Skip to main content

Juan Bautista De Anza Trail - Lake Balboa

Juan Bautista De Anza Trail
Lake Balboa

I feel lucky to have so many walking and biking trails within walking distance of where I live. I usually cycle past the Juan Bautista trail head, reminding myself to walk it soon, as it is so lovely. Even though it isn't quite so warm yet, I highly recommend walking / running the flat, dirt trail early in the morning or later in the evening. I started my trek at about 9 am, and it was already pretty warm. The trail, (located off of Balboa Ave., between Victory Blvd. and Burbank Blvd), runs alongside the very green and beautifully manicured Woodley Lakes Golf Course the entire duration. Keep an eye out for a gaggle of geese or two, that have made the golf course their favorite hang out. Or mated pairs of herons tending to their rather noisy chicks up in the trees. I was lucky to spot them flying around each other yesterday. Their babies sound similar to the wild parrots nesting in the trees along my street. Yes, I said parrots. Some believe they most likely reproduced and remained in the area after being released from Busch Gardens Theme Park, at the Anheuser - Busch Brewery, in Van Nuys. I'll never forget the first time I heard them in my neighborhood. They sounded like baby Pterodactyls, and were very loud! 

From 1966 to 1979 Busch Gardens Theme Park was a major tourist attraction, with bird shows, boat rides, a monorail tour of the brewery with free beer, a flume ride, and bird sanctuary. Having grown up in the San Fernando Valley I feel disappointed I never got a chance to see it. I was six years old when it closed down to make way for a brewery expansion. I'm going to ask my father on Sunday if he's ever heard of the Theme Park, or perhaps visited with his parents or my mother. Wouldn't that be a hoot! The following are pictures of Busch Gardens in it's glory days.





But I digress. At the halfway mark of the trail, you will come across a fork in the road. Take the right fork to continue along the dirt path. You will finally be afforded some shade, and a lot more trees and greenery. Enjoy the lovely field of yellow wild flowers to your left, and sprinkling of violet and white wild flowers as you continue on. The trail ends at the very fun outdoor gym! Isn't that wonderful?! How often will you ever encounter an outdoor gym, right? Most people I've told had no idea it existed. So, do yourself a favor and take the time to play around (I mean work out, lol) on the equipment. It's just fun!  

At this point you can either turn around and head back the way you came (suggested for the casual day tripper), or exit out the gate and continue walking along the bike trail / walking path. It will take you back where you started. Please enjoy the photos from the trail, and happy trekking! job description 





 



Comments

  1. HelenMay 22, 2022 at 2:56 PM

    The pictures are great! So are your descriptions of the trail at Balboa Park. And, I remember going on a tour via tram, of Busch Gardens.
    It was lots of fun seeing how they made their beer
    Thank you for a really good article.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. D.M.A in the houseJuly 6, 2022 at 7:58 PM

      Thanks! I'm so jealous you got to see Busch Gardens 😊

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ocean Trails Reserve - Rancho Palos Verdes (Ocean views galore)

Ocean Trails Reserve - Palos Verdes                 By: Dahlia Acevedo Where has this Ocean trail been all my life?! I viewed several posts about the place, as well as photographs, which did not do this place justice at all! We are talking 360 beautiful views of the golf course (which runs parallel to the trail at first), gorgeous homes in the distance, the mountains, as well as constant ocean views. Let me just take a moment to comment on the color of the ocean (really colors), A deep blue with turquoise pools, crystal clear in spots, exposing the algae below (coastline). There are four paths, two that lead down to the beach area, which is completely covered in small, grayish white rocks. Making it totally unique and picturesque. I've never seen anything like it. I've  posted a picture of the awesome looking zig zag trail leading down to the beach. Once you descend, you will see the bottom half of the cliffs are covered in rolling green, gra...
Post a Comment
Read more

Color Street Nail Polish Strips

I wasn't expecting to like Color Street Nail polish strips as much as I do. If you've never heard of Color Street, they consist of real nail polish in a dry strip form. They are long lasting, durable, and come in  many beautiful and fun designs, for all seasons. For a long period of time I couldn't live without going to the salon once every three weeks to a month, to get my nails done. At first I sported acrylics, then switched to gel nails. I was getting both a manicure and pedicure, throwing a lot of money away. Sure, I felt I deserved it, I work hard and wanted to pamper myself. Plus, I felt more feminine and attractive. Unfortunately my polish would start to chip off a couple days later, driving me absolutely batty! I felt the need to rush back to the salon to have them repair a nail or two, which would cost even more money. I finally just grew tired of it and stopped going to the salon. I felt happy, like I was saving money. Fast forward several years later, and I was ...
2 comments
Read more

Outdoor Fun For The Whole Family: Bike Riding and Swan Boat Rentals, Lake Balboa (Encino) and Echo Lake (Los Angeles)

Lake Balboa, encino Echo lake, los angeles Did you know there are plenty of bike paths leading to and from Lake Balboa park? And the best part? You don't need to own a bike to enjoy them. This is my second favorite time of the year, Fall, when the trees are beginning to change color. Brilliant orange, red and yellow colors grace the landscape. The weather is perfect, sunny, with a slight breeze (most of the time). Feel like bike riding now?, Inside the park resides "Wheel Fun Rentals". No reservation is required, and you are free to ride outside of the park. My favorite bike path is the one that takes you around the outside of the park, in a complete circle. It affords you beautiful views of the golf course, hills, mountains, and tree lined streets. (It is not for the faint of heart, just a warning).  The second best bike route takes you around half the inside of the park, affording you views of the lake, shimmering bright blue in the sunlight. It takes you into the more ...
2 comments
Read more