The Best Things in Los Angeles Are Truly Free 🌿✨

The Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine is one of those magical spots! It’s incredible that in an area like Pacific Palisades—where land is so expensive—you can find such a large lake and garden open to the public for free. When kids visit, they even get a big bag of fish food! 🐟🦢 Feeding the fish and swans here is just pure joy. 😊 I heard that originally, this land was purchased by someone who planned to build a resort. But then, they had two dreams where they were called to turn it into a meditation center instead. Feeling deeply inspired, they donated the entire lake area to the only meditation nonprofit in LA at the time. And to this day, it remains free for everyone to enjoy. 🙏💖 Earlier this year, during the wildfires, the surrounding areas were badly burned. When I saw that the shrine had temporarily closed, my heart sank. 😢 But miraculously, it reopened just a few weeks ago! One of the staff members told me that a few trained volunteers used pumps to spray water from the lake all over the grounds and buildings, keeping everything wet—and that’s how this oasis survived. 🌊🔥 Right now, the indoor structures still have some ash and aren’t fully open, but the gardens and lake are in beautiful condition. Along the path around the lake, you’ll find statues and altars from six major world religions—a truly welcoming space for anyone seeking spiritual peace or a connection to something greater. 🕊️🌸 There’s also the World Peace Memorial, where a portion of Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes are kept inside the stone sarcophagus. Such a beautiful and inspiring place! 📍 17080 Sunset Blvd, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272 Have you visited somewhere recently that gave you a sense of peace or inspiration? Share your special spots below! 💬👇 #LosAngeles #LAKids #LAAttractions #FreeInLA #MeditationGarden #LakeShrine #PacificPalisades #SpiritualRetreat #NatureLover #FamilyFriendly #HiddenGems #WorldPeace #GandhiMemorial #HealingSpaces #ExploreLA #QuietEscape