Slide on Down

Glass-bottom observation decks were supposed to be all the rage ... that is until California’s tallest building—the US Bank Tower—upped the ante by cashing in on an open-air observation deck featuring a forty-five-foot-long glass slide. That’s right … a glass slide for you to ride—1,000 feet above the ground. There’s a fee to do this (it’s a bank tower, after all), and you can take it in as part of a 2.5-mile round-trip arts and culture walk through downtown LA, where you’ll find plenty to see, including for free—like the relatively unknown observation deck on the 27th floor of City Hall. Views from up here span the downtown skyline and reach from the Palos Verdes Peninsula to the San Gabriels.

Next, head to the Spring Street exit and make a left, heading southwest for four blocks, passing Spring Street Park, to 5th Street. (At the intersection, pop into The Last Bookstore for what might not be the last of its kind, but which is certainly the most magnificent). Walking northwest along 5th, just past Grand Avenue, you’ll reach the US Bank Tower, home to the newest, coolest, and tallest open-air observation deck in the state.

It’s $25 to access the deck and another $8 to to ride this high slide, but the panoramic views are priceless. Afterwards, take Grand Avenue northeast, passing the MOCA and the Broad, two of LA’s hottest art museums, as well as Walt Disney Concert Hall, which has its own secret observation deck and garden in the back—and it’s worth checking out. Continue on until you reach Grand Park and turn right, heading past the serene fountains down the stairs, back to City Hall.

To get to LA City Hall, from the 101 N, take the Alameda St/Union Station exit. Go past Alameda St. and then in three blocks turn left onto Spring St. From the 101 S, take the Aliso St. exit and then turn right onto Spring St. City Hall will be on your immediate left as you look for street parking (consider taking the metro to the Grand Park or Pershing Square stops). City Hall pedestrian entrance is on Main St. The fee to access the US Bank Tower observation deck is $25, and it’s $8 for the slide. No dogs in buildings.