Warm sunny days are here and the great outdoors beckons! But you don't have to travel far to commune with nature  – our city is a veritable Eden of urban parks, secret hking trails, mountain retreats, and gorgeous gardens! These lesser-known areas offer an intimate encounter with our local flora and wildlife, without the crowds. Descanso Gardens and LA Arboretum are open by reservation only, so you can plan your visit and take your time enjoying the flower show. So get off the beaten path and and discover LA's urban parks and secret trails!

Descanso Gardens 1418 Descanso Drive, La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

Descanso Gardens is an urban retreat of year-round natural beauty, internationally renowned botanical collections, and spectacular seasonal horticultural displays, located just 20 minutes from downtown Los Angeles, The principal collections include California native plants and oak woodlands; one of the largest collections of camellias in the Western Hemisphere; a rose garden with specimens from all corners of the globe; and significant presentations of lilacs, maple trees, cherry trees and iris. Members can enter without an advance ticket, but visitors who are not members and guests not covered under a membership will need advance tickets with timed entry.

Corralitas Rail Path Allesandro Way & Lake View Avenue Echo Park 90039

The Corralitas Rail Path is a little known urban hike that follows an abandoned Pacific Electric Red Car Trolley line that used to run between downtown Los Angeles and the city of Glendale. Abandoned in 1955. this mile-long strip has been reclaimed by nature and is now a verdant woodland in the densely populated Los Angeles suburb of Silver Lake-Elysian Valley. Along the way, you'll see remnants of a 100-foot tall trestle bridge, old water/sewer infrastructure, abandoned stair platforms, and a steep hill covered with strange cement obelisks. Not recommended for night hiking!

Elysian Park 929 Academy Road, Los Angeles, CA 90012

Elysian Park is the city’s oldest public park, and at 575-acres, the second largest after Griffith Park. It is home to numerous historic sites, including the Los Angeles Police Academy and Barlow Hospital, which are linked by miles of walking trails. Founded in 1886 by the Elysian Park Enabling Ordinance, the park has a rich history that includes hosting the shooting competition for the 1932 Summer Olympics. Visitor amenities include a bike path, hiking trail, horseshoe pits, and a jogging path.

Chavez Ravine Arboretum Chavez Ravine Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90012

The Chavez Ravine Arboretum in Elysian Park, just north of Dodger Stadium, contains more than 100 varieties of trees from around the world, including what are believed to be the oldest and largest Cape Chestnut, Kauri, and Tipu trees in the United States. The Arboretum was founded in 1893 by the Los Angeles Horticultural Society, and planting of rare trees continued through the 1920s. Most of the original trees are still standing. The Arboretum was declared a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1967. Admission is free.

Earnest E. Debs Regional Park 4235 Monterey Road Los Angeles, CA 90032

If you're like most Angelenos, you've probably zoomed past this park just off the 110 Arroyo Seco Parkway countless times and never knew it was hiding in plain sight! Ernest E. Debs Regional Park, a 300 acre urban oasis on old ranch land in the Arroyo Seco neighborhood just northeast of downtown L.A., is the fourth largest park in the city of Los Angeles. More than half of the park is covered in walnut-oak woodland, grassland, and coastal sage scrub, and over 140 species of birds have been recorded. 

Elyria Canyon Park 1550 Bridgeport Drive Los Angeles 90065

Nestled on the southwestern slopes of Mount Washington, Elyria Canyon Park is a 35-acre nature park that provides a glimpse into the native habitat that once thrived in the hills near downtown Los Angeles. A network of trails meanders through lush groves of coastal sage scrub, chaparral, grassland and purple needlegrass. The park boasts one of the finest examples of California black walnut woodland in Southern California, with lovely trails that lead to vistas of the Los Angeles River, Griffith Observatory, and DTLA. The main entrance is located off Wollam Street in Glassell Park. Leave the paved road for a dirt path through thickets of sumac and bay laurel trees. Keep zigging and zagging until you reach a grassy bowl, where you'll find a bench and a welcoming drinking fountain. Walk a bit farther and to see a perfectly charming and totally unexpected little red farmhouse!

LA Aboretum 301 N Baldwin Ave Arcadia, CA 91007

The Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden is a unique 127-acre botanical garden and historical site located in what was the heart of the historic Rancho Santa Anita in the city of Arcadia. Did you know the Arboretum is also an official wildlife sanctuary. In addition to the famous peafowl, visitors will see species of resident and migratory birds, aquatic creatures, as well as numerous species of small reptiles and mammals. Tickets are now limited to preserve safe distancing and all indoor spaces are closed. Members are required to reserve free tickets. Non-members must buy advance tickets online to ensure entry.

Photo credits:

Photo #1: Descanso Gardens

Photo #2: Descanso Gardens

Photo #3: Corralitas Rail Path/Chris Salvano

Photo #4: Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks

Photo #5: Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks

Photo #6: Earnest E. Debs Regional Park

Photo #7: Mountains Recreation & Conservation Authority

Photo #8: Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanical Garden

The post Discover LA’s Urban Parks & Secret Trails appeared first on The Mansfield at Miracle Mile Blog.

