Parks and the outdoors in Culver City

8 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Culver City.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

Do
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
Over three hundred feet above the surrounding neighborhoods, this overlook provides tremendous views of the LA basin, as well as some short nature trails for those interested in native plants and animals. A self-pay parking lot is available at the top of the hill, but hearty souls can park for free along Jefferson Blvd and then walk up 315 vertical feet of switchbacks and steps (note: no dogs allowed on the trails). There's also a shuttle that operates on weekends and holidays from the La Cienga/Jefferson Metro Expo Line station. The visitor center features exhibits on area history and nature. Special events including twilight walks, junior ranger programs, and bird-watching are scheduled regularly.
overlook open 8AM-sunset daily, visitor center open weekdays 10AM-6PM, weekends 8AM-7PM, closed Tue$6 for self-parking
Drink
Blind Barber
If you didn't know it was here, you'd never find this great hangout. The front is a working barbershop with a nondescript door in the middle of the back wall. Walk through that door and you're in a bar with a roaring-twenties theme. The cigarette dispenser by the bathroom sells hair product, the fans are operated on pulley systems, and a free drink is offered with every barber service. Cocktails are fancy and made by bar tenders who double as waitstaff. Snacks include numerous varieties of grilled cheese and upscale bar munchies like sloppy joe sliders or imported olives.
Bar: Mon-Sat 6PM-2AM, Sun closed; Barbershop: Mon-Sat noon-9PM, Sun noon-6PMCocktails $10+, Beers $5+
Do
Culver City Farmer's Market
Held every Tuesday, rain or shine. The market offers fresh foods, flowers, crafts, and other fare. Two hours of free parking are available in downtown garages. When you walk across the alley, you are actually moving from Los Angeles to Culver City (or vice versa).
Tue 2PM-7PM
Do
Fiesta La Ballona
This annual festival is held at the end of the summer and generally lasts from Friday through Sunday. The festival features a beer & wine garden, carnival rides, petting zoo, food trucks, a farmers' market, 100 booths selling artisan wares, and live music.
Free admission, rides are generally $1 each
Eat
Tito's Tacos
Cheap (a full meal for under $5) and authentic Mexican food, individually prepared while you watch. Opened in 1959, it is known for its American-style hard-shell taco and burritos. Considered a Los Angeles-area icon, the restaurant was named to Fox News' list of the ten best tacos in America in 2014, and was ranked #1 on The Daily Meal's "Top 35 Burritos in America" list in 2015. You stand in line to order, then move aside to wait. Delicious and unusual. Noisy; you hear Spanish and English spoken here in equal amounts. Family-friendly. Park in the lot or under the freeway (feed the meters with dimes or quarters), not in the red cul-de-sac.
9AM-11:30PM daily
Do Not mapped
Ballona Creek bicycle path
The Ballona Creek bicycle path is a long concrete path that is popular with bicyclists, walkers and joggers. The bike path runs along Ballona Creek from the back of the sports fields in Syd Kronenthal Park on McManus Street in Culver City all the way to the ocean, where it then joins the Coast Bike Path along the beach. While some wildlife and plant life is present along the route, the creek itself was lined with concrete by the Army Corps of Engineers after the Flood of 1938. In addition to the access from either end of the path, the bike path can also be accessed at most major intersections where the road passes over the creek. During heavy rains access points will be locked as the area can quickly become unsafe, with the creek rising and submerging portions of the path under fast-moving water.
Do Not mapped
Dr. Paul Carlson Park
Dr. Paul Carlson Park, or, more commonly, Carlson Park, is a small park located in the Carlson Park neighborhood. It is intended for recreational use and features open grassy spaces as well as picnic and barbecue facilities. It is named for Dr. Paul Carlson, a former resident of Culver City whose martyrdom in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 1964 attracted national attention.
See Not mapped
King Fahad Mosque
The King Fahad Mosque was opened in 1998 and has a capacity of 2,000 worshippers, a marble facade, hand made tiles from Turkey, and a high minaret topped with a gold leaf crescent. The complex also contains a lecture and meeting hall, classrooms, research centers, a bookshop, a children’s playground, and a car park. Tours can be arranged in advance through their web site; visitors are asked to wear pants, long sleeves, and head scarves are recommended for women.

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Culver City (CC BY-SA 4.0).