Brea Beckoning

Outdoor Art and Mural Walk in Brea, California

The art-centric town of Brea goes beyond museum walls with an “Art in Public Places” program featuring 183+ outdoor sculptures. Amid these treasures, you’ll find the 8-piece sculptural installation by Laguna Beach–based mosaic tile artist Marlo Bartels.

This 2-mile (round-trip) urban walk takes you through the history of Brea along a winding path fronting Blackstone Community’s E. Santa Fe Road. Start at Wildcatters Park at 3301 E. Santa Fe to begin this walk. You’ll have to backtrack from the parking lot by going left on Santa Fe to see "Gems" on the northwest corner of Valencia and Santa Fe.

This 14-foot statue looks like quartz crystals and offers seating for those passing by to sit and reflect. The next site is "Seed to Tree," a mosaic cross-section of a walnut and an homage to the walnut trees that covered the land before orange groves.

Continue to the next installation, named "Paleontological." This 11-foot-tall depiction of a trumpet shell and turban shell speaks to Brea’s earliest days under the sea (shells can still be found in the city’s soil). Proceed to "Oil Exploration," stairs that Bartels decorated with historic black-and-white photos of people and places of Brea from the past 100 years. Next up, "Oil – The Evolution," a large depiction of an oil derrick that honors Brea’s beginnings in the oil industry.

"The Water Drop," a frozen drop of water splashing decorated with colored glass, and "Flora and Fauna," large cactus installations covered in green glazed tile and the animals of Brea, are the last two installations you’ll pass before the bookend of Gems, another bench for relaxation and reflection.

Once you reach the end, turn around and walk back to the beginning parking lot.

COFFEE BREAK: Head to Reborn Coffee (3373 E. Imperial Highway) afterward to relax and enjoy some refreshing drinks!

Trending Stories NorCal

View all Stories
  1. Afternoon on the Island

    What is it about tiny islands in the middle of lakes? There’s something that just draws you in. It’s even more fun when getting there is half the adventure because you have to reach it by canoe, kayak, paddleboat, or a ranger-guided boat tour!

    View
  2. Golden Gate's Blue Heron

    Golden Gate Park’s Blue Heron Lake is home to birds of many feathers, turtles lounging on rocks, visitors from afar, and locals who love this urban oasis in San Francisco. Try the "Boats and Breakfast" rowboat or pedal boat deal.

    View
  3. Rio Del Mar-velous

    Rio Del Mar State Beach in Aptos might be one of the best places for a treasure hunt. Its location between two other beaches makes for a good stroll featuring a spectacle of wildlife as you search the sand for sea glass and seashells.

    View
  4. Aloha from California

    Say Aloha without leaving California with a 7-mile out-and-back hiking adventure to Lake Aloha in El Dorado National Forest. You can also camp here, a premier place for stargazing.

    View

Trending Stories SoCal

View all Stories
  1. Gentle Giants

    Some people visit national parks to marvel at the iconic sights, while others come seeking solitude in nature. With visitation on the rise, it can be hard to find both. But in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Parks, this pair of trails offers both....

    View
  2. Walking the Los Angeles River Trail Through Frogtown

    Frogtown Strutter’s Stroll

    Don’t go dismissing the Los Angeles River as merely a 51-mile concrete channel. It’s a genuine urban artery that links real neighborhoods, and its riverside bike/ped paths endear i

    View
  3. Griffith's Golden

    With over 4,200 acres and hundreds of trails, Griffith Park is the gold standard. Opt for the lesser-hiked northwestern end of the park and visit the 2.25-mile Skyline and Oak Canyon loop from Travel Town.

    View
  4. Sponsored

    Fall for It All in Reno Tahoe

    The best kind of getaway? Less time on logistics, more time on memory-making. Jackpot! You’ve got Reno Tahoe.

    View