Spirit of Santa Monica DC-3 at the Museum of Flying

      BOUNDARIES: National Blvd., Bundy Dr./Centinela Ave., Palms Blvd., McLaughlin Ave./Barrington Ave. (Note: Certain streets change names along the route.)

      DISTANCE: About 2.5 miles

      DIFFICULTY: Moderate (includes stairway and hills)

      PARKING: Free parking is available at Airport Park.

      This walk begins in the southeast corner of Santa Monica at Airport Park before crossing the border into the neighborhood of Mar Vista to travel up and down the stairs and hills of this pleasant enclave, which is fast becoming another Westside hot spot for both prospective home buyers and interesting new retailers and restaurants.

      Walk Description

      Begin at Airport Park, on the grounds of the Santa Monica Airport. The park, located adjacent to the tarmac, includes a soccer field; a sandy playground; an open, grassy field; and an off-leash dog area. The Museum of Flying and the casual Spitfire Grill are located nearby. It’s a fun place to hang out, especially if you’re interested in watching prop planes (and the occasional private jet) taxiing down the runway for takeoff to the west and coming in for landing from the east.

      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 Mar Vista Recreation Center are on your right, and you’ll pass a series of kinetic-exercise machines located alongside a dirt path, free and available to the frugal and fitness-minded public.

      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.