Mahoney Erin - Walking L.A.: 38 Walking Tours Exploring Stairways, Streets and Buildings You Never Knew Existed

The call for me to create a second edition of this book came during an especially busy and exciting period in my life, as I had just given birth to my first child. Im grateful to have had so much support from my husband, Tony Harris, who has always had profound faith in my abilities. The fact that my mother, Ann Mahoney, is an English teacher sometimes felt like the bane of my existence when I was a student, but I now realize how fortunate I was to have a writing tutor with such a heavy personal investment in my future. I was also fortunate enough to marry into a family of exceptional people, and have enjoyed the love and encouragement of John and Marjorie Harris and Gloria Lintermans. Finally, Id like to thank West Donovan Harris for adding an amazing new dimension to my life and for sleeping quietly in his stroller while Mommy did research for her book.

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 landmarks and features described in this book have changed since it was written. I encourage you to use my directions as a general guide, but to explore each neighborhood at a leisurely pace and make your own discoveries. That said, I also implore you to use common sense on your walks to ensure your safety and comfort: Bring a buddy if you're exploring a new neighborhood that you don't feel entirely at ease about visiting; take your walks during the day rather than at night; wear appropriate shoes to prevent blisters; if you bring your dog along, keep him/her on a leash at all times, as these are primarily urban routes in close proximity to street traffic; and, finally, if you're bringing a baby or child in a stroller on your walk, please pay attention to the difficulty rating to see if stairways are part of that route. (Please be aware that those routes that have only a few steps here and there do not 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 in order to make it easier to find. These streets do not always appear on the accompanying maps, so please refer to the Thomas Guide coordinates provided or a separate map if you have trouble locating the start of a walk. For those walks located within a mile of a Metro station, I've included that information as well.

Happy trekking!

INTRODUCTION

Los Angeles has gotten a bad rap.

Sure, its sprawling, traffic-choked, and smoggy. Its public transportation system leaves a lot to be desired, and the old adage that it takes 20 minutes to drive anywhere in the city is woefully misleading.

But it is a great place to walk. Really, it isdont be deterred by the 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.

For the second edition of this book, I have expanded the boundaries of the first to include cities and neighborhoods I find especially charming, such as family-friendly South Pasadena and Glendales Kenneth Village, which has a delightful small-town feel. This edition also includes additions to make it even easier for readers to explore the city on foot, such as information about nearby Metro station stops and notes about which walks include stairways (especially useful for stroller-pushers like myself). Finally, this edition has a whole slew of new points of interest, as well as four completely new routes.

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

CASTELLAMMARE: PACIFIC PALISADES CASTLE ON THE SEA

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

THOMAS GUIDE COORDINATES: Map 630; G6

DISTANCE: Approx. 1 miles

DIFFICULTY: Strenuous (includes stairways)

PARKING: Free street parking is available on Castellammare Dr.

This whimsically named neighborhood in the Pacific Palisades lies just east of the Pacific Coast Highway and just south of Sunset Blvd.talk about exclusive real estate! Castellammares lucky residents enjoy the soothing breezes and sweeping panoramas of the Pacific Ocean from their vantage point high in the hills. Of all the architecturally diverse regions in the greater Los Angeles area, this may represent the best example of the structural incongruity that so annoyed Woody Allens character in