Amidst the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles, there lies a hidden gem tucked away from it all in Echo Park, a neighborhood in the east-central region bordered by Silver Lake. This historic and diverse community offers gorgeous views of the Downtown Los Angeles skyline and a plethora of unique ways to keep busy. Whether you’re a local to the area or planning an upcoming visit, we’re bringing you a perfectly planned day in the form of 5 things you can do to take full advantage of this exciting environment!

1. Swan Paddle Boat Rental

Address: 751 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026

No visit to Echo Park is complete without visiting Echo Lake to take a ride in one of their iconic swan paddle boats. With boats that will fit anywhere between 2 to 5 people, it is an activity suitable for a family outing or a romantic date. Your trusty swan is equipped with a Bimini top for sunshade, and you’ll even be able to bring food and drinks aboard. Boat reservations are allotted in one-hour time windows between the hours of 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM all week, so be sure to reserve ahead of time to save the hassle upon arriving.

The LA Girl Tip: Opt for a nighttime ride to experience the lake illuminated by LED lights from the swan boats!

2. Echo Park Time Travel Mart 

Address: 1714 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Fancy a travel through time? Check out the Echo Park Time Travel Mart, a market that takes customers on a journey through the past, present, and future operating between the hours of 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM all week. Selling a variety of curious goods such as an anti-cloning fluid, time travel sickness pills, robot milk, and a portable wormhole, don’t be surprised if you end up spending hours roaming around the eclectic aisles! The quirky mart is also the storefront to 826LA, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting Los Angeles students by fostering creative and expository writing skills. All proceeds from sales go toward helping keep 826LA’s program free for all students!

3. Get Creative at Pirate Studios

Need to find a place to create the next Billboard 100 hit? Pirate Studios in Silver Lake has 24 professionally equipped studios to record, mix, and fine tune your latest track. Anyone from beginners to advanced professionals can mix, play, and create music in their very own space. Pirate Studios also has DJ equipment, rehearsal space, and podcast studios to make you feel like the real deal. Best of all, there’s 24/7 self-service accessibility. All you need to enter the studios is a code… yup it’s that easy.

4. Unwind at Stories Books & Cafe

Address: 1716 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

After checking out the Echo Park Time Travel Mart, head next door (literally, next door!) to Stories Books & Cafe, a quaint independent book store with an attached cafe offering coffees, teas, and brunch items. Open from 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM all week, it is the perfect place to unwind and relax with your favorite book, or to hunker down and get some work done in their outdoor patio. Throughout the month, they hold a variety of exciting events featuring book launches and live readings from reputable authors, so be sure to check out their website for the latest upcoming happenings!

5. Dinner at Bacetti Trattoria

Address: 1509 Echo Park Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90026

After a full on day exploring the area, head to Bacetti Trattoria, a stylish newly opened Italian hot spot! Converted into a beautiful open restaurant from a once vintage building, the trattoria receives consistent praise from food critics with standout pasta dishes such as the Gnocchi alla Romana and the Tonnarelli alla Carbonara, an expansive and impressive wine list, and mouthwatering desserts like the Homemade Flourless Orange-Almond Cake. Trust us, this is any foodie’s dream. Open for dinner from 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM Tuesdays to Sundays, it is advisable to make reservations via Resy in advance!

6. Dessert at Yoga-Urt

Address: 2211 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

There’s only one true way to end your perfect day in Echo Park, and that is to visit Yoga-Urt for some delicious organic, vegan, gluten-free, soy-free, and kosher dessert. Open all week from 1:00 PM – 10:30 PM, they have over 30 rotating seasonal flavors such as the Classic Salted Caramel Zen and the Caramel Apple Abundance, which is perfect for Fall! This creamy, dreamy soft-serve will have you guessing if it’s actually dairy-free which trust us, it is! They offer the most insane topping selections featuring chocolate brownie and white cake chunks, fresh fruit, and hard shell drizzles. Not a fan of soft-serve? No problem! Yoga-Urt offers smoothies, pies, and milkshakes to honor that sweet tooth of yours.