Walking Los Angeles. Erin Mahoney Harris

11 Culver City’s Baldwin Hills Stairs and Hayden Tract

       12 West Hollywood Design District

       13 Miracle Mile

       14 Carthay Circle and South Carthay

       15 Hollywood’s High Tower and Whitley Heights

       16 Lower Beachwood Canyon

       17 Upper Beachwood Canyon and Hollywoodland

       18 Larchmont Village and Windsor Square

       19 Koreatown and Wilshire Center

       20 Los Feliz

       21 Franklin Hills

       22 Atwater Village

       23 Glendale’s Brand Park and Kenneth Village

       24 West Silver Lake

       25 East Silver Lake

       26 Echo Park and Angelino Heights

       27 Elysian Heights

       28 Frogtown (Elysian Valley)

       29 El Pueblo de Los Angeles and Chinatown

       30 Downtown Civic Center

       31 Downtown Financial and Jewelry Districts

       32 Little Tokyo

       33 Downtown Arts District

       34 USC and Exposition Park

       35 Mount Washington

       36 Historic Highland Park

       37 South Pasadena

       38 San Pedro Waterfront

       Appendix 1: Walks by Theme

       Appendix 2: Points of Interest

       Photo Credits

       About the Authors

Introduction

      Los Angeles has gotten a bad rap in the past. Sure, it’s sprawling, traffic-choked, and smoggy. But the air continues to clear—you can see the mountains now!—and LA’s public-transit options are growing like no other US city’s. There’s a public push and political will to make the city more walkable and bikeable. The backlog of crumpled sidewalks is being addressed, hundreds of miles of bike lanes are being added, and residents have taxed themselves to raise money for more trains.

      So while LA has been a great place to walk for a while now, you can see it’s only getting better. Really, it is—don’t be deterred by our maze of freeways and pervasive car culture. No, you won’t be able to traverse the greater metro area in a day, or even in a weekend, but take it in smaller doses and you’ll be rewarded with a deeper understanding of this city’s unique blend of culture, architecture, and topography.

      Like the previous update, the third edition of this book continues to adapt to the changes Los Angeles is experiencing. We cut some walks and added others that we find to be especially charming or up-and-coming, such as Frogtown and the Downtown Arts District. This edition is also bound in a smaller format, so it’s easier to carry around as you explore these rich neighborhoods. Finally, we hope the maps in this edition will be easier to use. Points of interest are now labeled on the map with the corresponding number found in the text and summary list.

      The purpose of this book is to show that walking in LA can be an immensely rewarding experience, opening your eyes to hidden pockets that you never knew existed. These walks reflect the many faces of this fascinating city, and we hope that the discoveries you’ll make as you explore the vibrant neighborhoods dotting its hills, valleys, and flatlands will encourage you to dust off your sneakers and leave the car in the garage at every opportunity.

1 Castellammare in Pacific Palisades

      Lake Shrine Temple, Self-Realization Fellowship (see facing page)

      BOUNDARIES: Pacific Coast Hwy., Sunset Blvd., Topanga State Park, Surfview Dr.

      DISTANCE: About 1.25 miles

      DIFFICULTY: Strenuous (includes stairways)

      PARKING: Free street parking is available on Castellammare Dr.

      This whimsically named neighborhood in the Pacific Palisades lies between the rolling green hills of Topanga State Park and the crashing surf of the Pacific Ocean—talk about exclusive real estate. Castellammare’s lucky residents enjoy the soothing breezes and sweeping pano­ramas of the Pacific Ocean from their vantage point high in the hills. When money is no object, people tend to go nuts building their dream homes, making this an especially diverse neighborhood architecturally speaking. As you might expect on streets with names like Posetano and Tramonto, many of the homes are Mediterranean in style, but you’ll also find a surprising hodgepodge of traditional, ranch-style, and modern houses in this rarefied coastal enclave.

Walk Description

      Begin on Castellammare Drive, just southeast of Stretto Way, and walk northwest on Castellammare, past Stretto. At 17501, stop to admire the gorgeous Spanish-style home with colorful tile work. This stunner is the former abode of John Barrymore. Right next door is another Mediterranean-style home with elegantly carved wood trim; sunset views afforded by the row of windows on the second floor must be breathtaking.

      Continue to where the paved road ends, and then go ahead on the dirt path. This pleasant, well-worn trail dips down toward PCH before heading back uphill to reconnect with the continuation of the paved street on what is still Castellammare Drive, passing a stairway on your right.

      Climb the next stairway you come to on your right, near the intersection of Breve Way, enjoying the sounds of crashing surf behind you.

      Turn right on Revello Drive at the top of the stairs. At the intersection of Posetano Road, you’ll see a staircase heading about two-thirds of the way up the hill before it dead-ends in the brush. If you’re looking for an extra workout, head up and down the steps a few times to get your heart pumping.

      Nearby and Notable

      The Self-Realization Fellowship’s gorgeous flagship Lake Shrine Temple, at 17190 Sunset Blvd., about 0.3 mile north of Sunset’s intersection with Castellammare Drive, is absolutely worth a visit. The lake and surrounding gardens provide numerous spots to sit and meditate or simply to enjoy the peaceful, lush surroundings. The ornate temple overlooking the grounds blends Eastern and Western architectural styles to stunning effect. The gardens, lake, and visitor center are open to the public Tuesday–Sunday; call 310-454-4114 for visiting hours. (To learn more about the Self-Realization Fellowship, see Mount Washington.)

      Turn right on Posetano Road.

      Look for a staircase on your right just before the road ends, and descend back to Castellammare Drive.

      Turn left at the bottom of the stairs, and retrace your steps along Castellammare, crossing the dirt path once again. When the paved road begins, follow it all the way to Stretto Way.

      Turn left on Stretto Way and follow the road as it winds up the hill.

      Turn right on Posetano Road. At 17531 Posetano, you’ll see a towering Italian-style villa named