What’s there to do?
Point Mugu has over five miles of undeveloped coast which makes this an awesome place to escape the heat of late summer. Situated at the base of a series of rocky bluffs, the beach provides ample opportunity for swimming, surfing, bodyboarding and more. Point Mugu state park also stretches up into the surrounding Santa Monica mountains where it’s possible to hike over 70 miles of trails along stream valleys and forests.

Top Picks
Mugu Rock is an instantly recognizable landmark that sticks out between PCH and the ocean. Featured in countless films, TV shows and an apparently infinite number of car commercials, the rock is a popular place to come for whale watching and fishing. While it can get crowded, it’s worth checking out before heading down to the beach or up into the mountains on a hike.

How to get there:
Located about 15 miles south of Oxnard, most Los Angelenos will want to take PCH 1 north from Santa Monica until reaching the park. An alternative is to take the 101 north and exit at Las Posas Road; turn left at the exit and head south until reaching the coast where you will need to turn left on PCH 1 heading south for another three miles until reaching Point Mugu.

What’s there to see?
The Silver Lake reservoir sits smack dab in the middle of you guessed it, Silver Lake.  A nice (and relatively new trail) now rims the entire reservoir allowing joggers, dog walkers, parents pushing strollers and regular old pedestrians the chance to enjoy the views across the water, even if a fence prevents the curious from reaching the reservoir’s edge.

Top picks:
The Silver Lake Recreation Center sits at the southern end of the reservoir.  Here, there’s a dedicated off leash dog park in addition to basketball courts and multipurpose grass sports fields good for all anything ranging from soccer to Calvin ball.

How to get there?
From the 101: Exit at Silver Lake Blvd and head north.  After a couple miles, Silver Lake Blvd will reach the reservoir, which is located on the left.

There is no parking lot, but street spots should be relatively available. Be aware that some areas are permitted though.

Bonus:
Music hot spot Spaceland is located just a few short blocks south of the reservoir at 1717 Silver Lake Blvd.  A smattering of small shops and restaurants also cluster around Silver Lake Blvd.

Chula Vista campground in Mt Pinos, Los Padres

Tucked away above the I-5 grapevine pass lies the Sierra-like Mt Pinos rec area in Los Padres National Forest.

What’s there to see?
Pine forest covers the Mt Pinos area  which means there’s plenty of shade on the numerous hiking trails throughout the area.  Off road vehicles are also allowed on nearby dirt roads for those who like to roar off into the woods – this is some of the best OHV terrain in the country.  Mountain biking is also popular in this section of Los Padres, for anyone interested in kicking up the dirt without the use of a gasoline engine; just be aware that biking is not allowed on trails through the Chumash wilderness.  Several first come first served campsites are smattered across the area.  One of the best appears to be Chula Vista at the end of Frazier Mountain Park Road, which ends in a parking lot at the top of a mountain.  The walk in campsite is then approximately 200 yards from a nearby parking lot. Fires are allowed as long as they stay within the fire ring.  Signs for Nordic sports like cross country and snow shoeing indicate that this is also a great place to explore in the winter months; just be prepared for a lot of snow and bring tire chains.

Top Picks:
The parking lot at the end of Cuddy Valley Road is a popular destination for amateur astronomers and sky gazers. Mt Pinos’s distance from LA and it’s elevation of over 8,000 feet means the air is clear and the atmosphere is thinner than at sea level.  As a result, when there’s a new moon, the Milky Way clearly stretches across the sky, along with millions of stars.  If you ask nicely, some of the people with telescopes might even let you look through.  Even if they don’t, it’s still an awesome place to grab a blanket and stare at the heavens.

Directions:
From Los Angeles, take I-5 north to Frazier Mountain Park Road (just before the I-5 makes it’s final descent into the Central Valley, the giant sign for the Flying J gas station is the best landmark). Head west onFrazier Mountain Park road  (left from the freeway) and continue straight after it turns into  Cuddy Valley Rd.  The road enters Los Padres National Forest and small signs indicate hiking trails and ATV roads.  Further up the mountain on the same road are signs for two campgrounds Mcgill and Mt Pinos – these are both run by a concessionaire and cost twelve dollars a night.  The road dead ends in a parking lot from where it’s possible to reach the walk in campground, Chula Vista; this is the same parking lot where the star gazers congregate.

Just past the park entrance

Intro:
It’s incredible that Wattles Garden Park is so overlooked by locals and tourists alike, especially because it’s in the heart of Hollywood. This is a true hidden gem.

