Los Angeles is one of the most popular cities on the West Coast.
When you think of Los Angeles, certain things come to mind. Of course, these include the Hollywood Sign, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, the TCL Chinese Theatre, or even the Universal Studios Hollywood!
But the truth is that there is much more to do in the city, and while we couldn’t possibly list out all of them.
1. Explore the Vastness of the Santa Monica Mountains!
The first answer would be to explore the wide Santa Monica Mountains!
The Santa Monica Mountains are a coastal mountain range that runs along the Pacific Ocean in Southern California. It is one of California’s most visited natural sites due to its proximity to densely urbanized areas.
There are a lot of exciting and beautiful places for you to visit and enjoy in the Santa Monica Mountains, such as:
The Getty Centre
The Getty Center is one of America’s most magnificent architectural feats, and the renowned architect Richard Meier constructed the circular concrete-and-steel tower, which houses some of the world’s finest works of art, including art from diverse eras and countries such as Renaissance paintings, antique manuscripts, Baroque sculptures, and even 20th-century American photography!
The museum is praised for its value and beauty and the visibly astonishing difference between the art center’s delicate refinement and Hollywood’s over-the-top glamour.
Nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains, this vast, modern campus museum also provides breathtaking vistas of Los Angeles!
Griffith Park
Griffith Park is the place to experience a bird’s eye view of Los Angeles!
The park, which spans 4,210 acres, includes more than 50 miles of hiking and biking paths, horseback riding routes, and campgrounds suitable for the whole family, among other amenities.
The Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens and the Autry Museum of the American West are among the attractions here.
The park also houses the Griffith Observatory and acts as the starting point for the trail of the iconic Hollywood Sign!
Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory is located on Mount Hollywood’s south face, with a view of the Los Angeles basin. Its location provides tourists with breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside, which is praised by many. But this isn’t simply a lovely photo opportunity. The observatory features a world-class planetarium and fun exhibits!
The Hollywood Sign
The Hollywood Sign, formerly known as the Hollywoodland Sign, is a cultural symbol and American landmark that stands above Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. It is located atop Mount Lee in the Santa Monica Mountains’ Beachwood Canyon area.
The Hollywood Sign is one of California’s and the United States’ most well-known icons, and it frequently appears in popular culture, making it a must-visit for you!
Runyon Canyon Park
Runyon Canyon Park is a little-known urban park with some spectacular views. You’ll encounter a lot of palm trees during your hike and be treated to breathtaking vistas of the San Fernando Valley from atop the canyon. The park has various hiking paths and is a favorite workout area for celebrities.
With various historic mansions and estates sprinkled around the park, the canyon is often claimed to be evocative of Old Hollywood.
2. Get the Hollywood Feel at Hollywood Boulevard!
In Los Angeles, Hollywood Boulevard is a significant east-west thoroughfare. Sunset Plaza Drive in the Hollywood Hills West region is where it all begins as a winding residential street in the west.
This place is a cultural icon in Los Angeles, including museums, landmarks, and other Hollywood attractions honoring the city’s rich film and entertainment history. Some of the places you should visit in this area include:
TCL Chinese Theatre
The TCL Chinese Theatre, originally Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, opened in 1927 and is one of Hollywood’s most iconic and memorable locations. It embodies the excess of Hollywood’s Golden Age, making it a must-visit for you!
Also, in the concrete of the forecourt of the TCL Chinese Theatre, there are around 200 Hollywood star handprints, footprints, and autographs for you to look at!
Hollywood Walk of Fame
While you are in Hollywood Boulevard, it only makes sense to take a stroll down the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which is open to the public all day long.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame, a historic landmark in Hollywood, California, comprises 5-pointed brass and terrazzo stars, approximately 2,700 of them, the line around three blocks of Vine Street and 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard.
Actors, musicians, producers, directors, musical and theatrical groups, and even fictitious characters, along with others, have their names engraved on these stars on the Walk of Fame, which are permanent public monuments to excellence in the entertainment business.
Barnsdall Art Park
Barnsdall Art Park is a public park in Los Angeles, California’s East Hollywood district. Barnsdall Art Park, perched on Olive Hill, boasts sweeping views of Los Angeles City and the Hollywood Hills, including Griffith Park.
The park also houses the Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, a 299-seat proscenium auditorium that people and organizations can book for live theatre, dance, music, spoken word, lectures, films, and other events for a small cost.
