Feeling Good in Los Angeles: More Nature Means Less Stress
By Tracy Chabala on 01/2/2011 | Read more from Tracy Chabala
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In a city like LA, it is easy to get stressed. Each time you leave your house you face crowded streets of impatient drivers. It can be hard to keep up with the frenetic pace of this city. Popular advice tells us that when we feel anxious or over extended, we should spend time in nature. When we try this technique, it’s relaxing for about ten minutes. Then, we start to remember all the To-Do’s we had forgotten about due to being overly-stressed. Being out in the middle of the wilderness with no Internet access and a list of tasks that is doubling by the minute is not exactly the R and R we were hoping for.
Now, imagine you’re going to get a coffee. You’re walking up a trail lined with elm and maple trees, their branches coiling skyward and their leaves splintering the sun’s rays. A dragonfly zooms past your head, a butterfly flutters near your nose. And, yes, you are on your way to grab a cup of coffee, and you are in Los Angeles.
You are walking up Fern Dell, the beautiful path in Griffith Park just off Los Feliz Blvd, minutes away from the hubbub of the 5 on-ramp. This is not a hike—it’s a brief stroll through nature. (About a five minute stroll.) And greeting you at the end of the trail is a great cup of joe and a place to sit down and do some work.
Trails is a quaint café nestled in the hills of Griffith Park that serves coffee, espresso drinks, teas, and a host of homemade treats, from muffins to quiche. It’s the ultimate pick-me-up, a little gem hidden away from the city chaos, away from screeching cars and honking horns, and the whole Los Angeles scene. And, best of all, you don’t have to travel far to enjoy its magic.
Here, you can sit at a table – or on a tree stump – and sip your coffee while you unwind. It’s a great place to clear your head and catch your breath. And when you’ve had enough of the stillness, you can whip out your laptop and hop on Trails free wi-fi to get some work done, while soaking in the sunlight and fresh air. 
Whenever we get too wound up or stressed, we turn to Trails to relax and remember how important it is to slow down and enjoy whatever moment we’re in. It’s a great way to treat yourself to the joy of living.
The Trails Cafe – MAP
2333 Fern Dell Drive (off Los Feliz Blvd.)
Los Angeles 90068
323-871-2102
Path & Trails Sign photo by Laurie Wheeler.
Waffle/Coffee photo by Mark LeRoy.
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Check out all the extra images from this photoshoot on our Facebook page!
Do you have a favorite place to reconnect with nature or grab a cup of coffee? Leave us a comment and tell us about it!
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Taylor says: 01/4/2011 at 3:45 pm
I love this place! I usually go after I finish hiking at Griffith Park as a reward. And luckily it’s really close to my house.
Laurie {blog editor} says: 01/6/2011 at 2:06 pm
Hi Taylor! We love it too! The baked goods are awesome. Thanks for the comment.