Parks and the outdoors in Los Angeles
342 parks, gardens, beaches and walks in and around Los Angeles.
Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first. Showing the top 40 of 342.
Parks and the outdoors in Los Angeles
SeeMuseumWilshirePage Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits
An excellent museum that displays fossils of animals – including saber-toothed cats, dire wolves and mammoths – that got stuck in tar pits during the Ice Age 10,000 to 40,000 years ago. Visitors can watch fossils being prepared and learn about the natural and human history of the tar pits. However, the real highlight is just outside the museum in Hancock Park, where you'll find a Pleistocene Garden and the tar pits themselves, with life-size replicas of extinct mammals and where you can witness the ongoing excavation of the pits.
Open now · closes 5 pmAdults $12, youth (13-17)/seniors (62+)/college students (w/ ID) $9, children (3-12) $5, children under 3 free. Free general admission for everyone 1st Tu of the month, except July and August · Wheelchair accessible
SeeModern art museumWilshireLos Angeles County Museum of Art
LACMA
This huge museum features a vast array of works on display from around the globe, with particularly strong collections of Asian, Latin American and American art. You'll want to devote the better part of a day to seeing this place, as the museum is spread out across several buildings. The collection is incredibly varied: iconic pieces of modern art sit a floor removed from artifacts of ancient Greece and Rome. Among the many highlights you'll find are a marvelous pavilion devoted to Japanese art, a remarkable collection of pre-Columbian art from Latin America, and the new Broad Contemporary Art Museum (BCAM) with its many large-scale and innovative installations. On the grounds (and viewable to all for free) are several massive installation pieces, including Chris Burden's photogenic Urban Light, a veritable forest of working street lamps arranged in front of the Wilshire Blvd entrance, and Michael Heizer's Levitated Mass, a huge boulder perched over a walkway behind the museum. LACMA also hosts many special exhibitions, the subjects of which are often just as varied as the museum's permanent collection.
Open now · closes 8 pmAdults $15, students and seniors $10, children under 18 free. Free general admission for everyone on the second Tu of each month. Special exhibitions require extra fee · Built 1910
SeeHistoric siteHollywoodHollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of a series of stars embedded in the sidewalk to commemorate famous movie, radio, recording, theatre, and TV personalities. Since 1960, over two thousand stars have been immortalized; the schedule for upcoming star ceremonies is listed on the Walk of Fame's website.
SeeWestWestwood Village Memorial Park
See the final resting places of some of Hollywood's most famous celebrities, including Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin, Natalie Wood, Jack Lemmon, and Don Knotts, in a compact 2 acre cemetery.
8AM-Dusk
SeeHollywoodHollywood Sign
Hollywood's most recognizable landmark is easy to spot high up on Mount Lee in nearby Griffith Park. You can drive part way up for a closer look, but you can't hike all the way to the sign. The best viewpoints of the sign are from the Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park, on Mulholland Drive above the Hollywood Bowl, and from the Hollywood and Highland Center. For a rare view of the Hollywood sign with lines of palms trees on the side, go to 650 S Windsor Blvd, or further north.
SeeNorthwestMacArthur Park
(Metro: Westlake) This park has been famous for a long time, starting with Charlie Chaplin, who made several films at the lake here. Since the 1970s, it's also known for being a location where people ritualistically leave cakes out in the rain. In the 90s its reputation was tainted by violence and drug use, but the park has been cleaned up over the last few years, and is once again a decent place to visit. Take a paddle boat out on the small lake or watch one of the ever-present soccer matches.
DoNorthwestDodger Stadium
Who wouldn't want to grab a Dodger Dog and enjoy watching a game of baseball? Built by evicting and displacing an entire neighborhood of Chavez Ravine, this venerable stadium, in the hills north of Downtown near Echo Park, opened in 1962 and is home to Major League Baseball's 6 time world champion Los Angeles Dodgers. For $35 you can get all-you-can-eat hot dogs, sodas, and nachos at the Right Field Pavilion. Behind-the-scenes tours of the ballpark are available at 10AM, 11:30AM, and 1PM on days when there isn't an afternoon Dodgers game.
