The south side of the Silver Lake Reservoir has long been popular for its playground, basketball court and (stinky) dog park. But earlier this year we finally saw the debut of the Silver Lake Meadow, a mellow, grassy haven located on the east side of the water. The no-dogs-allowed, bare-feet-welcome space is considered a "quiet place," and so far it has lived up to its name. The best part is how empty it tends to be, particularly on weekdays. But even on weekends there's plenty of room to spread out with a picnic blanket, without fear of a stray Frisbee landing in the middle of your feast. In fact, if you're there with your family, you might want to take advantage of another cool element of the location — the breeze off the reservoir. It's an ideal spot for flying kites. Even if you might need to launch it into the air, once it's up, even your kindergartener can keep it high. Silver Lake Reservoir, Silver Lake.

—Rebecca Haithcoat