Los Angeles State Historic Park

Los Angeles State Historic Park is 32 acres of open lawn on the north edge of downtown, at 1245 N Spring St, right beside Chinatown. California State Parks runs it. The land was Southern Pacific's River Station, where trains arrived from 1875 on, and rows of deer grass now trace the vanished tracks. Stand on the lawn and the downtown skyline sits straight ahead, with the Metro tracks on raised rails along the south side of the park and the old Capitol Milling building at the southern end.

It's a park first, so most days mean joggers and leashed dogs. Festivals and concerts take over the lawn on event weekends, and that's when the usual park rules give way to the promoter's. The park's own FAQ sends concertgoers to the event host for anything about what you can bring, so read the listing before you pack. Picnic spots are first come, first served. There are no grills, because of fire risk, and drones are banned. Restrooms are spread through the park, all the pathways are accessible, and the free "ParksWIFI" network works on site.

The park itself opens daily at 8 AM and closes at sunset. The main lot at 1501 N Spring St charges $2 an hour, capped at $8 a day, with a $7 flat rate for seniors and $4 for disabled parking (free with a placard). Free street parking exists nearby, but the park warns about the anti-gridlock zones from 4 to 6 PM. Metro's Chinatown station is next door on the Gold Line, now the A Line, and Union Station is about a mile away. Cargo Snack Shack, by the main entrance, does burgers and cocktails.