Los Angeles: The Wilshire Boulevard Segway Tour

The best part of this tour is the change of pace. Instead of sitting in traffic, you glide along Wilshire Boulevard and through Beverly Hills, close enough to notice grand hotels, polished shopfronts, and carefully kept streets. I like the chance to cover more ground than you could on foot, and I like that the route connects movie history with the story of Los Angeles itself.

I also like the tour’s small-group potential. On one outing, guide Evert led just two people and added a Beverly Hills route, giving them more than the basic Wilshire circuit. The main drawback is clear: you need to learn how to control a Segway, and the tour takes place on public streets, so it may not suit anyone who prefers a quiet, slow walk.

Key points to know

• Wilshire Boulevard began as a path through a barley field, cleared by developer Henry Gaylord Wilshire in the 1890s.
• Rodeo Drive is the visual high point, with luxury boutiques and Beverly Hills polish.
• The Beverly Hilton connects the ride to awards-season glamour, including the Golden Globes.
• The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences adds film history to the route.
• The tour lasts two hours and costs $119 per person, with the Segway and guide included.
• English and Spanish tours are available, but hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

Why Wilshire Boulevard makes a good Segway route

Wilshire Boulevard is more than a famous Los Angeles street. It runs 15.83 miles from Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles to Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, crossing several major business areas along the way. On this tour, you focus on its Beverly Hills section, where the road takes on a polished, high-value look.

I like the route because it gives you a quick lesson in how Los Angeles grew. Wilshire was named for Henry Gaylord Wilshire, an Ohio native who made and lost money in real estate, farming, and gold mining. In the 1890s, he cleared a path through his barley field. That modest beginning led to one of the city’s main east-west roads.

You will not see every part of Wilshire in two hours, and that is a good thing. The full boulevard stretches across a large part of Los Angeles. This outing narrows the focus to Beverly Hills and its best-known sights, so you spend your time riding rather than crossing long, less distinctive sections of the city.

A Segway also changes what you notice. From a car, Rodeo Drive and the surrounding streets pass in quick flashes. On two wheels, you move slowly enough to see the architecture, signs, trees, hotels, and storefronts while still covering several miles. I would think of it as a compact orientation tour, not a full study of Los Angeles.

Getting comfortable on the Segway before the ride

The tour includes the Segway and a guide, with training built into the experience according to the reported experience of the activity. A first-time rider found it fun and easy to learn, which is useful if you have never stepped onto one before. Still, you should expect a short adjustment period as you learn how leaning affects movement and stopping.

The machine is exciting because it responds to your body rather than a handlebar or pedals. That can feel natural after a few minutes, but you still need to pay attention. You will be riding through public areas and along streets, not inside a closed amusement park.

Wear something that lets you stand comfortably for two hours. The provided information does not specify clothing, age, weight, or physical requirements, so you should check those points with Another Side Tours before booking if they affect your decision. The key practical question is simple: are you comfortable standing, balancing, and following a guide for the full outing?

The guide matters here. You need clear instructions at the start and calm direction once the group gets moving. English and Spanish tours are offered. One especially personal outing was led by Evert, who was praised for knowing the area and for making the ride more than a basic pass-by tour.

Rodeo Drive and the polished side of Beverly Hills

Rodeo Drive is the tour’s most obvious crowd-pleaser. Its luxury shops and manicured setting provide the classic Beverly Hills picture, even if you have no interest in shopping. The value is in seeing how the street functions as a symbol of wealth, fashion, and Los Angeles image-making.

You glide past the shops rather than stopping for a long browsing session. That distinction matters. This is not a shopping tour, and the $119 price does not include purchases, tastings, or entry to any attraction. You are paying for the guided ride, the route, and the stories that connect the street to the larger city.

I like this portion best for first-time visitors who want a quick sense of Beverly Hills without spending half a day on foot. The Segway lets you see more of the area while avoiding the effort of walking from one end of Rodeo Drive to another.

The tradeoff is that Rodeo Drive can feel more like a display of wealth than an everyday neighborhood. If you want local markets, working-class history, or a less polished view of Los Angeles, this route will not provide much of that. It is deliberately focused on the famous and glamorous side of town.

The Beverly Hilton and awards-season Los Angeles

The ride also passes the Beverly Hilton, a major hotel tied to the Golden Globes Awards. That stop gives the tour a useful connection to entertainment history. Los Angeles is not just palm trees and movie signs. Its hotels, restaurants, theaters, and streets have long served as meeting points for the film industry.

You will view the hotel from the outside as you ride by. The appeal comes from the location and what it represents, not from an included hotel visit. Do not expect access to private areas or an awards ceremony. The guide’s explanation is what turns a well-known building into a meaningful stop.

This is one reason a guide adds value to the ride. You could pass the Beverly Hilton on your own and simply see a large, elegant hotel. With context, you can place it within the city’s entertainment culture and connect it to the Golden Globes.

The tour’s film references remain brief. In two hours, the guide has to keep the group moving, explain the boulevard, and manage the Segways. I would choose this outing for a lively introduction to famous places, not for detailed film scholarship.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is another important point along the route. Its presence gives the ride a second film-related anchor, balancing the hotel’s awards-season glamour with the institution behind the Academy Awards and other major parts of film culture.

