Good morning and welcome to the Essential California newsletter. Today is Saturday, June 22nd. Here’s what you need to know to start your weekend off right.
Newsletter
You are reading the Essential California Newsletter.
Our reporters bring you the most important news, features and recommendations of the day.
Please enter your e-mail address
sign up
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
What to do in LA this summer
The first day of summer was Thursday, which meant hello more sunshine and warmer temperatures.
Cool nights with temperatures in the 50s will soon be a thing of the past. Get ready for highs in the mid to upper 80s during the day and lows in the mid to upper 60s at night.
When the weather gets warmer, it’s tempting to sit in front of a portable air conditioner every day until it cools down again, but that’s neither practical nor economical, so instead I look for activities to do around Los Angeles.
Luckily for Los Angeles residents, my colleague Christopher Reynolds has compiled a list of 24 must-do activities in Los Angeles this summer, outdoorsy or indoors, free or paid, old or new, all located within Los Angeles or within a short day trip.
Here are five highlights from Christopher’s summary.
Rowing a swan boat on Echo Park Lake
(Luis Cinco/Los Angeles Times)
Beat the heat with a swan boat ride in Echo Park. The swans are propelled by foot, but the slow pace makes it easy to paddle. You can go for a daytime ride around the lake or take a night ride when the swans light up.
Small boats can accommodate two adults and two children under the age of 10. Larger boats can accommodate up to five people. Hours are 9am to 11pm daily through September 2nd, and rental rates are $12 per hour per adult and $7 per hour for those under 18.
Gaze into space and the skyline from Griffith Observatory
(Wally Scalisi/Los Angeles Times)
Take a hike or drive to Griffith Observatory, one of Los Angeles’ most famous landmarks and the architectural star of 4,210-acre Griffith Park, with its green copper dome and breathtaking views of the Hollywood sign and James Dean bust.
The observatory offers public telescopes and shows in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium (32-35 minutes each, $6-10 per person), as well as a variety of free indoor exhibits and presentations in the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater. The observatory is closed on Mondays.
Parking can be hard to find and expensive ($10 per hour), so Christopher recommends hiking up from the Greek Theatre or Ferndale.
Listen to music under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl
(Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times)
Enjoy a picnic before or during a show at the Hollywood Bowl this summer, where the summer lineup includes performances by the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Chris Stapleton, The Roots, Harry Connick Jr., Patti LaBelle, Chaka Khan and more.
One of the things I love about the Hollywood Bowl is that you can bring your own food and drinks to the show. Depending on the show, you may even be able to bring your own beer and wine. Make sure you find out in advance what you can and can’t bring.
Experience island life on Catalina Island
(Allen J. Schaven/Los Angeles Times)
Venture out of Hawaii this summer and enjoy an island getaway on Catalina Island. The ferry ride takes about an hour, and you might even spot some playful dolphins along the way. Ferry fares for adults range from $92 to $96 round-trip from Long Beach, San Pedro, or Dana Point to Avalon on the Catalina Express.
With so many options, including submarine tours, snorkelling, mini golf, cycling and the Catalina Zipline Eco Tour that soars above the eucalyptus treetops, you’ll want to consider making a weekend out of it – there’s more to do than you can handle in a day.
Retreat to Secluded Jalama Beach County Park
(Allen J. Schaven/Los Angeles Times)
If you’re looking for a secluded vacation destination, Jalama Beach is just the place for you. Jalama Beach is secluded at the end of a scenic 14-mile country road that turns west from Highway 1, which branches off from US 101 at Gaviota Pass near Lompoc in Santa Barbara County.
At the end of Jalama Road, there’s a 107-site campground along the beach with seven rental cabins, as well as the Jalama Beach Store, where Jalama Burger is, as Christopher writes, “one of Santa Barbara County’s major assets.”
This week’s biggest news
President Biden and former President Trump will face off in the first debate of this presidential campaign on CNN on Thursday.
(Associated Press)
Politics
Stabbing incident at USC sorority house
Sports
Other big news
Donald Sutherland, the dashing star of “MASH,” “Normal People,” and “The Hunger Games,” dies at 88. Disney begs Los Angeles residents to relocate to Florida for a proposed campus. Residents complied, but the plan was halted and is now in litigation. Doctors say ARIA, a deadly side effect of Alzheimer’s medication, is hidden by a “soothing acronym.” Why the family behind this iconic Arby’s finally decided to close the doors. Willie Mays, known for “The Catch” and considered by many to be the greatest player in baseball, dies at 93. Forget graffiti. Los Angeles’ most notorious skyscraper has a much bigger problem. An Orange County bishop was so enraged by the email that he sued a parishioner for libel. The cost? Millions of dollars. An Los Angeles teenager got a second chance from Gascón after a murder. He’s now accused of a new murder. Popular Los Angeles bar Molly Malone’s Irish Pub closes after fire; ‘Original hippie heritage’ Rainbow Family Gathering returns to Northern California; Not everyone is feeling the love; California’s employment picture brightened in May, with unemployment rate dropping to first time in months.
Get unlimited access to the Los Angeles Times. Subscribe here.
Column 1
Column One is home to The Times’ long-form articles and stories. We’re showcasing this week’s best stories.
(Illustration by Jim Cook/Los Angeles Times)
A dog rescue group has become a favorite of Hollywood celebrities, but are the dogs really “rescued”? The little-known Wagmore Pets has made a name for itself by relinquishing dogs to stars like Ellen DeGeneres and Sandra Bullock. The question? In addition to the expected mutts, Wagmore seems to have a lot of puppies, purebreds, and popular doodle mixes that you won’t always find in a shelter.
Other recommended articles
How can we make this newsletter more helpful? Send your thoughts to [email protected].
On the weekend
Go out
Stay at
How much of the news have you been following this week? Take our quiz
(Photos by Times staff and news agencies)
Guess which Los Angeles sports teams got snazzy new uniforms? Plus, we’ve got 9 questions from our weekly news quiz.
Have a great weekend! Yours, The Essential California Team
Kevinisha Walker, Multiplatform Editor
Christian Orozco, Assistant Editor
Check out the top stories, topics and latest coverage at latimes.com.