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Follow the sidewalk east toward Bundy Drive. If you’re a fan of canines, you can follow the path past the dog area that leads to a ramp up to the street; otherwise, just take the sidewalk adjacent to Airport Avenue.
Turn right to head south on Bundy. This stretch of sidewalk is sunny and located alongside a busy street, but you only need to walk here for 0.2 mile.
Cross to the east side of the street at Rose Avenue, and follow the driveway uphill toward the site of Ocean View Farms, a community garden with a multiyear waiting list. You’ll cut across the parking lot to head toward the baseball fields, passing the snack bar and bleachers to find a dirt path cutting across a field toward a gate in the fence on the other side of the property. The gate should be unlocked and open during daylight hours.
After passing through the gate, you’ll find yourself on Grand View Boulevard. The intersection with Indianapolis Street is just to your left. Head straight down Indianapolis. When you reach the intersection of Keeshen Drive, you’ll notice two large, newly constructed modern homes on either side of the street. They stand in stark contrast to many of the older, more modest-sized homes in the neighborhood and illustrate the rapid gentrification of this prized neighborhood adjacent to Santa Monica.
When you reach Inglewood Boulevard, you’ll get a great view of the Getty Center and the Westwood Corridor skyline to the north. Cross Inglewood and turn right.
After passing two houses, you’ll come to the Mar Vista Stairs, a public stairway leading down to the street below (just past 3296 Inglewood Blvd.). Descend the stairs and your vista expands to include Griffith Observatory, the HOLLYWOOD sign, and downtown Los Angeles with the San Gabriel Mountains beyond. To the right you’ll see Baldwin Hills.
Turn right on Granville Avenue at the bottom of the stairs. You’ll pass Mar Vista Elementary School on your left. The school is decorated with cute, colorful murals and tile work.
Turn left on Woodbine Street. Look left as you cross Stoner Avenue, and you’ll notice a rusty old Cold War (or possibly World War II)–era air-raid siren about halfway down the block.
Turn right on Federal Avenue and walk one block.
Turn left on Palms Boulevard and walk one more block.
Cross McLaughlin Avenue and turn left. The grounds of the
Continue northwest on McLaughlin. The liquidambar trees lining this curving stretch of road make it one of the relatively few thoroughfares in Los Angeles where you can experience fall color.
At the intersection with Indianapolis Street/Federal Avenue, cross the street to turn left on Indianapolis.
Cross Granville Avenue when Indianapolis dead-ends, and you’ll see the Mar Vista Stairs you descended earlier just to your left. Ascend the staircase.
At the top, turn right on Inglewood and follow the road as it heads downhill, enjoying the view that opens up to include Century City to the east and the Santa Monica Mountains to the west. The flight path of Santa Monica Airport is directly ahead, so you may see some planes coming in for landing.
Walk a few short blocks to Stanwood Drive and turn left. Now it’s time to head back uphill, but you’ll be rewarded at the crest with a view of the ocean.
Continue back down the hill until you reach Bundy Drive, and turn right.
Walk one block on Bundy to Airport Avenue and then turn left to cross at the intersection.
Follow Airport Avenue back to where you started at Airport Park.
Mar Vista
Points of Interest
6 Manhattan Beach
Conqueror of the sand dune!
BOUNDARIES: Rosecrans Ave., Blanche Rd., Manhattan Beach Blvd., Pacific Ocean
DISTANCE: About 2.5 miles
DIFFICULTY: Easy
PARKING: Free street parking is available on Bell Avenue.
One of the South Bay’s wealthiest cities, Manhattan Beach in many ways presents more of an Orange County vibe than an LA one. Popular with families for its strong school district and with everyone for its stunning seaside location and all-around pleasantness, this beach town is more laid-back than Santa Monica but decidedly more upscale than Venice.
Walk Description
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