I just got back from an invigorating hike in the beautiful hills above Hollywood, California at Damon Runyon Park.
On a day like today, when a steady but not significant rain has just stopped falling, the greens, blues and purples of the landscape are spectacular, and from this elevation you can see downtown Los Angeles to the left and the Bay from Santa Monica. , on the right.
The place is dotted with small and large dogs, all of them well behaved, who are obviously regulars here. Not only do they leave people alone or come over to pass a pet quickly, but they also play with their canine colleagues or happily ignore them.
Even the occasional firefighter, driving through the bends of the canyon, is in a “soft” mood, smiling at hikers, slowly monitoring the area for slides.
The amazing thing about this place is how bright and elegant it is. Almost everyone cleans up their pet’s waste and not a single piece of trash is to be seen anywhere. It is a real testament to the sense of community that exists between the people here.
There is a local feeling, which is friendly, but discreet. The closest thing to this is the attitude of the people in the Berkeley hills, but here, they are a bit more optimistic.
Maybe it’s the proximity to icons like the Capitol Records building and the other Hollywood hotspots, which are literally a stone’s throw away.
If you’re in Southern California for whatever reason and have an hour or two left, definitely look this place up on a map.
You will need one, because it is located in the hills, in an attractive and quiet residential neighborhood.
While street parking is tight, it’s free; and rumor has it that 80 public parking spaces are going to be installed imminently on the lowest level of the park.
I’m sure you’ll find this hike refreshing and memorable!
