Visited this Terasaki Budokan as a guest when they were holding Ronin Expo here a couple years ago…read more Parking is super limited, but it is possible to get a space for free, you just have to walk a couple blocks, be mindful of the signs, and be careful, since you know, you're in LA and all. Large basketball/multi use sports court inside, underground parking, decent outdoor space for vendors and stage space, and can hold a lot of people at once. There's seating inside and a really nice peaceful courtyard area with some rocks and a tree, perfect for cosplay photoshoots, though it does get pretty crowded for such an event. They have their open community days and other events too. For an event in June, surrounded by concrete, it did get super hot in there and the bathrooms weren't in the best state (LA and again the crowds), but it was a decent venue for a 1 day con.

The communtiy center offers variety of programs to the public! Karate, Judo, Basketball to name a…read morefew. They also have open times you can use the basketball court. Large court! The staff and security is super friendly. If you have any questions, they'll be glad to help you. They also offer a lot of camps during the summer break such as basketball camp other clinics. Paid Parking is available in the basement level. But it's very limited.

What a scene to behold and with such safe trails, at least that's been my experience. Never have…read morehad any worrisome experiences with any other pets while walking my dogs. Hopefully things stay that way. I'd recommend definitely going with a partner if you're a senior and put on those walking shoes.

The last time I hiked up to the Hollywood sign was before I started Yelping which was almost ten…read moreyears ago. I love how Griffith Park is a natural oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles. There are so many trails within the park that it becomes a choose your own adventure on how easy or difficult you want to make the journey. I came this time with a friend, and we decided to walk off some calories after noshing at a local delicatessen. We parked in a small lot at the end of a cul de sac that doubled as the Brush Canyon Trailhead. It was along the southern end of Griffith Park which was a shorter but steeper distance to the sign at Mt. Lee Summit. The initial mile was an ascent that took us to the junction with Mulholland Trail. From there, it was a series of fairly flat switchbacks that provided a nice overlook of the mansions below. The path was wide enough to allow lots of foot and horse traffic. A drawback was the landmines (i.e. dung) you had to dodge from the horses. When we reached Mt. Lee Drive, it was a junction in which you could continue around the bend towards Tyrolian Tank. That was a plateau which we visited on our way back with a beautiful view of the sign as a backdrop. Our decision was to continue another mile up a service drive that would lead us to the back of the sign. I think many people underestimate the additional winding slopes before reaching the endpoint. There must have been an increase of 500 feet in elevation during this final climb. The peak provided a nice view of Lake Hollywood in the distance to the south and the smoggy blanket that hovered over the valley to the north. The back of the sign was rather boring as you could see the scaffolding that held up the letters. We took a break and then descended to Tyrolian Tank for more photos. By the time we arrived back at the parking lot, it was a three-hour round trip that covered over seven miles. The weather could not have been better as there were few clouds, and the temperature was in the low 70s.

Background On Visit: Last Sunday (4/12/26), the venue hosted the Pasadena Festival Of Tea. We were…read moreone of the participants for this event. Hours Of Operation: They welcome visitors to the garden on many Friday and Saturday evenings and during the day on Sundays. You can check out their schedule of events and admission cost on their website: https://japanesegardenpasadena.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/japanesegardenpasadena/event.jsp?;=&event=1612& Admission Cost: Mostly, $15 on Friday and Saturday. Sunday, it's $12. For other events, they post the cost on their website. Location/Parking: Located across from the Arlington Gardens (Free). It's kinda hidden, but just use the gps on your phone to guide you. Parking can be found along Arlington. For special events, they encourage you to park at Westridge School (Orange Grove and W. State St.) and walk up to Storrier Stearns. Ambiance/Decor: The Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden is a beautiful and charming retreat with a quiet and tranquil elegance. The place is small which contains many of the much admired design features found in the most lavish of Japanese-style gardens of its era. As Kendall Brown states in his book, California Japanese-style Gardens, "this is the genius of Kinzuchi Fujii: this was once a flat area of two tennis courts; now it is a masterwork. 1) Classic Niko-an Teahouse, the garden landscape offers a variety of other beautiful details. 2) Numerous gathering points, seating areas & vistas 3) Four original bridges plus the original cedar log Japanese Waiting Bench 4) Two large interconnected, irregularly shaped koi ponds 5) The sounds of two waterfalls, one cascading down a 25-foot hill 6) An artful dry riverbed for rain overflow winding through the garden 7) Cooling shade everywhere from spreading sycamores & old oaks 8) Many tons of boulders & stones 9) Granite statuary & stone lanterns Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden For Thought: Wouldn't mind coming back to re-center myself. I did a have nice time.

