When I got the opportunity to test drive the Kia Sportage I knew exactly where I would take it right away. Armed with both workout and blogger gear,I thought it would be great to take on some hiking adventures across Los Angeles and document them in the car. With the cars sporty exterior and comfy interior I felt completely prepared.

Alamitos/Junipero Beach

The first stop on my hiking adventure started at home. What I love about my city (Long Beach CA. for those that don’t know) is that I rarely have to travel outside of it to do the things I need and love to do; and finding a great hiking/walking trail was no exception. Alamitos/Junipero Beach sits on a long stretch of land along Ocean Blvd. and is the perfect setting for those wishing to hike, bike ride, or walk. There is a walkway directly on the beach for all of the previously mentioned  activities while a walkway directly above the beach is for walker and runners only.

Ample parking, public transportation, bike rentals, and restrooms are among the amenities that make this trail such a gem. However I think my favorite feature of this trail are the amazing views. The beach has a backdrop of downtown high-rise buildings to the west and a high bluff with condos and apartment buildings along most of its length that just gives this lookielou her absolute LIFE!

Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook

My next stop was the Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, and scenic it was! Driving up to the thing is an adventure in itself, lucky for me the Kia was super easy to navigate up the winding roads that both adults and children use as part of their workout routine.

Whether there to take advantage of the steep stair workout or the winding hiking trail, the overlook is the perfect place to get your sweat on. I love the fact that sensory overload totally distracts you from the kick in the butt the workout gives you.

Along the trails you’ll also find interesting fun facts about what inhabits the Overlook. An informative museum also sits perched at the top, providing you with everything you would ever need to know about the lush gardens and wildlife that lives there.

Griffith Park

When you’re looking at hiking trails in So Cal you would be remiss not to check out Griffith Park.

Although located in the heart of Hollywood with its bridle trails, hiking paths, and mountain roads the park makes you feel sheltered against the busy city streets.

I love that Griffith Park offers numerous family, educational and cultural attractions along with its miles of hiking and horseback riding trails. Didn’t hurt that there was a cute little cafe on the grounds either 😉

What I loved most about these trails is the convenience they offer. All of them offered parking, and each place felt super safe while still keeping the authenticity of the environment. A close second to convenience were the variety of endurance options offered. Long Beach with its biking, running or walking trails, Baldwin Hills and its stair or pathway trails, and Griffith Park with its hiking paths and mountain roads. Anyone, beginner or novice can enjoy each space with no fear of ability or lack thereof. Driving the Kia Sportage made the adventure that much more fun.

Now on to my review… I’m a lists girl, and if you’ve followed some of my other car reviews you know I’d much rather list the pros and cons of a car then drag you through some long drawn out soliloquy on my thoughts and opinions. Plus I believe most drivers know what they’re looking for before they even head out to a car lot, so think of this list as your “don’t waste my time just give me the nitty-gritty no BS list”.

 

Pros

• Bells and whistles GALORE on the inside of car. These are the standouts…
  • Dual side temps
  • Mp3 player and satellite radio
  • Bluetooth
  • Blind-spot and rear-cross-traffic alerts
  • Proximity key
  • Rear camera for easy parallel parking

 

• Loved the black on black rims on the 18 inch Alloy Wheels
• Sleek body that’s both sporty and comfy. The interior and trunk were HUGE

• Incredibly affordable! Prices start at $22,150

Cons

• I wasn’t that impressed with the interior. After having driven the Mazda 6 Grand touring (read that review here) I am obsessed with white leather interior.
• Doesn’t get great gas mileage at 19 city MPG and 25 highway

Overall the pros far outweighed the cons. I say the car is definitely worth a test drive.

So tell me what you think about the car? Are there any sporty hiking or walking trails I missed? I’d love to know in the comments below!