or to cruise a scenic trail, we’ve here to help you out!
“Location Matters.”
What makes these places so great to ride? What was the criteria and why did we choose them?
When making our selections for the perfect riding destinations, we wanted to provide our riders a comprehensive list of places with a lot to offer – whether it’s the view, an urban setting with plenty of stops to experience, or even just a long, decent road to cruise almost endlessly – we tried to find a little bit of everything.
Well, here it goes…
Portland, Oregon, USA
“Keep Portland Weird” has been the popular city-wide slogan for years – and if you’ve ever been, then you know the city is also famously bike and skating friendly. Designed with cyclists, skaters, and pedestrians in mind, the city accommodates all types of traffic with several bike lanes and wide footpaths, giving it a reputation as one of the most pro personal transportation cities in the U.S.
Must-Try Trail: To knock the most tourist destinations off your list, we highly recommend hitting up the Northwest + Downtown Portland Bike/Walk Map which will take you along several urban points of interest (i.e.: museums, markets, important city fixtures). A few of the trails even venture off path for a few hidden-gem views.
Don’t-Miss Destination: If you’re a reader, there are several bookstores to ride and stop-by, such as Powell’s. If you’re a foodie, you’re in luck! Portland is home to over 500 food carts with everything from fusion to gourmet to just, well, unique! You can find a smattering of selections here and map out your sampling route!
Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
While Bugs Bunny took a lot of wrong turns at Albuquerque, you don’t have to. This is New Mexico’s biggest city in the state. Famous for its high desert dry climate and long roads, Albuquerque has the perfect conditions for skating!
Must-Try Trails: With hills that appear tailor made for longboarding and hoverboarding, we almost can’t recommend this city enough! Just jump right in!
Don’t Miss Destination: With so many museums and the Sandia Peak Tramway, there are so many sights worth seeing, you just may have to hop off your hoverboard to do them!
Los Angeles, California, USA
LA is one of the best skating destinations for several reasons. Its climate is perfect – there’s hardly a rainy day out of the year, meaning the streets are in perfect condition for skating. Next: the sheer size of the city! Los Angeles is a huge city and boasts a series of must-see or straight up strange stops.
Must-Try Trail: the Santa Monica Pier is and ideal public spot to join other bike riders and skateboarders and just take in the scene. Cruise idly along the boardwalk, or hop off to join in some fun at the arcade or the Ferris wheel. There’s no end to what you can do at the pier!
Don’t-Miss Destination: Downtown LA (Aka: The Artist District) is probably one of the most hoverboard specific friendly places. You can glide from shop to shop, even pub to pub, with many eccentric and amazing sights located in close proximity to each other. Heck, you’re probably going to run into three or four people riding hoverboards of their own. Be sure to drop into The Last Bookstore to take in some awesome art and literature.
San Francisco, California, USA
San Francisco is one of the world’s most sought after cities to live in. With a slew of tourist traps, culture, and just plain old beauty, this urban setting has hills, parks, and plenty of stops that make it one of the world’s most picture-perfect hoverboarding destinations.
Must-Try Trail: Lombard Street is the place to be if you’re a hoverboard expert. Including over 8 switchbacks at 180 degree turns, this is not for the faint of heart.
It’s also the site of Steve McQueen’s celebrated car chase sequence in Bullitt, as well as a feature in Alfred Hitchcock’s Vertigo, and makes for some wicked pictures.
Don’t-Miss Destination: Golden Gate Park has thousands of acres of space for anyone to explore on foot, bike, or hoverboard! Also home to several famous museums, you can find a few tucked away garden secrets, as well as endlessly cruise along your way. You’ll feel like you’re in an enchanted forest!
Pacific Beach, San Diego, California, USA
Whether you’re watching the sunset or the waves roll over the sand, you’re going to love riding along Pacific Beach in peaceful San Diego.
Must-Try Trail: Start at Palisades Park and end at North Jetty. This coastline cruise is a decent 7 miles next to surf and sand!
