Things To Do
Ramen
Shin-Sen-Gumi Hakata Ramen is our favorite food we've tried in Little Tokyo. The wait is worth it!
Mochi
The oldest Japanese American-owned business in the USA, Fugetsu-Do Bakery has been family owned and operated since 1903 and specializes in mochi and manju. The original founder also invented the fortune cookie! Also check out Mikawaya, which invented mochi ice cream.
Grand Central Market
Grand Central Market is great for a wide variety of affordable foods!
The Broad
A very famous, free, and cool art museum close by in DTLA. Reserve in advance!
Rooftop Views
Nobody does open-air rooftop bars better than LA! We recommend The Perch, on the top floor of Pershing Square Building, which is a restaurant often with live music before sundown, and a bar at night. The Standard is a rooftop club. Indigo and InterContinental have daytime rooftop pools.
Koreatown
Food of many varied Korean styles, great spas, karaoke, and more. Adjacent to downtown.
Echo Park Lake
A beautiful urban lake where you can rent swan-shaped pedal boats and hang out, or just walk around a lakeside path. Free parking and entry. The Echo Park area is also known for great late-night taco trucks!
California Science Center
Space shuttle Endeavour is here! There's also permanent exhibits on fire, the beginnings of life, ecosystems (with a kelp forest aquarium!) and more. It's also directly next to the Natural History Museum.
Natural History Museum
A favorite of Jared's. Interesting for kids and adults alike, it's also where Night at the Museum was filmed!
Hollywood Sign
For a great view of the Sign with minimal effort, drive to the top story of the Home Depot parking lot on Sunset Boulevard :) OR, we recommend the address above, since you'll get great views of the Hollywood Sign as well as Lake Hollywood. The link below has more information if you'd like to make it a hike!
Griffith Park and Observatory
Go after sunset! The Observatory is on a large hill, and there's nothing like that view of city lights twinkling all the way into the horizon. You also might see a coyote. If you have kids, go during the day, so you can also drop by the LA Zoo (also in Griffith Park) and see the Hollywood Sign all in one.
Blind Barber
The Blind Barber is a great speakeasy and favorite of Chelsea's and her Caltech friends. Go through the secret door at the back of what looks like an empty barber shop, pass the saltwater fishtank, to find a cozy room of food, cocktails, and dance.
Forest Lawn Glendale
Expansive, optimistic, landmark cemetery with museum of American artwork, trees, and two of the largest paintings in the Western Hemisphere. Full of famous burials (e.g. Walt Disney & Michael Jackson), Jared's maternal great-grandparents were also some of the first to be buried at this cemetery.
La Brea Tar Pits
"The only Ice Age fossil site in the world that's being actively excavated in the middle of a city!" Personal favorite of Chelsea's paternal grandmother. The Tar Pits are also directly next to yet another great art museum, the LACMA (LA County Museum of Art).
Two Rodeo
This ultraexpensive mall in Beverly Hills is known for the Hollywood Fame and people watching. Secondhand-designer shops may have good deals. Another beautiful mall for the "LA" experience is the Westfield Century City, which is outdoor and much more moderately priced.
Huntington Gardens
This 130 acre botanical garden has plants from across the globe in 12 principal gardens: palm, lily pond, rose, cactus, Australian, Japanese + bonsai, Chinese, herb, Shakespeare, jungle, ranch, and camellia. There is also a library, museum, and mausoleum on the property. Worth the hefty entrance fee.
Player One Bar
Player One, a favorite of Jared's also in Orlando, is a bar with numerous vintage arcades from the '80s and '90s and an incredibly broad selection of well-priced beers from across the world.
The Getty Center
One of our personal favorites, The Getty is yet another famous art museum in LA. Bonus: it has an outdoor garden with great views of the entire LA metropolitan area, beach, and Bel Air. It's also completely free! Though you'll need to reserve an entry time in advance and pay $20 per car parking.
Venice Beach
Ocean Front Walk, Muscle Beach, and the nearby Venice Canal Historic District are supposed to be especially beautiful during golden hour.
Santa Monica
Santa Monica Pier is overrated and overcrowded, but you won't be disappointed by Tongva park just across the street (from where you can see the whole pier anyway)! Third Street Promenade nearby is a very LA vibe: wide, well-architected, car-free street with shopping, people-watching, street performances, food, etc. Take Ocean Ave by Palisades Park at sunset on your way in/out.