What’s there to see?
The park covers about 50 acres and stretches from Hollywood Blvd in the south (although one would never know it from driving by) up into the surrounding hills. Originally built as a large winter estate by the Wattles family of Nebraska, the park contains hiking trails, Jualita (the original mansion for the estate), beautiful gardens and a multi-acre organic community farm (which is off limits to non-members, unfortunately).

Top Picks:
Unlike neighboring Runyon Canyon, the trails in this park are nearly deserted. On a Friday afternoon in the middle of the summer, the total park population appeared to be two. Literally. It’s unclear if this is always the case, but the overgrown trails appear to be a pretty good indication that few  people ever come here. The park’s narrow canyon also blocks out most of the city and the street noise. As a result, there’s an almost eerie sense of quietude and peace.  Some of the trails connect to Runyon Canyon at the top of the hill, although the hordes who visit Runyon seem completely unaware that Wattles exists at all.  Be aware, there’s an almost 1,000 foot elevation gain from Hollywood Blvd to the peak at the end of the trail.

The Japanese style gate: beyond lie the hiking trails

How to get there:
The address for the park is 1850 N. Curson Ave Los Angeles, 90046. The park is divided into several sections, all of which are accessible from Curson Ave (which runs parallel in between La Brea and Fairfax).  Bordering Hollywood Blvd at the south end is the community garden which is fenced off to the public.  To reach the mansion, go north on Curson Ave from Hollywood Blvd (up the hill).  It’s clearly visible on the right.  The entrance to the park is located even further uphill from the mansion (also on the right).  To reach the hiking trails, enter the park and head uphill along the concrete sidewalk; the trails begin after the Japanese style gate. Curson Ave is a rather narrow residential street so parking is limited; the best options are probably along Hollywood Blvd.

The view looking back, about 3/4 from the top

Malibu lagoon

Intro:
Malibu Creek forms a beautiful lagoon where it meets the ocean, providing a great place to observe wildlife, relax at the beach and surf.

What’s there to see?
Divided roughly in half by the mouth of Malibu Creek, the beach is a great place to relax and catch some sun regardless of which side you visit.  The lagoon attracts a lot of wildlife, especially birds (and not just ugly seagulls). At low tide, the sea retreats leaving tidepools where it’s possible to view ocean life close hand, especially invertebrates like starfish. Ocean fishing is possible from Malibu pier which juts into the water from the eastern end of the park.  Surfing is by far the most popular water sport here, and as a result, much of the sea is reserved for surfers only.  A small section of beach at the western end is open to swimmers, body boarders and people who just want to wade in a bit.

Surfrider beach

Top Picks:
Surfrider beach is one of the most famous beaches in Southern California.  Hundreds of surfers flock here every day when the waves are good; it’s a spot especially well known for long boarding. Even if you don’t surf, it’s still a cool place to people watch as surfers try catching waves.

Directions:
Located off PCH, the entrance to the beach is at Cross Creek Road; there is a parking fee.  To reach the entrance, either drive north on PCH from Santa Monica or from the 101, exit at Los Virgenes Road and head west towards the ocean.  After several miles, the road will T at PCH; turn left on PCH and a few miles down you will reach Cross Creek Road.  There’s a Wells Fargo bank on the corner.

What’s there to see?
Situated in Los Feliz, Barnsdall Art Park sits atop a small hill which provides excellent views of Los Angeles and the Hollywood Hills. The park serves double duty as a gallery and also art center for adult and children’s classes.  The Gallery Theater within the park also puts on frequent shows. The park’s situation also makes this a great place to have a picnic and relax under some shade. For more info visit http://www.barnsdallartpark.com .

Top Picks:
Hollyhock House is the architectural centerpiece of the park (and the only remaining structure designed by Frank Lloyd Wright himself). Even though Wright’s full vision was never built, the building shows off his gift for seamlessly blending exterior and interior space. If you’ve never seen one of his buildings in person, this is a great chance to see why so many consider Wright the greatest modern architect. Seven dollar tours of the house take place at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 Wednesday through Sunday. Even if you aren’t an architecture buff, its still worth coughing up the cash..

Directions:
The entrance to Barnsdall Art Park is at 4800 Hollywood Blvd (just west of Vermont Ave). Limited parking is available in the park. The Metro Red line stop at Sunset and Vermont is  just a few blocks away.  From the Metro station walk north on Vermont (heading uphill). Turn Left at Hollywood Blvd and then walk up the hill to the park.

