Here are some of our favorite things to do in LA, Santa Monica and the surrounding area for those who’ve not been here before…and perhaps for those of you who have!
Hollywood Sign – Originally created in 1923, the then “Hollywoodland” sign was supposed to be up for only a year and a half, yet it will be celebrating its 90th birthday this upcoming year.
Griffith Observatory – Great views of LA and short walks/hikes available nearby. There’s the popular Hall of the Sky and Hall of the Eye, a pair of complementary displays that explores the connections between people and space. The star attraction is the building itself, which was featured in the film Rebel Without a Cause
Santa Monica Pier – The focal point of Santa Monica Beach, Santa Monica Pier includes Pacific Park, a traditional set-up stocked with a Ferris wheel, aquarium, fairground games and cotton candy stands.
Venice Beach – Venice Beach has long been known as the kooky Mecca of California, nurturing its eccentric spirit. Skateboarders, radical pamphleteers and body builders: the visibility is great if you enjoy people-watching
Watts Tower – Italian-born tile-setter Simon Rodia began building the Watts Towers using nothing but scrap metal in the 1920s. Gradually he progressed upwards, reinforcing them with steel and cement over the next three decades. Scaling the towers with a window-washer’s belt and bucket, he decorated them with consumer objects, such as green glass from bottles of 7-Up or Canada Dry, tiles, as well as jewelry, marble and seashells. There are 17 of these intriguing structures, the tallest stretches nearly 100 feet into the sky.
Getty Center - Los Angeles’s hilltop acropolis which took 13 years, several interior and landscape designers and $1 billion to complete. The end result is a remarkable complex of travertine and white metal-clad pavilions that resembles a kind of monastic retreat designed for James Bond. Hands down offers one of the best panoramic views in LA, from the hills and the ocean in the west all the way around to Downtown in the east.
Getty Villa - Take a drive to Malibu and visit a fantastic art collection in one of the most gracious homes ever built overlooking the sea. There are roughly 1,200 artifacts on display at any one time, dating from between 6,500 BC and 500 AD, and organized under such themes as Gods and Goddesses and Stories of the Trojan War.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) – Since its inception in 1965, LACMA has been devoted to collecting works of art that span both history and geography and represent Los Angeles’ uniquely diverse population. Today, the museum features particularly strong collections of Asian, Latin American, European, and American art, as well as a contemporary museum on its campus
Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens – An oasis of art and culture on 207 acres. Explore breathtaking gardens, new Children’s Garden, Tropical Conservatory, Chinese Garden, four art galleries and a library, showcasing collections of rare books.
California Science Center – This is the largest science museum on the West Coast with 100 hands-on science exhibits in immersive environments! It features LA’s largest IMAX screen and new home to the Space Shuttle Endeavour! Penny once worked here!
Original Farmers Market – Back in 1934, local farmers began selling produce at the corner of 3rd and Fairfax. A handful of stalls still sell groceries, but they’re outnumbered by 30-plus catering stands offering a culinary round-the-world trip. There is also an outdoor shopping mall next door called The Grove.
Melrose Avenue – Packed with stores that you’ll find only in LA, Melrose Avenue between San Vincente and La Brea is probably also one of the best places to people watch, too.
Robertson Boulevard – Fashion mavens flock to Robertson’s big-name stores the way surfers seek out legendary SoCal waves. Intermix and Kitson are local boutiques that have perfected the art of catering to celebrity clients right alongside the style-conscious everyman. You can visit The Ivy reastaurant’s outdoor patio and mingle with Hollywood stars who frequently drop in on a break from shopping.
3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica – Three blocks long, the Promenade is home to racks of clothing, CDs and specialty bookstores with cool ocean breezes and even cooler shopping. Skateboarders, colorful street performers and vendors round out the laid-back, beachy experience.
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (also known as ‘TCL Theater’) – The courtyard is famous for the hand and footprints of Hollywood celebrities, dating from 1927 through the present. The Chinese Theatre is one of the most beautifully preserved of the movie palaces from Hollywood’s golden era and the preferred theatre in Hollywood for studio premieres.
ArcLIght Hollywood Cinerama Dome – The Cinerama Dome is a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument with an adjacent 14-screen multiplex
Laugh Factory – World-famous comedy club located on Sunset Boulevard showcases some of the country’s hottest stand-up comedy!
Hollywood Improv – For more than 35 years, the legendary Hollywood Improv Comedy Club has been introducing some of the greatest comedians of all time to the stand-up scene, including Eddie Murphy, Ellen DeGeneres, Adam Sandler and Dave Chappelle. Jay Leno himself helped paint the ceiling, and you may recognize the signature brick-wall backdrop. The joint fills up every night of the week, but the more intimate venue means that every seat is a good vantage point for the show.
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre (UCB) – Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre has affordable, comedy shows seven nights a week. Watch the best improv, sketch and standup in the country. Their original comedy video productions have garnered the national spotlight. They also run the first nationally accredited improv and sketch comedy school in the country.
Disneyland – From the charm of Main Street, U.S.A to the whimsy of Mickey’s Toontown, explore eight “lands” of nostalgia, color and delight. Let your imagination run free in a Magic Kingdom where life is a fairy tale and dreams really do come true.
Universal Studios – Get ready for the ultimate Hollywood experience! With thrilling theme park rides and shows, a real working movie studio and Los Angeles’ best shops, restaurants and cinemas at CityWalk, Universal Studios Hollywood is a unique experience that’s fun for the whole family. Go behind the scenes and explore where Hollywood movies are made on the legendary Studio Tour.
Six Flags Magic Mountain - Known world wide for the best thrills, Six Flags Magic Mountain features 14 world-class roller coasters and over 100 rides, games and attractions for the entire family. Six Flags Magic Mountain is bursting at the seams with a whole lineup of excitement and fun for everyone!