Secret Walks #29: Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve, 1.1 miles

About a mile northwest of the 101/405 interchange (once named the worst traffic trap in America), sits 60 acres of tranquility—home to bunnies, squirrels, lizards, and 200 species of birds. Barbara and I circled the 11 acre lake and met the locals: our duck pals and a white goose made the "got food?" approach then ignored us. A pod of pelicans swam in formation to breakfast on the small island, while a gaggle of geese soared overhead like a Super Bowl flyover. Mr. Gorgeous, the blue egret, posed for his glam shot in Haskell Creek. Not sure if the bird of prey in photo 6 is a hawk, eagle, or falcon, but that boy was big and on the prowl. A beautiful, mind-clearing hike in the country—in the middle of the city.