Tickets $15-$100, depending on game and section; ballpark tours $20 adults, $15 seniors/children/military
SeeHistoric siteNorthwestEnnis House
Perched in the foothills of Los Feliz beneath Griffith Park on a winding residential street is this massive Frank Lloyd Wright-designed house, constructed using textile blocks reminiscent of an ancient Mayan temple. The building is notable for its use as a filming location, appearing in numerous films and television shows including the 1959 House on Haunted Hill, the mansion in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and most notably in Blade Runner, as well as numerous commercials, fashion shoots, and music videos. Unfortunately, the house is only open for tours a handful of days each year, but both sides of its impressive exterior can easily be viewed from the street.
SeeNorthwestLos Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens
A classic zoo at the northern end of Griffith Park. Popular exhibits include a chimpanzee complex, a gorilla area, a large elephant complex, a newly built rainforest exhibit, a reptile house, and a children's zoo. There's also a few animal shows, including a bird show, elephant training, and a rhino feeding; check the website for times.
Open now · closes 5 pm$20 adults/teens, $17 seniors, $15 children, children under 2 free
SeeSouthNatural History Museum of Los Angeles County
A crown jewel of Los Angeles' museums and a national leader in exhibitions, education and research, this museum dates back to 1913 and was L.A.'s first cultural institution to open its doors to the public. It's the largest natural and historical museum in the Western United States, safeguarding more than 35 million spectacular, diverse specimens and artifacts. Exhibits on display include lots of dinosaur and ancient mammal skeletons, taxidermy figures, a gallery on the history of Los Angeles, a gem and mineral hall, interactive exhibits for children, and an outdoor nature garden.
Open now · closes 5 pm$18 adults, $14 teens (13-17)/college students/seniors (62+), $7 children (3-12), free for children under 3; special exhibitions require extra fee
SeeNorthwestBarnsdall Art Park
Metro: Vermont/Sunset
A small hill in East Hollywood with sweeping views of the neighborhood as well as an arts complex on top that serves the local community, with an art center that offers classes to adults and children, a community theater, the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, which holds changing exhibits of art from local artists, and Hollyhock House, which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is open to the public. Hollyhock House is one of eight buildings by Wright to be listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Daily 5AM-10PM; Municipal Art Gallery Thu-Sun noon-5PM; Hollyhock House Thu-Sun 11AM-4PMFree; Hollyhock House tours $7 adults, $3 students/seniors (tickets sold online only)
SeeNorthwestEcho Park
A nice lakeside park with views of the Downtown skyline. There's a major fountain at the center of the lake and paddle boats are available for a ride on the lake. The park is very popular and good for picnics, though often crowded. It has also been featured in various media: film buffs may recognize the lake from a scene in Chinatown, while OK Go fans might recognize the park as the setting for their time-lapse music video for the song End Love. The surrounding area is a hub for underground/indie culture and houses a number of venues.
DoPerforming arts venueNorthwestGreek Theatre
An outdoor amphitheater, opened in 1930 and so named because the stage is modeled after a Greek temple, set in Griffith Park and regularly used for concerts. Parking can be a problem as it is on a hill in the middle of a residential neighborhood.
SeeNorthwestAngelino Heights
A historic neighborhood between Echo Park and Downtown which contains many Victorian residences that are nationally or locally registered as historic places.
SeeSouthCalifornia Science Center
A huge science museum with lots of interactive science exhibits and a rather impressive air and spacecraft collection. The museum's large exhibit galleries cover technology and biology, with highlights including a high wire bicycle, a surgery simulator, an aquarium with a kelp forest and a touch tank, and fighter jets and other aircraft on display. The highlight of the museum's spacecraft collection is the Space Shuttle Endeavour, one of only three remaining craft from the retired American space shuttle fleet (free timed reservations are required). The museum also holds an IMAX theater and travelling exhibitions. Best times to visit are weekdays after 1:30PM or weekends, since weekdays before 1:30PM are often busy with school groups.
