In the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles, California, Griffith Park is a sizable municipal park located near the eastern extremity of the Santa Monica Mountains. This is one of the best parks in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Zoo, the Autry Museum of the American West, the Griffith Observatory, and the Hollywood Sign are just a few of the well-known attractions in the park. The park is one of the most well-known public parks in North America as a result of being featured in numerous movies. The park is one of the biggest metropolitan parks in North America, with a total area of 4,310 acres (1,740 ha). After Mission Trails Preserve in San Diego, it is the second-largest city park in California and the eleventh-largest municipally owned park in the country.

As you walk through the mixture of native chaparral and groomed trails that blanket this rocky park, it's simple to forget you're still in the city. But if you gaze out from the famous Griffith Observatory, you'll see the L.A. Basin stretching out to the ocean in front of you.

All types of visitors can find something to do in Griffith's diverse attractions and wilderness: adventurous hikers can discover the Bronson Caves and visit Amir's Garden; laid-back weekenders can unwind in the shady, verdant passage through Fern Dell or the picnic tables at Crystal Springs; families with young children can board the steamers at Travel Town or explore the old zoo's cages; and pop culture fans can watch a performance at the Greek Theatre or stop by Walt's Barn (a transplanted shed where Disney himself would tinker away with model trains).

Address: 4730 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027, United States
Phone: +1 323-913-4688

Rating: 4.7/5.0, 55,238 Google reviews

Annual visitor: 1.6 million visitors a year

Ticket price: free

Founded: 1896

Website: https://www.laparks.org/griffithpark/

Even though Griffith may receive all the attention, Kenneth Hahn is a surprisingly large and hilly park for the Westside. The park in the Culver City neighborhood includes a lotus pond, fishing lake, and sand volleyball court in addition to the normal assortment of facilities. But the Baldwin Hills' almost seven miles of walking and hiking paths, which offer vistas of nearly every part of the Los Angeles Basin—from Downtown and the San Gabriel Mountains to the South Bay and the Pacific Ocean—are where the urban oasis really makes its mark.

The Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation oversees Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area, which features expansive habitats of natural coastal sage scrub, lawns and groomed areas, picnic spots, tot lots, and fishing lake, lotus pond, community center and five miles of trails. There are six restrooms, four administrative offices, and a small conference room at the community center.

The park's assortment of walkways and trails is one of its most frequently used attractions. The most recent trails to be built are the Burke Roche Trail and the Rim Trail. Burke Roche Trail, which is 2.2 miles long, Bowl Loop, which is 0.8 miles long, Ridge Trail, which is 2.6 miles long, Waterfall Trail, which is 1 mile long, and Ballfield Walking Path, which is 0.5 miles long make up the more than 7 miles of existing trails.

Eight picnic rental shelters and 100 picnic tables are available for passive recreation around the park. Also scattered across the area are 60 tiny and eight large BBQ pits. The Kenneth Hahn State Recreation area is surrounded by neighborhood parks, including Jim Gilliam Park, Norman O. Houston Park, Culver City Park, and Ladera Park. These parks may be found close by along the major thoroughfares. These parks have playgrounds, picnic spots, multi-use fields, tennis and basketball courts, and other amenities.

Address: 4100 S La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90056, United States

Phone: +1 323-298-3660

Rating: 4.7/5.0, 5,755 Google reviews

Ticket price: $7/day

Founded: 1984

Website: https://parks.lacounty.gov/kenneth-hahn-state-recreation-area/

In the Los Angeles area of Chinatown, there is a California State Park called Los Angeles State Historic Park (LASHP). This is one of the best parks in Los Angeles. The former brownfield, often called the Cornfield, is a considerable open area between Spring Street and the Metro Gold Line rails. The region is southeast of and next to the Elysian Park neighborhood, which is situated outside the main commercial and residential district in Chinatown.

L.A. State Historic Park is 32 acres of open space just next to Chinatown and offers a breathtaking view of Downtown. The park is once again home to some of the most popular events, including as craft fairs and small-scale music festivals, following a three-year refurbishment project. A scenic overlook bridge, an orange grove, and drought-tolerant landscaping were all added to the park after its redesign was finished in the spring of 2017. Unsurprisingly, since the park's reopening, the surrounding area has experienced a boom in the number of nearby eateries and bars, including Highland Park Brewery, Majordmo, and Apothéke.