It hosts several free community events, including the Independent Shakespeare Company, Silverlake Conservatory of Music Summer Camps, and some annual festivals, such as the Thai Festival and Artwallah.
3. Experience a little more Hollywood life!
If you are a film buff or fantasize about Hollywood life, Los Angeles City has many places where you can live out your dreams and get a taste of being a celebrity.
Here are some of the classic attractions for you to enjoy!
Hollywood Forever Cemetery
The entrance gate to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery is located on Santa Monica Boulevard, right in the heart of Hollywood.
The Hollywood Forever Cemetery, as morbid as the idea of a cemetery may seem, is your greatest bet for spotting a star in Los Angeles. Stars such as Rudolph Valentino, Judy Garland, Douglas Fairbanks, and Cecil B. DeMille are buried here.
The tranquil grounds of the cemetery are well-maintained and can be described as “peaceful and serene.”
Rodeo Drive
Rodeo Drive, a two-mile-long roadway in Beverly Hills, is a luxury shopping strip with designer stores and small private boutiques. Wealthy shoppers, sunglasses-wearing celebs, and visitors expecting to glimpse fashion icons are frequent in the neighborhood.
So if you too were fascinated by Julia Robert’s visit to the Rodeo Drive in the movie ‘Pretty Woman,’ you must take a look at the place for yourself!
Also, the northern terminus of Rodeo Drive is in Beverly Hills, where it intersects with Sunset Boulevard, another popular place for the Hollywood vibe!
Sunset Boulevard
Sunset Boulevard, one of America’s most famous thoroughfares, continues to live up to its reputation. It used to symbolize the classic and glamorous Hollywood lifestyle, and it was the location for several well-known films, including the apparent classic “Sunset Boulevard.”
The Sunset Strip section has become a famous nightlife destination. The palm-lined street, which connects downtown L.A. to Hollywood, Beverly Hills, and the Pacific Coast Highway, has retained its cinematic charm. The Rainbow Bar & Grill and The Roxy Theatre are two of the many famous music venues on the strip.
Bradbury Building
The Bradbury Building is one of the historic buildings in Los Angeles. Built-in 1893, the five-story office structure is notable for its beautiful ironwork and stunning skylit atrium with accessible walkways, elevators, and stairs.
The Bradbury Building would look familiar to you. It has been featured in various fictional works and has served as the backdrop for numerous film and television productions and music videos.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is one of the most famous attractions in the Los Angeles area, located immediately northwest of Hollywood in Universal City, with rides and attractions based on cinema and television’s most notable moments and characters.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Jurassic World – The Ride are great hits of the Universal Studios Hollywood! Take the famed tram tour past the eerie Bates Motel from “Psycho” and join “Fast & Furious” characters in a high-speed chase. Cartoon characters like SpongeBob SquarePants and Scooby-Doo can be shaken hands with.
4. Enrich yourself with Art and History!
Films are not the only art in Los Angeles! You can learn about the art and history of the place and the world through various Los Angeles museums and art galleries!
There is a lot for you to do in this department, from natural history museums to street art exhibitions! So get started with the following list!
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
The core of the Los Angeles museum district is the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Since its inception in 1965, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art has displayed hundreds of works ranging from Islamic antiquities to European impressionist paintings to modern art.
LACMA is a pleasant experience for severe art fans and casual vacationers, with continuously changing exhibitions and fascinating architecture spread across more than 20 acres of land.
Just outside the huge museum sits Chris Burden’s Urban Light, a project conjured up of 202 cast-iron lamp posts collected from throughout Los Angeles and refurbished to functional order, where you can click selfies and give your best poses!
The Broad
This museum opened in 2015, and the building is a spectacular addition to downtown Los Angeles!
This honeycomb-shaped structure houses an extensive collection of modern art spanning the 1950s. Temporary displays, in addition to the permanent collection, feature up-and-coming artists. Jean Michel Basquiat, Jeff Koons, Cindy Sherman, Kara Walker, and Andy Warhol are the artists represented in the exhibition.
The Infinity Mirror Rooms at The Broad is a beautiful, popular attraction where you can gaze into infinity and beyond!