This is the most difficult Botanical Garden to get in touch with…read more The hours they have posted on their website are wrong, no one picks up the phone after calling several times and leaving several messages. I went in person last weekend, and it was closed despite their online hours posted. The lack of clarity even upon walking up to the venue is not clear. They have no signs stating they are closed and it's clear they do not care to return voicemails. Please do not waste your time going there.

A hidden gem!!! A very Beautiful dog friendly park with…read morelots of parking spaces. The park is very well maintained with clean restrooms and nice water fountains (for doggie too). Right next to the LA River. We saw many people biking and running along the river. We will definitely come here more often when we are around. Highly recommended!

This is a small little park that leads to a great stretch of the LA River. This is a hidden gem…read morebecause the river walk has a lot of cool spots and cafes along the way. I'm from LA and my first time coming here was a few weeks ago. That's how well of a secret this has been kept. I imagine this would be a popular spot to host events like birthday parties. I came here as part of a walking club and we all gathered near the pavilion area. If you continue down the river walk far enough, you'll encounter this bridge with cool graffiti. This would be a great place for band photo shoots. There is free parking but come early because it's limited spots.

Perfect hike for a hot day…read more I love waterfall hikes and listening to the sound of calm, running water. The added challenge on these hikes is the multiple stream crossings. I brought some hiking poles which helped with balance and probing for loose rocks and logs. If you want to get parking in the lower lot, it's best to come before 8AM. We found parking in the second lot. An Adventure Pass or Day Pass is required. Parking is enforced. A car received a ticket for being in a No Parking zone. The start of the trail is nicely shaded. The second half is a hilly, narrow, sun exposed path which routes back into the canyon toward the Lower Switzer Falls. I'm glad they had fencing on some narrow and steep parts of the trail. We encountered an active rattlesnake which headed down the mountain, so be on the lookout. Overall, the hike takes about 3 hours for 5.5 miles. The additional hike back up to the parking lot was about 1/4 of a mile. Note: if you need to use the restroom, it's best to bring your own toilet paper and to go before you start your hike. It was kind of smelly, but if you gotta go... you gotta go.

This place is great for fully appreciating nature! The trail is around 5-5.5 miles round trip,…read moredepending on where you park. What impressed me most about this trail is that it's almost fully covered by shade. We went in the late afternoon, and I'd say probably 80-85% of it is covered. Very impressive! Here are some useful tips: 1. There are three parking lots: two are next to the highway, and one is near the hiking entrance. I'd recommend getting a parking pass if possible. 2. There are only three restrooms at the beginning of the trail, so use them when you see them. 3. If you're aiming to go to the waterfall, make sure to look for the signs. Some signs aren't very clear, so we had to stop and ask other hikers frequently. Luckily, people there are super friendly and happy to help. Just pay attention to your surroundings. 4. The trail is dog-friendly, but dogs must be on a leash. 5. Waterproof hiking boots are recommended. All in all, it's a fun trail. It's a great place for a picnic and camping, and it's very close to the stream. Great for kids, families, and pets!

I've lived in LA for years and somehow never realized you could kayak the river until a friend…read moresuggested trying LA River Kayak Safari. We booked a weekend morning tour, and it ended up being one of the most unexpectedly fun things I've done in the city. I was a little nervous at first since I'm not super experienced with kayaking, but the guides were patient and gave clear instructions before we got on the water. Once we started, it felt calm and surprisingly peaceful. We even spotted birds and fish along the way, which I definitely didn't expect in Los Angeles. The whole experience felt safe, well-organized, and relaxed. It's such a cool way to see a different side of the city. I'd absolutely do it again.

This is the only place in Southern California, except for the Kern River and it's not worth it…read more When I was in College, during the Summer I worked as a White Water Rapid Class V Instructor on the North Fork of the American River. If you look that up or really want to raft, take a drive up to Northern California for some excitement- you are able to do Class III, Class IV, or Class V, including an overnight rafting trip. It's not exactly like "A River Wild," but it can be if you're not experienced. I grew up river rafting with my Daddy all the time and have been on more than 300 trips in my lifetime. It's one of my favorite activities, but it's boring and lame in SoCal.