Address: 1245 N Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States
Phone: +1 323-441-8819

Rating: 4.6/5.0, 2,859 Google reviews

Founded: 2001

Ticket price: $8/day
Website: https://lastatehistoricpark.org/

At this 105-acre plant and animal refuge near Long Beach, slip away from the daily grind. El Dorado Nature Center is a haven of natural habitat that gives tourists an opportunity to get away from the bustle of the city. It is tucked between the San Gabriel River and the 605 Freeway. Two miles of dirt paths and a quarter-mile of paved trails that wrap around two lakes, a stream, and wooded areas may be found starting at the visitor center. The Nature Center is a part of the larger El Dorado Regional Park, which has an eastern fishing lake, pathways, playgrounds, and an archery range and a western sports field and golf course.

The Nature Center grounds' 105 acres serve as a haven for various wildlife and plant species. Two lakes, a stream, and wooded regions are encircled by two miles of dirt pathways and a quarter-mile of paved trails. Cross the wooden bridge over the lake at the entry, and you'll come to a tiny island where the visitor center is located. Here, you may discover educational exhibits, an art gallery, and a small gift store with items with an environmental theme.

Address: 7550 E Spring St, Long Beach, CA 90815, United States
Phone: +1 562-570-1745

Rating: 4.8/5.0, 1,526 Google reviews

Founded: 1968
Ticket price: $8
Website: https://www.longbeach.gov/park/park-and-facilities/parks-centers-pier/el-dorado-nature-center/

Barnsdall Art Park is situated in Los Angeles, California's East Hollywood neighborhood. On the north side of the park, Hollywood Boulevard provides access to parking and the arts buildings. The park is a facility of the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs and a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument. This is one of the best parks in Los Angeles.

Aline Barnsdall gave Barnsdall Park to the City of Los Angeles so that it might be used for artistic and recreational reasons while still preserving the park's original landscape and architectural elements. At the summit of Olive Hill, Barnsdall Art Park offers a panoramic view of Griffith Park, the Hollywood Hills, and the city of Los Angeles. The Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Barnsdall's Hollyhock House, which is a National Historic Landmark, Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument, World Heritage Site, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Los Angeles, serves as the park's focal point.

The location continues to serve that purpose more than eight decades after the house was given as a gift, offering tours of the immaculately maintained Hollyhock House in addition to exhibitions in a number of gallery spaces. The park organizes outdoor movie screenings, wine tastings, and cultural activities in the summer that attract a nice mix of individuals, couples, and young families.

Address: 4800 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027, United States

Rating: 4.5/5.0, 3,190 Google reviews

Founded: 20th century

Ticket price: $7 for adults, $3 for students and seniors with ID, and free for children under 12 when accompanied by a paying adult

Website: https://www.laparks.org/historic/barnsdall-art-park

In Santa Monica, California, there is a 6.2-acre (2.5 ha) park called Tongva Park. The Tongva people, who have existed in the Los Angeles region for countless years, are the inspiration for the park's name. The park is situated between Ocean Avenue and Main Street, directly south of Colorado Avenue. The park has a picnic area, a playground, a garden, fountains, and restrooms. A lookout provides beautiful views of the Santa Monica Pier and the Pacific Ocean.

The "Three Amigos," a group of three Rusty Fig (Ficus rubiginosa) trees, each weighing over 100 tons, and "Morty," a sizable Moreton Bay Fig Tree (Ficus macrophylla), are notable trees in the park. The "Three Amigos" were relocated 550 feet from where they had been at the corner of Main Street and Olympic Drive, and they were then replanted in the park.

Tongva Park is a stunning, cutting-edge urban park located close to the famous Santa Monica Pier. The park, which covers six acres, features a variety of distinctive buildings, sculptures, trees, and sustainable plants, as well as many services that anybody may enjoy. Visitors can easily explore the park's four areas thanks to the walking routes that run across it.

This former parking lot has been transformed into a beautiful park with smart design that includes a playground, meadows, little waterfalls, strolling routes, and a conch-like wireframe viewpoint over the Pacific. The kinetic artwork Weather Field by Iigo Manglano-Ovalle serves as the park's focal point and is a simple, peaceful, and instantly recognizable feature.