We're just a few weeks away from the Winter Solstice – the shortest day of the year – which falls on December 21 this year. As the late afternoon sun fades to early darkness, it's time to flip the switch and see the light. Drive through an ancient grove of decorated cedars, stroll through a whimsical herd of glowing animated elephants, take a tour of illuminated DTLA landmarks, or just shop 'til you drop beneath a starry sky. From the whimsical and magical, to simply enchanting, make your season bright with LA's spectacular holiday displays.

Lamplight Holiday Celebration Heritage Square 3800 Homer St. Los Angeles, CA 90031

Dec 7 & 8 Get immersed in a retelling of Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol as you tour the historic houses of Heritage Square. Afterward, enjoy a festive and tasty reception while enjoying the glittering holiday lights. Heritage Square is a living history museum that explores the settlement and development of Southern California from the Civil War to the early 20th Century, offering visitors a look into the everyday lives of Southern Californians at the close of the 19th Century.

Christmas Tree Lane Santa Rosa Ave. (between Woodbury Ave. & Altadena Dr.)  Altadena, CA 91001

Dec14 Mark your calendars the 99th Christmas Tree Lane Lighting Ceremony & Winter Arts and Crafts Festival. Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena is the oldest large-scale Christmas lighting spectacle in the United States. In 1885, real estate magnate John P. Woodbury of the Woodbury Family, the founders of Altadena, planted 134 deodar trees (broad conical cedars) as a grand mile-long driveway entrance to the mansion he would build. Woodbury’s mansion was never built, but the trees thrived and the “driveway” became Santa Rosa Avenue. Every Christmas season for more than 80 years, the majestic deodars on the “Mile of Christmas Trees” are strung with 10,000 lights.

LA Zoo Lights 5333 Zoo Dr. Los Angeles, CA 90027

Glowing animals welcome you on an unforgettable nighttime journey that includes the world’s largest illuminated pop-up storybook, a magical disco ball forest, giant glittering snowflakes, and a twinkling tunnel filled with dynamic swirls of color. L.A. Zoo Lights is a not-to-be-missed holiday light experience that has glowed brighter each year since its debut in 2014. This year’s event features more light animals than ever before, spectacular new additions – both hand-crafted and high-tech – and returning favorites. 

Enchanted Forest of Light Descanso Gardens 1418 Descanso Drive La Cañada Flintridge, CA 91011

Enchanted Forest of Light is an interactive, nighttime experience unlike anything else in Los Angeles, featuring a one-mile walk through unique lighting experiences in some of the most beloved areas of Descanso Gardens. There are a variety of large-scale light displays, many of which are interactive, allowing visitors to manipulate the lights and sounds.

Moonlight Forest LA County Arboretum & Botanical Garden 301 N Baldwin Ave Arcadia, CA 91007

The Los Angeles Arboretum and Botanic Garden invites you to experience the Moonlight Forest, a fantasy of lights that takes you to new places. Dive under the seas with exotic fish and a giant shark in the new Ocean Visions exhibit. Next step into a winter wonderland with the new Polar Dreams experience. Enjoy live entertainment nightly. Parking is free. If onsite Arboretum parking lots are full, you’ll be directed to additional parking at Santa Anita Park. Free shuttles run from and to Santa Anita throughout the event. If you rideshare, the Depot entrance is the dropoff and pickup location. 

Winter Glow DTLA Grand Park 200 N. Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Expanded across Grand Avenue to include the newly renovated Music Center Plaza, Grand Park’s Winter Glow returns for its second annual nighttime public art display, offering an immersive experience that spans two county locations this holiday season. As the days shorten and darken, the park celebrates light as a giver of warmth, a source of beauty, and the key component to bringing people together during the fall and winter months. In this interconnectivity, guests and families can share thoughts, identity, and space, making new holiday memories as they stroll through an illuminated and interactive art installation. Familiar pathways and historic fountains will lead to exciting new discoveries as the latest in light and projection technology transform spaces on The Music Center Plaza and in Grand Park.

DTLA Holiday Lights Tour Union Station 800 N. Alameda St. Los Angeles, CA 90012

Lights, decorations, festivities and holiday cheer abound as you stroll through the central city during the most joyous time of the year! DTLA Walking Tours' Holiday Lights Special witnesses the beauty of Downtown LA at night to celebrate the seasons of Christmas, Hanukkah and many more! Tour highlights include Union Station decorations, "Las Posadas" at Olvera Street, Grand Park Winter Glow Festival, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Broad Museum, Pershing Square, and return trip via Metro Rail to Union Station (rail fare not included). Starting Point: Los Angeles Union Station (between the Information Booth and Cafe Crepe).

The post Making Seasons Bright! LA’s Spectacular Holiday Displays appeared first on The Mansfield at Miracle Mile Blog.