NOTE: You may wish to use the MapQuest site for maps and directions to the starting point of walks. Click here for Mapquest.  Another choice is to use Yahoo maps. Click here for Yahoo Maps

For all of the walks listed, a special link (“Click here for map”) is provided that uses Mapquest to show a map of the area where the walk starts. When you see the map you can then choose  ‘Directions: To’, and enter your home address to get exact driving directions from your address to the starting point of the walk. Mapquest will retain your address so you can access it in the future. IMPORTANT: After you use the Mapquest site, click on Back to return to Footloose.  Some walks will also have a “Click here for photo” link. Click on Back to return to Footloose.

Walks in April 2008

Walks in May 2008

Walks in June 2008

.SATURDAY APRIL 5, 2008 – SHERMAN OAKS

Meet in the Food Court of the Fashion Square Shopping Mall, 14000 Riverside Drive, Sherman Oaks (Thomas [LA] p. 562, B4). Click here for map.

From the Ventura Freeway (101) in either direction, exit at Woodman. Go north to Riverside Drive (less than one block) and turn left.  Enter the parking lot about half way between Woodman and Hazeltine and park on the second level.  If you enter the mall through the large double doors, you will be at the food court.  Coffee and bathrooms are available here.  If you prefer to wait outdoors, wait in front of the double doors.

We will have a very pleasant walk in the Sherman Oaks area and then return to Fashion Square for lunch.

Rain cancels.  For more information, call Stephanie at (818) 787-0501.

SATURDAY, APRIL 12, 2008 – 9:00 AM – BRAND LIBRARY, GLENDALE

Meet in the parking lot of Brand Library, near the restrooms. 1601 West Mountain St, Glendale 91201 (Thomas [LA] p. 534, B7.) Click here for map.

From the 5 Freeway in either direction, exit on Western and go north (toward the mountains) to Mountain Avenue.  Turn right on Mountain and the quick left into the Brand Library parking lot.

We will spend a few minutes viewing the garden and the historic doctor’s home from the outside (It is closed on Saturdays). We will then walk on Mountain Avenue past some lovely homes and continue to Kenneth Village and then back to the Brand Library.  The total walk will be about three miles.

We will then get back into our cars and go back to Kenneth Village and have lunch at Georges Italiana Restaurant.  Georges opens at 11:00 AM.  Parking will be on the street.

Rain cancels.  For more information, call Lorna at (661) 299-1250.

SATURDAY, APRIL 19, 2008– 9:00 AM – SEPULVEDA BASIN WILDLIFE PRESERVE

Meet in the parking lot of the Wildlife Preserve (Thomas [LA] p.531, G7).  The address is 6335 Woodley Avenue, Van Nuys 91406. Click here for map.

From the 405 Freeway in either direction, exit on Victory Blvd.  Go West on Victory for about 1.5 miles and turn south (left) on Woodley for just under a mile and keep your eyes peeled for a driveway marked with a Japanese-styled, blue-tiled, buff colored sign on your left bearing the words: “Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant/Japanese Garden.”  Turn into this driveway, bear to the right, and take the first driveway branch to the right.  There is no sign here, but the driveway is paved.  Go past the cricket fields to the end of the driveway, where you will find plenty of parking and rest rooms.

 The Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve is bounded on the north by Victory Blvd., on the south by Burbank Blvd., on the west by Woodley Avenue, and on the east by the 405 Freeway. 

Ringed by mountains, rivers and streams, the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve is a haven of rest for wildlife and humans alike, a welcome oasis within an urban setting. It is here where the visitor of today can get a sense of what this part of the San Fernando Valley might have been like before agriculture and urban settlement forever changed the Valley floor.

 Rain cancels.  For more information, call Annette at (818) 762-1401

SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2008 -- 9:00 AM – No walk.

SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2008 – 9:00 AM – LA CRESCENTA, BILL & NORMA, AND STONE HOUSES TOO

Meet Rosie at the home of Bill and Norma Bowman, 2404 Cross St, La Crescenta 91214. Click here for map.

From the I-210 (Foothill) Fwy in either direction take the CA-2 (Glendale) Fwy north for 0.2 mile to Foothill Blvd.  Go left (west) on Foothill for about one mile then turn right on Briggs Ave for 0.2 mile to get to Cross St where you will find their house on the SW corner.

We will walk in their neighborhood to see some of the historic stone houses, taking it easy on the hills. After the walk we will go to a local restaurant to enjoy lunch with Norma and Bill.  As long time residents of the area, they will be our lions.

 Rain cancels??? Call Rosie at 323 256 9935.

SATURDAY, MAY 10, 2008 – 9:00 AM – LAGUNA BEACH

Meet at the Laguna Art Museum, corner of Pacific Coast Hwy. and Aster/Cliff Drive (Thomas Orange County p. 950, F3). Click here for map.

From 405 S. exit on Laguna Canyon Drive Hwy 133 and go south to PCH. Turn right on PCH (you will pass Main Beach) to the first light. This is where Aster and Cliff drive meet. Stay in the right lane and turn right at the light so you can park on Aster or one of the side streets. The earlier you arrive, the better chance of a parking space.

There is “no meter parking” on Aster or the side streets. Park there and walk down toward the beach and the museum.

We will have a delightful tour of Laguna Beach, walking through residential areas. We will experience remnants of the city’s past, soak up some local flavor and gaze over some gorgeous scenic vistas. The walk will be about 4 miles, moderately paced on mostly flat and paved terrain with only 2-3 short hills.

