Guidebook for Los Angeles
Parks & Nature
This hike is halfway between Santa Monica and Malibu. When we have friends come to town, we take them here on the first or second day; from the top, you get amazing views of downtown and a good sense of perspective of the city. There’s something about the rhythm of hiking that starts to slow the mind down a bit and allows you to have more clarity.
This is the kind of place that really only locals know. You can walk for 20, 30 minutes and not see another person. Aim for sunrise or sunset to appreciate the view and avoid the heat.
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Los Leones Canyon Trailhead
510 Los Liones DrThis hike is halfway between Santa Monica and Malibu. When we have friends come to town, we take them here on the first or second day; from the top, you get amazing views of downtown and a good sense of perspective of the city. There’s something about the rhythm of hiking that starts to slow the mind down a bit and allows you to have more clarity.
This is the kind of place that really only locals know. You can walk for 20, 30 minutes and not see another person. Aim for sunrise or sunset to appreciate the view and avoid the heat.
Surfing is directly connected to meditation; there’s a sense of flow and ease and being present. When you’re surrounded by dolphins and pelicans and all these amazing creatures, you can’t help but step out from mundane everyday thinking. And then, if you are lucky enough to get up on a wave, your mind can’t wander. There is only the present moment.
I recommend aiming for the beach fronting the Ocean Park neighborhood. It's in the middle of Santa Monica, so it’s easy to get to. It’s family-friendly, there are showers, you can park right next to the beach, and you can surf 365 days of the year. My favorite time is 5:30 or 6 in the morning, when you can watch the sunrise.
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Παραλία Santa Monica State
Surfing is directly connected to meditation; there’s a sense of flow and ease and being present. When you’re surrounded by dolphins and pelicans and all these amazing creatures, you can’t help but step out from mundane everyday thinking. And then, if you are lucky enough to get up on a wave, your mind can’t wander. There is only the present moment.
I recommend aiming for the beach fronting the Ocean Park neighborhood. It's in the middle of Santa Monica, so it’s easy to get to. It’s family-friendly, there are showers, you can park right next to the beach, and you can surf 365 days of the year. My favorite time is 5:30 or 6 in the morning, when you can watch the sunrise.
Arts & Culture
To be outside with 10,000 other people sitting under the stars enjoying music, I mean, what an amazing thing. Meditation is often seen as a soloist activity, something you do on your own. But for me life is not separate from meditation, and the social component is really important.
Go an hour before the show, take a picnic with some drinks — you’re allowed to drink alcohol at the Bowl — and sit and chat about life with friends. But go early and leave early, the traffic is mayhem.
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Hollywood Bowl
2301 Hollywood Bowl RdTo be outside with 10,000 other people sitting under the stars enjoying music, I mean, what an amazing thing. Meditation is often seen as a soloist activity, something you do on your own. But for me life is not separate from meditation, and the social component is really important.
Go an hour before the show, take a picnic with some drinks — you’re allowed to drink alcohol at the Bowl — and sit and chat about life with friends. But go early and leave early, the traffic is mayhem.
Entertainment & Activities
There’s a swimming pool really close to Santa Monica for those people that don’t really want to be in the sand and in the ocean. It’s a great family spot for finding some parental headspace. This is a great place to spend the afternoon and watch the sunset. As the sun falls away, we're normally left with a greater sense of ease and peace of mind.
You can turn up with nothing: they dish out sunscreen and towels, and there are chairs and umbrellas. Sometimes it’s nice to go somewhere and know that you don’t have to think about anything.
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Annenberg Community Beach House
415 Pacific Coast HwyThere’s a swimming pool really close to Santa Monica for those people that don’t really want to be in the sand and in the ocean. It’s a great family spot for finding some parental headspace. This is a great place to spend the afternoon and watch the sunset. As the sun falls away, we're normally left with a greater sense of ease and peace of mind.
You can turn up with nothing: they dish out sunscreen and towels, and there are chairs and umbrellas. Sometimes it’s nice to go somewhere and know that you don’t have to think about anything.
Sightseeing
For people looking for peace and quiet and interested in meditation, I recommend Ojai, an hour or so north of the city by car. At a place called Meditation Mount, you’ll get the best view of the sunset. It’s an amazing way to end a day. It’s hard to imagine a better place to meditate.
Check out the Krishnamurti Retreat Center, too. You can either do your own retreat, or you can be part of a retreat.
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Meditation Mount
10340 Reeves RdFor people looking for peace and quiet and interested in meditation, I recommend Ojai, an hour or so north of the city by car. At a place called Meditation Mount, you’ll get the best view of the sunset. It’s an amazing way to end a day. It’s hard to imagine a better place to meditate.
Check out the Krishnamurti Retreat Center, too. You can either do your own retreat, or you can be part of a retreat.
Food Scene
I love Beaming because it’s all high-quality organic superfoods, but it doesn't feel like you're having to chew your way through endless kale salads. It’s a really important part of the mindfulness process to kind of refuel and replenish the body. You can meditate all day long, but if you’re eating unhealthy foods, your mind will feel agitated.
I like to take 5 minutes out between work and home and have a juice. I’ll either have the Radiant, a heavy green juice with a dash of pear. Or the Knocked Up smoothie, which sounds kind of weird but it tastes amazing. My wife tried it before we had our little one and…it worked.
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Beaming Organic Superfood Cafe
1426 Montana AveI love Beaming because it’s all high-quality organic superfoods, but it doesn't feel like you're having to chew your way through endless kale salads. It’s a really important part of the mindfulness process to kind of refuel and replenish the body. You can meditate all day long, but if you’re eating unhealthy foods, your mind will feel agitated.
I like to take 5 minutes out between work and home and have a juice. I’ll either have the Radiant, a heavy green juice with a dash of pear. Or the Knocked Up smoothie, which sounds kind of weird but it tastes amazing. My wife tried it before we had our little one and…it worked.