The Top 10 Things to Do in Los Angeles, CA
#10 -
Dodger Stadium
It’s time for Dodger baseball! Opening its doors in 1962, this stadium is now the third oldest and a piece of California history. It has encompassed so many great moments and great people in its time, including Sandy Koufax, Tommy Lasorda, and Vin Scully. There is nothing quite like going to a Dodger game. Arrive early to walk around, grab a Dodger Dog, and find your seats (not to mention avoiding the traffic). At Dodger Stadium, there is sure to always be a crowd! With one of the largest fan bases, it topped over 3.9 million fans coming through its doors this past season (2019, #1 in MLB). If driving, buy parking online ahead of time for a discount, or take an Uber or shuttle to save some money for drinks. As far as public transportation goes, your only good bet is to take a subway line that connects to union station, and from there you can take the free (with proof of a ticket) Dodger Stadium Express bus. The Dodgers offer more promotional nights than any other team in baseball and they organize an assortment of theme games (Star Wars Night, anyone?). Be sure to check out their website to learn about those promotions. Go Dodgers!
#9 -
The Getty Museum
Sitting high above the beautiful L.A. mountains, this museum houses thousands of famous works of art. Walk up the marble staircase to view works by Michelangelo, Vincent Van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Monet. The museum’s rooms are filled with artifacts, sculptures, paintings, drawings, manuscripts, and more. Don’t miss the beautiful outside gardens and fantastic view of the city. Buy tickets online ahead of time to check out deals, especially for educators.
Photo provided by Unsplashed.
#8 -
Hollywood Blvd.
For the typical Hollywood experience, look no further than Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood Blvd is a long street, so we recommend staying between Gower and Orange. Parking in the Hollywood/Highland parking structure is a nice central location. From there, you can see your favorite celebrity names while strolling the Hollywood Walk of Fame, jump on countless tours, stop in places like Madame Tussauds Wax Museum or Ripley’s Believe it or Not, or even eat at Hollywood’s oldest restaurant (Musso and Frank Grill). For movie buffs, take in a film or a tour at two of the most famous movie theaters in the world: TCL Chinese Theatre (formally known as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre), and El Capitan (owned by Disney and will often play classic films).
#7 -
Theme Parks
Universal Studios Hollywood, Disneyland, California Adventure, and Six Flags Magic Mountain! If you have only a few days, Universal is your best bet! It is located nearest Hollywood and offers tons of fun rides, shows, experiences, and minions! Take the tram tour to move through movie sets, such as King Kong and Fast and the Furious. Explore where film and T.V. characters come alive, including the Whos from Who-ville and the Simpsons! If you’re up for a drive to Anaheim, you can visit two parks in one day! Experience the magic and adventure of Disneyland and California Adventure with one pass. Arrive early and grab some fast passes for the bigger rides, such as Space Mountain and Star Tours at Disneyland or Guardians of the Galaxy and Cars at CA Adventure. For Star Wars Land, get on the Disneyland app to reserve a boarding pass for Rise of the Resistance and enjoy an interactive experience within Black Spire Outpost. If you are more of a thrill seeker, visit Magic Mountain which is located about 30 minutes north of L.A. There is no shortage of fun and crazy roller coasters here, such as Goliath, Lex Luthor: Drop of Doom, and Tatsu. If it is summertime, enjoy the waterpark, Hurricane Harbor, right next door! Passes for Six Flags are very reasonable. If you plan on visiting twice, buy the season pass. Other theme parks include LegoLand and SeaWorld, which are in San Diego. Woo! So much fun to be had in Cali!