Unexpected little oasis in the midst of DTLA!…read more My friend & I brought breakfast to chat. It was not at all crowded on a Saturday late morning. There were people exercising, picnicking, playing sports, etc. Some squirrels are a little bold, so be careful if you have food Parking is limited in the lot, but street parking was not hard to find at all (you'll have to park on a steep hill). Will definitely be back!

This is a small park located just a bit northwest of downtown LA. There's a small parking lot…read morewhich is freeee; otherwise, you will need to find street parking, and good luck with that. The area around the park is legitimately sketchy but I didn't see any bad characters inside the park whatsoever. The park could be maintained better. The weeds are high in some areas and the grass needs watering in other locations. Having said all that, it's a nice enough little park with at least one spot for an amazing view of downtown. I have never seen the movie, "(500) Days of Summer," but some people believe the striking view of downtown with the park bench in the foreground was shown in the movie. I can't vouch for that but that particular spot is gorgeous and perfect for a photo op. You'll know the spot when you see it. Worth checking out.

Whittier Narrows is one of my favorite spots when I just want something clean, calm, and easy. The…read morewhole area is really well-kept and relaxing -- perfect for a low-key day outside. We rented a tandem bike and that was honestly the highlight. It was so fun riding together around the park, and the paths are smooth and spacious so it never felt crowded or stressful. Overall, it's just a really peaceful place to unwind, get some fresh air, and do something a little different. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a simple, relaxing outing!

Came here for disc golf recently on a Saturday morning, the course is set up really nicely with…read morechallenging tree hazards and mandos. There are 27 holes in all that are super enjoyable to play for a good walk in the park. I can see the benefits of having a cart for your discs, as the distances are longer than other courses. The ground is a bit uneven in lawn care with lumpy tall grass and ground squirrel holes. With so many holes it's rare to bunch up with other players so no need to ask to play through. There was one incident that was intimidating, a loud and pushy player filled with bravado came up to our group to give unsolicited advice and talk smack.

I was driving past the area and saw the sign for the recreation center and quickly stopped by. I'm…read morealways looking for nice parks to bring my dog to play or to sniff and practice training. I'm impressed by the spaciousness, there is so much to do here. I see a softball field and a large dirt path around the whole center as well as so much grass they might use that for soccer and I see more far away. This is like a gem in the middle of bunch of busy streets! Parking is easy and there are tons of spots but also street parking if you want. I read some other reviews that the clean up isn't great but I'm here today on a Tueaday at 11am and I see zero trash, everything looks really clean so maybe they've improved the maintenance. My only qualm is the trees are far and in between on the side I parked so I wouldn't be able to come on sunny days, I'm very sun sensitive and the trees are few and off the dirt path. There is a shadier side across the way where the kids playground is and that looks nice but I would avoid it with my dog. By the way if you are missing your white metal water bottle, you left it in this beautiful tree here by the parking lot.

This is a great recreation center in the San Fernando Valley…read more There is a large playground in the southeast corner of the park. There is a pool. There is an indoor gym/facility. There's an artificial turf soccer field. There are also batting cages? But I don't really know the details there. There is a large dirt track around four baseball fields. Around the track there are various pieces of exercise equipment. Be aware, there are always a ton of dogs. A lot of them off leash. The main reason this place gets four stars though is that there isn't enough parking and the parking there is, is terrible.

It was a beautiful experience…read more Won a pair of tickets from Yelp giveaway and we were thrilled. The whole event is very spiritual complete with group meditation and community activities. Also there was tons of food trucks for those hungry bellies. We got 2 lanterns to decorate. The kit comes with 1 marker and a lantern with battery powered electric candle to put inside. It was fun decorating it. They gave a 1 hour window to place the lantern in the lake and that was so beautiful. With the lights and reflections in the water. Beautiful experience!

I arrived to this event around 5:30pm and parked in one of the marked lots 4 or 5 - I was surprised…read morethere was no staff directing or a fee as stated, but was a short walk in the dark toward the festival maybe about 2 min-3 min. Walked through the crowds toward 2 pop up tents where you got your ticket scanned and received your wrist bands and box - mine was the date night package which came with 2 lantern boxes. Each box included: the lantern, a mandala throw, a marker, conversation cards ( which I thoroughly enjoyed ) a deck of playing cards. The date box also came with a mandala throw and a light up flower crown. There was some music playing, by the time I had arrived there was no performers, some people went on stage to express their feelings and how/why they came to the festival. There were was a good variety of food trucks and vendors. I wrote wishes/hopes/dreams I wanted to manifest on my lantern. It was a nice intimate date night where you were able to self reflect.