The climate in Los Angeles always captures people’s attention, particularly when they’re new to the area. It’s most often described as a Mediterranean climate, despite the fact that we’re situated on the Pacific coastline of the United States. This is because our moderate weather is classified as identical to that experienced in Italy, Spain and Greece. This particular weather is described as pronounced seasonal changes in rainfall: a dry summer and a rainy winter, but moderately modest transitions in temperature. It is this particular climate that makes LA so appealing to so many people, in the same way that in Europe many people dream of retiring on the Mediterranean coast. With 263 days of sunshine a year, on average, this is what also leads to our specific park culture, and the variety of different outdoor venues we enjoy in our city. 

There’s a park for almost any mood, whether you’re a longtime resident or new to the area, there’s always something to be learned or explored in our beautiful LA venues. To inspire you to get out and visit somewhere new, or to return to a favourite spot as the weather gets warmer and brighter, we’ve selected a list of six with our highlights about each park.

Griffith Park is the premier urban green space in Los Angeles

We can’t start talking about the parks of Los Angeles and not begin with Griffith Park. With over 4,210 acres of land, Griffith Park is the largest municipal park with urban wilderness area in the United States. The vast size of the park alone makes it easy to understand why there are so many attractions and destinations to choose from. Los Angeles Zoo, The Greek Theatre and the Griffith Observatory are just three of the most well-known locations within the park, whilst there are also miles of hiking and horseback riding trails for you to discover if you want to take in the fresh air with some exercise.

Hancock Park is home to ice-age archeological treasures

The Hancock family, whose name is attached to both the district area and the park itself, originally donated the land for the park in order to preserve the La Brea Tar Pits, with the adjacent museum displaying archeological artefacts of Ice Age prehistoric mammals. The surrounding area is also home to various well-preserved mansions in architectural styles such as Tudor and Italian Revival, dating back to the 1920s when the area was first developed. The El Royale apartment complex is also historic, having been completed in 1929 with a neon-green rooftop sign, and home to various celebrities over the years. 

Exposition Park is full of local cultural history

With its prime location opposite USC, and with Los Angeles’ rich tradition of higher-education schools, it’s no surprise that Exposition Park is also home to several top cultural institutions. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, BMO Stadium, and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County are all located here. You can also find both the California Science Center and the California African American Museum in the park, as well as one of LA’s best-kept secrets: the Exposition Park Rose Garden, which features four gazebos, multiple statues and a central fountain. All of these features make the Rose Garden one of the most popular wedding venues in the city.

Make the most of the Hollywood wellness hotspot, Runyon Canyon

Where else would you expect to spot celebrities in Los Angeles than at an 160-acre hiking park? In this day and age, it is not surprising that a venue so associated with fitness and wellbeing has become one where you’re more likely than not to spot a celebrity or an influencer. With a variety of dirt trails, mostly between 1 and 3 miles long, over 2 million people visit Runyon Canyon annually. Its panoramic city views at the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains are what appeals to many visitors, but the fact the park is also dog-friendly and has an off-leash policy, means that many locals keep coming back time, and time again, to this spot in LA.

Take in the panoramic views of LA from Elysian Park

Los Angeles cityscape during ‘golden hour’; © Roberto Nickson

Most people know Elysian Park as the oldest public park in Los Angeles, but its 575-acre size continues to surprise people given its location at the heart of the city. Not only is this park sizable and historic, its panoramic views are well cited by visitors as their reason to return over and over again. The main panoramic loop trail is roughly 2.5 miles long and gives you 360° views of Downtown Los Angeles, Dodger Stadium and the San Gabriel Mountains. The route is not-often trodden by tourists, especially in the early morning, and perfect views on a clear day.

Make it a family day out at Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area

When you’re looking for an open-air day out as a family, there is no better option than the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area. As the name suggests, this park is full of a variety of activities. From playgrounds to a fishing lake, baseball diamonds and a sand volleyball court, there really is something for everyone and every age at this park. Spanning 338 acres, it is one of the larger parks in Los Angeles, as more than 7 miles of hiking trails also provide a stunning panoramic view from Downtown LA to the pacific coast. It’s also a great venue for a large family meet up, with picnic benches and BBQ pits located throughout the park for public use.

Now you’re equipped with all the knowledge you need to make a great decision on your next day out into the city’s green spaces. Whether you’re going it alone or with a group of family and friends, Los Angeles has something for everyone when the sun shines, which it does more often than not throughout the year here. As locals, we don’t always make the most of what’s on our doorstep, even if we have had great visits to some of these parks in the past. Sometimes, we just need a small reminder as to the true beauty on our doorstep to get us back out there and into the breathtaking views and parks that surround our local communities.

Title image: An aerial shot of the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California; © RDNE