Los Feliz (Griffith Park) - Silver Lake - Echo Park - Los Angeles Hotels .com

Silver Lake, once a low-key home to artists and thriving gay and Mexican communities, is now on the high-rent side. The neighborhood retains enough artsy juju to foster interesting cafes and bars, and innovative shops, theatres, and galleries.

Adjacent to Hollywood and Silver Lake, Los Feliz takes its name from Jose Feliz, the original owner of the ranch from which it was created. Today, the velvet-rope crowd is rapidly replacing Los Feliz's working class, immigrant, and artist roots and gobbling up the pre-World War II and mid-century homes. It's here you'll also find modern marvels such as Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock House and Richard Neutra's Lovell House.

While the nightlife of Los Feliz is built on the reputation of long-gone bohemians such as Charles Bukowski, the vibe is now upscale. Daytime activities center on Griffith Park with its observatory, Greek Theatre, and adjacent Los Angeles Zoo.

Echo Park, northwest of downtown and southeast of Silver Lake, has a gloriously checkered past. Mack Sennett built one of the first movie studios here during the silent era; it was a leftist political hotbed after World War II; and then it became known for the Asian, Filipino, and Latino communities that thrived here. Nowadays, Echo Park is the latest focus for upscale real estate flippers priced out of Silver Lake and Hollywood.

Fashionistas will drool over the boutiques along Echo Park Avenue. Guerilla cyclists will dig Midnight Ridazz, an after-dark bicycle rally that launches from Echo Park on the second Friday of each month. And the whole family will enjoy the Echo Park Lotus Festival, a pan-Asian celebration in July featuring dragon boat races.