Outdoors & Sports

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Located near the iconic intersection of Hollywood and Vine, The Montalbán (1615 Vine St, Los Angeles 90028) hosts Rooftop Moviesduring the summer as well as holiday film series such as Valentine's, Halloween and Christmas. Doors and the bar open at 6pm. The movie starts shortly after sunset - time varies by season.

Catch a Classic Movie at Paramount Drive-In
With a mix of new and classic flicks, Paramount Drive-In offers Angelenos a socially distanced (and budget-friendly) movie experience. Paramount features two 75-foot screens, Barco Digital Laser projection, FM radio sound, and an expanded food menu. General Admission tickets are $11 and $5 for kids ages 5 to 8. Children under 5 years old are free

On select Sundays, the Garden hosts special Dog Walking Hours and welcomes on-leash dogs to explore the 87-acre garden. While a few areas are off limits (including the Bohannon Rose Garden and the Koi Pond), fur babies will be able to enjoy the majority of the grounds.

Located in Elysian Valley and the Sepulveda Basin in Encino, Los Angeles River Recreation Zones are open to the public from Memorial Day through September. Both Recreation Zones are located in parts of the river where there's a soft bottom, natural habitat and abundant wildlife. Activities include kayaking, walking, bird watching, and fishing along the river.

Founded in 1919, The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens(1151 Oxford Rd, San Marino 91108) is world-renowned as a cultural, research and educational center. The Huntington features more than a dozen specialized gardens spanning 120 acres, including the iconic Japanese Garden and the acclaimed Garden of Flowing Fragrance (Liu Fang Yuan)

One of the highlights at the Aquarium of the Pacific (100 Aquarium Way, Long Beach 90802), the 10,000-square-foot Shark Lagoon is an outdoor educational adventure that's home to large sharks and rays, interactive displays, an amphitheater, the Pacific Treasures gift store, and the Bamboo Bistro outdoor café. Gentle bamboo and epaulette sharks glide around three shallow touch pools, where guests can reach in and safely touch them. 

You’ll be hard-pressed to find a more romantic best beach than El Matador. Located about 10 miles northwest of Malibu, this secluded pocket beach has rocky shores, robust waves and some of the clearest water in L.A. 

When it’s time to get out the surfboard, apply a new coat of wax and zip on the wetsuit, there’s no better place to be than Surfrider Beach in Malibu. Living up to its name, Surfrider is known for its super long right-hand break as much as being a place to play in the waves or watch surfers from the shore as the sun sets over their silhouettes.

Located just north of the historic Santa Monica Pier, this is one of the most popular beaches in LA. The two miles of sand at Santa Monica Beach feels endless and offers plenty of space to stretch the legs, set up for a game of volleyball, or go for a bike ride. Bring the sunscreen, a little cash for parking and a beach towel or blanket. Let the sun, sand and surf do the rest.

Venice Beach is a lively city beach where the action is as much about the people as it is about the surf, sand or skating. In fact, the world famous Ocean Front Walk often upstages the Pacific Ocean. Keep an eye out for Harry Perry, the turbaned guitar player often rollerblading down the boardwalk and seen in numerous films and TV shows. 

At Manhattan Beach, it’s all beautiful people, shiny cars, big sunglasses and little lap dogs. But that’s in the trendy area of town next to the shore, where scenes from many television shows have been filmed. On the sand, you’ll find beach volleyball at courts that seem to go on for miles, and bodysurfing near the pier. Check out the aquarium at the end of the pier,

There’s a certain stylish vibe at Hermosa Beach and its surrounding seaside community that you won’t find at other L.A. beaches. You’re just as likely to see people shopping and relaxing in outdoor cafes as you are the tanned and toned beach gods and goddesses that frequent the sandy shoreline.

Located in the southwest section of Griffith Park and easily accessible from Hollywood, Bronson Canyon has been a popular location for generations of filmmakers who make use of its remote-looking, somewhat alien setting. Bronson Canyon has been featured in classics like The Searchers and Invasion of the Body Snatchers, as well as more recent films like Star Trek VI and Army of Darkness. “Bronson Cave” is actually a 50-foot long tunnel

This hike is by no means a wilderness experience, so if you’re looking for solitude, you might want to try other trails. On the other hand, this is a great hike for people-watching and possible celebrity sightings - it gives beginning hikers a chance to check out the Hollywood Hills and the amazing views at the trail summit, known as Cloud’s Rest.

Located near Benedict Canyon at the geographical center of Los Angeles, Franklin Canyon Park spans 605 acres and features over five miles of hiking trails. The park’s history dates to 1914, when William Mulholland built the Upper Franklin Canyon Reservoir. In the 1930s, the family of oil baron Edward Doheny used the canyon as a summer retreat. 

Because its parking lot entrance is located on Fryman Road, the 128-acre Wilacre Park is often mistakenly referred to as Fryman Canyon Park. In fact, this hike can take you through three parks: Wilacre, Fryman Canyon and Coldwater Canyon. The well-shaded, dog-friendly Betty B. Dearing Trail starts off steep before it begins to level off after a quarter mile. 

Switchbacks and steep hill climbs characterize the first two miles of the Topanga State Park hike. With an elevation gain of about 1,300 feet, it's definitely a tougher climb. But you can find your reward as you gaze out from a vantage point atop the bluff. Enjoy a picnic lunch or relax on a bench while taking in the overlook.

Malibu Creek State Park spans 7,000 acres of beautiful scenery and features 15 miles of streamside trails through oak and sycamore woodlands, as well as chaparral-covered slopes. After a good rain, the namesake Malibu Creek comes to life. Malibu Creek State Park is home to the outdoor set of the classic TV series M*A*S*H. The site still draws visitors from all over the world decades after the show left the air. 

Solstice Canyon is an easy hike along a shaded trail that is partially paved before it gives way to a fire road. A babbling brook is the soundtrack as the trail leads you to Tropical Terrace and the foundations of a house designed by renowned architect Paul R. Williams, who also designed homes for Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball, as well as the Theme Building at LAX. 

From the trailhead, it’s about a mile-long trek to the falls at Escondido Canyon Park. The trail crosses Escondido Canyon Creek several times, so prepare to get your feet wet if you’re hiking in the rainy season. This is a gradual climb that drifts in and out of tree covering, alongside canyon walls. Soon, you’ll be standing at the base of the 50-foot-high Escondido 

Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park is a 905-acre park located in Agua Dulce, about an hour north of Downtown LA. The park’s striking, multi-colored rock formations reach heights of 150 feet and are the result of tens of millions of years of seismic activity and erosion. Vasquez Rocks takes its name from the outlaw Tiburcio Vásquez, who used the area as one of his many hideouts. A portion of the famed Pacific Crest Trail, which stretches 2,663 miles from Canada to the Mexico border, passes through Vasquez Rocks.