The Great All-American Picnic: Los Angeles

If you’re West Coast-bound in your search for the best American picnic spots, look no further. Dine outdoors and in style at these premiere picnic locations in Los Angeles, CA. From the beaches and bluffs of Malibu to the hills surrounding the Hollywood Bowl, we’ve got the perfect place for you to enjoy an alfresco feast and experience the real flavor of L.A.!

1. Griffith Park

Sprawling acres of green, an observatory, train museum, and zoo are just a few attractions that Griffith Park has to offer.

Located just east of Hollywood, Griffith Park is one of the largest recreation areas in the Southland. The park has many picnic spots to choose from, whether your preference is to sit on the ground atop a blanket or lay out your spread on one of their picnic tables.

A couple of favorite picnic areas in Griffith Park are the “Old Zoo”, which has cool rock formations that once housed animals, and the Merry-Go-Round area on Crystal Springs Drive. If you’re with the kids, Travel Town, an outdoor train museum, is great fun with picnic tables near old railroad cars that you can climb on.

2. The Hollywood Bowl

Many have enjoyed a summer concert at the famed Hollywood Bowl, with its dramatic white spheres looming over an outdoor stage. Throughout the year, the hills surrounding the Bowl are an idyllic place for a picnic.

This is a nice option for tourists who have spent the day pounding the pavement in Hollywood at Mann’s Chinese Theater and the Walk of Fame. Purchase a take-out meal from a café around Hollywood Blvd. and Highland Ave. Then, take about a mile walk up the street, as parking can be tight, and enjoy a peaceful picnic at the Hollywood Bowl.

3. Malibu Beaches and Bluffs

Malibu is one of the most exclusive coastal communities in California with many beautiful picnic spots. Spend a day at Zuma Beach, where the original “Planet of the Apes” movie was filmed, or relax at Topanga Beach just off Pacific Coast Highway. Click here for more info on specific Malibu beaches and their amenities.

For classic picnic grounds, head to Malibu Bluffs Park, 6-acres of gorgeous green terrain overlooking the ocean, that has picnic tables, baseball diamonds, a whale-watching station and more. Check with the Malibu Parks and Recreation for more picnic places in the area.

4. Angeles National Forest

Angeles National Forest offers thousands of miles of nature’s beauty with scenic waterfalls, lakes, trails, camping and picnic grounds, and a variety of recreation opportunities.

The forest is located about 30 to 45 minutes north of Los Angeles and a recreation pass may be required depending on where you decide to picnic. Choose from sites with a couple of picnic tables for an intimate affair, to large areas such as Charlton Flats, Stonyvale or Chantry Flat with dozens of picnic spots. Check the Angeles National Forest website or give them a call to find out more.

5. Exposition Park

Exposition Park tops my list for an outing with the kids. Located in downtown Los Angeles, this urban park area is home to the California Science Center, a Natural History Museum, beautiful Rose Garden and more.

After a few hours of interactive fun at the California Science Center, you can picnic on tables just outside the back entrance of the building. Just beyond the picnic tables is the Exposition Park Rose Garden, where one can picnic around a grand fountain or another area amid rows of roses.

The parking lot is close to the buildings, so you can keep coolers of food in your car until picnic time or purchase a meal from the museum café or fast food restaurants in the Science Center building.

For more ideas and places around the country to entertain outdoors, check out all of our picnic articles.

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