Los Angeles

Deciding the best things to do in Los Angeles can be a daunting and tedious process considering the number of famous sites and attractions in the city. Your top list surely includes Beverly Hills and Hollywood, but there’s more to discover in this city of angels. It is stuffed with many great places to discover and experience. You will never have to ask yourself what to do next. In fact, a week is not enough to discover all the beautiful places in Los Angeles. To help you get started with your Los Angeles journey, here are our recommendations:

#1 – Point Dume State Beach, Malibu

Los Angeles is home to many picturesque beaches and one of them is Point Dume State Beach in Malibu. It’s the perfect place for picnicking and enjoying a beachfront meal while watching the seals and dolphins. It is also the perfect spot to witness the sunset. It has a one-mile ocean frontage with 34 acres of sand. It’s also packed with amenities such as restaurants, parking spaces, showers, and restrooms. It also comes with hiking trails leading you to an ancient coastal bluff sand dune. From the beach, you will have an incredible view of Santa Monica Bay and Catalina Island. Point Dume State Beach is open from sunrise to sunset.

#2 – Leo Carillo State Park

It offers the best of both worlds, a scenic view and a secluded beautiful stretch of sand. It’s one and a half miles across the north part of Malibu. It has sea caves, pristine sand, and eye-catching rock formations. It is uncrowded when compared to beaches in the south. Some of the activities you can enjoy at Leo Carillo State park include swimming, surfing, beachcombing, scuba diving, and windsurfing. During low tide, you will see sea creatures like mussels, crabs, sea anemones, and tidepools. It has nice camping grounds with 135 campsites equipped with tables and fire rings. Dogs are allowed for as long as they stay south of the lifeguard tower. There’s a souvenir store where you can purchase souvenir items like t-shirts.

#3 – Grand Central Market

Nestled in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, Grand Central Market is a European-style food hall operating since 1917. It will take you on a culinary journey from breakfast staples to comfort foods like Eggslut and burritos, sticky rice, tacos, vegan ramen, freshly made pasta, and barbecue. At nighttime, you can grab an ice-cold beer at Golden Road Brewery. If you are a foodie, you will surely love Grand Central Market for it showcases the best ingredients and dishes prepared by renowned chefs in California.

#4 – The Broad

It was built in 2015 and the inaugural exhibitions featured the rockstars of the 20th century such as Keith Haring, Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Barbara Kruger, and Jasper Johns. The Broad is a popular contemporary art museum consisting of two mirror-laden rooms of Yayoi Kusama. Other featured collections include a collection of 2,000 post-war works by Eli and Edythe Broad. Outside the museum, there is a plaza that features an olive tree grove and a restaurant, French Laundry alum Timothy Hollingsworth. There are standout installations too and they are worth checking out such as the stunning nine-screen video piece by Ragnar Kjartansson. It would take at least two hours to view the entire museum with live performances featured on a regular basis alongside the traditional art displays. Visit it now!

#5 – Disneyland Resort

The perfect place for kids and kids at heart – Disneyland. It is a legendary theme park that takes you to a world of fun, magic, and adventure. There are plenty of things to see and experience here that an entire day will not be enough. There are dozens of rides to try on. aside from these entertainments, there is also the Downtown Disney Shopping district and Disney hotels. Disneyland Resorts has two parks and when you purchase tickets, you can buy for a single park or park hopper enabling you to go back and forth between the two parks. This amusement park is laid out in themed areas such as Hollywood Land, Cars Land, Fantasy Land, and Tomorrow Land. Disney characters wander the parks, which makes the experience all the more lifelike, especially for children. Explore more!

#6 – Watts Towers

Simon Rodia, an Italian tile setter built the Watts Towers using scrap metals in the 1920s. As years passed by, he continued decorating the tower using consumer objects like bottles of 7up or Canada Dry, jewelry, seashells, marble, and tiles from Malibu pottery. There are a total of 17 structures with the tallest stretches to about 100 feet into the sky. The towers look captivating even after today, but the construction and maintenance were not that smooth at all. Over the years, the towers deteriorated and were damaged by an earthquake in 1994. It’s good to know that they are now in perfect shape after a series of renovations. Should you wish to visit Watts Towers, it’s at 1727 East 107th Street, Los Angeles.

#7 – Universal Studios Hollywood

It’s the place to be for Universal Studios fans. It takes you to a behind-the-scenes look at movie-making wonders. You will be able to experience street movies set in Hollywood history. It is packed with family-friendly attractions, thrilling rides, and a studio tour that is a must to experience when in Los Angeles. It’s located at 100 Universal City Plaza and opens at 10 in the morning and closes at 5 in the afternoon, although sometimes it extends its operating hours depending on the season. During peak days, the park sees about 35,000 visitors. If you want to experience the rides, the average waiting time is around 30 minutes. To avoid the huge crowd and long ride queues, it is best to visit on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays.

#8 – The Grove

Shop till you drop! Yes, that’s what The Grove offers. Located at 189 The Grove Dr

Los Angeles, The Grove offers an open-air shopping experience. It is referred to as the crown jewel of mall shopping in Los Angeles. It consists of 50 retailers but you’ll be amazed by the selections such as Apple Store, Dylan’s Candy Bar, Crate & Barrel, Coach, Michael Kors, Nordstrom, and Barneys New York Co-Op. The Nordstrom department store is pretty huge. There is also an assortment of restaurants and a movie theater. It is indeed a one-stop shop for all your shopping, dining, and entertainment needs.

#9 – California Science Center

Right in the Exposition Park situated a must-visit site; the California Science Center. It is packed with educational and interesting exhibits that will truly cultivate the inner scientist in you. It displays everything about science and evolution including animals from different ecosystems, transportation, energy, and outer space, to name a few. It was built in 1951 and over the years, it has expanded to make room for other pretty interesting details such as space shuttles and aircraft. One of the spots you should not miss during your visit to California Science Center is the World of Life and Creative World Galleries. It also hosts exhibits and lets visitors watch educational scientific films in its IMAX theater.

#10 – Paramount Pictures Studio Tour

When in Los Angeles, do not let the chance of visiting Paramount Pictures Studio pass you by. It is a place to discover Hollywood’s first major movie studio. It lets you access iconic locations like New York Street Backlot, Bronson Gate, and Prop Warehouse. Basically, you will be able to learn the significance of Paramount’s legacy and how it influences the world. once you discover how it all began, then you will be able to realize that Paramount is indeed Hollywood. Choose the Paramount VIP tour Guest to have exclusive access to the studio’s private areas such as the sound stages, prop warehouse, and sign shop. You will be introduced to the heart and soul of Paramount. Most of all, you will see how movies are crafted together, especially Paramount films you’ve come to love.