Museum of Contemporary Art
The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles (MOCA) is a contemporary art museum in Los Angeles, California, with two locations. The museum’s main branch is located on Grand Avenue in Downtown Los Angeles. At the same time, The Geffen Contemporary, in downtown Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo district, is MOCA’s first venue, designed as a “temporary” show space while the main structure was being built. It also had a satellite site at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood from 2000 until 2019.
The museum’s displays mainly comprise modern American and European art created since 1940. MOCA’s programming has been characterized by its multi-disciplinary approach to art since its beginnings.
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures is dedicated to the history, science, and cultural effect of the film industry built by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) in Los Angeles, California. It is the country’s first large-scale museum of its kind.
The Rosebud sled from Citizen Kane, Star Wars’ R2-D2, Dorothy’s ruby slippers from The Wizard of Oz, Jaws’ lone surviving shark, the robe worn by the Dude in The Big Lebowski, and Midsommar’s flowery May Queen dress are among the treasures on display.
California Science Center
The California Science Center is a governmental agency and museum in Exposition Park, California. The Center has various permanent exhibits, each of them offering something unique.
Interactive exhibits in the permanent “Ecosystems” exhibit teach visitors about anything from islands to rivers to forests across eight different zones. At the same time, in “Creative World,” technology takes center stage, focusing on transportation and architectural innovation.
There is also an IMAX theatre on the premises making the place a great destination for kids and adults.
5. Live out the Concert Experience!
We all dream of being in a fantastic concert in a vast concert hall, and lucky for you, Los Angeles has some of the best concert halls!
Here are two of the many concert halls you can visit in L.A.!
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is southern California’s stunning outdoor amphitheater! This unusual stage, nestled in the Hollywood Hills, has entertained thousands of spectators and hosted some of the biggest stars in music. Artists including The Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Tina Turner, and Madonna have all performed here since its initial season in 1922.
Make time to visit the Hollywood Bowl Museum, which is located on-site. The museum celebrates the Hollywood Bowl’s history with unique displays featuring musicians who have performed there and programs and memorabilia from the venue’s past. The Bowl Walk, a self-guided tour around the Bowl with ten photo displays describing the venue’s history, is also available.
Walt Disney Concert Hall
The Walt Disney Concert Hall is located in the Center of Downtown Los Angeles. The curving, stainless steel façade of this performance venue is a fascinating structure.
The concert hall aided in revitalizing a sector of downtown that was formerly dominated by uninspiring office buildings and a lack of entertainment choices. This hall is now at the forefront of the area’s nightlife and culture.
You must also wander around the area and take a tour of the performance theatre. The gardens are also beautiful and would make for a great stroll. Also, if you have the opportunity, see a show there. It is said to have the best acoustics in the entire city of Los Angeles!
6. Eat and Shop in the Market Areas!
There are also various places in L.A. where you can shop for everything starting from food to antiques! There are also places for you to enjoy Los Angeles food!
Here are some of the best markets in L.A. for you:
Grand Central Market
Grand Central Market opened in 1917, and since then, the market has served everything from coffee and freshly squeezed juices to deli cuisine, egg sandwiches, falafel, tacos, and chow mein.
Grand Central Market, dubbed “foodie haven” by visitors, is located in downtown L.A. The facility has high ceilings and an open floor plan, with food vendor stalls serving a variety of cuisines from throughout the Los Angeles neighborhood and beyond!
Rose Bowl Flea Market
The Rose Bowl Market is a significant monthly flea market with diverse crafts, clothes, antiques, and other items.
Every second Sunday of the month, the world-famous Rose Bowl Flea Market takes place! Over 2,500 merchants offer everything from sought-after antiques to rare vintage treasures to today’s hottest trends!
You must visit and see why the market has been dubbed “The Stars’ Flea Market” for the past 50 years!
Santa Monica Farmers Market
The Downtown Santa Monica Farmers’ Market, a twice-weekly event spanning four city blocks, has the best quality and most extensive assortment of locally produced fruits and vegetables in Southern California.
Home cooks and award-winning chefs assemble more than 100 times a year to sample and buy exotic citrus fruits, vibrant greens, freshly picked berries, and far more varieties of tomatoes, squash, tubers, and mushrooms than, you could think of!
Close to a million people visit this Farmers’ Market each year for various reasons, including the dynamic open-air shopping experience, unparalleled selection, and the ability to interact with food producers.
Smorgasburg LA
If you are looking to try out some Los Angeles food, Smorgasburg LA is the place to go for a street food feast!
