Choose from 88 Fun Things to Do in Los Angeles
Los Angeles Convention Center
One of the largest convention centers in America, the LACC long seemed marooned in an increasingly-fading swath of Downtown, but in the late 1990s, it received a huge commercial boost from the creation of Staples Center and the adjacent L.A. Live entertainment/dining/hotel complex. The area surrounding the LACC is now booming with revitalization efforts which have rippled across the whole of Downtown.
Convention attendees are now spoiled for choice when it comes to lodging, high-end chain restaurants and bars, concert and sports venues, and a multiplex movie theatre. A popular coffee-meeting spot is the lobby of the J.W. Marriott Hotel, which features an Illy coffee café, and a Metro Rail station on the Red Line right beneath L.A. Live means that conventioneers can easily travel to other sections of Downtown, as well as Hollywood and Culver City.
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Universal Studios Hollywood
The Basics
First-timers should head straight for the tram tour, which takes visitors around the sound stages in the front lot, then heads to the backlot past the crash site from War of the Worlds, the vehicles from Jurassic Park, and the spooky Bates Motel from Psycho. Also prepare to face down King Kong, brave a flash flood, and survive a shark attack, a spitting dinosaur, and an 8.3-magnitude earthquake. The Studio Tour includes live commentary from one of the park's tour guides.
- Some tours include a combination of tickets to Universal Studios and Anaheim theme parks or transportation from downtown LA.
- Snack food and drinks, including beer and margaritas, are available throughout the park. The best choices, however, can be found at the adjacent Universal CityWalk, a promenade of restaurants, shops, bars, and entertainment venues.
Universal Studios is located in Universal City, west of Griffith Park, near Los Angeles. To get there, take the Hollywood Freeway and get off at either the Universal Center Drive exit or Lankershim Boulevard exit.
When to Get There
Universal Studios Hollywood is open year-round with varying opening hours. As with most popular attractions, you'll beat the crowds and get the most out of your ticket by arriving when the gates open.
Universal Studios Hollywood Options and Upgrades
iFLY Hollywood
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Robertson Boulevard
Most of the retail clothing shops are set between West 3rd and Beverly Boulevard, with outposts of European lines like Paul & Joe, Allsaints, Ted Baker and Moods of Norway rubbing elbows with home-grown boutiques like the trendsetting Kitson. One of Robertson’s mainstays, Les Habitudes, has custom-created wedding dresses and other finery for some of Hollywood’s biggest female stars; a wander through its racks is a true flight of fancy.
While paparazzi linger outside the flower-draped picket fence at The Ivy restaurant at every meal, waiting to snap photos of the rich and famous, celebrities can often be seen for a cheaper price at The Newsroom, a healthy eatery set just across the street.
Two blocks down and across Beverly Boulevard is Petrossian, a famous caviar café from Paris, while closer to Melrose Avenue is the modern glitz of Cecconi (where you can see Beverly Hills rich kids brunching in the wild) and Sur, the chandelier-draped Mediterranean creation of Beverly Hills Housewife Lisa Vanderpump.
Paley Center for Media
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University of Southern California
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Mulholland Drive
If you only have time to drive one section of Mulholland, try either one of these routes:
Cahuenga Pass to Laurel Canyon, which winds up above downtown Hollywood and the Hollywood Bowl, past Runyon Canyon and above Universal City, where a significant turnout allows you to linger on views of the Santa Monica and San Gabriel Mountains.
Laurel Canyon to Beverly Glen Boulevard, which offers real-estate-heavy views of the Westside on one side (including West Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Bel-Air), and the wide, flat, mountain-rimmed San Fernando Valley on the other. There are several turnouts between Laurel Canyon and Coldwater Canyon, and again prior to Beverly Glen.
Los Angeles Cruise Port
The sprawling city offers more than you could ever see in a day (or five), so if your cruise starts or ends in LA, it’s worth your while to extend that vacation by a few days and see what all the fuss is about (who wants to go back to work, anyway?).
How to get to Los Angeles
Most cruise ships dock at the World Cruise Center in San Pedro, about 20 miles (70 km) south of downtown LA. Most Carnival ships, however, dock at the terminal in Long Beach. Los Angeles is not a walking town, nor is public transport very prevalent, so you’ll want to rent a car if you’re exploring the city on your own.
One Day in Los Angeles
Gas up your rental car (it’s going to need a full tank) and hit the freeway for a day of LA’s greatest hits. Start in Hollywood with a walk down the Hollywood Walk of Fame, looking for the stars of your favorite actors. Then drive to the Farmer’s Market for a snack, keeping your eyes out for famous faces.
Enjoy a ride through Beverly Hills, marveling at the mansions and perfectly manicured lawns, on your way to the Getty Center, one of the city’s best places to see art. The architecture of the building itself is just as impressive as the work on the walls, as is the view.
Now you deserve to relax, so head to Santa Monica. Take a few spins on the Ferris wheel and try your hand at vintage carnival games before finishing your day with a stroll on the beach.
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Los Angeles Theater District
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Hualapai Village
- Hualapai Village offers an alternative look at the iconic Grand Canyon.
- The village is a must for thrill seekers.
- Don’t forget to bring sunglasses, sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of drinking water.
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
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Laugh Factory
Masada would go on to become a comedian, manager and producer, helping the cast of 1990s TV comedy “In Living Color” achieve fame, and continuing to support minority comics via the Laugh Factory. The club is an ideal place to see emerging acts, watch showcases headlined by Kevin Nealon, Tim Allen and Tom Arnold, and witness comedy stars like Dane Cook and Dave Chappelle test their endurance by vying for the title of longest one-person comedic performance – presently longer than seven hours.
