Thanks to Hollywood, most people on the planet have at least heard of Los Angeles. The City of Angels, Tinseltown or just “La-La Land” is the home of the world’s movie and entertainment industry, the palaces of Beverly Hills, Sunset Strip, the original Disneyland, the Dodgers and the Lakers and a beach culture that inspired California’s modern surfing boom in the 1950s. Yet first-time visitors should expect some surprises, beginning with the vast size of the place, hard to absorb until you actually get here, which can make picking where to stay decidedly difficult. LA is only America’s second biggest city in terms of population, but stitched together by an intricate network of freeways crossing a thousand square miles of widely varying architecture, social strata and cultures. Beyond the skyscrapers, downtown LA actually has an historic Mexican heart and is a traffic-clogged sixteen miles from the hip ocean enclaves of Santa Monica and Venice Beach – and thanks to high crime and gangster rap, South Central LA and Compton have become bywords for violence and gangs such as the Crips and the Bloods. West from downtown, Hollywood has streets imbued with movie myths and legends – and adjoining West LA is home to the city’s newest money, shown off in Beverly Hills and along the Sunset Strip.
1. See L.A. from above at Griffith Park: What could be more stunning than a 4000 plus-acre park right in the city’s center? Well, the hilly wilderness of the Griffith Park is unparalleled. Thus, one of the most gratifying things to do in Los Angeles is to hike up to the park’s grounds and be amazed by the Downtown’s twinkly lights, the flora, the trails and the coyotes’ howls at night. Do not miss visiting the Griffith Observatory or the Art Deco dome to capture the exceptional views of the city.
2. Take a drive around Palos Verdes Peninsula: One of the most satisfying things to do in Los Angeles is to take a breezy drive around the ten miles of streets along Palos Verdes Peninsula. The first third of this scenic drive promises you sweeping views of the spectacular, inland real estate blocks. However, the minute you take a round of Point Vicente, this drive transforms dramatically to something else altogether. As you drive past Terranea, you only soak in views of golden-hued bluffs, winding roads and oceanfront hillsides.
3. Visit Universal Studios Hollywood: If you are planning on exploring America’s west coast then do not forget to add a visit to the exemplary Universal Studios Hollywood. Here you get to enjoy Jurassic World –The Ride that lets you survive a whole new epic adventure motivated by the marvelous films. Juliet, the fully interactive Triceratops puppet will impress and blow your mind with an array of revitalized interactive experiences as she walks, breathes, and blinks around the Jurassic Area. Lastly, you can relish a complete Latin-American inspired affair in the Jurassic Café Food and Isla Nu bar by gorging on chorizo, potato empanadas and roasted Mahi Mahi with Mai Tai or Pina Colada.
4. Visit Korean Bell of Friendship: Visiting the beautiful structure of a bronze ball at the Park of Angel’s Gate is one of the most stirring things to do in Los Angeles. The location inside the Park, set out in the midst of a grassy field overlooks the ocean. Therefore, you can come to this spot and enjoy sweeping views of the Catalina Channel and Harbor of Los Angeles. Also, if you have resisted romance for a bit, then you can always have your first date here, by simply lounging with your partner in the grass, or fly a kite in the grassy patch. Another important thing to keep in mind for those that want to hear the bell ring is to plan a trip during New Year’s Eve, or 4th of July, August 15 and during constitution week (September). That is because it is during these 4 events the bell rings, four times every year.
5. Hike the Silver Lake Stairs: There are dozens of outdoor, public stairways scattered around the verdant hillsides of Silver Lake. Thus, you must come here to WPA era staircases that make for a perfect addition for fitness or workout-included tour. As you hike 2.5 miles you get an incredible preview of the extensive stairway network that features Laurel and Hardy’s music steps. There is nothing more therapeutic than participating in a 6.7 mile walk that visits as many as 14 striking stairways in the neighborhood of Silver Lake.
6. Watch the sunset from El Matador: One of Malibu’s most stunning beaches, El Matador is the perfect place to park on bluffs and saunter down a trail to reach rock towers made of sandstone. You will absolutely love the emerald cove here as well as the coastline’s scenic stretch. It feels surreal to come here and watch the sun go down against the backdrop of big waves lapping against the rocks. Do not miss the moment when the high tide rolls in here.
7. Stroll at Descanso Gardens: A stroll through Descanso Gardens feels like a walk in paradise. This bounteous botanical garden is enriched with 600 varieties of camellias, meandering paths, woodland streams, a rosarium of 5 acres, a tea house and Japanese Garden. If you are a fervent anthophile, the sight of blooming lilacs, daffodils, tulips, and azaleas, in spring will stir you beyond measure.
8. Visit California Science Center: The California Science Center deserves a visit at least once to view Endeavour, the space shuttle. This final ship that was built to be in the space shuttle program of NASA will give a whole new meaning to your ambition of reaching the stars. In this museum you can come to explore the space and air exhibits that explore human innovation, powered flight and life sciences. You can also visit the Kelp tank here that is populated with an incredible assortment of marine life and 1500 live fishes.
9. Explore Echo Park Lake: Flanked by the hipster neighbors namely Silver Lake, Elysian Valley, Chinatown and Elysian Park the Echo Park Lake is a secret gem that you cannot miss. This lake feels like a natural haven where you can cruise on a photogenic swan boat, take in the indigenous art scene and stroll amidst native plants and wildlife. You must visit this park lake to enjoy the views of lush foliage, swans, wild geese, expansive beds of lotus flowers and to nosh on savory and sweet treats from the Beacon Café
10. Visit Warner Bros. Studio: If you are looking forward to an unforgettable vacation, you need to have an inside look and tour at the Warner Bros Studio. The studio features some of the most outstanding attractions where you get access to interactive exhibits, renowned sound stages and locations of your favorite TV and film shows. Do not miss the two-hour tour that includes a stop at the sets of DC Universe: The Exhibit, and the ever popular sitcom Friends.
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