Planning any vacation can seem daunting; there are so many things to see and do, but how are you ever supposed to narrow it down? Before planning your big trip to Los Angeles, check out our guide for a few of the attractions and activities you can’t miss.
Wander the Hollywood Walk of Fame
The first must-see on our list is the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Wander the shops and admire the talent of Hollywood past and present, make sure to bring your camera so you can snag the best pictures for Instagram alongside the stars of the Hollywood elite. Everyone from the likes of Jamie Lee Curtis and Johnny Cash to the widely beloved musical group, Alvin and the Chipmunks. You may even have the opportunity to make your debut on late-night television.
Hit Up the Santa Monica Pier
Go into full-on vacation mode and spend a day at the Santa Monica Pier. Let your inner-kid loose and revisit some of your classic arcade games at the Playland Arcade. Get the full experience by taking in the street performers, and watch them draw “the lotto.” No, not that lottery, this one takes place four times throughout the day and decides which street performers get their chance to perform and where along the pier, they will lay claim. The performers line up before the lottery to see which names will be drawn to inhabit one of the pier’s 24 designated spaces; this way, everyone is given a fair shot.
After conquering the arcade and watching the talented performers, you can get a little hands-on at the Heal the Bay Aquarium, grab a meal at one of the many restaurants along the pier, and end your day with a sunset spin around the Ferris wheel in Santa Monica Pier’s famed Amusement Park.
Hike to the Sign
While on your trip to LA, you can’t miss out on your chance to get up close and personal with The Hollywood Sign. You have your option of four routes, ranked easy to difficult to make your way to the sign.
If the idea of a hike doesn’t appeal to you, you still have plenty of opportunities to view the infamous sign. The Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation occasionally offers shuttle rides up to the sign, or you can stay comfortable at a lower elevation and have an incredible view of the sign from the Griffith Observatory.
During your time in Griffith Park, make sure to visit some of the other attractions, like The Autry Museum where you can explore the history of the wild west, the LA Zoo, the manmade Bronson Caves, or get out your ghost-hunting gear and check out the supposedly haunted old Griffith Park Zoo.
Barhop at the LA Classics
Is there any better way to wind down from a day out on the trails than with an ice-cold beer? With a history as rich as LA’s, there’s no doubt you’ll find some great bars, like The Echo, where Vampire Weekend got their start, or a dive bar like the Frolic Room, or Good Times at Davey Wayne’s that offers a secret entrance reminiscent of a speakeasy and all the 70s cover bands you could want.
However, if you or one of your travel companions is experiencing an issue with substance abuse, please call or visit a drug treatment center, like the CAST Centers, located at 630 N Doheny Dr. West Hollywood, CA 90069 Phone: (323) 457-8208.
Whichever way you plan to spend your trip, follow our advice, make the most of your time in the City of Angels, and don’t worry about letting your tourist show.
