This list of cool things to do in LA includes some you’ll find familiar and many that are off the beaten track and very interesting. Enjoy!
- The Griffith Observatory is one of the most iconic observatories in the world. From here you can see the LA skyline, the famous Hollywood sign, Hollywood Hills, and out to sea on a clear day. You can watch a planetarium show at the observatory. Highlights of Griffith Park include the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, The Greek Theater, Bronson Caves, and the Autry Museum of the American West.
- The Getty Museum juxtaposes modern architecture and art from the middle ages. You can take the driverless tram up the hill to the Getty Center where ever-changing gardens surround it. You’ll enjoy vintage French furniture, an original Van Gogh, and a collection of 19th to 20th-century European photographs. Even with all the famous art pieces inside, the Getty Center is completely free to enter; you just have to pay for parking!
- Venice Beach is one of the coolest areas in Los Angeles. Even back in the 50s when I was a kid, it was the cool, with the beatniks who hung out on the beach. Now it’s full of trendy cafes, tattoo parlors, street performers, and vendors. You’ll find over two miles of sandy beaches. Venice Canals are situated between the Venice boardwalk and Abbot Kinney Boulevard. In 1905, a wealthy individual created his own version of Venice, Italy, in Los Angeles. Today it’s a beautiful walk for tourists and locals alike, over the bridges, around the colorful houses, and around the canals. You can book a private boat tour (in advance!) and learn even more about the history of the area.
- Located in Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive is a two mile long street, famous for being the best designer shopping street in LA.
At the base of Rodeo Drive sits Two Rodeo Drive which is a European-styled shopping center with cobbled streets, world-famous brands, and al fresco dining spots! You won’t need a lot of time for this, unless you plan to empty your wallet. - Newport Beach, an hour south of LA if traffic is light (hah!), is known for its sandy coast, perfect for a day at the beach, its stunning sunsets, and for having one of the largest recreational harbors on the west coast.I remember as a kid going to Balboa, the bay side of Newport beach, and enjoying a chocolate-dipped frozen banana. Newport beach will have something for you! It’s also the perfect spot to try surfing!
- The Bradbury Building in Downtown LA and is one of the city’s oldest commercial buildings and is easily the most beautiful!
It was commissioned by Lewis L Bradbury, a gold miner, in 1893. It is quite nice from the outside, but what will dazzle you is the interior. You’ll find a Victorian-style courtroom with a 50 ft high glass ceiling, marble staircases, and cage like elevators.
Most downtown LA walking tours will include the Bradbury Building but make sure the one you select includes the interior of the building. Not to be missed. - In the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County you can learn all about the science and natural history of our planets through displays and interactive exhibits. The most popular being the largest, the dinosaur hall, home to the huge to-scale T-rex skeleton and the museum’s Dinosaur Encounters Show.
Not only does this museum have the classic natural history museum exhibits of gems and minerals, skeletons, and around the world animals settings, but it also has one ofCalifornia’s top collections of fossils and an opportunity to learn about Los Angeles native plants and wildlife. Book your tickets in advance to guarantee entrance and try to visit midweek to avoid the large crowds. - Visit the famous Santa Monica Farmers Market located on Arizona Avenue between 2nd and 4th streets. It’s open every Tuesday and Saturday from 8 am until 1 pm. You’ll find the city’s highest quality local produce. Many of the top restaurants in Los Angeles shop there to purchase their fruit and vegetables. Maybe you’ll luck out and see a celebrity chef; they often go looking for ingredients for their menus late mornings on Wednesdays!
- The La Brea Tar Pits is an active paleontological research site in urban Los Angeles. Hancock Park was formed around a group of tar pits where natural asphalt has seeped up from the ground for tens of thousands of years. Over many centuries, the bones of trapped animals have been preserved. You can visit the exterior grounds of the La Brea Tar Pits free of charge.
- In the heart of downtown, the Broad is one of the most popular museums in LA. It opened in 2015, and holds more than 2,000 works of art in its collection. The museum is named for philanthropists Eli and Edythe Broad, who financed the $140 million building that houses the Broad art collections. It offers free general admission to its permanent collection galleries. Get there early.
From the gorgeous beaches to the Hollywood hills LA offers enough fascinating sights to last a lifetime. Just ask anyone who lives there!