Miranda & Caleb
Things To Do
Griffith Observatory
You can either drive or take a really beautiful hike up the mountain side of the park to really see the sprawl of LA. It is fun to go either in the middle of the day, or at night when you can see city lit up. Great sighting of the Hollywood sign too!
Disneyland
Is any trip to Los Angeles complete without a stop off at The Happiest Place on Earth.
Mulholland Drive
Just travel along the winding mountain crest that is Mulholland Drive. You’ll see amazing views and what divides the city from the Valley. You can also get a peak at some fancy residences that line both sides of the road. No drive along Mulholland would be complete without blasting Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’”
The Getty
Budget as much time as you want here, but you could spend days looking through all the art on display. There's also a really beautiful outside garden, as well as great views of West LA.
Malibu
Beach- DUH. Also stop by Malibu Beach Cafe, a classic LA food stop.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the La Brea Tar Pits
LACMA and the La Brea Tar Pits are right next to each other. LACMA has an amazing collection of all kinds of art. There is also a separate museum for the tar pits, but you can see of the outdoor tar pits for free. Many of the pits are still active. There is also an outdoor light installation at LACMA that every tourist posts about on Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, any other platform you could possible think of.
The Japanese Garden
Had to throw one in this one in there for my Grandma! She used to give teas and tours of the place. It's a water reclamation site in the middle of the San Fernando Valley, but it's so relaxing and beautiful to walk around the gardens. Miranda's Aunt Shelley can give you more information!
Hollywood Bowl
Such an amazing place. The Hollywood Bowl is an outdoor amphitheater that hosts great musical events- usually featuring the LA Philharmonic. If you're lucky enough to be in town when there is event on, I highly encourage you to get tickets!
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Walk around Hollywood and Highland area for the Hollywood Walk of Fame where celebrity stars line the pavement. While you’re there, check out Graumans (TCL) Chinese Theater and the handprints outside.
Santa Monica Pier
Right on the water, Santa Monica Pier has some roller coasters, classic pier food, and a lot of tourists. While there, walk around the rest of Santa Monica or spend a day at the Santa Monica beach!
Venice Beach
Check out the Venice beach boardwalk scene. It’s an LA classic, where a lot of movies and tv shows are filmed, where Schwarzenegger used to body build, and where you can do some interesting people watching. You can also rent a bike and go between Santa Monica Pier and Venice beach, they are close together and have a biking path that connects the two. The Venice canals are nearby and you’ll see some great murals in the area.
Take a Hike!
There are so many great places in LA to hike. For example you can hike close to the famed Hollywood sign or head for Runyon Canyon which is a great place for celebrity sightings.
The Broad
The Broad family built a museum to house their personal collection of modern art. See what money can buy!
Blu Jam Cafe
Their crunchy french toast is amazing. There are a few locations, but the Tarzana one is near and dear to my heart, and right down the street from my childhood home!