The Top Things to Do and See in Echo Park, Los Angeles

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One of the first things to grab your eye when you enter Echo Park is the colorful mural welcoming you at the corner of Echo Park and Sunset. Walk around a little and find even more beautiful murals on various neighborhood walls. The owner of the Gabba Gallery, Jason Ostro, recently started the Alley Project, an ongoing public art event around LA One of the alleys he chose happened to be in Echo Park, where he’s been recruiting 20 local artists to paint animals in the alley behind Bob Baker Marionette Theater (check that out too!).

This eclectic little shop is so amusing. The Echo Park Time Travel Mart is a convenience store with everything you need to travel back and forth in time, like fresh dinosaur eggs, robot milk and Viking deodorant. No, it’s not just for kids. Grown-ups like to time travel too. What’s really cool about this convenience mart is that it’s affiliated with 826LA. This literary non-profit organization is dedicated to helping kids develop their writing skills. All proceeds of the Time Travel Mart sales go to this organization, and there’s even a tutoring classroom behind a secret door in the back of the shop.

What’s even better than a good restaurant? Cookbook is Echo Park’s greengrocer. This tiny grocery store has it all. Meat, cheese, milk, eggs, fresh produce, spices and even freshly prepared foods. How does it all fit into such a small space? You don’t really need a large selection when you have the quality products that this artisanal grocery supplies. Cookbook ensures that all of the products they stock are responsibly grown, which makes for extra tasty food. Every meal made with Cookbook ingredients is delightfully scrumptious!

At the area’s namesake, Echo Park Lake, you can find locals walking on the path around the lake or enjoying a picnic or a book on the grass. Of course, if you forgot your picnic, there are always sidewalk vendors selling something delicious, and the Beacon Café has drinks and pastries too. After you’re full, now comes the fun. Echo Park Swan Boats by Wheel Fun Rentals has made a comeback since the lake reopened after the big renovation. Not only can you rent swan pedal boats during the day, they also offer one-of-a-kind night ride rentals.

People say that bookstores are dying and technology is taking over. However, in the artistic oasis of Echo Park, Stories Books & Café has been luring in local writers, readers and artists since 2008. Not only do they buy, trade and sell books, but this shop also hosts diverse literary events, including book release parties, live music and comedy shows. The café at the back of the shop serves fair-trade coffee and locally baked goods. With a patio out back, this is the perfect place to hang out and read that new book.

In Los Angeles, we’re lucky to have amazing weather all year round, and beautiful parks where we can enjoy the greenery and the beautiful views. So, while you’re in Echo Park, take a hike. The highly underrated Elysian Park has some of the best views the city has to offer. It isn’t cluttered with tourists like Griffith Park, and you can even bring Fido. A hike around the park gives you views of the iconic Dodger Stadium, and Angels Point offers a beautiful view of the Downtown skyline.

Home of Los Angeles’ beloved baseball team, Dodger Stadium is the third-oldest major-league park in the nation, only behind Wrigley Field and Fenway Park. Take the family to a Friday-night game for fireworks in the park, or go to one of the many themed games throughout the season. You can even watch a movie in the park after some of the sporting events. If you can’t come for a game, you can always stop by for a stadium tour to hear about the stadium’s legendary past.

A fashion lover’s delight, this quirky vintage bazaar’s storefront is blossoming with colors and patterns, the display luring you in with its promise of hundreds of items under $10. Lemon Frog Shop is flourishing with clothes, shoes and accessories from the 1950s through the 1990s. Their selection of shoes is to die for – you’ll want all of them. After the hours you’ll spend looking through their selection, stop by Tierra Mia Coffee next door to caffeinate for the rest of your day.

San Francisco might have its row of “Painted Ladies,” but Angelino Heights, one of Los Angeles’ oldest neighborhoods, has its own Victorian beauties. Carroll Avenue has been registered in the National Register of Historic Places with having the highest concentration of Victorian homes in the city, and the breathtaking beauty of the 19th-century homes is really a sight to see. If you want to learn about the historic area, take a walking tour with the Los Angeles Conservancy.

One of the hippest nightclubs in the city, the Echo & Echoplex features nightly music events. Entry prices are reasonable, which makes this the perfect place to find new bands on the LA music scene. These two music venues are known for their eccentric bookings and embrace indie groups of a ranging talent base, from well-known musicians to those new on the scene.

For a more complete experience of the art scene in LA, we recommend this curated selection of art-themed tours and an art-filled hotel.