Known for being L.A.’s oldest public park, the 575-acre Elysian Park offers a surprising getaway in the heart of the city, with stunning views from Dodger Stadium and Downtown L.A. to the Hollywood Hills and the Valley. The popular Portola Trail is named for Don Gaspar de Portola, the Spanish soldier, explorer and founder of San Diego and Monterey. The historical marker at the trailhead commemorates the site where Portola camped near the Los Angeles River. A highlight of this hike is Angel’s Point and the Grace E. Simons Memorial Sculpture, named for the activist who worked to protect Elysian Park from developers. Elysian Park hosted the shooting part of the Modern Pentathlon at the 1932 Summer Olympics – today, early morning visitors might hear gunshots ringing from officers training at the adjacent Police Academy.