Smorgasburg is America’s largest weekly open-air food market, bringing 50,000 people to eat each weekend in New York and Los Angeles!
In LA, it is a Sunday market with hundreds of food vendors in the Arts District. With more than 80 food and retail stalls, the weekly food fair is like an incubator for L.A.’s next prominent eating place!
7. Enjoy What the Beaches Have to Offer!
The Los Angeles area also has magnificent shorelines, which you can visit! So if you are wondering what to do in Los Angeles for a relaxing day out alone or with the family, this is what to do!
The following are just a few of the many beaches to choose from!
Santa Monica Beach
Santa Monica, located just west of downtown Los Angeles, is home to one of America’s most famous beach vistas. The fine sands, perfect weather, and plenty of attractions make the 3 miles of shoreline among the best.
The popular television series “Baywatch” was filmed on “State Beach,” which enjoys more than 200 days of sunshine every year!
Santa Monica also has many excellent restaurants and places to go out at night!
Santa Monica Pier
The Santa Monica Pier is a must-see attraction when in Los Angeles!
The Strand, a 22-mile bike path that runs parallel to the Pacific Ocean and passes through Marina del Rey and Playa del Rey and Venice, Manhattan, Hermosa, and Redondo beaches, is one of the most spectacular rides of the location!
You can also ride a roller coaster, watch live street performances, play carnival games, and grab a quick bite from one of the food sellers or at a sit-down restaurant at the Santa Monica Pier, in addition to the iconic pier’s Ferris wheel!
Venice Beach
Venice Beach was built in the early twentieth century and is designed like its namesake city in Italy, complete with canals. Even though the project failed to live up to its Italian inspiration, the area has become quintessentially Californian, encapsulating the spirit of the wealthy, alternative, and just odd.
Venice Beach is known for its boardwalk. The boardwalk, which attracts a daily parade of eccentric personalities and scantily clad beachgoers, often amazes visitors. Instead of towering churches and small pizzerias, you’ll also find canal-side homes amid quirky boutiques and restaurants.
Zuma Beach
Despite Malibu’s reputation for extreme wealth and exclusivity, all of the town’s beaches are open to all!
Zuma Beach in Malibu is regarded as one of the best beaches in the Los Angeles area. It is praised by locals and visitors alike for its fantastic surf, sufficient parking, and easy access to beachfront food. There are also numerous lifeguard stations and restroom facilities.
Zuma Beach is also far cleaner than the Santa Monica beach or Venice beach.
8. Take in the Scenic Beauty!
You might not know this since natural and scenic beauty is not what Los Angeles is primarily known for. But you will be pleasantly surprised at what the place has to offer!
Check out the following places if you’re still wondering what to do in Los Angeles and experience the city’s scenic beauty!
Angeles National Forest
In approximately a half-hour, visitors may leave the hustle and bustle of downtown L.A. for the peace and quiet of the Angeles National Forest. Hiking, biking, skiing, horseback riding, swimming, fishing, and even camping are popular activities in the over 700,000-acre forest!
Encompassing the San Gabriel Mountains, the Angeles National Forest covers a wide range of topography, from desert to lush forest. Mount Baldy, at 10,064 feet, is the highest peak in the San Gabriel Mountains and one of the most frequently visited spots in the area.
The Angeles National Forest is a beautiful place to relax and spend some peaceful time which you must experience!
Angeles Crest Highway
The Angeles Crest Highway is a two-lane highway that runs across Los Angeles County, California and crosses the San Gabriel Mountains. It travels through the Angeles National Forest and the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument.
This is undoubtedly one of the most gorgeous drives in the country, and you get to witness Los Angeles nature throughout the drive!
Echo Park Lake
The Echo Park Lake is a former reservoir that has been transformed into a public recreation area in the heart of one of L.A.’s most vibrant neighborhoods.
In recent years, the historic Echo Park Lake has evolved into an ideal destination for the whole family worthy of its striking background: the Downtown cityscape set against a backdrop of lotus flower blossoms, fountains, and the Lady of the Lake monument.
You should also take a swan boat ride around the lake or stroll around the lake’s perimeter!
Now that we have given you a lot of suggestions you might have your time packed! So without any further adieu, we shall let you get to it!
We hope that this article was helpful to you, so let us know in the comments!
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Last Updated on by Pragya Chakrapani