Again, the experience is about seeing the building and hearing about it from the guide. There is no entry to an exhibit or museum included in the $119 price. That keeps the tour moving, but it also means you should not book it if your main goal is an indoor film attraction.

I like the way this stop broadens the route. Rodeo Drive shows Beverly Hills as a luxury shopping center. The Beverly Hilton shows its role in public celebrity life. The Academy adds the machinery of the film world. Together, the stops explain why this stretch of Los Angeles carries such weight in popular culture.

What two hours can realistically cover

Two hours is long enough for a proper introduction, but short enough to fit into a busy Los Angeles schedule. You can use it early in your trip to get oriented, then return later to the areas you want to explore on foot. It also works well between other plans because there is no hotel pickup or drop-off time built into the booking.

The route is described as a ride down Wilshire Boulevard and through the tree-lined streets of Beverly Hills. The listed highlights include Rodeo Drive, the Beverly Hilton, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Exact stop times and the precise order can vary, so think of the tour as a guided circuit rather than a series of long visits.

The lack of transportation is both a limitation and a practical detail. You must make your own way to 1080 S. La Cienega Boulevard, Suite 108, Los Angeles, California 90035. After the tour, you also arrange your own onward travel. If you are staying elsewhere in Los Angeles, allow time for traffic and do not assume the meeting point is close to the sights on the route.

A two-hour Segway ride can feel active without taking over your whole day. I would leave room before the tour to arrive at the meeting point, complete the introduction, and get comfortable with the machine. The booking information says starting times vary, so check availability before building the rest of your schedule.

Is $119 a fair price?

At $119 per person, this is not a cheap way to see Beverly Hills. You are paying more than you would for a self-guided walk or a drive through the district. The price includes the Segway and a live guide, but not pickup, drop-off, shopping, food, or admission to an indoor attraction.

The value depends on what you want from the visit. If you are already comfortable finding your way around Beverly Hills and mainly want photographs, you may find the price hard to justify. If you want a guide to provide context while you cover several parts of the area in two hours, the cost becomes easier to understand.

The strongest value comes from a small group. One outing had only two participants, and the guide added a Beverly Hills route. That kind of flexibility can make the ride feel personal, although you should not assume every departure will be private or include extra coverage.

I would compare the price with the cost of a standard sightseeing outing in Los Angeles, then ask yourself if the Segway itself is part of the appeal. If you mainly want to ride, the price includes the equipment and instruction. If you mainly want museum interiors or long stops, your money may work harder elsewhere.

Who will enjoy this ride most

I would recommend this tour to first-time visitors who want a quick introduction to Beverly Hills, especially if you enjoy active sightseeing. It suits people who like seeing several famous places in one outing and prefer a guide’s explanation to a self-guided route.

It is also a good choice for couples or small groups who want something more playful than a bus tour. The ride has a mild sense of adventure, but it is still tied to a clear route and familiar landmarks. The prior small-group outing suggests that the experience can feel personal when the departure is not crowded.

You may want to choose another activity if you dislike balancing equipment, standing for extended periods, or riding near public traffic. The information provided does not spell out accessibility details, so ask the operator before booking if you have concerns about mobility or physical comfort.

This is not the right tour for a deep visit to any one sight. You will not spend an afternoon browsing the Academy, touring the Beverly Hilton, or shopping along Rodeo Drive. You will see the exteriors, hear the stories, and keep moving.

Booking details that matter

Another Side Tours operates the experience. English and Spanish are available, and the price is $119 per person. The duration is two hours, with the Segway and guide included.

The meeting point is 1080 S. La Cienega Boulevard, Suite 108, Los Angeles, California 90035. Pickup and drop-off are not included, so plan your own route to and from that address.

You receive a booking confirmation from the activity provider within 48 hours of purchase. If your plans change, you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Check the available starting times before paying, since departures are not listed as one fixed daily time.

Should you book the Wilshire Boulevard Segway Tour?

Book it if you want an active, efficient way to see Beverly Hills and you enjoy famous Los Angeles landmarks with a bit of local context. The best reasons are the access to several well-known sights in two hours, the chance to ride along Rodeo Drive, and the possibility of a more personal outing with a small group and a guide such as Evert.

Skip it if you want indoor attractions, extended shopping time, hotel pickup, or a low-cost walk. At $119, the tour earns its price through the Segway experience and the guide, not through admissions or extras. For a first visit to Beverly Hills, it is a lively introduction. For a detailed study of Los Angeles, treat it as a starting point rather than the whole story.

FAQ

How long is the Wilshire Boulevard Segway Tour?

The tour lasts two hours.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $119 per person.

Where does the tour meet?

The meeting point is 1080 S. La Cienega Boulevard, Suite 108, Los Angeles, California 90035.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Pickup and drop-off are not included.

What is included in the price?

The price includes the Segway ride and a guide.

Which languages are available?

The tour is available with a live guide in English or Spanish.

Which places will I see?

The route includes Wilshire Boulevard, Rodeo Drive, the Beverly Hilton, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.