How the West is Fun

Friday Evening

Saddle up, folks. Friday night is the first of the summer season’s Barbecue Rides in Griffith Park. Meet at Griffith Park Horse Rental, 480 Riverside Drive, in Burbank, around 6 p.m. for a 90-minute sunset ride through Griffith Park, followed by a barbecue dinner. Space is limited and reservations are required. Cost: $35. Information: (818) 840-8401.

Afraid of saddle sores? Pick up some melt-in-your-mouth brisket or some other big slab o’ meat at Dr. Hogly Wogly’s Tyler Texas Barbecue, 8136 Sepulveda Blvd., Van Nuys, (818) 782-2480.

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Saturday Morning

Start the day with a walk through Paramount Ranch. Bought by Paramount Studios co-owner Jesse Laskey in the 1920s, the rugged terrain of the Santa Monica Mountains served as locations for movies such as “The Man From Wyoming” and 1950s TV westerns such as “The Cisco Kid” and “Have Gun, Will Travel.” The western town set is still in use by “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.” Visitors can also hike on two trails through the ranch, which has been owned by the National Park Service since 1980. Paramount Ranch is off Cornell Road in Agoura Hills. Information: (818) 597-9192.

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Saturday Afternoon

Head north to Santa Clarita for the Fourth Annual Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival. The festival is the only time during the year that Melody Ranch--the location for “High Noon” and “Gunsmoke”--is open to the public. There’s plenty of western art, crafts and horse tack for sale, and trick roping on display. Music and poetry shows--featuring R.W. Hampton, Waddie Mitchell, Don Edwards and Ian Tyson--run all afternoon and evening with a western swing dance at 9:30 p.m. Shuttles leave from the corner of Arch and 12th streets. The festival continues Sunday; admission is $5 and concerts cost $5-$18. Information: (800) 305-0755.

Got a little extra time? Swing by William S. Hart Park in Santa Clarita to see Engine 1629, a steam locomotive that chugged from Arizona to Oregon for the Southern Pacific railroad starting in 1900. Or stop by Heritage Junction Historic Park--at the south end of Hart Park--open from 1-4 p.m. on weekends. Information: (805) 254-1275.

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Sunday Morning

If you missed the sunset trail ride Friday night, you can still rent a mount for $15 per hour or $28 for two hours--cash only--from Griffith Park Horse Rental. But get there early if you’re a greenhorn. It’s first-come, first-served and by 10:30 a.m. there can be a wait for beginner-level horses.

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Sunday Afternoon

Drop by the Autry Museum of Western Heritage, 4700 Western Heritage Way, in Griffith Park, to see exhibits on American Indian arts, including baskets from California tribes and beaded bags from the Southwest. Also on display is “Indian Humor,” a contemporary art show featuring the work of 38 American Indian artists. Admission is $7.50, $3 for kids. Information: (213) 667-2000.

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Sunday Evening

Soak your blisters in some warm water, then kick up your feet and watch a video. John Sayles’ “Lone Star” doesn’t come out on video until Tuesday, so try a John Wayne classic like “The Searchers” (1956) or “Red River” (1948).