Runyon Canyon

Popular with the Hollywood set for looking like you're working out, Runyon is actually a properly steep hike and offers rewarding views from the top. It can get a bit hot and dusty on the wrong days, and parking either on the Hollywood side or the Mulholland Drive side can be tight, but it's a close and fun spot to spend a couple of hours.

Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine

Part west coast mysticism, part urban oasis, the Self-Realization Fellowship's Lake Shrine in the Pacific Palisades is a wonderfully calming park with paths for strolling, hidden grottos and a sanctuary for prayer, meditation and, presumably, self-realization.

free to the public

Griffith Observatory

Griffith Park, part public park, part urban wilderness, offers an endless variety of hiking, biking and horseback riding options, though the most popular radiate out from the iconic Griffith Observatory. An art deco masterpiece that contains a working planetarium and offers views of the city, the Observatory has paths leading up to Mt Hollywood and the Hollywood sign and down to the peaceful Ferndell area of the park. Parking at the observatory can be tricky, so if you're in for the hike, park at Ferndell, grab a snack at Trails Cafe and make your way up the hill.

Corral Canyon (Malibu)

One of many hikes in the Santa Monica mountains that rise behind the Malibu coast, Corral Canyon is centrally located in Malibu and offers stunning views of the ocean. After a short hike you can cool off on one of the nearby beaches or with a cocktail at Paradise Cove.

Santa Monica/Venice

Santa Monica is in many ways the center of the LA area's beach culture, both the easiest to get to and the most diverse in its offerings. Along with plentiful sand and surf, there is the carnival-esque pier with rides and games, restaurants running the gamot from beach shacks to fine dining and shopping districts along the 3rd Street Promenade and Main Street. The bluffs offer a great view, but traffic can be hellish on weekends so it's often best to park a few blocks away from the beach.

Venice, it's quirky neighbor just down the road, offers its own unique sights and sounds, from the aging hippies on the boardwalk to the meatheads at Muscle Beach. It's been gentrified quite a bit over the last few years, which shows up more than anywhere in the fancy restaurants along the main drag of Abbott Kinney Blvd, but it retains glimpses of its past along the famous canals and the tree-lined pedestrian streets.

Malibu

Malibu is a less hectic experience than the beaches of Santa Monica, further, less populated and more spread out. Malibu Lagoon near the pier is a good starting point and offers surfing rentals and lessons for those who get the itch. Nearby restaurants like the high-end Nobu or the denizens of Malibu Country Mart make sure you don't go without. Further afield stretch the picturesque -- and much more secluded -- beaches of El Matador, El Pescador and (much further up) Leo Carrillo, where the mountains meet the ocean with dramatic results.