SweetSlinky's Walking in L.A. Maps

The most random things can inspire me to create a walking route. In the case of West Hollywood it was Flower Burger, a vegan burger joint that originated in Milan, Italy. The burgers were fun to eat and very instagramable but flavor wise got mixed reviews from the two of us. There are many other places along the route that might be more appealing.   I used the Gebhard Winter Inman Guidebook to build the itinerary around the architectural attractions of the area and threw in a few other fun things along the way.   Before you go - The 4.5 mile route is only mildly challenging. It's mostly flat with one stairway going up. Street parking is next to impossible in West Hollywood. The lot adjacent to the library is reasonably priced (don't remember the exact amount) and it includes a great view from the top floors.  There is a clean restroom inside the library. There are also a couple of public restrooms in the parks along the route.   The lone stairway of the route. The Sunset Tower

This is a lovely 4.5 mile route with a little bit of everything. Hills, stairs, beautiful Victorians, peacocks, and more. It goes under and over the freeway and through Echo Park. We enjoyed it so much that  shortly after walking it the first time we went back with friends.  Before you go - The route is a bit challenging. The long hill at the start is the hardest part. Your best bet for a restroom is probably the Jack-in-the-Box on Sunset. Otherwise you'll have to wait until you get to Echo Park. There is plenty of street parking near the start.  The route starts with a long uphill climb. The view from the top is worth it and you might see peacocks. You're likely to encounter fans of The Fast and the Furious taking selfies in front of Bob's Market.  Thanks to the abundance of Victorians the area is often a stand in for San Francisco in film. The tunnel that goes under the 101 is not nearly as scary as it looks. It doesn't even smell too bad. It's a good area for cat

Lincoln Heights is one of L.A.'s oldest neighborhoods. The five miles route features lots of architecture, the beautiful Lincoln Park, a pedestrian overpass, and an impressive stairway.   Before you go - The route is moderately challenging. It goes up and over a pedestrian overhead crossing at the beginning, up a rather long stairway at the midway point, then down some steep hills to Lincoln Park. The rest of the walk is mostly flat. For restrooms you’ll have to rely on the kindness of businesses or the library if it’s open. The restrooms in Lincoln Park are usually closed. There is parking on side streets near the start. There are plenty of places to grab a bite to eat along the way. I hear The Heights does a pretty good sandwich.

This four mile hilly route is more of hike than a walk. It features stairs, hills, trails, and amazing views. If you time it right you can grab a drink at Verdugo Bar (opens 5pm weekdays, noon weekends) at the end.  Before you go -  This is a challenging route with many hills. Some are quite steep. A walking pole comes in handy.  The only restroom is near the start at the rec center (cleanliness varies).  Yes, this is one of the stairways you'll climb. I didn't see any cats on my last visit so here's a picture of my cat, Bighetti.  

This walk through the Hollywood neighborhoods of Thai Town, Hollywood Studio District, and Little Armenia features a few of my favorite things - bungalow courts, cats, and vintage motels. The map has a set route inside the Hollywood Forever cemetery, but really,  just wander around as you please. Many famous people are buried here. In addition to cats you’ll probably see a peacock or two. Before you go - The route is flat and not challenging.  Best bet for parking is on the side streets north of the Harvard House Motel. It can be very challenging to find a space on street cleaning days - 10am-Noon Wednesdays and Fridays. You could also take the Metro B line (red) to Hollywood/Western and, since the route is a loop, start and finish there. Paros restaurant or Jons supermarket are good places for a mid-walk snack. 

Venice Walk Street to Mar Vista Ain Tract - 5 miles One of my loveliest routes and a cat lovers paradise. It covers all the walk streets above Abbot Kenney, the famed Venice Mosaic Tile House, a street dotted with telephone pole art, and the Mar Vista Ain Tract  Before you go - This route is mostly flat and not challenging. Restrooms are non-existent. If you see an open porta-potty, use it. If you are porta-potty adverse you can make a detour on Lincoln to one of the businesses. You might have to buy something. The nearest restroom to the start/finish is at Lemonade on the corner of Abbot Kinney and Venice. You'll have to ask for the code. .