Address: 1615 Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401, United States

Phone: +1 310-458-8310

Rating: 4.5/5.0, 1,537 Google reviews

Founded: 2013

Website: https://www.santamonica.gov/places/parks/tongva-park

The 12-acre (4.9 hectare) Grand Park is a public park in the heart of Los Angeles, California. The "Civic Center Mall," which featured plazas, fountains, and a Court of Flags, was first constructed in 1966. Grand Park is a component of a joint venture between Los Angeles County and the city of Los Angeles. Rios Clementi Hale Studios, a multidisciplinary design company based in Los Angeles, developed and constructed it. The neighboring Los Angeles Music Center is responsible for the security, programming, and maintenance of the park.

Between the Los Angeles City Hall and the Los Angeles Music Center, Grand Park is located on Grand Avenue. It links Bunker Hill to the municipal center and is made to be pedestrian-friendly. The park design includes mobile park furniture, kiosks, performance lawns and courtyards, tree-shaded sidewalks, plants that can withstand drought, an interactive fountain plaza, drought-tolerant landscaping, and plenty of street lighting. Grand Park has been compared to other well-known urban parks like New York's Central Park or San Francisco's Union Square by city officials and some visitors.

The opening of a section of Grand Park's 12 acres to the public in July 2012 gave the ongoing effort to transform Downtown Los Angeles into a thriving cultural center a boost. Grand Park is a vibrant urban paradise surrounded by rather depressing government buildings. It is dotted with picnic lawns, a fountain, pink chairs, and plenty of corners from which to sit and people-watch. Finding something to keep you busy shouldn't be too difficult, though, with the programming at the Music Center at the top of the hill and different community events and concerts within the park itself.

Address: 200 N Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012, United States

Phone: +1 213-972-8080

Rating: 4.5/5.0, 7,877 Google reviews

Founded: 2012

Website: https://grandparkla.org/

In Santa Monica, California, there is a 26.4-acre (10.7 ha) park called Palisades Park. The park is situated on top of an uplifted unconsolidated sedimentary coastal Quaternary terrace with exposed bluffs along a 1.6-mile (2.6-km) stretch of Ocean Avenue, providing views of both the Pacific Ocean and the coastal mountains. This is one of the best parks in Los Angeles.

More than 30 different plant and tree species may be found in the park, including fig, gum, yate, pine, and palm trees. George Hastings and Grace Heintz, two renowned tree experts who produced books about Santa Monica's trees, are commemorated by two stone monuments with plaques. The works, which span five decades from 1944 to 1989, offer five baseline studies for comprehending the geography and history of the park's urban forest as well as the trees in Santa Monica and the surrounding areas of Los Angeles, including cemeteries, schools, colleges, and companies.

It is easy to see why visitors swarm to this oceanside park in Santa Monica as you stroll along the palm and eucalyptus-lined trails. This bluff-top trail offers beautiful views of the ocean and Santa Monica Mountains and is tucked between the beach and Ocean Avenue. This is the image of L.A.'s coastline that most people have in their minds. Avoid the touristy (and occasionally sketchy) area at the pier; but, you shouldn't skip a trip at the Camera Obscura. Instead, turn north and pass the grand concrete sculpture at Wilshire to arrive at the vibrant totem pole at San Vicente.

Address: Ocean Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90401, United States

Phone: +1 310-458-8300

Rating: 4.7/5.0, 6,722 Google reviews

Founded: 1892

Website: https://www.smgov.net/Departments/CCS/content.aspx?id=31700

360 North Arroyo Boulevard houses Brookside Park. The business is open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. The park encompasses 61.1 acres. The largest, best-kept park space in Pasadena is situated directly south of Rose Bowl Stadium. A big, illuminated multi-purpose field for flag football and soccer, two lighted softball diamonds with a combined seating capacity of 240, a permanent speaker's platform, numerous picnic tables, a play area, bathrooms, and water fountains are all found in the central area. In most picnic spots, there are grilling pits.

This 62-acre park is located just south of the Arroyo Seco's most well-known tenant, the Rose Bowl, and offers a beautiful green space for both locals and visitors. You'll find plenty of open area to run around and play among the multipurpose sports fields, as well as some shade next to Reese's Retreat, the playground with a pirate ship motif, which is set against the gorgeous San Gabriel Mountains. Although there is a designated fitness route around the park, many people who are active may be seen bicycling and running along a path that runs along the east side of the park all the way to the adjacent golf course in the north.

Visit the Kidspace Children's Museum or the two pools at the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center if you don't mind spending a little money. Parking is not an issue because of the 90,000-seat stadium, but keep in mind that UCLA's home games during the autumn are played on Saturdays, while the Rose Bowl Flea Market is open on the second Sunday of the month.

