Echo Park Lake

After a massive makeover a few years back, the Eastside’s historic Echo Park Lake finally became a family-friendly destination worthy of its bold backdrop: the Downtown skyline amid the lotus flower blooms and fountains. The lake has been around since 1860—it was once used as a drinking water reservoir, and later as a recreational park with canoes and fishing. Today, you can push your way through the lake in a pedal boat (including a swan boat) or stroll around the path that hugs its borders. Either way, make sure to stop at the revived boathouse (and its breakfast pit stop Beacon) and the Lady of the Lake statue.