I love my city for our glorious weather and the countless activities that can be done outside. While I spend my fair share of time indoors at the gym or yoga or other exercise class, I like to break up my routine with some outdoor activity. There are a number of hidden stairways in and around LA, but my personal favorite are the Santa Monica stairs. This set of stairs connects the part of Santa Monica that is on the bluffs, to neighboring Pacific Palisades at the ocean level. It is in a beautiful neighborhood with multi-million dollar homes that I daydream about.
I find these stairs particularly inspiring, because I am surrounded by the fittest of the fit, and it motivates me to do one more lap. There are just shy of 200 steps (188 to be exact), so by 16 or so laps, I can be proud to have climbed the equivalent of a skyscraper! The stairs can get crowded, so at my slow pace I stay to the right so the exercise gurus can run past me. I one time saw a man climbing the stairs on his hands in a handstand!
Find your way with 134 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
"HD Buttercup" is a furniture and home decor store in a historic Los Angeles building that also hosts a bread museum - the original site of Helms Bakery...
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"Venice Beach Skatepark" in Los Angeles is the birthplace of skateboarding. This skatepark has two giant pools, a spot for tricks and even a live webcam!
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"Pacific Wheel" is a ferris wheel in Los Angeles' Santa Monica Pier. I love the surprising views from it and the fact that it's solar-powered!
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"Los Liones Canyon Trail" one of my favorite hiking trails in Los Angeles. It always makes me feel as if I've escaped city life and gets my heart pumping.
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Part of The Big Lebowski was filmed at this otherwise unassuming community in Los Angeles, 'Faircrest Heights'.Please remember this is a private residence.
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The "405 and 10 Intersection" in Los Angeles is one of the busiest in America. This intersection is so famous, it even has its own facebook page!
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The "Sunbathing Sea Lions" in Los Angeles' Marina del Rey are huge, playful and charming, but they can also be dangerous. The fishermen know their names!
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"Kippy's" in Los Angeles makes healthy, vegan coconut milk ice cream and it's my #1 favorite local spot. I go there as many as 5 times a week!
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"Father's Office" in Los Angeles is an upscale gastropub with 'bar food' prepared by acclaimed chef San Yoon. The vegatarian in me is in for a treat here!
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"Museum of Flying" in LA's Santa Monica is in the neighborhood's very own private airport. It's quaint, interesting and made me appreciate planes more!
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"Watts Towers" in Los Angeles is a national landmark, built by a talented Italian immigrant over the duration of 30 years. They remind me of Antoni Gaudi.
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At the "Santa Monica Farmer's Market" in Los Angeles, especially the one on Sundays, I love sampling the different kinds of dates and grabbing a burrito...
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134 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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