Bonus:
Los Feliz Village is just steps away.  This is a great place to grab a bite to eat or browse through some boutiques and shops.

Dante's View and The Griffith Observatory in the distance

Intro:
Located inside Griffith Park, it’s one of the highest points in the Hollywood Hills and gives a 360 degree view of the entire region.

What’s there to see?
The area atop Mt Hollywood is easily accessible from several trails in Griffith Park. A series of smaller trails lead here from nearly every direction, but the most common route seems to be via the fire road leading from the Griffith Park Observatory. Because the dirt fire road is so wide, it’s especially popular with runners and some equestrians.  The peak of Mt Hollywood has several tables which makes it a great place to picnic. The view from the top is unmatched for its vistas of the entire city and the San Gabriel mountains to the east. On a clear day you can even see Catalina Island off the coast.

Top Picks:
The view is obviously spectacular, but there are also several other points of interest worth visiting along the way.  A detour to Dante’s View, which has a charming desert garden, benches and water is a great stopping point.

How to get there?
Take Vermont Ave north past Los Feliz Blvd and up the hill; this will bring you to the entrance of the park.  From here you can either drive up to the observatory and park (thus taking the fire road to the summit) or for a longer hike, park next to the Greek Theater and take the trailhead beginning across from the parking lot.  This trail ascends steeply and then remains largely level until reaching a fork which will take you up to Mt Hollywood via Dante’s view.

What’s there to see?
It’s a beach, so there’s lots of sand and ocean to be had. Besides swimming and surfing this is also a solid place to go wind surfing and scuba diving.  The state park encompasses much more than the beach though and extends up into the Santa Monica Mountains. There, you will find numerous trails which lead through the backcountry to spectacular views of the Channel Islands off the coast. For more info visit http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=616

Top Picks:
At low tide Leo Carillo is a great place to go tidepooling.  There’s a cool array of starfish, sea anemones, crabs and other animals that live here – just remember to walk carefully and don’t poke the starfish too hard.

How to get there:
There are two basic ways to reach Leo Carillo.  For the first route, simply PCH 1 north from Santa Monica for about 30 milees. Alternatively, take the 101 North, exit at Westlake Blvd and turn left onto Westlake; wind your way through the hills and turn right on PCH when you reach the ocean – the park entrance is 2-3 miles away off of PCH.

What’s there to see?
Red Rock Canyon lies at the tip of the southern Sierras. This unique location has resulted in the formation of colorful canyons with awesome rock formations that will make you think you landed on another planet.  The park has opportunities to hike, ride horses and drive off road vehicles.  If the scenery looks a tad familiar, don’t be alarmed; like so many parks in Southern California, Red Rock has been the site of numerous films (most notably Jurassic Park). For more info visit http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=631

Top Picks:
Similar to Joshua Tree (see the 02/21/09 post) Red Rock Canyon lends itself to bouldering and off trail exploration.  Hagen Canyon is a good jumping off point for such an adventure; a relatively short trail (around one mile) loops its way through this section of the park as well.

How to get there:
From most parts of the city, you will want to take the I-5 north to CA-14.  About 60 miles after you pass through Palmdale, CA-14 passes straight through Red Rock Canyon State Park. The drive takes about 2 hours.

What’s there to see?
Dockweiler is the stretch of sand reaching from Manhattan Beach in the south (just west of LAX) up to Playa del Rey and the southern edge of the marina.  Compared to Venice, Santa Monica and many of the other local beaches, Dockweiler is relatively unvisited.  As a result, the sand is clean and there’s plenty of space.  Besides the typical tanning, sand castle building and ocean activities, there are also volleyball nets and bike paths.  A lot of Dockweiler lies beneath the flight path for planes taking off from LAX; it can be really cool to watch these massive airplanes roar overhead, but if you’re faint of nerve or simply like a quiet beach, the noise is minimal towards the north where the beach turns into Playa Del Rey.

Top Picks:
Dockweiler is one of the few beaches where you can build a bonfire.  You have to use the established fire pits, but there’s not too much to complain about there.  Make sure you show up early on the weekends; most of the pits get claimed by the afternoon.

How to get there:
Your best bet is to drive by taking the 105 freeway west until it ends and turns into Imperial Highway.  Make a right onto Vista Del Mar.  You’ll see the ocean on your left.