Los Angeles is truly one of a kind. The city spreads over 502 miles and houses over 3.8 million people, but luckily, there is no shortage of things to do. From museums to beaches to Universal Studios, LA has something to offer for everyone. Check out our top eight picks for things to do while in the City of Angels.
Featured Photo: Gerson Repreza
The Getty
The $1.3 billion center opened back in 1997 and since then, it’s become known as one of the most beautiful and prestigious museums in the country. The Getty has something for everyone from art, modern design, charming gardens, or the incredible views of Los Angeles. Visitors can take a tram ride to the top to witness stunning views of the center and city, see artwork from the Medieval Ages to the modern day, walk through the beautiful central garden that features beautiful waterfalls, colorful plants, and so much more. Plus, admission is free!
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios is the ultimate amusement park for thrill-seeking fans of any Universal movie, TV show, or video game. They offer many exciting and thrilling rides such as Flight of the Hippogriff, a Harry Potter-themed roller coaster, Jurassic Park: The Ride, a boat ride that takes you through the Jurassic Park storyline, and more. In addition to the rides, Universal Studios offers live shows at their 5 Towers Stage, Despicable Me Carnival Games, and even has a frog choir, where a group of Hogwarts students sings with frogs in front of a live audience. There is an endless amount of things to do here, so there will never be a dull moment no matter who you’re with.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Being the largest art museum in the western United States, LACMA has a collection of over 148,000 artistic pieces that help illustrate the world’s history over the last 6,000 years. The museum is known for its spirit of experimentation that’s reflected in the artwork and its partnerships and strategies to engage new audiences. Some of the current art exhibits include: Women Defining Women, Afro-Atlantic Histories, and Light, Space, and Surface. LACMA is a must-visit for anyone interested in art or history.
Venice
Venice Beach, otherwise known as just Venice, is a lively beach town in LA that’s most known for its funky shops, entertaining street performers, and eye-catching murals. There are plenty of great places to eat like the Italian restaurant Felix Trattoria, American Beauty, a steakhouse on Rose Avenue, or Great White, an all-day Australian-style cafe. Perhaps the most popular Venice attractions are Muscle Beach and the Venice Beach Skatepark. Muscle Beach is an outdoor weight-lighting gym right on Venice Beach, many elite bodybuilders have worked out there and are known to be the birthplace of the U.S. physical fitness boom. The Venice Beach skatepark, created in 2009, is one of the most famous skateparks in the country due to its beautiful surroundings and optimal location.
Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory sits high atop Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, with stunning views of the Los Angeles Basin where you can see from downtown LA to the Pacific Ocean. Visitors at Griffith Observatory can do a multitude of activities such as viewing the sky through their many public telescopes, checking out one of their 60 space-related exhibits, or seeing a live show at the Samuel Oschin Planetarium. It is the most visited public observatory in the world(1.6 million) for a reason, so be sure to add this to your LA to-do list.
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Walt Disney Concert Hall is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, one of the most prestigious orchestras in the world. The concert hall presents the very best talents in classical music, contemporary music, jazz and world music. The 3.6 acre complex was designed by architect Frank Gehry, who made it one of the most acoustically sophisticated concert halls in the world with its unique design. Along with the LA Phil, the concert hall also hosts the LA Master Chorale, and visiting artists and orchestras from all around the globe.
The Broad
Located on Grand Avenue in Downtown LA, the Broad is a contemporary art museum that houses an active program of rotating exhibitions. Some of their featured installations include an Expansive Presentation of Andy Warhol, Keith Haring: Art is for Everybody, and an Expansive Presentation of Jean-Michel Basquiat. Admission is free, so there’s no reason not to see the Broad’s collection of over 2,000 pieces of art. On top of that, they have one of the leading collections for both postwar and contemporary art.
Santa Monica Pier
The Santa Monica Pier is one of the most photographed spots in all of Los Angeles. The pier offers an amusement park, an aquarium, vibrant street performances as well as, a range of different shops and cafes. It sits right on the beach in Santa Monica, with gorgeous views of the Pacific Ocean and beyond. The amusement park itself features a Ferris wheel, a roller coaster, carnival games, and so much more. It’s great for families with little kids, and adults looking to have some fun at the beach.
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