I just returned from an invigorating hike in the beautiful hills above Hollywood, California, in Damon Runyon Park.

On a day like today, when a steady, but not significant rain has just stopped falling, the greens and blues and purples of the scenery are spectacular, and from this elevation you can see downtown Los Angeles on the left, and the Santa Monica Bay, on the right.

The site is spotted with little and big dogs, all of them well behaved, who are obviously regulars, here. Not only do they leave people alone, or come up for a quick pet-in-passing, but also they play with their canine colleagues, or happily ignore them.

Even the occasional firefighter, who drives through the curves of the canyon, is on a mellow vibe, smiling at hikers, slowly monitoring the area for slides.

Whats stunning about this place is how sparkling and picked-up it is. Almost everyone cleans up after his or her pet, and there isnt a piece of trash to be seen, anywhere. Its a real testament to the sense of community that exists among the people, here.

Theres a local feeling, which is friendly, but unobtrusive. The closest thing to it is the attitude of people in the Berkeley hills, but here, theyre just a little bit more upbeat.

Maybe its the proximity of such icons as the Capitol Records building, and the other Hollywood venues, that are literally a stones throw away.

If youre in Southern California for any reason, and you have an extra hour or two, definitely look up this place on a map.

Youll need one, because its nestled into the hills, in an attractive and quiet residential neighborhood.

While street parking is tight, its free; and there is word that 80 public parking spaces are going to be installed, imminently, at the lowest level of the park.

Im sure youll find this trek refreshing and memorable!

Dr. Gary S. Goodman, President of www.Customersatisfaction.com, is a popular keynote speaker, management consultant, and seminar leader and the best-selling author of 12 books, including Reach Out & Sell Someone and Monitoring, Measuring & Managing Customer Service, and the audio program, The Law of Large Numbers: How To Make Success Inevitable, published by Nightingale-Conant. He is a frequent guest on radio and television, worldwide. A Ph.D. from USC's Annenberg School, a Loyola lawyer, and an MBA from the Peter F. Drucker School at Claremont Graduate University, Gary offers programs through UCLA Extension and numerous universities, trade associations, and other organizations in the United States and abroad. He holds the rank of Shodan, 1st Degree Black Belt in Kenpo Karate. He is headquartered in Glendale, California, and he can be reached at (818) 243-7338 or at: