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
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