Sometimes the best kind of travel is exploring a city you think you already know. That’s exactly what writer Dan Koeppel discovered when he started climbing the hundreds of public stairways dotting the city of Los Angeles. Since 2004 Koeppel has turned his pastime into a citywide event, leading an annual walk (40 miles over a two-day period) called the Big Parade. During the urban trek, he regales participants with stories about local neighborhoods, takes them on ignored routes (like the walkway along the Pasadena Freeway), and dishes on often overlooked historic sites. Angelinos are dusting off their walking shoes for this year’s Big Parade, taking place May 18 and 19.