Color-Walking LA | Green

In the fourth installment of “Color-Walking LA”, we’re seeking out the color green.

A quick refresher - a color walk is simple, a little meditative, and genuinely changes how you see even the most familiar street. This series takes that same premise with a little twist - instead of following a red door or a stranger’s sweater down the block, we’re building full-day itineraries around the colors that define this city — the architecture, the food, the places worth lingering. Think less scavenger hunt, more love letter to LA in a single hue. Color-Walking LA red edition here, orange here and yellow here ICYMI.

When I think of green in LA, I think of palm trees & parks. There are a few lush green spots in Los Angeles that are very much overlooked and under-appreciated IMO. Today, I’ll be focusing on one in particular - Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area.

9 AM: Fuel up at Destroyer, Breakaway Cafe or Des Croissants Paris

• Destroyer if you’re feeling adventurous + maybe a little pretentious (would you like some goat milk in your latte?)

• Breakaway for heartier fare, solid breakfast burrito

• Des Croissants for a quick coffee + croissant pick up!

10:30 AM: Hike, climb some stairs, or drive to Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area

Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook is a 57-acre state park best known for its steep outdoor staircase (the “Culver Stairs”), which climbs to a panoramic view stretching from downtown LA all the way to the ocean. The park is being actively restored as a native plant habitat — a true community victory, as the hill was saved from development by local groups — making it a rare pocket of green in the middle of the city.

From Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, it’s just a half-mile walk over La Cienega Boulevard to reach our #1 destination on this walk of green - Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area. This is a small stretch of the Park to Playa Trail, a 13-mile pedestrian and bike route completed in 2020 that connects the Baldwin Hills parklands all the way to the Pacific Ocean in Playa del Rey.

Kenneth Hahn is a 300-acre sanctuary tucked into the Baldwin Hills, with rolling hills, shaded trails through coastal sage scrub, and sweeping view stretching from downtown to the ocean. It is an oasis perched on top of a hill, and truly some of the best, most unique views of LA. Whether I’m hiking here with a friend or shooting some pretty driving footage for one of the auto brands I work with, every trip has been special.

2 PM: Lunch at Jackson Market - the most charming neighborhood market & deli with a secret garden backyard, perfect for a post-hike lunch & rest.

3 PM: Shopping in Downtown Culver, along with some hidden gems off the beaten bath. If you’re wiped from the hike and need to extend your sit time, I love popping a squat on the Culver Steps and facing the historic Culver Hotel. Great people watching!

• Village Well Books & The Ripped Bodice - reading a book is a version of touching grass, LBH. I love Village Well and it’s extra great if you can find a seat for some afternoon reading, but The Ripped Bodice is an extra special niche kind of bookstore - they sell romance novels, exclusively. Don’t miss their “Blind Date with a Book” section - all kinds of mystery books covered with wrapping paper + a brief description of the plot!

• Rolling Greens - The average Angeleno is more familiar with the Beverly Grove location almost directly across from The Grove, but have you been to the larger Culver nursery perched on a hill?! Though the great majority of their inventory is best fit for professional landscapers and rich housewives looking for a nice housewarming gift (aka a $400 custom succulent arrangement) - it’s a lovely place to wander, full of green.

• Jefferson West - I stumbled upon this quirky antique warehouse after a Baldwin Hills hike a few years ago. This is another “look, don’t touch” type place with very $$ furniture pieces, but who knows what you’ll find - last time I was there, I was obsessed with their full wall of retro toys & collectibles.

What’s your favorite place to touch grass in Los Angeles? Comment below or reply directly to this email with your faves - I see a TTS park/nature-y round up in my near future after writing this post.

I’m off to Europe for my big girl trip of the year this week, expect LOTS of content. But for the next couple weeks… TTS is offline for a much needed vacation! Back for more soon, xoxo!