Hilltop park with views of Downtown Los Angeles plus hiking trails & history exhibits.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens is one of the world’s most extensive cultural, research, and educational centers.

The Library houses over 420,000 rare books and over 7 million manuscripts largely spanning British and American history.
Notable works include the Ellesmere manuscript of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, a Gutenberg Bible on vellum, the double-elephant folio edition of Audubon’s Birds of America, and a world-class collection of the early editions of Shakespeare’s works.

The art collection showcases many 18th- and 19th-century British and French art, and1690s to the 1950s American art, including Thomas Gainsborough’s Blue Boy, Mary Cassatt’s Breakfast in Bed, and Edward Hopper’s The Long Leg.

The Botanical Gardens spans 120 acres and includes the Desert Garden, the Japanese Garden, the Rose Garden, and the Chinese garden. The camellia collection is one of the largest in the country. Other important botanical attractions include the Subtropical, Herb, Jungle, and Palm gardens.

Nestled near Dodger’s stadium, Elysian Park offers paths for walking and biking, as well as a great view of downtown.

Topanga State Park is a California state park located in the Santa Monica Mountains, within Los Angeles County, California. It is part of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

This section of Griffith Park has man-made caves to explore, as well as trails & scenic views of the Hollywood sign.

The Hollywood Forever Cemetery is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles, and is the final resting place of some of the city’s most significant cultural icons.  The cemetery also hosts many cultural events, including music concerts and summer movie screenings.

“We saw Bon Iver perform here at dawn. Everyone stayed the night in the cemetery and then Justin and co. took the stage at dawn. There’s something unsettling yet surprisingly chill about sleeping amongst the dead and waking to a life-bringing force such as music.”  —  BRÅVES

Griffith Park is a large municipal park at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains, in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles.  The park is also home to the Griffith Observatory, the L.A. Zoo, and the famous Hollywood Sign.

Known as the “Whale Capital of the West,” Dana Point Harbor is a scenic coastal destination for dining, shopping, and seaside activities.

Black Star Canyon is a remote mountain canyon in the Santa Ana Mountains, located on the eastern edge of Orange County.  It is popular among hikers and mountain bikers for its wild scenery.

Open-air market features a range of vendors selling antiques, vintage goods and collectibles.  Open every Sunday 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.

“There are multiple hikes to explore around here. The Sandstone Peak, also known as Mount Allen, is a good one and apparently the highest point in the Santa Monica Mountains. You can basically see the whole world up there.”  — Awolnation

“They have lovely trails, lush and green and fresh air.” — Diana Purim & Eyedentity