Address: 360 N Arroyo Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91103, United States

Phone: +1 626-744-7500

Rating: 4.7/5.0, 1,317 Google reviews

Founded: 1914

Website: https://www.cityofpasadena.net/parks-and-rec/parks/brookside-park/

Exposition Park is a 160 acre (65 hectare) urban park located in the Exposition Park area in southern Los Angeles, California. The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Banc of California Stadium, California Science Center, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, and California African American Museum are all located in the park, which was first developed in 1872 as an agricultural exposition. In progress is the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.

When the 2028 Summer Olympics are held in a spruced-up Memorial Coliseum, the grandeur of previous Olympics will mingle with a touch of future grandeur. Exposition Park, though, already ranks among Los Angeles' most important institutions. The USC-adjacent property has several green areas, but the Rose Garden is where you'll discover the most lovely area. Take a break in one of the gazebos or wander the area around the main fountain while admiring its lovely brick neighbors.

Take advantage of the free California African American Museum, California Science Center, and Natural History Museum, which has a lovely nature walk and a seasonal butterfly garden, if you're up for the museum shuffle. The park features all the components of a conventional urban museum campus, including a nearby Expo Line station and the still-under-construction Lucas Museum of Narrative Art.

Address: 700 Exposition Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90037, United States

Phone: +1 213-744-2294

Rating: 4.6/5.0, 14,315 Google reviews

Founded: 1872

Website: http://expositionpark.ca.gov/

The historic home of American comedian Will Rogers is now known as Will Rogers State Historic Park. It is located in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles' Santa Monica Mountains. There are hiking and horseback riding routes, picnic areas, tours of the Will Rogers historic ranch house, and weekend polo matches in the Santa Monica Mountains State Historic Park. A stable, corrals, riding ring, roping arena, golf course, polo field, and riding and hiking trails that provide views of the ranch and the surrounding countryside are all located outside the 186-acre ranch house, which has 31 rooms and 11 bathrooms (757,000 m2).

Between 2002 and 2006, California State Parks undertook a substantial repair of the ranch house. The renovation involved replacing the electrical systems, installing a new heating and cooling system, and reconstructing the flagstone sections that surround the home. In March 2006, the home reopened to the public.

The trails that lead to views of the surrounding countryside and the stables are beyond the ranch and the stables. The Santa Monica Mountains' tip is where Will Rogers State Historic Park is located, therefore the paths offer views of both the sea and the mountains. Visitors have three options for getting around the park: hiking to Inspiration Point, taking the Rogers trail around the outside, or continuing on the Backbone Trail System into Topanga State Park.

Discover the vast grounds of the late actor, author, trick-roper, cowboy philosopher, and first honorary mayor of Beverly Hills, Will Rogers State Historic Park. Explore the 186-acre grounds that offer access to beautiful treks while taking a free guided tour of Rogers's maintained 1930s ranch home. One trail leads to Inspiration Point, where you can take in awe-inspiring views of the mountains and the ocean. On the weekends, polo competitions are played, and you may also take riding lessons.

Address: 1501 Will Rogers State Park Rd, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272, United States
Phone: +1 310-230-2017

Rating: 4.7/5.0, 1,215 Google reviews

Founded: 1944

Activities: Hiking Trails, Horse Riding Lessons & Trail Rides, Picnics, Polo Games, Visitor Center, Movies In The Park, Special Events
Website: https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=626

A neighborhood gem, Lake Hollywood Park is situated in the Hollywood Hills beneath the Hollywood sign. Lake Hollywood Park allows you to see the Hollywood Sign from below, in contrast to many of the adjacent hiking paths. The park is made up of a sizable grassy field with trees surrounding its perimeter. A 3.3-mile asphalt loop surrounds Lake Hollywood, also known as Hollywood Reservoir, an operational water reservoir that is viewed from Lake Hollywood Park. It is surrounded by a chain-link fence. Although not fenced in and not a "off leash dog park," the park is "dog friendly." A terrific area to picnic, practice yoga, and, of course, take the obligatory photo in front of the Hollywood Sign is Lake Hollywood Park.

This grassy field, which is located below a turnaround of tour buses but above the walking trails at the Hollywood Reservoir, feels like a dog-friendly Shangri-La. A tiny playground, shady picnic tables, and one of the best views of the Hollywood Sign make it possible for anyone to take in the landscape without the need for four legs. But for dog owners, this lush sanctuary is the ideal place to interact with canines that live in the hills; just make sure your dog is on a leash to avoid getting ticketed by park authorities. Although the park has water faucets, it lacks restrooms. Park hours are everyday from Sunrise to Sunset.

