Oxnard, California

One of the many hidden gems near Santa Barbara, Knapp's Castle is an abandoned home built in 1916 by George Knapp. Finding the trailhead can be difficult because it's not clearly marked and the road it's starts from is long, winding and narrow. Coming from the 154, turn right on East Camino Cielo...

Frank Gehry's "Giant Binoculars" is a striking sculpture located in Venice, California. Designed by the renowned architect Frank Gehry in collaboration with artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, this oversized artwork stands as a whimsical and surreal landmark. The sculpture itself res...

Explore the beauty of nature at the Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden in Los Angeles. Nestled within the UCLA campus, this enchanting garden showcases a diverse collection of plants from around the world.  Wander through lush landscapes, serene ponds, and peaceful trails, perfect for nature lo...

Pacoima Park Natural Wash Park makes for a wonderful & pleasant walk. The entrance to the park is located at the corner of Newton St and 8th St and runs up to Foothill Blvd in San Fernando California. The park is ADA accessible and allows for dogs on leash. There are also picnic tables and dr...

The Marina Del Rey harbor covers 1.5 square miles making it the world’s largest small-craft harbor. Located southwest of Los Angeles, it is the homeport to nearly 6,500 local boats, ranging from small fishing boats, large private yachts, and even a multitude of unique houseboats. The harbor is ea...

The Saint Francis Dam Disaster National Monument, established in 2019, memorializes the site where the Saint Francis Dam, built by famed engineer William Mulholland, collapsed in 1929, tragically killing more than 400 people in the middle of the night as a 150+ foot wave of water crashed through ...

The Verdugo Mountain Range is a small, rugged range spanning across the northeast end of the San Fernando Valley from Sun Valley to Glendale. With close to 50 miles of graded and well-maintained trails, the Verdugos are surprisingly underutilized and make a great place for someone looking to esca...

Urban Light, located at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), is an iconic sculpture installation by artist Chris Burden. Composed of 202 restored cast-iron street lamps from the 1920s and 1930s, it stands as a symbol of the city's vibrancy and history.  This is a popular spot for visito...

The Kenneth Hahn Recreation Area is just outside of downtown LA, a perfect location for hiking, trail running, and biking. The trail loops up to the top of a hill, where hikers get sweeping views of LA. Dogs are allowed, but must be kept on leash.  This is also a great location for trail running...

The Lake Hollywood Trail features beautiful wildflowers in the spring and is wheelchair accessible. A majority of the trail is paved, but approximately .6 miles is on dirt. Some of the trail is shaded, but bring sun protection regardless - especially in the summer. Dogs are not allowed on this tr...

The Aileen Getty Ridge Trail is a singletrack trail that runs between Mt. Lee and Burbank Peak (the location of the Wisdom Tree). Though there are many options to access this trail, the most direct route is from the west via the Wonder View Trailhead. Start by parking on Lake Hollywood Drive near...

What was once a vacant and deteriorated site, Franklin-Ivar Park was rehabilitated and turned into a small neighborhood park in a densely-populated area in Hollywood. More like a parklette, Franklin-Ivar Park returns some of the native habitats that once thrived in this area on the slopes of the...

NOTE: This location is only open on Thursdays from 10am-12pm. Hours may vary depending on availablity (see below).   In 1991, Hollywood resident Gail Cottman purchased a small plot beneath her Hollywood Hills home, originally planning a rose garden. It expanded into a magical homage to "The Wiza...

Who doesn't enjoy a short hike to a scenic/remote location? I know I sure do! After hearing about this spot through word of mouth and the internet, and seemingly never having the time to check it out, I honestly have to say it was a worthwhile trip. This short 0.6 out and back hike/walk to the f...

Getting to the parking lot near the trailhead and finding an open space can seem like the most daunting part of this whole excursion. There are free parking lots along the road to the trailhead, so keep an eye out. There are also several ways to get to the trailhead from other parking areas; I ad...

The Old Youth Camp Loop is a 2.6-mile loop with over 700 feet of elevation gain that can be ran, hiked, or even mountain biked if you prefer. While not completely empty the area receives very little visitors and is a great place to enjoy a little more solitude than near by hiking locations. The l...