ACTIVE

In Los Angeles, some of the best parts of your neighborhood aren’t buildings at all.

They’re the beach path you ride before work, the trail you disappear onto Saturday morning, the park you walk through at sunset or the stretch of coastline that makes staying inside feel like a questionable decision.

These neighborhoods make it easier to build movement, fresh air and a little adventure into everyday life.

If you want the outdoors to feel less like a destination and more like part of your routine, start here.

Santa Monica ›

A neighborhood where the outdoors starts at the edge of the city.

Santa Monica gives you miles of beach, the coastal bike path, parks, stairs and plenty of reasons to spend your day outside.

You can run along the water in the morning, bike south toward Venice, walk Palisades Park at sunset or head east without ever feeling too far removed from everyday city life.

Best for: Beach runs, cycling, walking and an active lifestyle without leaving the neighborhood.

Venice ›

Surfboards, bikes and a neighborhood built around being outside.

Venice has one of LA’s most active relationships with the coast.

The beach, boardwalk and bike path become extensions of the neighborhood, whether you’re surfing, skating, biking, running or simply walking toward the water with nowhere particularly urgent to be.

Away from the sand, the canals and residential streets give you a slower way to explore outdoors.

Best for: Surfing, biking, skating and spending as much time near the beach as possible.

Marina del Rey ›

When your outdoor lifestyle involves considerably more water.

Marina del Rey brings a different kind of outdoor living to Los Angeles.

Kayaking, paddleboarding, sailing and waterfront biking are all part of the landscape here, with paths and parks wrapping around much of the marina.

The beach is close, but the harbor itself gives you plenty of reasons to stay outside.

Best for: Boating, paddleboarding, cycling and life around the water.

Playa del Rey ›

Beach access with a little more breathing room.

Playa del Rey puts you close to sand, ocean and miles of coastal bike paths without the same level of activity found farther north.

You can ride toward Manhattan Beach or Marina del Rey, walk along the coast or explore the nearby wetlands and quieter residential hills.

It feels outdoorsy in a pleasantly unhurried way.

Best for: Beach walks, biking and a quieter coastal lifestyle.

Pacific Palisades ›

Where the beach, mountains and trails all compete for your attention.

Pacific Palisades has one of the strongest connections to the outdoors of any neighborhood in Los Angeles.

The Santa Monica Mountains rise directly behind the community, with canyon trails, overlooks and open space stretching toward the coast below.

Some days call for hiking shoes. Others require a surfboard.

Best for: Hiking, ocean access, trails and having the mountains practically in your backyard.

Brentwood ›

Westside living with the mountains waiting just beyond the neighborhood.

Brentwood sits right where residential Los Angeles begins climbing into the Santa Monica Mountains.

Neighborhood walks, bike rides and parks are easy to work into everyday life, while canyon trails and open space are only minutes away.

You can feel deeply connected to the Westside without being very far from somewhere considerably wilder.

Best for: Hiking, neighborhood walks, cycling and easy access to the Santa Monica Mountains.

Los Feliz ›

Having Griffith Park nearby changes the definition of a neighborhood park.

Los Feliz sits at the foot of one of the largest urban parks in the country, giving the neighborhood access to hiking trails, running routes, horseback riding and miles of open space.

You can leave a residential street and be climbing toward Griffith Observatory surprisingly quickly.

It’s one of the rare parts of LA where city life and serious outdoor access sit practically side by side.

Best for: Hiking, running, Griffith Park and having nature within walking distance.

Studio City ›

Canyon trails hiding just beyond Ventura Boulevard.

Studio City may be known for restaurants and residential streets, but the hills behind the neighborhood add another dimension entirely.

Trails around Fryman Canyon and nearby open space make it easy to trade city streets for dirt paths without going particularly far.

It’s a nice reminder that the Valley and the mountains are often much closer together than they appear.

Best for: Hiking, canyon trails and combining residential life with quick outdoor escapes.

How Do You Like to Get Outside?

An active lifestyle can mean very different things in Los Angeles.

Maybe your ideal morning starts on a surfboard. Maybe it’s a trail, a long bike ride or a walk somewhere green enough that you briefly forget about traffic.

The best neighborhood isn’t necessarily the one with the most outdoor space.

It’s the one where the things you actually like doing are easy enough to become part of everyday life.

Explore the neighborhoods above, or tell me how you like to spend time outside and I’ll help you figure out where to start.