Finding a relaxing park in downtown Los Angeles may sound like more of a dream than a reality but Echo Lake Park might make you temporarily forget where you are. My cousin and I decided to check it out on our adventures in Los Angeles day while she was out here and we loved this beautiful place. My only regret is that I did not take more pictures so I guess that means I will just have to go back! There are paddle boats, gondolas, a playground, benches to sit and relax, a path you could walk, run or roller blade on and lets not forget the people who come selling jewelry and various types of snacks. Finding parking can be a challenge as always in Los Angeles but there is a lot of street parking so if you keep looking you should be able to luck out. I found street parking with no meters which is always a plus and for those of you who need to stay connected to the internet but don’t want to waste your data you can score free wifi by selecting oh ranger!
Echo Lake Park has made some appearances in movies like Chinatown and could serve as the backdrop for some family photos if you are looking at taking some in a park. If you live in Los Angeles and have a dog this seems to be a great place to bring them. Not only does this park offer a beautiful place to relax it also offers some wonderful views of Los Angeles. Typically to get a pretty sky line view of the city means you have to be far enough away that the buildings look tiny but here you can get a great picture. On occasion movie nights will be held in the park as well as free concerts which are advertised through the Echo Lake Park Facebook page. They also hold a Lotus festival every year so you might be able to find several reasons to check out this park. This spot could be a great place to take a picnic to or if you want to do some yoga you can check out this group that meets here. http://www.meetup.com/yep-yogaechopark/
We decided to stop here after visiting The Last Bookstore which is really close and after stopping by the park for some relaxation we headed over to the Grove for dinner and a movie. Unless you live in Los Angeles making a trip to downtown just for the park would not necessarily be worth it. There are lots of different reasons for you to make a trip to the city and then include visiting the park on your itinerary. Have you been wanting to visit the Walt Disney Concert Hall? Guess what just like The Last Bookstore it is a short distance from the park. Los Angeles always has something going on worth checking out so I would encourage you to make the most of your trip.
For more information on Echo Lake Park please visit: http://www.yelp.com/biz/echo-park-lake-los-angeles
Like them on Facebook more information as well: https://www.facebook.com/EchoParkLakePedalBoatsCanoeGondola
