Oh, Los Angeles…Hollywood, beaches, the Santa Monica Pier, the Walk of Fame, home to the stars! People save and dream their whole lives to come out to the Golden State and experience what the City of Angels has to offer. It can be a little overwhelming, though, wondering what to do first! We’ll give you the best tips and tricks to get the most out of your visit.
Universal Studios
Los Angeles’ only true theme park, this is the place you’ll want to be if you’re a film enthusiast. Not only does it have fun rides, games, and attractions, but you can even take a “Backlot Tour” where you can see behind-the-scenes sets and equipment from movies and popular primetime TV shows such as Desperate Housewives, Psycho, and Jaws.
The last few years have even given tourists the incredible experience of the new and long-awaited “Harry Potter World.” Bring your wand and robes and enjoy a delicious warm butterbeer, get sorted into your house, and practice magic that you can’t find anywhere else.
Grauman’s Chinese Theater (TCL)
Now called the TCL Theater, originally Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, has been a Los Angeles icon since 1927. It represents Hollywood’s Golden Age, allowing for plenty of fun photo opportunities and a walk to and from that can take you through the Walk of Fame and the Pantages Theater, as well.
The Grove and Farmer’s Market
Just south of the trendy West Hollywood neighborhood is one of Los Angeles’ move loved tourist and local attractions—The Grove. A beautiful place to spend the day eating, walking, and window shopping, you might even sight some famous shoppers!
The Original Farmer’s Market boasts plenty of local stalls and vendors with unique wares to bring home and cherish or give as gifts to family members who have always wanted to visit LA.
Sunset Boulevard
If you haven’t dreamed of driving down Sunset Blvd. in a red convertible (rental car), have you even dreamed of being in Los Angeles? Decades ago, this street represented old Hollywood glamour, and throughout later years it appeared in countless films, shows, and videos. Today, the street connects downtown, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and PCH (Pacific Coast Highway).
If you’re young and hip enough to be able to enjoy the after-hours scene, Sunset Boulevard is the place to be with classic spots such as Whiskey-a-Go-Go. Get there plenty before or plenty after rush hour traffic, though, unless you want to engage the road rage traffic.
Pacific Coast Highway Scenic Route
Imagine driving down the freeway with the beach on one side and beautiful cliffs on the other, sun shining in the window and your favorite tunes on the radio, the breeze blowing through your hair… you’re driving down the PCH, stopping every so often for a mimosa oyster brunch or a walk on the beach. Life is good and doesn’t get much more beautiful than this stretch of highway.
LACMA
Open since 1965, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is the foundation of LA’s museum district. Over the years they have showcased thousands of selections ranging centuries, cultures, and countries. There are always new exhibits to enjoy, and after you experience the actual museum you can walk the 20 acres and experience unique architecture like nowhere else.
La Brea Tar Pits
After you’ve enjoyed LACMA, head next door to the incredible piece of history that is the La Brea Tar Pits. Housing incredible fossils and scientific history of a time when prehistoric animals were trapped in hot tar, this is a place you don’t want to miss.
Pantages Theater
Theater buffs will be in heaven here at this luxurious, historic theater full of history and cultural memories. This theater holds decades full of the world’s best Broadway and off-Broadway productions, including Wicked, Frozen, Rent, The Lion King, and many others.
Hollywood and Celebrity Home Tour
If you’re an entertainment buff and it makes your heart race just to think about being near all your favorite celebrities, you absolutely must take a bus tour that shows you all the celebrity homes! You’ll use an open-air bus which will allow you plenty of space to view the homes, as well as special stops at the Hollywood Sign and the Walk of Fame.
This tour will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel, and comes with an experienced guide who won’t let you miss any of the action. There are multiple start times, too, so you can easily fit this into your busy LA sightseeing schedule.
It’ll take about two hours and you can cancel 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Santa Monica
You’ll want to spend an entire day in beautiful Santa Monica! Start by having breakfast or brunch somewhere yummy on Third Street promenade, then walk it all off shopping at all the best stores. Later on, when the sun is shining bright, head down to the beach and work on your tan. Then go for a walk on the famed Santa Monica Pier, grab some fried food, and take a ride on the iconic Ferris wheel! If the nightlife is your scene, you can even hang out and so some dancing at the fun clubs on the pier.
Venice Beach
You see it in postcards and movies all the time, and in real life it’s even better. Venice Beach is home to all the local eccentricities, be it musicians with their guitar cases open for tips, local artists selling their creations, and a long row of shops with fun LA kitschy souvenirs. Watch the athletes exercising on the beachfront “gym,” and hang out for a beautiful sunset that might be accompanied by a drum circle if you’re there on a lucky night.
Griffith Park and Observatory
If you’re an astronomy lover, or just a lover of culture, this is a must do. Sitting high up on a hill on Mount Hollywood, you can begin with a jog around the property and enjoy free entry to the museum! It’s only a few dollars to see the legendary planetarium shows, and you can even enjoy lunch in the café. A great place to see the view and take pictures!
The Getty Center and Getty Villa
Long revered as one of the most beautiful architectural structures in the country, this museum is home to some of the most famous art in the world. It’s circular structure of concrete and steel houses myriad pieces for the curious art enthusiast.
You can tour these museums on your own or pay for a guided experience that will show you parts of the exhibit you probably wouldn’t have noticed otherwise.
Hollywood Bowl
If you are a music lover, you cannot pass up a chance to hear your favorite tunes live and in person at this historic venue. Now open for almost 100 years, this concert venue set in the Hollywood Hills can hold thousands of fans and has known the musical beauty of groups such as The Beatles, Adele, the Rolling Stones, Elton Joh, Madonna, and Tina Turner.
Los Angeles… A City Unlike Any Other
Once you set foot in LA, you’ll know that you are in a place that is unrivaled in culture, adventure, and beauty. This list encompasses just a portion of the amazing opportunities you’ll have while exploring this small—yet important—area of our country.
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