Next we'll recommend a few LA-specific activities to do in the Glendale/Burbank area! For an inside look at one of Hollywood's busiest movie studios we'd recommend checking out the Warner Bros. Studio tour located right in Burbank! This tour features numerous sets and props from Barbie, Harry Potter, Friends, the DC Comic Universe, and Gilmore Girls among others.
For a theme-park experience we'd recommend City Walk, and the Universal Studios Theme Park (which includes Harry Potter World and Super Mario World). This park is located in nearby Universal City.
The Americana is an outdoor shopping center that is within walking distance to all hotels we recommend that are in Glendale proper (see above hotels). This walkable outdoor shopping center has a ton of great places to eat featuring great Italian, American, and Mexican food. For those looking for something more casual there's a Chick-Fil-A and Shake Shack here as well!
Next we'd like to recommend a few local eateries and coffee houses depending on if you're staying in Glendale, going to downtown or visiting the South Bay. Our first recommendation is Zhengyalov Hatz. Delicious, healthy, and honestly one of a kind. This restaurant makes in house a traditional Armenian fresh and thin rolled "pita" wrap stuffed with 15 different kind soft fresh herbs. It's served steaming hot and pairs well with a yogurt drink or their fresh made tea. Award winning & local to Glendale.
Local to Burbank with an outpost in nearby Atwater village this is a community favorite artisan coffee house.
If you're up for a 15-20 minute drive from Glendale to downtown for a late night drink or just want to check out the view of Los Angeles, we recommend Spire 73. Spire 73 is the tallest open air bar in the Western Hemisphere and arguably has the best views of Los Angeles. The restaurant bar is located in the Intercontinental Hotel in Downtown LA. From Glendale or Burbank we'd recommend taking an Uber or Lyft to the Intercontinental Hotel, however if you have a car they provide valet. Enter through the lobby and then follow the signs to the elevators that will take you up to the 71st floor (this opens into a large indoor viewing room from which you have excellent views of the city, Hollywood and, depending on the weather, Long Beach and the South Bay). From this room proceed to another elevator that takes you up to the 73rd floor (e.g. Spire 73) and enjoy! You can walk in for a drink or the view but if you want to eat there we'd recommend making a reservation (See the link or call!)
Los Angeles has some of the best museums in the world, the Getty is our favorite. Admission is free, but if you're driving your own car parking is around $20 per vehicle.
For those with personal transportation in LA and looking for a cool area to either grab breakfast or grab a drink in the evening The Lighthouse Cafe is located some distance away from Glendale and Burbank but is well worth the trip. Gaining notoriety as the "piano bar" from LaLaLand, the Lighthouse Cafe is one of many restaurant bars located along Hermosa Beach's lively Pier Avenue. There are a lot of other nearby restaurants and bars in this Beach City pedestrian street and, located right on the strand, provides scenic sunset views from the beach or the Hermosa Beach Pier.