Open now · closes 5 pmPermanent exhibition galleries free; separate fee for IMAX theater
SeeNorthwestAutry Museum of the American West
A combination art/history museum, with continuing and changing exhibitions of art from the American West, a major collection of Native American art, and historical artifacts of the West, including a permanent firearms gallery. A unique highlight of the museum is an exhibit on cowboys in popular culture, with many costumes and film props from popular Westerns and their Hollywood stars.
Open now · closes 4 pm$10 adults, $6 seniors/students, $4 children, free for active military personnel, veterans, peace officers and park rangers
SeeWestMildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden
Created as an experimental garden of rare and exotic plants for the university's botany program, this garden makes for a tranquil retreat from the urban landscape, with many tropical and subtropical plants as well as a stream running through the middle of the garden.
Open now · closes 5 pmFree
SeeWestSkirball Cultural Center
In the hills above Sepulveda Pass is this expansive contemporary facility devoted to Jewish heritage. Among its libraries, classrooms, conference rooms and gardens is a museum with a permanent collection of historical artifacts, artwork, and interactive exhibits on Jewish history and culture, with an emphasis on the Jewish-American experience. A highlight of the museum is a large children's area modeled after Noah's Ark, with animal puppets and figurines that kids can play with.
Open now · closes 5 pm$12 adults, $9 seniors/students/teens, $7 children, children under age 2 free
SeeSouthLeimert Park
A famous center for Los Angeles' African-American culture, this neighborhood (just south of Crenshaw/Martin Luther King- accessible by bus) is a must-see if in the area, with shops, restaurants, art galleries, and performance venues catering to the city's African-American population. A quick sidetrip into nearby Baldwin Hills offers beautiful views of Downtown Los Angeles and a nice peek at lifestyles in the "Black Beverly Hills".
- EatJapanese restaurantHollywood
Yamashiro
This Japanese restaurant is perched above Hollywood, and on most nights provides an unbeatable view of the city, from downtown to Palos Verdes. The building and grounds, not the food, are the stars of the show. The gardens and architecture are elegant, and the restaurant has a fascinating history (the story's on the menu). Look for the small sign just west of the Magic Castle; valet parking only.
Closed · opens 5:30 pmBuilt 1914
- DrinkDive barNorthwest
The Short Stop
Once popular with off-duty cops, the Echo Park trendophiles have taken it over in the last few years. One of the best jukeboxes in the city with a variety from rock, current/classic hip-hop, 80s, Hi-NrG, country, etc. The bar is owned by Greg Dulli, former lead singer of the Afghan Whigs and now The Twilight Singers.
Closed · opens 5 pmBuilt 1925
SeeWestFranklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden
In the middle of the arts and social sciences section of campus, this noted sculpture garden showcases dozens of modern and contemporary sculptures from masters such as Calder, Matisse, and Rodin.
Free
- DrinkBarNorthwest
Gold Room
Divey bar with a mix of Echo Park hipsters and Latino immigrants. The interior looks like the inside of a limo from the 80s. On certain nights they offer $5 beer+tequila shot specials.
Open now · closes 2 am tomorrow
- EatFrench restaurantNorthwest
Figaro
Simple French food in a pretty cafe setting with outdoor dining as well. Great place to have a drink and watch people walk by.
Open now · closes 11 pm
SeeSouthExposition Park Rose Garden
The Exposition Park Rose Garden is a historic 7-acre (28,000 m2) sunken garden located in Exposition Park in Los Angeles, California. It has been called "one of the city's best-kept secrets". It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.
Daily 8:30AM-dusk, closed Jan 1-March 15
DoSouthKenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
A state park atop the Baldwin Hills, with marvelous views overlooking much of the Los Angeles Basin and some challenging hiking trails. Other amenities include sports fields, a fishing lake, picnic areas, a Japanese garden, and a visitor center. A shuttle connects the park with the La Cienga/Jefferson Metro Expo Line station on weekends and holidays.
