I’ve written guides for first-time visitors about our favorite things to do in both Columbus and NYC – two of my favorite cities.
Now, I’m sharing our favorite things to do when visiting L.A. I have visited my parents and brother on the West coast at least once a year since they moved there in the 90s.
When you think of Los Angeles, what do you think of? For me, it’s beaches, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Malibu, Sunset Blvd., Venice Beach, Melrose Place, Rodeo Drive and maybe Santa Monica.
Here’s my list of our top things to do in Los Angeles. Be sure to rent a decent car, because LA is a driving city and driving anywhere in LA takes longer than you think it will!
Eat great food. LA has some epic restaurants and is also home of the infamous In-N-Out Burger. For me personally, I make sure to always have some authentic Mexican food and killer Thai food when I’m in town. With significant Mexican (46%) and Asian (12%) populations, you know the food is going to be authentic and wonderful! Plus, the produce is fresh and local year-round in LA thanks to all that sunshine. Oh, and don’t forget my favorite LA-based chocolatier: See’s Candies!
See the stars’ homes. LA is perhaps best known as the home to most film and TV stars – and driving around to see the stars’ homes has always been one of my favorite things to do in Lala land. Unfortunately, as I’ve written about before, this is much more difficult than it used to be! Fortunately, I have the best map ever to the stars’ homes. We still do this occasionally on our LA trips, but unfortunately, our teen doesn’t find it as fun and thrilling as I do.
Beaches. You can’t go wrong here. Just head for the coast, park (you may have to pay, but there is often free street parking not too far from beach entrances) and hit the shore to see some epic waves – and likely some surfers. LA beaches are gorgeous and while the sand may not be as sugar-white as on Florida beaches, the Pacific will always be my favorite ocean. We have loved beaches in Redondo Beach, Malibu, Huntington Beach and more. E and I spent the day in Malibu when we got engaged so it will always hold fond memories for me!
Hollywood. Newcomers to the area may be surprised at how many homeless people there are and how trashy the downtown Hollywood area is – even around the legendary TCL (formerly Grauman’s) Chinese Theatre and the Walk of Fame along Hollywood Blvd where all the stars are in the sidewalk. This is definitely an area to explore during the daytime vs. at night. Another fun activity to do in Hollywood is to drive up into the hills and get a good view of the iconic Hollywood sign.
Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills. The iconic Rodeo Drive is a lovely and very fancy area to cruise through, but you may be shocked at how small it is. If you park and walk around the shops or catch a bite to eat here, you may even see a star or two. The broader Beverly Hills area is also a fun area to drive around and just gawk at the homes. If you’re looking for more things to do in Beverly Hills, this is a great list.
Downtown LA. While Los Angeles doesn’t necessarily have a familiar or well-known skyline, there are some remarkable places to visit in downtown LA. The Little Tokyo area is amazing if you love Japanese food, history and culture. The incredible Walt Disney Concert Hall, just blocks from Little Tokyo, is an architectural marvel and home to the LA Philharmonic Orchestra.
Iconic LA drives. We happen to love going for scenic and memorable drives, so cruising Sunset Blvd. (aka Sunset Strip) is a favorite pastime in LA. Another unforgettable drive in LA is the Pacific Coast Highway, aka PCH or Route 1, which runs all along the coast and will net you some great views. Avoid these popular drives during rush hour and remember there will be traffic anytime you go – may as well just resign yourself to it. Sitting in traffic is part of the LA experience!
Melrose Avenue is a fun, funky street lined with thrift shops, vintage music stores and amazing mural art. I love walking Melrose Avenue to photograph the street art but this is probably a grownups-only activity as there’s not much here that would interest (or even be appropriate for) kids. This area is not to be confused with nearby Melrose Place, where there are also fun and funky, but slightly more upscale, shops and hip eateries – and where you’re more likely to spot celebrities.
The Getty is a must for art lovers visiting LA. The J. Paul Getty Museum is like a white marble castle high up on a hill overlooking Los Angeles. You park at the bottom and travel to the top by tram. The art and architecture are magnificent, the views are killer and the whole place is just a gorgeous, glamorous vibe. Eat at the cafe or bring your own lunch for a picnic on the terrace.
Olvera St. in downtown LA is one place I haven’t visited yet, but want to. Olvera is one of the oldest streets in the original “old LA” part of downtown and one of the few places to stroll through an authentic Mexican marketplace with local Mexican handicraft shops and cafes. Since I love all things Mexico, this experience is on my wish list for our next West coast visit!
Long Beach is an appealing side trip from LA. You take a couple of pretty impressive bridges to get there, passing a huge shipyard. The Aquarium of the Pacific is lovely and there are plenty of walkable restaurants in a pretty waterfront area. You can find the Queen Mary permanently docked there. Long Beach is also home to our family’s favorite kitty cafe: the Feline Good Social Club.
Santa Monica, known for its great shopping, beaches and pier, is another fun side trip from LA. The Santa Monica Pier has a Ferris wheel and roller coaster, making it a smaller cousin to the epic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. This is a very cute area to stay for a night or two, though, featuring great beaches (where Bay Watch was filmed!), shopping and eateries all in a very walkable and attractive area.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention LA destinations Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure and Universal Studios, which are all slightly smaller but still fantastically fun versions of their Orlando counterparts.
If you’re looking for even more things to do in LA, US News has a few other ideas. Have fun and don’t forget to blast my Cali Love playlist while cruising around or sitting in traffic!
