The Best Parks in Los Angeles to Read A Book

Brand Park in Glendale

Nestled across 31 acres at the base of the Verdugo Mountains, Brand Park offers an array of attractions including a modernized library. Grab a book from the library, or bring your favorite book from home, and find a nice spot to read near the Koi and Turtle pond at the park. It’s the perfect spot to unwind, enjoy nature, and delve into a book.

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Pacific Palisades Park in Santa Monica

If you live or work on the westside, make it a point to have lunch at Pacific Palisades Park in Santa Monica, just north of the pier on Ocean Avenue with a book in hand. There are plenty of benches and tables where you can read and the view is lovely.

Barnsdall Art Park in Los Feliz

Barnsdall Art Park is the perfect spot to spread out a blanket and soak in the stunning views from the lawn, where reading is a popular activity. It's always bustling with activity, resembling a festival atmosphere any day of the week. Visitors of all ages, often accompanied by their furry friends, gather here to socialize as the sun sets and the evening unfolds. As an added bonus, several spots offer expansive views of Los Feliz and Hollywood.

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Hotchkiss Park in Santa Monica.

Hotchkiss Park, spanning 2.1 acres, exudes a San Francisco-esque charm with its gently sloping terrain. This tranquil oasis is the perfect place to unwind and indulge in a good book. Surrounded by a serene atmosphere, within walking distance of various restaurants and stores, it offers a peaceful respite from the bustling city life. Despite its convenient location, Hotchkiss Park remains blissfully uncrowded, providing an ideal environment for uninterrupted reading enjoyment.

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Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area in Baldwin Hills

Kenneth Hahn Recreation Park is one of our surprise finds. We passed by this place many times and didn't realize there’s a huge park on La Cienega Blvd. Plenty of parking, a large pond and a beautiful river stream provides a soothing sound. There’s also a well maintained Japanese garden, making it the ideal place to read during your free time.

Dante's View in Griffith Park

Dante's View, in Griffith Park is a great place to go to find a peaceful spot to read with a view. It's a little bit of a hike up there, but once you get there there's a path that goes down the slope a little ways to a hidden alcove with a bench that is for reals the comfiest spot in the city to sit, relax, read a book, make out, you name it. 

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Will Rogers Historic Park in Pacific Palisades

Will Rogers State Historic Park is located in Pacific Palisades and includes hiking and equestrian trails, picnic grounds, guided tours of the Will Rogers historic ranch house and weekend polo matches. Pack a picnic, your favorite book, and lounge at the polo fields (when they aren’t playing) and enjoy a peaceful place to read and escape into your favorite book. There is a charge for parking per car. We suggest taking a look at the park's website for full details.

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Vista Hermosa Natural Park in Echo Park

This park is a real hidden gem in the middle of LA! It’s the perfect spot for a picnic in the grassy open fields with an awesome view of the Los Angeles skyline. The park features walking trails, streams, meadows, oak savannahs, picnic grounds, and a nature-themed playground amidst native Mediterranean vegetation. Grab a blanket and a book and soak in the views (of the city and the people).

Echo Park Lake in Echo Park

Echo Park Lake provides a break from the bustling city of Los Angeles. Full of families, nature and activities, Echo Park Lake  is a quintessential park to visit. Whether you want to bring a blanket to sit on the grass by the pond or find a local bench, it's the perfect place to get some reading done.

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