Make the Most of Your Visit to Los Angeles, California
Visiting Los Angeles, California can be overwhelming. It’s a tremendous city, but there are so many tourist attractions of all different kinds that it’s difficult to fit in everything you’d like to see and do on a single trip. If you’d like help narrowing things down though, here are eight places in the LA area that are definitely worth your time.
1. The Original Farmer’s Market
It may not be the traditional headline tourist attraction, but one of the most pleasant things you can do on your trip is spend the day sampling delicious food at the Original Farmer’s Market at Third and Fairfax. The market’s local vendors, such as Du-par’s Pie Shop, T&Y Bakery, and Bob’s Coffee & Doughnuts, will quite literally give you a taste of the city. And with the market open all days of the week, (as opposed to just weekend mornings or something of that nature) it’s a pretty easy stop to make.
2. Griffith Park Trail
Griffith Park is a great place to hike if you want to see the Hollywood sign and look down on LA from the surrounding hills. It’s not a strenuous trail, meaning it’s fine for beginners but also good for exercise. And you never know, of course, if you might run into a celebrity trying to go incognito in casual workout gear!
3. Manhattan Beach
While Santa Monica Pier is a popular favorite amongst tourists, Manhattan Beach tends to be way less crowded. The beautiful beach, located in South Bay, has plenty of volleyball courts and a wonderful biking trail. Visitors can also shop at local boutiques and eat at fabulous restaurants like The Kettle – a famous 24 hour diner.
4. Largo
The Largo gives comedy fans an opportunity to see their favorite acts for a reasonable price. Famous comedians who have been on stage at the venue include Larry David, Tenacious D, John Mulaney, Tig Notaro, and Silicon Valley’s Thomas Middleditch. But even if you aren’t catching a famous performer, it’s an easy place to enjoy. The venue itself packs a lot of charm, you can always sip a few cocktails and mingle with other guests, and anyone who takes the stage at the Largo is bound to be funny.
5. Dodger Stadium
LA locals are all about the Dodgers – one of the most historic teams in the MLB. During home games, this 56,000-capacity stadium tends to be super lively, particularly this season and the last few years. As baseball fans are well aware, many MLB bookie listings favor the Dodgers among the best teams in the league, and a true World Series contender. That is to say, not only is the venue fun and the organization historic, but you’ll also be seeing top-notch baseball! Be sure to grab a Dodger dog and an iconic blue team hat while you’re there.
6. Disneyland
If you’re a Disney, Marvel, or Star Wars fan, Disneyland is an absolute must during your trip to LA. Whether you want to pretend you’re a Jedi on Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run, mingle with superheroes, or even embrace your inner child and go for a spin on the Mad Tea Party Teacups, you’ll be in for a great time. Just don’t forget to eat a giant turkey leg and snap a few photos with popular characters while you’re at it! Here’s an article about how to save big on Disney vacations if you want to save some money on your next trip.
7. The Broad
The Broad is an immersive contemporary art museum located in the heart of downtown LA. This city is so full of unique entertainment and larger-than-life Hollywood attractions that some more traditional options, like museums, may escape most tourists’ notice. But The Broad is worth your time, particularly with current exhibits including Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms.
8. Rose Bowl Flea Market
The Rose Bowl Flea Market in Pasadena, California makes for a great outing if you’re looking for something unique and relatively cheap. The flea market takes place on the last Sunday of every month, so you’ll need to consider the timing if you hope to visit. But if you make it, you’ll enjoy hundreds of vendors selling art and crafts, vintage merchandise, new items, and antiques. You’ll be sure to find something you like, and perhaps wrap things up with a perfect souvenir of your LA experience.
