Los Angeles! A destination that seems to polarise visitors deeply, perhaps only par with Bali. Much like the city itself, no one quite sits on the fence about their feelings towards the City of Angels, and typically either love it or hate it. It’s probably the natural optimist in me, but I sit in the camp of the former. So if you’re thinking about a trip to LA, and are a little bit overwhelmed by the various conflicting reports, read on for the first timers guide to Los Angeles.
Acquaint yourself
Los Angeles is an enormous city. It is plagued by some pretty severe traffic at times and the metro is oft-maligned (unfairly in my opinion) as a means of getting around. So my best advice here is to map out your trip to LA and realise that a trip to Hollywood, DTLA and Santa Monica in one day isn’t as simple as jumping on a couple of buses and getting around the area in speedy time. Chunk up your time in LA into the different areas you want to visit and explore those deeply without trying to do everything in a given day. If you have less time, pick the places you really want to visit and head there rather than spreading yourself thin.
The Metro will take you to most key sights in LA, and whilst it isn’t as efficient as a world-class metro system would like to be, it is reasonably reliable and cheap. Uber and Lyft offer slightly more expensive point to point options, but depending on where you’re headed, traffic may be your biggest obstacle.
It’s a big city, so plan accordingly.
Griffith Observatory
The famed Griffith Observatory, is a wonderful place to spend an afternoon/early evening. The Observatory itself is located in a park which sits high over LA where (smog permitting) you can take in city views and capture some views of the Hollywood sign. It is an exceptional place to watch the sun go down which is befitting of an Observatory!
The Observatory itself offers a range of interesting sites and things to explore, and the best part of all, is it is completely free! There are certain parts that have a small cost attached, but for the most part, it’s a cheap destination to visit and worthwhile whether you’re a single, couple or a family.
Like any free attraction, it can get busy, so bear that in mind and build into your timings for your visit. You will not have it to yourself like Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone did in La La Land unfortunately!
You can drive, bike or hike through the park. The best option though is the cheap DART bus runs between Vermont/Sunset metro station and the Observatory.
Act like a big kid
I don’t think you can come to LA and not visit a theme park. The question will be, which one? Now, in fairness, I’ve only done the one (although I’ve been twice) which is Universal Studios. The predominant reason for the return visit was to make the most of the new attractions (Harry Potter, Walking Dead) since the last time we visited. Second time around we bought the express passes, and whilst expensive at around 2x the usual entry, it pretty much guaranteed straight through access on the rides, compared with an up to 3 hour wait for each ride. Speaking from experience, it’s not all that an exciting wait for your ride when you’re waiting that long, so if you go, go express!
Aside from Universal, you’ve also got Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags and Disneyland amongst others. So there is something for absolutely everybody to unleash their inner child.
OUE Skyspace
Heading down to DTLA, you should head to OUE Skyspace at US Bank Tower. This spot offers fantastic views of LA from DTLA. I’d recommend visiting at sunset or close to, so you can see the sun go down over the city, seeing it by day, dusk and night. You can view from inside (which on a cooler winter’s night might be more appealing) or you can head out to the observation decks which have perspex glass so your view is uninterrupted.
For those that like to take things a step further, you can also take a slide from down a floor which is via a glass tube which goes outside the building onto a mat on the next level down. It’s an extra $US8, and far less ‘scary’ than it sounds, but something novel to remember from your visit.
Hollywood
If you’re heading to LA, it’s likely you’ll at least pass through Hollywood even if it isn’t a major part of the reason for your visit. Hollywood is everything that you can imagine. Hollywood Boulevard is alive with characters, performers, rap artists all trying to earn a buck or make that break. It’s a lively place, and you can wander aimlessly for hours finding your favourite performers on the walk of fame. Alternatively you can pick up a map which details where most folks are, but what’s the fun in that?
If celebrity spotting is your thing, there is any number of Hollywood home tours available that you can book at a moment’s notice. Be warned, you’ll be looking at the homes of some very rich superstars who value their privacy, so you’ll likely see less homes and more gates and walls.
Along Hollywood Boulevard itself, you’ll find any number of landmarks that you’ve heard about or seen movies or TV. In a short wandering, you can wander past the Hollywood Roosevelt (my fave hotel in LA) home of the first Oscars, Graumann’s Chinese Theater, the El Capitan Theater where Jimmy Kimmel hosts his show and the Dolby Theater where the Oscars are held today. Tip for Dolby – head inside to see all the ‘best films’ captured on the wall in lights.
Venice
Before visiting Venice, I really only had one picture of it in my head. That was Wesley Snipes and Woody Harrelson shooting hoops in White Man Can’t Jump. Well, you can head down to those basketball courts and watch some non-celebrities play, see some talented skaters rip up the skate park, meet some eclectic characters along the boardwalk and my favourite, watching some supremely shredded blokes tearing up the outdoor gym. These guys are at an extreme level of working out. They are acrobats, strongmen and athletes all in one, and their skill is a feat to watch and enjoy.
Beyond the boardwalk and the beach however, there is another side to Venice which couldn’t be more polar opposite. The Venice canals sit just a short walk from the beach, and offer a tranquil respite from the hustle and bustle of Venice Beach. Wander the homes and amongst the bridges over the canals to take in a very different side of Venice. It’s a stunning place in it’s own right, just be sure not to miss it!
Santa Monica
Santa Monica it is a thriving hub of activity. My favourite pre-visit memory of Santa Monica was Tom Hanks running the the coast in Forrest Gump before turning around and running back from where he came. You can visit the boardwalk, enjoy some rides or just watch the waves crash against the beach. The beach along here is deep, and in the summer months you can expect it to be flush with people enjoying the sun’s rays. For those who enjoy shopping, the Third Street Promenade is worth a visit and has a great variety of shops and restaurants to visit.
Beverly Hills
If just the notion of those two words elicits the beat of ‘Axel Foley’ in your head, you aren’t alone! You won’t find Eddie Murphy around, but you will find some perfectly manicured homes, expensive cars and shopping that is best saved for those with deep pockets or a large credit limit. Window shopping is my recommendation here, but you can enjoy some of the scenes of Beverly Hills which is a city within a city in many ways.
That should be a good kick starter for any first time visit to LA. I hope you make the most of it – there really is something around every corner!
PS: If you get hungry in your travels, which is sure to happen, check out the 5 best places to eat in Los Angeles!