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The best route to take by transit: Bus: 2/302, 217, 780, 218.
Rodeo Drive
- There are many restaurants around Rodeo, but know that the prices often match the shopping.
- When you need a break from the crowds, cross Santa Monica Boulevard to Beverly Gardens Park to relax or snap a photo of the Beverly Hills sign.
- Many parking areas provide two hours of free parking, so check the signs.
- Beverly Hills operates a free trolley to Rodeo Drive on weekends; service is expanded to weekdays during the summer.
Petersen Automotive Museum
- The Disney/Pixar section is a good option for families with kids, as many of the other exhibits are strictly hands-off.
- The on-site Drago Ristorante offers homemade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and pastries from the family's restaurant in Culver City.
- Complimentary wheelchairs are available to check out on a first-come, first-served basis at the Admissions Desk, and strollers are welcome in the museum.
- Accessible parking spots are located on the first floor of the Petersen parking garage, close to the main entrance.
Paramount Studios
- Paramount Studios is a must-visit for TV and movie buffs.
- Photo IDs are required for all visitors over the age of 18.
- A Paramount Studio tour can last anywhere from two to 4.5 hours, depending on the option chosen.
- While Paramount Studios does take walk-ups, advanced booking is recommended to avoid disappointment.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes, especially for after-dark tours.
Museum of Contemporary Art Grand Avenue
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Los Angeles Zoo
With its 1,200 finned, feathered, and furry friends, a visit to the Los Angeles Zoo is a must for kids of all ages (parents will love the zoo, too). Even on a hot day the zoo is a welcome respite, thanks to the shady garden-like grounds. Meerkats are the current squeezables of the Disney set and one well-placed, big-eyed Timon wows kids entering the zoo. From there, undisputed crowd-pleasers include swinging gibbons, frolicking sea lions, posturing chimpanzees, and cuddling koalas.
Cleverly designed habitats highlight a visit here. The chimpanzees of the Mahale Mountains has plenty of primate activity, while orangutans lumber about in the Red Ape RainForest. The Campo Gorilla Reserve provides a habitat for six African lowland gorillas that closely resembles their native West African homeland, and at the Pachyderm Forest, elephants and hippos relish in a climate-controlled environment, complete with an underwater viewing area. Tots gravitate toward Adventure Island with its petting zoo and hands-on play stations as well as the Children's Discovery Center.
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The Los Angeles Zoo is located in Griffith Park. Access to the park is easiest via the Griffith Park Drive or Zoo Drive exits off Interstate 5. Parking is plentiful and free. The Zoo has plenty of restaurants and cafes, as well two gift shops: the International Marketplace and Safari Station. The Los Angeles Zoo is deceptively larger than it appears from outside; you'll need at least 3 to 4 hours to see everything.
Los Angeles Farmers Market
A historic Los Angeles landmark, the Los Angeles Farmers Market is a bustling market of food stalls, eateries, prepared food vendors, produce markets, and much more. You can easily spend a morning or afternoon here browsing the more than 100 restaurants, grocers and tourist shops.
Opened in 1934, the Farmers Market is a popular destination for foodies in search of the market’s wide assortment of flavors and cuisines. The market started when a dozen nearby farmers would park their trucks on a field to sell their fresh produce to local residents. It quickly grew in popularity, especially when CBS Television City opened next door and began providing those working or visiting that television studio a convenient place to shop or eat.
You’ll find more than just food here. Buy bath and bodyworks, get a shave and a haircut at the Barbershop Club, find exotic candles, browse children’s clothes, find gifts and toys, browse designer and one-of-a-kind fashions, and bring home teas and jewelry. When a break from shopping beckons, you can marvel at some of the historic displays including Gilmore History Kiosk, Earl's Service Station, and the Farmers Market Clock Tower.
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The Farmers Market and is located just south of CBS Television City, at the corner of 3rd Street and Fairfax Avenue in the Fairfax District. It is also adjacent to The Grove outdoor shopping mall; an electric-powered trolley runs between the two sites. The market is also close to the myriad galleries of Museum Row, at Fairfax Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard.
Runyon Canyon Park
Devoid of shade and full of dirt-packed paths, Runyon’s various features allow you to customize your workout. The Fuller Avenue entrance requires one of two steep climbs, either up a winding series of high, uneven steps, or up a long hill with two switchbacks; these two climbs can be combined in a challenging loop. The Mulholland entrance enables you to either head up into the steepest hills for the most challenging terrain, or to take a mostly flat, 15-minute route straight out to a viewpoint; this second option leads to both the stairs and the long hill up from Fuller, so you can tack on either route – or neither.
Runyon looks and feels its best on L.A.’s clearest days, generally from late November to early May; throughout the summer and fall, it can get extremely hot up here anytime after 8 a.m. More often than not, though, the paths and lookout points here offer panoramic views of the city’s coastline, Westside, West Hollywood, Hollywood and Downtown.
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Palisades Park
Home to a senior center, you’ll find lots of adorable elderly folk playing shuffleboard and walking tiny dogs, but this is also Ground Zero for outdoor yoga classes, vigorous trainer sessions and well-heeled trophy wives taking in the sea air. You’re bound to see artists behind their canvasses, capturing scenes of the nearby Santa Monica Pier and yawning ocean views.
Just a short lawn away from the bridge to the Santa Monica Pier, be sure to stop into the Visitors Center, which houses Santa Monica’s only Camera Obscura. There are picnic tables here, but as they tend to be magnets for (non-threatening) homeless people and runaway teenagers, you might be better off taking your lunch down to the beach itself.