Los Angeles is famed not only for its sprawling beaches and vibrant entertainment venues but also as a haven for outdoor sports enthusiasts. Instead of just escaping the heat in typical ways, you can fully enjoy an energetic and exciting summer vacation in lush green parks, equipped with comprehensive outdoor sports facilities. Let’s explore the most fantastic parks where you can exercise, have fun, and immerse yourself in refreshing nature.
Grand Park – A Green Oasis in the City Center
Grand Park, likened to a peaceful “oasis” in the heart of Los Angeles, is an ideal destination for picnics and outdoor activities. Spanning a large area, the park is divided into 4 distinct zones: the Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain, a sprawling green lawn area, a community entertainment playground, and a stage area for major events.
Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain at Grand Park, a unique architectural highlight.
To enter Grand Park, visitors need to purchase tickets and can also buy food and drink vouchers. The picnic area is located right by the riverbank, offering a cool and pleasant space. Especially on summer weekends, you have the opportunity to enjoy unique and lively music performances. However, Grand Park does not have dedicated outdoor sports areas.
Historic Park – Immerse Yourself in Nature and Art
Historic Park, opened in 1997, is a wonderful sightseeing and picnic spot in Los Angeles. This large park is pet-friendly, especially for dogs. Here, you can picnic, jog, bike, fly kites, and admire unique artworks.
A green corner in Historic Park, where visitors can relax and immerse themselves in nature.
Historic Park is divided into 3 areas: the traditional area, the urban architecture area, and the wildlife area. You will discover many interesting things about the natural world and architecture, enjoy impressive green spaces, and diverse vegetation. The park also regularly hosts major events, creating opportunities for you to immerse yourself in a joyful and bustling atmosphere. Similar to Grand Park, Historic Park focuses on relaxation, picnics, and does not have outdoor sports areas.
Echo Park Lake – An Entertainment Paradise by the Lake
Echo Park Lake, opened in June 2013, stands out with its natural lake, walking paths, traditional fountain, and large area for picnics. The park provides dining tables and wooden chairs right in the picnic area, making it convenient for you to carry out your plans.
The poetic lake at Echo Park Lake, where visitors can boat and enjoy the fresh air.
Echo Park Lake is one of the few parks mentioned that has sports areas: a swimming pool, basketball courts, tennis courts, and baseball fields. In addition, the park also offers bicycle, paddle boat, and kayak rentals with instructors. This is an ideal picnic and entertainment area, offering many impressive and memorable experiences.
Barnsdall Art Park – Art and Picnics on Olive Hill
Barnsdall Art Park is located on top of Olive Hill and is one of Los Angeles’s famous art and historical parks. Although not very large, the park has many impressive spaces for your picnic ideas.
Barnsdall Art Park from above, with panoramic views of Los Angeles.
Coming here, you have the opportunity to admire the bustling city of Los Angeles and relax with activities such as walking, cycling, and hosting BBQ parties. Barnsdall Art Park does not have dedicated sports areas, focusing on art and architecture.
Griffith Park – Natural Beauty and Diverse Outdoor Activities
Griffith Park, built in 1912, is one of the largest parks and retains the natural beauty of Los Angeles. With a total area of 1,740 hectares, Griffith Park is famous for the Greek Theatre and its diverse ecosystem.
A wild natural corner in Griffith Park, where visitors can explore the diverse ecosystem.
Griffith Park has an ideal picnic area with green lawns under lush trees. You are free to bring your own food and drinks for free. The park also offers many sports activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding. Although there are no concentrated areas for sports, Griffith Park’s vast space and diverse terrain create conditions for many outdoor physical activities.
Hollywood Bowl – Music and New-Style Picnics
Hollywood Bowl, located in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood, is one of the ten best music venues in the United States. It is also a new-style outdoor picnic area that you can experience.
The magnificent stage at the Hollywood Bowl, where world-class music performances take place.
Hollywood Bowl offers many family seating areas, facing the stage. You can choose a seating area suitable for the number of people and comfortably bring food and drinks to enjoy with your family. Here, you can enjoy snacks and drinks while watching exciting music programs. Hollywood Bowl is not an ideal place for sports activities, but a unique combination of music and picnics.
Pan Pacific Park – Dynamic Sports and Picnic Amenities
Pan Pacific Park, opened in 1989, is a large park ideal for city events. The park has picnic tables and grilling areas along the paved paths winding through the park.
Picnic area at Pan Pacific Park, with convenient dining tables and grills.
Pan Pacific Park stands out with its dynamic sports area, including sports like basketball, baseball, and an outdoor gym. In addition, the park also has Renee’s Place playground located in the north near the entrance. Pan Pacific Park is open every day of the week and is completely free, making it an ideal picnic spot for those who love sports and outdoor activities.
Polliwog Park – Great Picnic and Entertainment Combination
Polliwog Park is located at the corner of Redondo Avenue and Manhattan Beach Boulevard. With a large area, the park is built with areas such as a zoo, theater, picnic area, and restaurants.
A play area at Polliwog Park, with many entertainment activities for children.
The picnic area is arranged with more than 15 tables, of which 8 tables need to be reserved at least 2 hours in advance. Polliwog Park is open from 8 am to late at night, serving everyone. Besides, the park also has an entertainment area for young children. Nearby are the Manhattan Beach Botanical Garden, the City History Museum, a 9-hole golf course, and many other famous attractions. Although mainly focused on picnics and entertainment for children, Polliwog Park is still a great choice for families.
Brookside Park – Large Picnic and Entertainment Area
Brookside Park has an area of 64 km2 and is the largest park about 80km from downtown Los Angeles. The park is equipped with outdoor dining tables, on-site grills, large green grounds, and is extremely cool.
Picnic area at Brookside Park, with green space and full amenities.
Brookside Park offers many sports activities such as tennis, badminton, handball, and a playground for young children. The park can accommodate more than 4000 people and is divided into 2 picnic areas: Hidden Gem and Pasadena. In addition, this place also regularly hosts major city events. With its large area and many amenities, Brookside Park is an ideal choice for both families and groups of friends.
Getty Center – Art and Beautiful Green Space
Getty Center is a famous destination, attracting millions of visitors every year. Here, you will admire world-famous masterpieces of art and architecture.
Colorful flower garden at the Getty Center, creating a relaxing and romantic space.
Getty Center has an area of 134 km2, with natural canyons and many shady green trees. The park provides picnic tables on the lawns, very convenient for organizing outdoor parties. You can also experience sports activities such as walking, cycling, badminton, and volleyball. Getty Center is an ideal place to combine enjoying art and enjoying green space.
Enjoy an Energetic Summer in Los Angeles
Picnics and participating in outdoor sports activities are a great idea to enjoy the summer in Los Angeles. Hopefully, this list will help you choose the parks that best suit your preferences and needs. Wish you memorable and unforgettable moments with family and friends!