A couple disclaimers: first, we know LA is in a drought. Second, we know that the weather is pretty close to summer year-round. But those reasons shouldn't deter you from enjoying some of LA's coolest cultural landmarks and water features—at least, while they're still operational.
1. Peace on Earth Fountain at the Music Center Plaza. Erected in 1969 by Jacques Lipchitz (great last name), the Peace on Earth Fountain has become a fixture of the DTLA cultural scene. In the main courtyard of the Music Center Plaza, the fountain has 280 jets to make sure you can't dodge the H20 shooting up from the ground.
Photograph: Courtesy of Creative Commons/DaveBloggs007
2. William J. Mulholland Memorial Fountain. Quiet, tranquil, surrounded by white rose bushes, and on the way to Griffith Park. This is a great place to stop before or after a long hike to watch the fountain shoot water 50 feet in the air. The fountain is named after the father of our city's water system, who designed and oversaw the construction of the LA aqueduct. It's one additional Mulholland experience you must have, after Mulholland Drive.
Photograph: Courtesy of waterandpower.org
3. Midwick View Estates. Located in Monterey Park, this fountain was a result of the real estate boom of the 1920s and was meant to make the area the Beverly Hills of the Eastside. It was never quite finished and was instead purchased by the city of Monterey Park. At the top of the cascaded waterfall is a statue of Athena and a nice view of the San Gabriel Valley.
Photograph: Courtesy of avoidingregret.com
4. Fanfare Fountains & Water Feature at Gateway Plaza. If Vegas is too far to go see the Bellagio Fountains, then take a shorter drive down to San Pedro. The same folks who did the Bellagio water show did this one (and they do it in a similar way). Choreographed water shows happen every 30 minutes are set to music.
Photograph: Courtesy of YouTube.com
5. Exposition Park Rose Garden. If you're a fan of public transit, take the Expo line and stop by Exposition Park adjacent to USC. Along with green spaces, the rose garden, several gazebos and access to three museums, Exposition Park is a must-stop on your cultural LA bucket list.
Photograph: Michael Juliano
6. Electric Fountain. Though it's currently undergoing renovation, the Electric Fountain (located on the corner of Santa Monica and Wilshire in Beverly Hills) is named for its design and lights up to various color patterns nightly. The statue is of a local Native American tribe member named, Tongva and was originally a state-of-the-art build back in 1931.
Photograph: Courtesy of Flickr/Michael
7. Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain. Located in Grand Park, the Arthur J. Will Memorial Fountain is a playful experience for everyone. It's not your typical 'get damp and dash' fountain. With a new wade-able membrane pool, you can plan to make a longer trip of it and go picnic in one of the many Grand Park green spaces.
Photograph: Jake Giles Netter
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