Parks in LA are urban oases for wellness, relaxation, and cosmopolitan exploration. In these havens, culture nestles beneath the trees, and luxury experiences await in and around leafy city sanctuaries. While theme parks and national parks in California have undeniable appeal, green parks filled with picnic spots and cultural encounters remain among the most life-enriching things to do in LA. Discover seven of the best with Sofitel as your base.
Hancock Park – where the Ice Age resonates in modern LA
Let’s begin our tour of parks in LA in the Miracle Mile neighborhood, along a stretch of the famous Wilshire Boulevard known as Museum Row. La Brea Tar Pits and Museum sits at the center of the green space and features captivating exhibits detailing ongoing Ice Age research taking place right within the park. Here, natural asphalt has preserved fossils for millennia, from tiny creatures to towering mammoths.
Hancock Park is undoubtedly the best park in LA for natural history
While strolling Hancock Park’s tree-lined trails won’t provide an extensive hike, it will lead you to public art installations like the much-discussed Levitated Mass by Michael Heizer, and some of the best museums in LA. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art are right on the edge of the park. From here, follow Wilshire Boulevard into the heart of Beverly Hills, the most prestigious area in Los Angeles, where you can check into one of the most sumptuous hotels in the city.
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Where to stay: Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills
With the sublime Vendôme Clinique & Spa, suites overlooking the Hollywood Hills, and the performance-filled Riviera 31 bar, Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills could be your launching point for stunning national parks in California, or even a luxury take on a Disneyland hotel.
Griffith Park – the most famous urban park in LA
The largest and best-known park in Los Angeles, Griffith Park offers something for everyone. Hike the peaks and valleys of the Santa Monica Mountains as you spot native wildlife, or ride out of Sunset Ranch on horseback on a guided excursion that offers exceptional views of the Hollywood Sign.
There are abundant, captivating things to do in Griffith Park Los Angeles
The Autry Museum of the American West tells an inclusive story of the West through art and artifacts, and the Art Deco Griffith Observatory, “The Plunge” pool, and the Los Angeles Zoo & Botanical Gardens are perfect for families. If you end your day at Griffith Park, gastronomic experiences await at renowned nearby establishments, like the Mediterranean-inspired Bacari Silverlake on Sunset Boulevard, Musso & Frank Grill—an Old Hollywood stalwart since 1919—or Esterel at Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, where French zest meets international flavors.
Exposition Park – where the cultural history of the city resides
A racetrack and fairgrounds during the 1800s, Exposition Park now offers an enticing blend of green space, sports, and culture, drawing local soccer fans and lovers of the arts all to one locale in South LA. Explore the exhibits of the California Science Center, the Natural History Museum, and the California African American Museum, where the cultural and artistic legacies of African Americans—with an emphasis on California and the Western United States—are beautifully presented.
South of the city and on the way to Disneyland Park, Exposition Park adds art and culture to your LA itinerary before you explore famous theme parks in California
More than a century old, the LA Memorial Coliseum is one of the world’s most storied stadiums and has hosted Olympic events and Super Bowls, as well as being home to the USC Trojans college football team since 1923. With BMO Stadium—the home of Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC—in the same location, Exposition Park buzzes with the authentic pride of the city. A stroll in the Edible Garden or rose garden, under LA’s famous azure skies, offers balancing tranquility. Perfect for an LA trip encompassing wellness and culture, interspersed with visits to beloved family attractions like Disneyland California.
Runyon Canyon – where A-listers seek wellness
Discover scenic views and joie de vivre at Runyon Canyon, where Californian vitality and enthusiasm for wellbeing bubbles among the cacti, hilly trails, and rugged greenery. Close to Sofitel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, the park merges with the Hollywood Hills and is a favorite of celebrities, as well as many other LA residents participating in group fitness activities and taking care of their health. This location also puts the park within 10 minutes’ drive of Universal Studios Hollywood, meaning you can enjoy the best of what Hollywood has to offer.
Runyon Canyon lays claim to being the best LA park for inspiring vistas
As you follow the Runyon Canyon Road Hiking Path, look for a true hidden gem, even in one of the most popular LA parks: Rock Mandala—part art installation and part spiritual symbol, mandalas being symbolic, geometric representations of the universe used for sacred rites and meditation. Once you reach the highest point of the path, Indian Rock, you’ll be rewarded with views of the Hollywood Sign and the natural landscape shimmering in the heat.
Echo Park Lake – where sunsets glow
Embrace wellness beneath the palm trees of Echo Park Lake, where the foliage reflects on the surface of the water, children are delighted by swan boat rides, and healthful sunset walks take on a warm glow. As you walk, look out for the Lady of the Lake art installation and the charming lotus flower beds that have become a symbol of this LA park found a little northwest of Downtown. Towering fountains provide freshness under the California sun.
Cultivate wellness at Echo Park Lake
Nearby eateries add to the wellness experience in this vibrant part of Los Angeles. As you walk towards Elysian Park, perhaps taking in both green spaces during one fulfilling day, consider a stop at Glowing Plant-Based Eatery for organic food and smoothies with carefully chosen natural ingredients. Breakfast or brunch at Honey Hi, where the dishes are bursting with nutritious goodness, is wonderful after a morning workout by the lake.
Elysian Park – the rugged home of Angel’s Point view
Step into a sanctum of wilderness at the oldest park in LA. The hills of Elysian Park, just north of Downtown LA, were once a place where the indigenous Tongva community foraged. Running and cycling trails traverse the same hills, leading to breathtaking viewpoints and discoveries like the striking art installation by local artist Peter Shire, with its metal, industrial presentation, stark colors, and distinctive shapes.
Elysian Park is the place for romantic Californian moments with a view
Make your way to the Angel’s Point peak to discover panoramic views of the LA skyline and Dodger Stadium. Bathed in the pastel tones of sunset, this is one of the most romantic spots in LA. Cocktail hour inspires thoughts of epicurean pleasures, and you’ll find picnic areas close to Angel’s Point. Consider bringing an artisanal charcuterie board or grazing board from Silverlake Socialite in the Arts District, procured earlier in the day.
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area – where families unite
Absorb scenic views and moments of stillness at Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area, especially during quieter early mornings when delicate sunlight filters through radiantly green leaves. Views of the Downtown Los Angeles skyline and Santa Monica Bay inspire free-spirited families in this lesser-known LA Park found southwest of Downtown towards the coast.
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area is an oasis for family-friendly recreation.
Playgrounds, BBQ areas, disc golf, and sports courts make this LA park a major draw if you’re traveling with kids, and trails, waterfalls, and Gwen Moore Lake deliver a dose of carefree revitalization. End your family day in the blue water of your Beverly Hills outdoor pool with its vivid pop-art surrounds—just one reason why this Sofitel address is one of the most attractive family hotels in California. Our LA hotel could also be your starting point or destination for an epic American road trip.
Embrace the French art of living during your tour of LA parks—just one way to explore this great continent.
