Erin Mahoney Harris - Walking Los Angeles: 38 of the Citys Most Vibrant Historic, Revitalized, and Up-And-Coming Neighborhoods

Walking Los Angeles: 38 of the Citys Most Vibrant Historic, Revitalized, and
Up-and-Coming Neighborhoods

Copyright 2017 by Erin Mahoney Harris and Zach Behrens

Project editor: Ritchey Halphen

Cartography: Scott McGrew and Tommy Hertzel; map data: OpenStreetMap

Cover design: Scott McGrew

Interior design: Lora Westberg

Cover and interior photos: Erin Mahoney Harris and Zach Behrens, unless otherwise noted
(see additional )

Copy editor: Kate Johnson

Proofreaders: Dan Downing, Rebecca Henderson

Indexer: Sylvia Coates

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Harris, Erin Mahoney, author. | Behrens, Zach, 1980 co-author.

Title: Walking Los Angeles : 38 of the citys most vibrant historic, revitalized, and up-and-coming neighborhoods / Erin Mahoney Harris and Zach Behrens.

Other titles: Walking LA | Walking Los Angeles

Description: 3rd edition. | Birmingham, AL : Wilderness Press, [2017]

Identifiers: LCCN 2016041687 | ISBN 978-0-89997-827-7 (paperback) | eISBN 978-0-89997-828-4 (e-book)

Subjects: LCSH: Los Angeles (Calif.)Guidebooks. | WalkingCaliforniaLos AngelesGuidebooks. Historic sitesCaliforniaLos AngelesGuidebooks. | Historic buildingsCaliforniaLos AngelesGuidebooks. | ArchitectureCaliforniaLos AngelesGuidebooks. | Los Angeles (Calif.)Buildings, structures, etc.Guidebooks. | BISAC: TRAVEL / United States / West / Pacific (AK, CA, HI, NV, OR, WA). | SPORTS & RECREATION / Walking. | HEALTH & FITNESS / Healthy Living.

Classification: LCC F869.L83 H27 2017 | DDC 917.94/9404dc23

LC record available at lccn.loc.gov/2016041687

Manufactured in the United States of America

Published by: WILDERNESS PRESS

An imprint of AdventureKEEN
2204 First Ave. S., Suite 102
Birmingham, AL 35233
800-443-7227, fax 205-326-1012

Visit wildernesspress.com for a complete list of our books and for ordering information. Contact us at our website, at facebook.com/wildernesspress1967, or at twitter.com/wilderness1967 with questions or comments. To find out more about who we are and what were doing, visit blog.wildernesspress.com.

Distributed by Publishers Group West

Cover photo: Echo Park with the LA skyline in the distance (see ); Ian G Dagnall/Alamy Stock Photo

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, or by any means electronic, mechanical, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the publisher, except for brief quotations used in reviews.

SAFETY NOTICE Although Wilderness Press and the authors have made every attempt to ensure that the information in this book is accurate at press time, they are not responsible for any loss, damage, injury, or inconvenience that may occur to anyone while using this book. You are responsible for your own safety and health while following the walking trips described here.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank everyone who picked up one of the previous two editions of Walking Los Angeles and was inspired to get to know our dynamic, overwhelming, and often-beautiful city better. We feel lucky to have had the opportunity to update this guide after six years and add several of our new favorite neighborhoods to the mix. Erin is also grateful to Tony, West, and Avery for joining her on her expeditions.

Erin Mahoney Harris and Zach Behrens

Authors Note

The face of Los Angeles is constantly changing, particularly when it comes to residential and commercial architecture, so you may find on your journeys that certain businesses, landmarks, and features described in this book have changed since it was written. We encourage you to use our directions as a general guide but also to explore at a leisurely pace and make your own discoveries.

That said, we also implore you to use common sense to ensure your safety and comfort: bring a buddy if youre exploring a new neighborhood that you dont feel entirely at ease about visiting; walk during the day rather than at night; wear appropriate shoes to prevent blisters; keep dogs leashed at all times, as these are primarily urban routes close to street traffic; and, finally, if youre bringing a baby or child in a stroller, please pay attention to the difficulty rating to see if stairways are part of that route. (Note that routes with just a few steps here and there dont include the stairway notation.)

The boundaries mentioned at the beginning of each walk are meant to give you an idea of the major streets that surround the route to make it easier to find. These streets dont always appear on the accompanying maps, so you can look up the intersection indicated at the walks starting point using GPS, a mapping app, a website, or a good old-fashioned paper map if you need help locating the beginning of your route. For walks that start within a mile of a Metro station, weve included that information as well.

Happy trekking!

Table of Contents

Introduction

Los Angeles has gotten a bad rap in the past. Sure, its sprawling, traffic-choked, and smoggy. But the air continues to clearyou can see the mountains now!and LAs public-transit options are growing like no other US citys. Theres 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 its only getting better. Really, it isdont be deterred by our maze of freeways and pervasive car culture. No, you wont be able to traverse the greater metro area in a day, or even in a weekend, but take it in smaller doses and youll be rewarded with a deeper understanding of this citys 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 its 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 youll 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.

Castellammare in Pacific Palisades

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

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