Valley dwellers don't have to drive over the hill to have a lakeside picnic or cruise around that lake in a pedal boat that looks like a swan. Pets are ok here (provided they’re on a leash) and there are picnic tables, as well as lots of spots for a more traditional-style, on-the-grass picnic.

With shaded play areas for the kids, covered and uncovered picnic areas (no reservations needed), and plenty of trees, this park has it all. The park is located in a residential area, giving it a neighborhood-park vibe, and does not allow bounce houses.

Picnic benches and grills and old animal cages to explore: everything needed for a memorable outdoor eating experience. This corner of Griffith Park could be a pre-hike or post-hike snack spot, or simply a good place to lounge. Good driving and zoo-locating directions can be found here.

How about a picnic in the shadow of architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House? There’s plenty of grass to put down a blanket at this popular East Hollywood park. If you’re looking for a quiet picnic at dusk, take note: Friday nights through August are extra busy, thanks to a very popular wine tasting series.

At the grassy, shaded picnic area at Debs Park, there is always an ice cream truck in the parking lot (at least one!) and there are 20 barbecues on-site. If that’s not a recipe for summer fun, what is?

Elysian Park is full of good spots to picnic, but this part of the park is also an arboretum, containing more than 100 different types of rare trees, many of which "are the oldest and largest of their kind in California and even the United States."

This flat, grassy park has plenty of space for throwing down a blanket. Then, follow that picnic up with some lawn bowling—this park has it.

This spot is bustling almost all the time, and with good reason. The tall trees and waterfront picnicking opportunities make this a great outdoor eating spot. Plus, pedal boats!

Chinatown’s 34-acre Los Angeles State Historic Park has new pathways, bathrooms, and picnic areas thanks to a renovation that was completed in 2017. For now, this might be a better spot for an early morning or evening picnic, since all the newly planted trees don't provide a ton of shade.

True to its name, Vista Hermosa offers a beautiful view. The park somehow manages to make visitors feel like they’re somewhere else, away from it all, despite the DTLA skyline clearly in sight. The park has rolling hills, picnic tables, a giant snake sculpture for the kids to climb, and little forested walking paths.

Two large playgrounds mean outdoor eaters with children can either get the kids good and tired before, after, or during the outing. Basketball courts and croquet greens are available and drop-in only, so no need to fuss with reservations.

Downtown’s favorite park offers a playground and plenty of scenic urban space. Close to public transit, food trucks, and even a Starbucks, it's great for when you want to have a picnic that doesn't require much planning to pull off.

The area around the Rose Garden at Exposition Park has lots of good places to just plop down for a picnic among the flowers. If full sun is not desired, there are large, mature trees between Exposition Boulevard and the garden, so eat in the shade and then slap on the sunblock for a walk through the flowers.

This 401-acre hilltop park on La Cienega has trails, a Japanese garden, soccer fields, and plenty of spots for "passive recreation" (aka eating outdoors). The park has 100 picnic tables and 60 barbecue grills scattered throughout.

Tongva Park in Santa Monica was designed by the same people who did New York’s High Line—James Corner Field Operations—but it has its own kind of cool glamour. The six-plus-acre park has picnic tables, along with "winding walkways, rolling hills, expansive lawns ... lots of play areas for kids," and beachy breezes.