#6 -
Santa Monica Pier/3rd Street
Come ride the ferris wheel at this famous L.A. Pier! Play games, visit shops, eat, and have a cold treat, all while taking in the pristine beach views of California. Make it a beach day and lay out on the sand, play some bocce ball and frisbee, or try your hand at the boardwalk games. Take a quick walk or bike ride up to the 3rd Street Promenade for some excellent shopping opportunities! This grand street is lined with all kinds of shops, restaurants, and bars. They have tons of designer stores such as Coach, Tiffany and Co., and Kate Spade, as well as department stores that include Nordstroms and Bloomingdales. Stop to watch a movie, take in a comedy show, or visit the Santa Monica Museum. Enjoy the day with street performers and beautiful weather!
#5 - Exposition Park
Enjoy a day here strolling through the rose garden or visiting one of the park’s sports centers or museums. Take a tour of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, which has been home to several sports teams, including the Dodgers, Raiders, and Rams. The Summer Olympics, Super Bowl, and World Series have also been played here. You can also walk to the nearby museums, including the National History Museum of L.A. County and the California Science Center. This area is great for families and kids to explore! Make sure to look online for days the museums are free for kids!
Photo provided by Unsplashed.
#4 -
Crypto.com Arena
Come catch a Lakers, Clippers, King’s game, or a concert here at this amazing arena! Arrive early to give time for any traffic and to have some dinner and drinks at L.A. Live right across the street. They have a Yardhouse, Fleming’s Steakhouse, and a Wolfgang Puck Bar and Grill. There is always something going on here like ice skating, street fairs, and concerts. You can even see a movie, go to a spa, or go bowling at Lucky Strike. To save time in traffic and money from parking fees, you can take the subway by connecting to the blue line from union station. From there, you can exit the 7th St/Metro Center stop and set out on a 15ish minute walk or you can connect to the light blue line and stop at the Pico Station for a much shorter walk.
#3 -
Warner Bros. Studio Tour
This studio is located in the city of Burbank close to all of the major studios, such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Universal, and NBC. This is a fun tour where you can visit current television show sets, walk the streets where TV shows and movies are made, sit on sets where your favorite characters once stood, and take a tram ride to learn all of the ins and outs of the TV and movie industry! You will be able to see costumes and props used in films such as Harry Potter, Aquaman,and Wonder Woman. You can even sit under the sorting hat and find out which Hogwarts house you belong to (we were sorted in Hufflepuff and Gryffindor). We loved getting to sit on the iconic couches of two of our favorite shows-Friends and The Big Bang Theory. Great photo opportunities here! While you are in Burbank, check out the great restaurants nearby, such as Smokehouse and Chao Christina, or hop on over to Universal Studios right down the street! We are biased, having lived in this area for many years, but we love it!
#2 -
Paradise Cove/Malibu Beaches
Worth the drive, any beach in California is a must do when visiting the state. Make it a day by cruising down PCH and taking in the refreshing ocean views. Head on over to Malibu for some fun in the sun. Bring a beach bag, towel, snacks, drinks, games, anything you need for a day on the sand. We enjoy going to Paradise Cove where you can enjoy the onsite restaurant and drink on their private beach! Don’t forget to have your parking validated before you leave. Any beach along this strip is a great choice! Park for free along the main street, or pay a small fee to park in many of the lots. Other great beach spots include Venice, Santa Monica, Ventura, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach...the list goes on and on! Just look up directions to see what best fits your trip.
#1 -
Griffith Park
If you need a break from the city and are looking for a fun way to get your steps in, take a trip to Griffith Park. Parking can get competitive on the weekends so make sure to get there early. There’s so much to do here that it could easily fill up an entire day. You can visit the Observatory, which is free, that has some incredible telescopes, and offers one of a kind views of Los Angeles. From there, you can take one of several hiking trails through the park, even one that will guide you to a photo op at the Hollywood Sign. Not far from there (it’s a large park so driving would be best), you can visit the animals at the zoo, or during the summer you can spend a memorable night seeing an outdoor concert at the Greek Theater or the nearby Hollywood Bowl. We highly recommend their summer movie nights! Other family attractions here include The Gene Autry Museum, Travel Town, the carousel, and pony rides.
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