For further information call Eva or Richard at 949-462-3114. If you will be late, or have troubles, call Eva's cell at 949-246-0060

SATURDAY, MAY 17, 2008 – 9:00 AM – CYPRESS

Meet on Katella Avenue at the entrance to the Los Alamitos Race Track (Thomas [Orange County] p. 797, CD 2). 4961 Katella Ave, Los Alamitos, 90720. Click here for map.

From the 605 Freeway in either direction, exit on Katella Avenue in Los Alamitos. Go east a few miles until you come to Los Alamitos Race Track. There is a signal light at the entrance to the race track. Parking is free in the general parking area and restrooms are available in the shopping center across the street.

We will walk about four miles round trip on paved, level streets along Katella Avenue. We will walk through a nice industrial area to our destination, the Navy Golf Course. We will have lunch there at the Eagle Nest Club House. If weather permits, we will eat outside on the patio overlooking the beautiful grounds.

After lunch we will walk back to our cars at the race track. If you wish you may stay at the track and explore the grounds. There is live racing by satellite from Santa Anita and tracks back east. You may place bets by satellite, Admission to the track for seniors is $2.00. If you wish to spend the day here, quarter horse racing starts at 7:00 PM.

Rain cancels. For more information, call Juathena at (714) 892-0494.

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008 - No walk. Memorial Day weekend and Sophie Spindel’s Bat Mitzvah

SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2008 – 9:00 AM – SOUTH PASADENA

Meet at the corner of Hope Street and Fair Oaks Avenue (Thomas [LA] p. 565, H2). Click here for map.

From the south, take the Pasadena Freeway (110) northbound to the Fair Oaks exit.  Turn right and go south one block and turn right at Hope Street, where there is a Wild Thyme Restaurant. You may park at the municipal parking lot on your left at the end of the street, or you may park on the street.

From the north, take the 210 Freeway to Colorado Blvd., turn left to Fair Oaks, and then turn right. Stay on Fair Oaks until just past the 110 Freeway and then turn right on Hope, following the directions as above.

Because of a two-hour parking limit, we will return to our starting point and eat at the Wild Thyme Restaurant about 11:00 AM, giving us time to move our cars.

 Rain cancels. For more information, call Pete at (626) 308-3975.

SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 2008 –9:00 AM – VENTURA

Meet at the City parking lot on Main Street, just east of Ventura Avenue, across the street form the Mission.  (Thomas [Ventura County], p. 491). Click here for map.

From the 101 Freeway, exit on California Street in Ventura.  The northbound exit before this one is Sanjon Road.  Turn right on California Street and immediately turn left on Thompson Blvd. Take Thompson to Ventura Avenue, turn right and go two blocks to Main Street. Turn right on Main and then turn right into the free parking lot next to the Museum of History & Art.

We will walk west on Main Street to the path that leads to the bike path and promenade along the river to Shoreline Drive along the ocean to the pier. From there we will cross over the freeway on the footbridge and then complete the loop back to Main Street and downtown Ventura.

Before returning to the parking lot, we will stop for lunch at Franky’s Place, 456 E. Main Street (Phone 805 648-6282). You may with to explore the shops, boutiques, bookstores, Mission, and Museum on your own before returning to the parking lot.

 Rain cancels. For more information, call Nancy at (805) 484-4682.

SATURDAY, JUNE 14, 2008 – 9:00 AM – No walk.

SATURDAY, JUNE 21, 2008 – 9:00 AM – SAN PEDRO

Meet at the Point Fermin Lighthouse, San Pedro (Thomas [LA] p. 854, B2). Click here for map.

Take the southbound 110 Freeway until it ends. Exit onto Gaffey and continue south on Gaffey, following all the twists and turns, until it ends. Park on Paseo Del Mar at Point Fermin Park.

There are bathrooms in Point Fermin Park, and you may get hot coffee at Walker’s Café. We will start at the Point Fermin Lighthouse and explore the adjacent residential area.  Then we will go to explore the new park area and Royal Palms area.  Lunch will be at the Grinder on 5^th and Harbor Blvd. in waterfront San Pedro.

For more information call Myrna at (818) 769-6098.

SATURDAY, JUNE 28, 2008 – 9:00 AM -- LONG BEACH

Meet at the corner of Cherry Avenue and Fourth Street, Long Beach (Thomas [LA] p. 795, G7). Click here for map.

From the southbound 710 Freeway, exit on Broadway and go east to Cherry Avenue.  Then turn left (north) to Fourth Street.  Park curbside anywhere convenient to this corner.

There are no bathrooms at the start, but there will be some about fifteen minutes into the walk. Our route will include residential, commercial low-rise, shoreline, and the heart of downtown. Part of our route will be on the Passport bus, which is free.  We will play it by ear and quit when the group is ready to call it a day and go to eat. I would estimate that we would walk about four miles.

For lunch, I would suggest La Rizza Pizza House, 1837 E. Seventh Street; phone number (562) 599-1080. The restaurant is in a 1910 Craftsman house, and we will eat in the living room (fireplace, book cases on each side, etc.).  It is cozy. We have eaten there before.  Parking is easy, either in the small lot or curbside.  This restaurant can easily accommodate about two dozen of us.

 For more information, call Herb or Lisa at (310) 978-9532 (home) or (310) 714-2307 (cell phone).

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