Matthew & Allie
Things To Do
Discover Los Angeles
This is a good place to find things to do beyond what I suggest below!
Los Angeles Nature and Outdoors!
Want to hike? Chase waterfalls? Bike Griffith Park? Visit a beach? Watch the sunset? This is the link you want to click.
Griffith Observatory
My favorite place to go is Griffith Observatory. If you have the time, I think this is a must see. With a stunning overlook of Los Angeles, the set for La La Land & Yes Man, AWESOME telescope viewings (until 9pm), a really cool museum, and cheap planetarium show tickets, this free staple of LA has it all. I suggest going here in the evening like 7/8pm, buying a planetarium show ticket, viewing the telescope viewings on the lawn (you could see Saturn's rings or the like), enjoying the museum, and admiring the best view of the Hollywood sign and the city from outside. Pro-tip: Parking will seem scarce. Just drive to the top, and drive around the parking lot until a spot opens up. But don't drive past the lot at the top or you'll have to descend the mountain and try again.
In-N-Out Burger
The best value you will find in terms of food is In-n-Out Burger. As a Western US staple, please don't leave CA until you try it. Not only can you feed a family for like $30, but also you will pretty much always get your food in under 20 minutes no matter how long the drive thru looks. Pro-tip: Always go inside even for take out. The drive thru will take way longer. **The patties are kinda thin, so order a double-double.**
Star Wars Bar: Scum and Villainy Cantina
21+ awesome place that looks just like the cantina from the movies!!! You don’t have to buy anything!
Hollywood Boulevard (The Stars & Chinese Theatre)
If you want to see the famous Hollywood stars, navigate to Hollywood Blvd., drive around to see what interests you most, so you can find parking near that and walk around. The Wax Museum is really cool and so is Amoeba Music Store if you're into music / movies. If you don’t have a car, I’d suggest you navigate to the Chinese Theatre and walk around from there. The best place to eat in Hollywood imo is In-N-Out Burger. If I were your tour guide and you landed in the afternoon, I'd take you straight to this area from LAX, we'd walk the stars, maybe go to the Wax Museum or Rippley's Believe it or Not, get some in-n-out, head to Giffith Observatory then back to In-n-out if hungry after.
Terroni
The best Italian food I've ever had was at Terroni. If you're looking for something on the slightly fancier side, this is your place. Prepare for authentic handmade everything, no substitutions, gluten in everything. Expect to spend ~$30 per person.
The Habit
If you've never been to The Habit, you're missing out. It's a burger place, but they also make really good shakes and salads. I always order a BBQ Chicken Sandwich on sourdough bread or a Santa Barbara Charburger, but everything is good here.
Betos Italian Bistro
My parents eat at this Beto's just about every Monday night for date night. I love the chicken piccata or the salmon. The customer service is elite, and the staff know my family, so be sure to say hi for us if you go there!
Other Great Food ~Cultural~
For Greek: Greek House Cafe (owner knows my mom Viviana, say hi for us!) For Peruvian food: Munay Restaurant For Thai: Simi Thai Cuisine For Vietnamese: Pho So 1 For Mediterranean: Atlas Mediterranean Grill (super friendly owner who knows us) or Ali Baba's For Mexican: Tico's Mexican Food on the East side of Simi or Campos on the West side At each of these restaurants, expect to spend ~$15-20 per person, but the quality will be high.
Zuma Beach (Malibu)
Zuma Beach in Malibu is my favorite beach. The drive through the hills if you come from the 101 and get off at Kanan to get here is my favorite, and it will be absolutely beautiful during our wedding time. If you go to Zuma, I suggest parking on the street (free) at one of the lower numbered towers like 7 or 8, then walking ~1 mile South to Point Dume, going up the ~100 ft. trail to the top, and observing one of the most beautiful views of the ocean / coastline. You can also just drive to Point Dume, but you will have a hard time finding anywhere to park. If you're looking to save money, don't get gas or food in this area.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios is only 20 mins from our venue and you can go to Universal City Walk for free (similar to the vibes of Pier 39 in SF with less fog)! At Universal Studios, you can tour some of the most legendary movie sets and ride some really cool rides. I suggest Super Mario World, Harry Potter World, and the iconic Studio Tour. Fun Fact: I've been an extra in a few things filmed here, which was super cool.
Disneyland Park and California Adventure Park
Now, if you have an extra few days to kill, Disneyland and California Adventure Park are like ~.5-1 hours away from our venue. Research which park you want to go to in advance because they have different offerings and sell separate tickets. Pro-tip: Buy your tickets and fast passes online in advance or you will spend the whole day waiting in lines.
Other
There's tons of other touristy things to do/see that I didn't mention, so here are a few more popular sights to see/things to do in the area. Several of these options are free! The Getty Museum, The Getty Villa, LACMA (modern art museum), Santa Monica Pier (has cool rides if open), The Broad, The Hollywood Bowl, La Brea Tar Pits (best for kids), California Science Center, Discovery Cube LA (really good for kids), visit Olvera Street for mexican culture (get a churro at Mr. Churro!), Peterson Automotive Museum, visiting the famous Rodeo Drive, SoFi Stadium, Dodger Stadium, other museums, other beaches, tons of beautiful hiking trails, and so much more.