Jungle Bells

Spotting bling on the red carpet? So cliché. Spotting bling in the urban sprawl of downtown LA? Haute damn! There’s no shortage of holiday spirit on a 4-mile urban loop hike. Get off the metro at Union Station (or pay to park somewhere) and start your holiday hike at El Pueblo de Los Angeles. Grab a champurrado (hot chocolate atole) and begin strolling around Olvera Street, host of Las Posadas, a 600-year-old traditional Christmas procession. Head south on Main Street, passing City Hall and Little Tokyo, reaching the Old Bank District after nearly a mile, where classic icicle sheets drape over this historic street.

One block south, take a right onto 5th and walk half a mile to reach Pershing Square—the tour de force of holiday lights in downtown with its variety of colorful artistic light displays. It wouldn’t be LA without decorated palm trees and an ice skating rink surrounded by the city skyline. To get an amazing view of this winter wonderland, head next door to the rooftop bar Perch before continuing one more block on 5th to turn north on Grand Avenue. At Grand and 4th you’ll reach California Plaza, home to Nutcracker Village—filled with Christmas and Chanukah symbols. Continue north, passing The Broad and Walt Disney Concert Hall before running into Grand Park. Walk east through the green space, admiring both traditional and modern tree-lighting displays, as well as the beautifully illuminated fountain offering brief holiday light shows. At the end of the park, take Spring Street north to Paseo Luis Olivares, leading you back to El Pueblo de Los Angeles.

TIP: Head to Clifton’s Cafeteria just southeast of Pershing Square, an elaborately decorated three-story restaurant/bar with a massive redwood replica as its centerpiece. Grab a holiday drink here.

To get to Union Station, take US 101 to the Alameda St./Union Station exit north. Follow signs for parking on your immediate right after exiting. Consider taking the metro! Dog-friendly!