Santa Paula, California

Unlimited photography options with the ferris wheel, beach, ocean, and sunsets Abundant people watching opportunities  Plenty of ways to get a workout in including swimming, volleyball courts, running, or riding a bike There is a bike and walking path that runs along the coast.  One of my favo...

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...

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...

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...

To get to Santa Cruz Island you will need to book a ferry with Island Packers. On their website, you can only book roundtrip tickets in and out of the same location so for this trip you will need to call and book a ferry into Prisoner's Harbor and out of Scorpion Anchorage. You can call them at (...

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...

This is a Natural Park Area located in Santa Clarita, within the Sierra Pelona Mountains. It features amazing diagonal rock formations, created because of the force between two tectonic plates pushing against each other. This place is a photographer's paradise, and every spot in this 900+ acre l...

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...

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...

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...

From I-5, take the Burbank Blvd exit. Drive north on Burbank Blvd. and take a right on N 3rd. Left on E Harvard. Right on Wildwood Canyon after 1.5 miles. There are a few ways you can begin your hike: from the parking lot, the entrance will be to the left past the gate. Here you were have a stee...

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...

This area is a family friendly hiking area for beginners. The farthest place to hike on the map is call Reflection Pond and is about a 7 mile hike out and back. The main trail called San Emigdio Trail runs right next to a stream the whole time. It is a really nice area for a day hike to find some...

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...

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...