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For many tourists, Los Angeles sightseeing begins and ends with Hollywood. Of course, there is a lot to see there: the Walk of Fame, the Chinese Theater, the Hollywood sign, the Kodak Theater (home of the Oscars), and a wide array of nightlife.
Universal Studios Hollywood
But there is so much more to see and do in the area - in fact, Hollywood is just the tip of the iceberg. In the area immediately surrounding Hollywood are Universal Studios and Citywalk, The Grove shopping center, CBS Television City (home to many shows including American Idol), and Griffith Park, home to the Los Angeles Zoo, the Gene Autry Museum of the West and the Travel Town Transportation and Rail Museum.
Another wonderful (and free!) landmark adjacent to Hollywood is the Griffith Observatory. Located on a hilltop in Griffith Park, the observatory recently underwent a massive 93 million dollar renovation and expansion between 2002 and 2006 and is now better than ever, with a huge new underground exhibit space, a state of the art planetarium (now touted as the best in the world), and the new Leonard Nemoy Event Horizon theater. The observatory is an L.A. icon with the best views day and night. It's a no-miss, and it's free - doesn't get any better than that.
The Grove at night
Los Angeles shopping and star gazing
The shopping in L.A. ranges from low budget to ultra high end. If you're looking to combine some shopping with a meal and even possibly some star gazing, check out the Grove outdoor mall, located about 5-10 minutes from Hollywood Boulevard. It's a great place to spend a perfect L.A. afternoon or evening.
Just south of the Grove is the Miracle Mile, a section of Wilshire Boulevard that houses several great museums, including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Peterson Automotive Museum, the famous La Brea Tar Pits Museum, and the new Broad Museum of Contemporary Art. It's a great place to spend a sunny day immersed in culture and enjoying the laid-back pace of the city. Throw in lunch at the museum or at the adjacent Calendars restaurant, and you've got one wonderful day.
Head 2-3 miles west along Wilshire Boulevard, and you'll find yourself in the heart of Beverly Hills, home to world famous Rodeo Drive and it's swanky shops. But there is plenty of shopping for regular folks in Beverly Hills too along with a great selection of restaurants for every budget. A personal favorite is Il Fornaio at 301 Beverly Drive on the corner of Dayton Way (one block east of Rodeo Drive).
Beverly Hills is still a good place to spot stars. To up your odds of a star sighting, check out the upscale department stores on Wilshire, including Barneys New York and Sax 5th Avenue (where Winona Ryder was arrested for shoplifting).
Downtown Los Angeles
Don't miss Downtown Los Angeles
With Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, and the rest of the famous cities in the area, it's easy to forget all about Downtown Los Angeles altogether, but this would be a mistake, as it is home not only to towering skyscrapers but to some great museums, concert halls, theaters, and tech famous Los Angeles City Hall.
If you are staying in Hollywood, Universal City, or Pasadena, downtown Los Angeles is just a quick subway or light rail ride away. From Hollywood or Universal City, just hop on the Red Line subway and get off at one of several downtown stops.
Downtown is a cultural hub and is home to the amazing Frank Gehry designed Disney Concert Hall (home to the L.A. Symphony Orchestra), the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, a brand new Catholic Cathedral, and the outstanding Museum of Contemporary Art.
Another great attraction downtown is the brand new L.A. Live entertainment center, which includes the new Nokia Theater, Club Nokia, the adjacent Staples Center arena (home to the Lakers, Clippers, and Kings), and the just-opened Grammy Museum, a must-see for any music lover.
Santa Monica Pier at dusk
Santa Monica, Malibu, and the beach cities
You just can't visit L.A. without heading to the coast. The easiest and quickest beach to get to is the Santa Monica coastline. The Santa Monica Pier houses boardwalk games, restaurants, and rides, including a roller coaster, carousel, and brand new, enormous Ferris wheel. Using the pier as a home base, you can enjoy the adjacent beaches, bike or roller blade along the bike path for miles, and walk down to Venice Beach and take in the eccentric, unique merchants and scene.
Another option is to head south 30 minutes to Manhattan Beach with it's wonderful upscale beach town vibe, quaint shops, great restaurants, pier, and miles of sandy beaches. Head down for the day, and bring a volleyball or roller blades and a beach blanket. Take the drive south along the Palos Verdes Peninsula for rugged coastline and views that rival those anywhere along the Pacific Coast.
Or if you prefer, you can head north from Santa Monica along the Malibu coastline, with its beautiful, isolated beaches and coves. Stop in for shopping or a meal at the Malibu Colony Plaza, one of the best spots to see celebrities anywhere.
Of course there is so much more to Los Angeles sightseeing than I can cover on this page, so to find out even more, taker a look around the site, and have a fantastic visit to Southern California.
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