Secret Stairs #21: Silver Lake Terraces West, 2.5 miles, 190 steps.

You can't beat the beauty of an early morning hike through Silver Lake after a rain. Gardens sparkled with dew drops, the sky was clear and blue. Adding to the cheer were the Christmas trees in windows, wreaths on doors, and lights strung through the trees on the street. But the neighborhood displayed its true charm on the three staircases we climbed. I don't know if you can see them in the picture, but the first staircase had whimsical chicken, hoof, dog, frog, and baby footprints leading up. The second staircase greeted us with hearts. And the third, a winding 93 step climb down, began with a quote. Usually, we're awed by sweeping views in the distance, but this neighborhood captured our hearts at street level.