Don’t-Miss Destination: Be sure to have a few fish tacos while you’re in the area – you won’t regret it!
Venice Beach Boardwalk, Venice Beach, California, USA
Venice Beach Boardwalk is where you need to be if you want to take in the sun, sand, and the sea. Perfect for a long, relaxing scenic ride, you’ll be able to cruise next to the coastline alongside other cyclists and skaters. Be sure to bring a helmet and some good tunes.
The ride speaks for itself. It’s the best combo Must-Try Trail and Don’t-Miss Destination in one perfect package!
“Dirty 6th Street” – Austin, TX, USA
Austin is another place that likes to “Keep it Weird” – and, reportedly, it was the first.
The original hipster capital (as well as the actual capital of the state of Texas itself), Austin is known for its collection of acclaimed music and restaurant scenes.
Must-Try Trail: Austin is chock full of large parking lots for extra practice, as well as wide streets for all kinds of hoverboard heavy exploration!
Don’t-Miss Destination: Dirty 6th Street is the epicenter of hipster culture in Austin. With a smattering of popular bars to hit up, you can literally glide from pub to pub.
Clearwater, Florida, USA
Located in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, Clearwater is popular for its tranquil beaches and good weather. And the sand is supposed to be as soft as finely powdered chalk…!
Must-Try Trail: Be sure to ride on the Boardwalk and take in the crystal clear coastline!
Don’t-Miss Destination: The hot recommendation of many savvy locals, Sand Key Park is a great place to lay down, relax, and work on that tan when you’re all hovered-out.
New York City, New York, USA
With more nicknames and alter egos than a comic book villain, New York is host to…well, almost every sight and destination imaginable under the sun.
However, with heavy restrictions on where you can ride your hoverboards, it can be hard to find a good spot to ride. Please note: you are by law not allowed to ride your hoverboard on the streets or sidewalk. You are, however allowed to ride them in most public parks.
Must-Try Trail: With so much history and art, we recommend taking the time to delve into the amazing sights and sounds that world-famous Central Park has to offer. Grab your hoverboard and start discovering!
Don’t-Miss Destination: The Loch is a beautiful secret hidden at the North End. If you’re into the tranquil sounds of waterfalls cascading or placid bodies of water, this is your jam.
Santa Barbara, California, USA
Celebrated for its tepid climate and relaxing beach scene, Santa Barbara retains a refined air of art, fine food, and culture. Less busy than its Southern counterpart, LA, and Northern cousin, San Francisco, Santa Barbara is your perfect spot for some laid back beach vibes.
Must-Try Trail: Shoreline Drive and Cabrillo Boulevard is a popular walking/biking tour. Many can be seen riding their skates or bikes up and down the strip. Best part? The beach is just a hop skip and a jump away. Take it all in on a cool breeze!
Don’t-Miss Destination: Be sure to take a trip up Santa Barbara’s most famous shortcut through downtown, State Street, where you can find all kinds of unique cafes and shops and really take in the Santa Barbara feel.
There you have it! The top ten hoverboard destinations, according to Team SWAGTRON!
Didn’t see a spot you particularly enjoyed? We want to hear it! Let us know in the comments what your favorite place to ride your self balancing board is!
But remember, no matter where you go, take precautions to be as careful as possibly you can – and HAVE FUN!
“Caution Matters.”
When selecting your dream spot for hoverboarding, be sure to study up on the area. Know the terrain, the city’s layout, and what you’ll need to be careful!
Always keep your surroundings in mind. Observe the traffic flow and laws. Watch out for pedestrians or other riders, wear a helmet and pads, and be sure to wear bright clothes so you can be easily spotted. If you want to listen to music, invest in hands free speakers (helpful tip: our T3 hoverboards come with Bluetooth speakers) or leave an earbud out – be sure you can ALWAYS hear oncoming traffic or other riders.
With our cautionary advice out of the way, let’s get right down to it!
