Echo-friendly

There's always something new going on in Echo Park, but there's also a way to enjoy some good old-fashioned fun. Strap on a life jacket and find a co-pilot for an afternoon of pedal boating on Echo Park Lake. It's easy to make a couple of laps in a short amount of time, but what's the rush? Linger awhile to admire clusters of colorful water lilies and lotuses right under your nose. Say hello to the groups of turtles who bop their heads up as they swim by, and watch as ducks hitch a ride in your wake. If it's hot, circle the fountain in the center of the lake for a refreshing spritz. Downtown's buildings gleam in the distance. When you've finished out your rental, stop in for an Intelligentsia iced latte or a honey lavender lemonade from Square One at the Boathouse, an airy café adjacent to the Islamorada boat rentals.

TIP: Go retro for a good cause. Round out your afternoon with a trip to nearby 826LA. Dave Eggers's nonprofit tutoring organization is a Time Travel Mart storefront on Sunset Boulevard. Peruse silly time travel essentials, like farm fresh dinosaur eggs, robot milk, and VHS tapes.

Echo Park Pedal Boats $10 per person, per hour. Echo Park is dog-friendly and so is the café. No dogs on pedal boats.