In times like these, it can feel like you’re carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders and living in one of its most expensive cities can be pretty isolating. When you wanna get away from it all or simply take a break, here’s a list of places to help you find your zen in these troubling times.
Read A Book in your Happy Place
Grab a novel from your favorite local LA bookshop and find your safe haven. When looking for quiet in our bustling loud city, Barnsdall Art Park in Los Feliz is the perfect spot. With plenty of free parking, and a view that seems to go on forever, Barnsdall somehow remains hidden from the noise of the busy streets below. Bring a picnic lunch and your book of choice and find time alone to refresh and recharge.
Circle Park on Beverly Drive is another lovely place to unwind. It’s a pocket of a park that boasts free street parking in a quaint neighborhood just south of Beverly Hills. Or order up an ocean view with your green grass in Palisades Park. While parking on the West Side can be tricky, it’s well worth it if you’re able to stroll along the promenade and stop for a bite and a drink as you finish your relaxing day in nature!
Take a Spa Day!
Koreatown hosts a multitude of wonderfully affordable spas where you’re sure to be pampered from top to bottom. The most affordable and most popular spot is Wi Spa; where a day pass is just $30 or waived completely if you purchase a treatment over $150. With multiple hot and cold pools, wet and dry saunas, the peace of the multiple relaxation saunas, and even a delicious cafe to satiate your hunger, Wi Spa is the perfect escape anytime.
Very close by, and a little bit more under the radar, is the lovely Crystal Spa. Day passes are $30 and only $20 if you arrive before 8:30AM (early morning discount!). They even offer packages for those who enjoy going monthly and wish to save a little cash. With gorgeous amenities and nine rooms to indulge in, Crystal Spa has fewer crowds and a slightly larger space to clear your mind.
Sweat it out in a Personal Sauna!
You work out and put time into perfecting your body, but do you take time to heal and restore your body? Luckily, Sweatheory is here to save the day. Wellness shots and an hour in a personal sauna will brighten your day in an instant. Each sauna is built with untreated cedar wood and non-toxic materials, ensuring that your time is spent rejuvenating the most important person in your life, you. With a wellness shot bar and crystal and reiki healing sessions available, you’ll be living your best life in style as you align your chakras to their highest vibration.
Treat Yourself To A Delicious Snack
Wine and cheese? Pastries and desserts? Name your Achilles heel of delectable edibles and get to snacking. Bon Vivant Market & Cafe located in Atwater Village can satisfy your desire for a personally curated cheese board with their handy cheesemonger, Patrick.
Looking to satisfy that sweet tooth? Village Bakery and Cafe located in Atwater Village has all the pastries, including vegan and gluten free. My personal favorites include their Rosemary & Almond Cake, Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins, and of COURSE their perfectly themed macarons. With a full breakfast and lunch menu, what more is there?
Take a Beach Day; or just go be near water.
Everyone needs to take themselves to the ocean every once in a while. Yes, it may be an hour away, but it’s also only an hour away. Take a moment, feel the sun on your skin, and smell the salt in the air as you relax and breathe deeply. Malibu Beach of course is stunning for its sunsets, but if you’re looking for a slightly less crowded time in the sand, Zuma Beach truly shines.
Can’t make it to the West Side? The Silverlake Reservoir and the Hollywood Reservoir make for perfect beginner walks in tiny little areas around town that are sure to transport you far away from all of your worries and troubles.
