dips down toward PCH before heading back uphill to reconnect with the continuation of the paved street on what is still Castellammare Drive, passing a stairway on your right.
Climb the next stairway you come to on your right, near the intersection of Breve Way, enjoying the sounds of crashing surf behind you.
Turn right on Revello Drive at the top of the stairs. At the intersection of Posetano Road, you’ll see a staircase heading about two-thirds of the way up the hill before it dead-ends in the brush. If you’re looking for an extra workout, head up and down the steps a few times to get your heart pumping.
Nearby and Notable
The Self-Realization Fellowship’s gorgeous flagship Lake Shrine Temple, at 17190 Sunset Blvd., about 0.3 mile north of Sunset’s intersection with Castellammare Drive, is absolutely worth a visit. The lake and surrounding gardens provide numerous spots to sit and meditate or simply to enjoy the peaceful, lush surroundings. The ornate temple overlooking the grounds blends Eastern and Western architectural styles to stunning effect. The gardens, lake, and visitor center are open to the public Tuesday–Sunday; call 310-454-4114 for visiting hours. (To learn more about the Self-Realization Fellowship, see Mount Washington.)
Turn right on Posetano Road.
Look for a staircase on your right just before the road ends, and descend back to Castellammare Drive.
Turn left at the bottom of the stairs, and retrace your steps along Castellammare, crossing the dirt path once again. When the paved road begins, follow it all the way to Stretto Way.
Turn left on Stretto Way and follow the road as it winds up the hill.
Turn right on Posetano Road. At 17531 Posetano, you’ll see a towering Italian-style villa named
Ascend the staircase on your left just before 17445 Posetano. The long stairway is pleasantly bordered by bougainvillea, succulents, cacti, and wildflowers.
Turn right on Revello Drive at the top of the steps, and follow the road as it curves around to the left.
A Castellammare garden overlooks the ocean.
Bear left onto Tramonto Drive at the intersection. Watch out for cars because this street is a little more heavily traveled and there are no sidewalks. A gorgeous view of the ocean will open on your left as you continue up the road.
Turn right on Quadro Vecchio Drive. In contrast to the predominance of Mediterranean homes in the lower portion of the neighborhood, this street is populated by mostly ranch-style houses, with the exception of a striking modern structure at 266 Quadro Vecchio.
Turn left on Bellino Drive and continue to the intersection of Tramonto Drive.
Turn left on Tramonto and continue back to Revello Drive.
Castellammare in Pacific Palisades
Points of Interest
Bear right to retrace your steps along Revello Drive. Continue all the way back to the last staircase you ascended, which you’ll find on your left just past some towering bamboo.
Head down the stairs and turn right on Posetano Road, continuing to retrace your steps back to Stretto Way.
Bear left to go back down Stretto Way.
Turn left on Castellammare, heading back to your starting point.
2 Northwest Santa Monica
Annenberg splash pad
BOUNDARIES: Pacific Ocean, Montana Ave., Seventh St., Entrada Dr.
DISTANCE: About 3 miles
DIFFICULTY: Strenuous (includes stairways)
PARKING: Free street parking is available on Fourth St., but please read posted signs for parking restrictions.
This walk offers a respectable workout in true Santa Monica style. Starting at the popular Santa Monica stairs on the northern border of the beach city, the route then drops down to the beach for a sun-drenched stroll to the popular Annenberg Community Beach House.
Note: While most of the walks in this book are designed to cover as much new ground as possible, this one returns to the starting point by more or less the same route. However, because most of that route overlooks the ocean or traverses the beach, we figured our readers wouldn’t mind retracing their steps.
Walk Description
Begin at the intersection of Fourth Street and Adelaide Drive, right at the northernmost border of the city of Santa Monica in the exclusive residential neighborhood known as North of Montana.
Directly across the intersection, on the north side of Adelaide, is one of the two sets of Santa Monica stairs, a popular exercise destination for locals. Descend the long, narrow staircase all the way to Entrada Drive.
Turn right at the bottom of the stairs and follow the sidewalk, passing Canyon Charter School, a public elementary school in one of LA’s most exclusive neighborhoods, on your left.
At the intersection with Amalfi Drive, look for the second set of stairs on your right, and ascend. The wooden staircase is wider than the first, making it easier to share with the remarkably fit locals trotting doggedly up and down.
Turn right at the top of the stairs, and follow Adelaide for a little under 0.5 mile down to Ocean Avenue, passing a succession of huge multimillion-dollar homes—the sprawling shingled Craftsman at 236 Adelaide is particularly envy-inducing.
