*A Park By The Mountains; A Park By The Sea

I visited two more of Los Angeles' awesome parks this week. A visit to the Verdugo Mountains and the Pacific Ocean - that's what makes L.A. so great; we've got all these different environments so close to each other.

A Canine Angeleno is a lucky dog indeed...


*** Brand Library Park ***

Rating: 3.5 paws

1601 West Mountain Street
Glendale, CA 91201
The main entrance is at the corner of Grand View and Mountain


Leslie Brand was an extremely successful real estate developer who left his mark all over Glendale in the early 1900's (Brand Bl. was built by and self-named after him). From 1902-1904 he built, then moved into the "castle" and property that we know today as Brand Library Park.

A dog could get used to this kind of luxury.

Mr. Brand lived his life to the fullest and while some people of the time questioned his character, he was a renowned dog lover and is actually buried on the property along side his dogs. He also left his property to the city and insisted it "be kept in as good condition as the best public parks and libraries are maintained in Southern California." Anyone that would do those things is alright by this dog...

The park has lots of humans only things to see and do including a library, an art gallery, a recital hall, a sculpture court, a Japanese tea garden, and Brand Studios - a popular place for parties and conferences. 

All that stuff is nice I'm sure, but I'm much more interested in the park itself; 31 acres of grass and trees at the base of the Verdugo Mountains. There are hiking and biking trails, a basketball court, a softball field, a playground, and a children's wading pool. The grass is extremely well maintained and there are many picnic areas where we could stop for a cookie.

The main attraction for hikers and mountain bikers is the Brand Trail, a fire road which climbs steeply for about 3 miles. Its a nice workout and there's not much shade, so get started early before it gets too hot out. On the trail you will find the Brand family cemetery where Mr. and Mrs. Brand and their dogs are buried. There are also a few spur trails and a paved walk around a debris basin for those of you that want something less strenuous to do.

Glendale from the trail above the debris basin

All of these walks start at a trail head that has a poop bag dispenser and the Miss American Green Cross statue, a tribute to an early 1900's ecological society. The statue itself is rather odd looking and has a very colorful history.

Sure its a little creepy, but its all about saving trees and rivers... I think.

Another interesting piece of local history that can be visited by all of us as we roam around the lawn is the Doctor's House Museum and Gazebo. The house was originally built in 1888 on E. Wilson Ave. but was moved to its present location in 1980. 

What a doctor's office looked like in the late 1800s to early 1900s...but where's the vet's?

Brand Library Park, much more than most places, has a little bit of something for everyone. Its a must visit for anyone interested in local history, the arts, or well manicured lawns to roll in. It also has the fanciest dog friendly water fountain I've ever seen...

To drink from anything else would be....uncivilized.

*** Palisades Park ***

Rating: 3 paws

 

Ocean Ave. between Colorado Ave. and San Vicente Bl.

Santa Monica, CA 90404
There is metered parking all along Ocean Ave. but get here early on weekends if you want a space.



In 1892 John P. Jones, one of the founders of Santa Monica, along with Arcadia Bandini de Baker, widow of another one of the city's founders, donated a strip of land which has grown to become one of the legendary landmarks of Los Angeles - Palisades Park in Santa Monica.

A Los Angeles_Santa Monica classic

This 1.6 mile stretch of prime ocean front real estate is a major tourist attraction full of art, history, and colorful characters as well as breathtaking views of the Pacific.

The Santa Monica Pier is across the street too - you will be surrounded by tourists

There are well manicured, tree lined dirt paths that let you walk along the bluffs and enjoy the scenery as well as lots of grass that just begs to be rolled in.

No, I'm not finished yet, but thanks for asking...

You humans will learn a few things too as the park is full of sculptures, war memorials, and a visitor center that incorrectly calls itself the Western terminus of world-famous Route 66.

Its not really the West end of the road - but don't tell the tourists

You weren't expecting a Civil War era cannon at the beach? I want to know why its pointed at the pier...hmmm

Palisades Park is a great place to visit on a hot day. The ocean breezes are refreshing and there is plenty of shade to be found underneath the many beautiful trees. There are also water fountains available so staying cool is no problem here. 

The only bone I have to pick with a park that's so popular with dogs is that there are no poop bag dispensers.

Two more things that L.A. is famous for: The PCH....and traffic.

That's all for this week's adventures in Los Angeles. I hope you visit and enjoy these wonderful parks soon and be sure to check out my website CanineAngeleno.com for more great places to take your humans. 

Click here to see what factors I look at to come up with my park ratings.


See you at the park!

Chloe Canine-Angeleno









Much of the information I've shared in this blog came from the following sources:

The Los Angeles Times

The Glendale Historical Society


All photographs were taken by my pack leader, Jim Gross

Everything else was discovered by getting my paws dirty and the extensive use of my nose.