Daily 6AM-sunset$6 per vehicle
- SeeHistoric siteNorthwest
Music Box Steps
A public staircase that was the setting of the 1932 Laurel and Hardy short film The Music Box, a slapstick flick where Laurel and Hardy try to move a piano up the steep steps to wacky results. Today it's a scenic walk through a pleasant neighborhood.
- SeeWilshire
Pan Pacific Park
Has a gym, senior center, baseball fields, picnic benches, and children's play areas. Right next to the Fairfax branch of the Los Angeles Public Library.
DoWestRancho Park Golf Course
Rancho Park Golf Course is a municipal course with discounts for LA residents, but is open to the public. Tee times are in high demand and are subject to availability, so make reservations well in advance if planning a round.
Green fees: $38-48 (discounts available), cart: $16-24
- SeeNorthwest
Griffith Park & Southern Railroad
A 1/3-scale miniature railroad that offers rides along a mile-long track and that's very popular with kids.
Mon-Fri 10AM-4:15PM, Sat-Sun 10AM-4:30PM (closes a half hour later in summer)$2.75 per ride
DoNorthwestSilver Lake Reservoir
A scenic lake encircled by a nice walking and jogging path. Just over 2 miles long, it offers a beautiful way to get outdoors.
- DoParkNorthwest
Los Angeles River
While it's in the process of a long restoration, the section of the Los Angeles River past Northwest L.A. is actually already open as a recreation zone, with a soft-bottomed bed that supports trees and wildlife. A bike path runs along the western bank of the river between Riverside Drive at the north end of Griffith Park and the neighborhood of Elysian Valley, better known to locals as Frogtown, an up-and-coming area that has been the subject of much interest lately with the restoration of the river. Pocket parks dot the banks and there are opportunities for kayaking along this stretch of river. On summer weekends, the Friends of the Los Angeles River operates on the bike path in Frogtown, with various vendors, live music, and plenty of river-based outdoor activities.
- EatLatin american restaurantNorthwest
Mama's Hot Tamales
Metro: Westlake
A good selection of tamales and other Mexican food. Visit their carts along the sidewalks around MacArthur Park on the weekends.
- DoEastside
Audubon Center at Debs Park
An urban nature center showcasing the native habitat that used to fill the Los Angeles Basin.
Open now · closes 5 pmFree
- SeeNorthwest
Ferndell Nature Museum
A shady oasis tucked alongside one of the main entrances into Griffith Park, this naturalistic area has numerous ferns and tropical plants alongside a small stream, with a nature trail and a picnic area that makes it a wonderful retreat on hot summer days.
Open now · closes 10 pmFree
- SeeNorthwest
Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round
An antique carousel dating back to 1926 with a large band organ. A large children's playground sits nearby.
Weekends throughout the year and daily during summer, 11AM-5PM
- SeeEastside
Los Angeles Police Museum
Located in the former Highland Park Police Station, it displays the history of the LAPD from its 1869 beginnings
Mon-Fri 10AM-4PM, third Sat of the month 9AM-3PMGeneral (13-61) $8, seniors (62+) $7, children (under 13) free
- SeeEastside
Lummis House
Arroyo stone house and gardens designed and built by Charles Lummis, author/journalist of the American West and founder of the Southwest Museum. Listed on the NRHP.
Open now · closes 4 pm
- BuyWest
The Time Travel Store
Apparel, supplies, and sundries for the discriminating time traveler. You got your canned Mammoth Chunks, your robot repair parts, and the ever-popular Viking Odorant. (All proceeds from sales go towards the shop's real reason for being: the 826LA writing workshop program for school-age students.) There's another location in Echo Park.
Tue-Sat, irregular hours (call ahead)
- EatWest
Taiko
Taiko is a casual little Japanese restaurant located in the Brentwood Gardens. The service is very friendly, and the unique variety of dishes will satisfy anyone's tastes. The Nabeyaki udon is not to be missed.
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Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Los Angeles (CC BY-SA 4.0). Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Place data from Overture Maps. Some descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).