Address: 3160 Canyon Lake Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068, United States
Phone: +1 818-243-1145

Rating: 4.7/5.0, 5,245 Google reviews

Founded: 1924
Website: https://www.laparks.org/park/lake-hollywood

A section of Central Los Angeles, California, is known as Elysian Park. With a population of more than 2,600, it is primarily a low-income neighborhood. The neighborhood has a civic park, Elysian Park, Dodger Stadium, a Catholic high school for males only, and an elementary school. This is one of the best parks in Los Angeles.

Elysian Park is the largest and most gorgeous park in Los Angeles was founded in 1886, but it often receives a bad rap. Both shooting and the shooting portion of the modern pentathlon competition were held there for the 1932 Summer Olympics. In order to stop the City of Los Angeles from building the Municipal Convention Center on 62 acres (250,000 m2) of park land, the Citizens Committee to Save Elysian Park was established in 1964. While there are undoubtedly some things that have been neglected in this area, you can still find great views of the Valley, Downtown, the Hollywood Hills, and Dodger Stadium—which is perched atop a destroyed bowl of hillside that was once the tranquil Chavez Ravine neighborhood—among the palm tree groves and hilly hikes.

Expect a flurry of activity surrounding bounce houses on the weekends, as well as "dog hill," where locals congregate to toss balls, sticks, and compliments at one other's dogs. The Police Academy is next door, and you may hear police practicing at the fire range if you're here in the early morning. Trying to locate the hidden swing off Angels Point Road, too, I suppose. When we last checked, it was gone.

Address: 929 Academy Rd Los Angeles, CA 90012

Phone: (213) 847-0926

Rating: 4.0/5.0, 24 TripAdvisor reviews

Founded: 1886

Website: https://www.laparks.org/park/elysian

In the Los Angeles district of Westlake, there is a park called MacArthur Park that was formerly known as Westlake Park. It was renamed General Douglas MacArthur Boulevard in the early 1940s, and eventually received designation as City of Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument #100.

Natural springs in MacArthur Park supply the lake there (although an artificial bottom to the lake was laid during the construction of the Red Line, opened in 1993). The springs used to also supply a fountain with a reflecting pool on the northern end. Across the street is the Westlake/MacArthur Park B Line stop.

Since the 1970s, when the lake at this Westlake park was temporarily drained, it has frequently been the subject of nasty headlines after a cache of abandoned knives and firearms was discovered there. While the surrounding regions continue to undergo gentrification, for better or worse, the renamed Levitt Pavilion now holds summer concerts despite the fact that it is still not altogether comfortable there. It's the kind of location where you should at least stop by (during the day) to examine some of its historical relics: As a reminder of the area's opulent past when it was home to Art Deco mansions, opulent high rises, and a Manhattan-like ambience, the enormous Westlake Theatre marquee is visible across the street. Don't forget to grab a pastrami sandwich at Langer's across the street.

Address: 2230 W 6th St, Los Angeles, CA 90057, United States

Phone: +1 213-368-0520

Rating: 3.6/5.0, 7,370 Google reviews

Founded:

Website: https://www.laparks.org/reccenter/macarthur

Immediately west of Civic Center in Los Angeles' Echo Park is the Vista Hermosa Natural Park, an urban public park. The 10.5 acres (4.2 hectare) Vista Hermosa Natural Park is located on a former oil field in Los Angeles that is bordered by Toluca Street and West 1st Street. The park has a soccer field, picnic areas, a nature-themed playground, streams, meadows, and oak savannahs. This is one of the best parks in Los Angeles.

The $15 million park, which debuted on July 19, 2008, was Downtown Los Angeles' first new development in more than a century. The Los Angeles Unified School District, the City of Los Angeles, and the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority collaborate to maintain the park (MRCA).

Spend some time exploring the rocky adventure zones and dusty garden trails of this Echo Park/Westlake green park. The grassy middle field, however, is where the action occurs. It has a half-dozen designated picnic sites surrounding it and offers views of the Downtown cityscape (including a particularly photogenic one atop a small hill).

Address: 100 N Toluca St, Los Angeles, CA 90026, United States

Phone: +1 213-250-1100

Rating: 4.7/5.0, 2,053 Google reviews

Founded: 2008

Website: https://mrca.ca.gov/parks/park-listing/vista-hermosa-natural-park/