Los Angeles, California Hotels and City Guide

Los Angeles - Attractions

Los Angeles is a contradiction, and an inviting one at that. The crowded, bustling, busy atmosphere is tempered by calm, relaxation, and serenity. Instead of merely a concrete jungle, experience acres of untamed wilderness, lush greenery in the midst of a desert, unbelievably gorgeous beaches. The lavish spectacle of designer creations and beautiful celebrities exist side-by-side with the funky beat poets and sidewalk performers. Walk down the street and hear the music of dozens of languages, smell the scents of exotic cuisine. The best restaurants, wine, shopping, entertainment, attractions, and ambience await visitors. One of the premier cities in the world offers a unique experience for each visitor, something new to see and do every time.

The Venice Boardwalk

Five blocks of paved walks run through Venice, offering excellent ocean views and prime people watching. A year-round circus, you’ll see magicians, tarot card readers, sand mermaids and much more as you walk, bike, or roller blade through this eclectic vista.

Rodeo Drive

One of the most famous streets in the world, Rodeo Drive is where the world’s elite do their shopping. Armani, Hermes, Prada, Gucci – these three blocks offer the best designers and a good chance of spotting celebrities out for the day. Window shop or scoop up some designer imitations. Visiting Via Rodeo at the corner of Wilshire and Rodeo is a must. This cobblestoned street resembles a quaint European village. An experience not to be missed.

Paramount Pictures

Television and movie buffs will love Paramount Pictures. This famed studio offers tours of lots where I Love Lucy, Forrest Gump, Titanic, Entertainment Tonight, Dr. Phil, and other hits past and present were filmed. Guides lead you through the back lots and fill you in on the studio’s gossip-filled history. Tickets for live studio tapings are available free of charge. Call Paramount Pictures for listings and times.

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA)

The MOCA offers an extensive collection of American and European art. Works from 1940 to the present are housed in three spaces: the building at California Plaza, the Geffen Contemporary in Little Tokyo, and the gallery at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. View works by Rothko, Kline, Rothenberg, Arbus, and Frank, or visit one of the special themed shows that appear throughout the year.

Huntington on Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

Think LA is too superficial for you? Think again, and stop by the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens. Home to an impressive array of British and American masterpieces and one of the largest science and history collections in the word. Hundreds of thousands of books and four million manuscripts, bibliophiles will love seeing the Gutenberg Bible, the Ellesmere manuscript of The Canterbury Tales, early editions of Shakespeare, and a handwritten genealogy penned by George Washington, among others. Housed in exquisite buildings, including an original 1911 Georgian Mansion, the architecture alone is a feast for the eyes. Bountiful gardens dazzle the eye as visitors can stroll through the 12-acre Desert Garden, the Japanese Garden, the new Chinese Garden, palm, herb, and jungle gardens, and the three-acre rose garden – where high tea is served. The Rose Hills Foundation Conservatory for Botanical Science is a hands-on center designed for children but excellent for anyone curious about botany and different environments.

The Getty Center

An impressive array of pre-20th century European art, 19th and 20th century European and American photographs, and even a Van Gogh, await visitors to the Getty Center. The buildings and grounds are just as spectacular as the collections within; gorgeous architecture, beautiful views of Los Angeles, and lush gardens make this a perfect place to find refuge from the bustle of the city. Special programs, events, films, concerts, lectures, and more are presented throughout the year.

Farmer’s Market and the Grove

The Farmer’s Market is a vast marketplace devoted to fresh produce and products from area growers. 110 stalls and 20 restaurants provide a wealth of different flavors to explore. The recent addition of the Grove has added European-inspired cobblestones, and marble mosaics, movie theaters, and chain stores. Take the electric steel-wheeled Red Car trolley through the Market or walk through and get a look at fresh California food.

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

A top destination for the faithful or devotees of stunning architecture, Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels features a variety of innovations and interesting contrasts. The austere façade is softened by the bronze animal-filled children’s garden. The impressive bronze doors are adorned with icons from around the world. Inside, you’ll find an airy, spare space that is saved from starkness by the beautiful sunlight flowing through the Spanish alabaster walls and the gorgeous tapestries. A maze-like mausoleum offers a curiously bright and fascinating walk. Enjoy a fresh, inexpensive lunch at one of the outdoor tables and make a whole afternoon of seeing this beautiful cathedral.

Griffith Park

Nature in the midst of one of the largest cities in the world! Griffith Park is the second largest urban park in the country. Here, you will find idyllic spots for picnics, hikes, or bike rides. Gorgeous trails lead to Mulholland Drive, which has unparalleled views of LA. Griffith Park offers visitors a zoo, a free exhibition of old trains and with train rides for children, pony rides, a golf course and driving range, horseback riding, and the renowned Observatory. You could easily spend your entire vacation at Griffith Park.

Museum of Tolerance

This unique institution offers exhibits on different ways people demonstrate tolerance, as well as ideas in which everyone can increase their own tolerance of various cultures, lifestyles, and more. Interactive and thought-provoking, the Museum of Tolerance is always timely and always relevant.

Page Museum at La Brea Discoveries

Ancient history comes to life at the Page Museum. Outside, you can see volunteers hard at work uncovering fossils of extinct Ice Age plants and animals. Discover what LA was like 10,000 to 40,000 years ago as saber-tooth tigers, giant sloth, bison, mastadons, and the American lion roamed the ground instead of starlets and tourists. The bones are collected inside for an impressive look at these now extinct beasts. As authentic as you can get with active tar steeps and the bubbles of methane popping through the lake (from bringing the fossils to light, of course!), the Page Museum at La Brea Discoveries is a must for amateur and pro anthropologists.

The 1923 Street Rod Limo

See Hollywood at its best from the classy seat of a 1923 Ford T Roadster Limo. This alone is worth the price of admission, but the Street Rod Limo also takes you to the Hollywood Wax Museum, El Captain, Chinese Theater, Walk of Fame, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, film locations, Capital Records, the Hollywood Sign, over forty celebrity homes, hotspots and nightclubs frequented by the rich and famous, and much more. Visitors can also customize a private tour.

El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument

El Pueblo, or the Town, is the birthplace of LA and location of the city’s founding in 1781. LA’s oldest building is in El Pueblo, which visitors can tour, and then stop to eat at one of the many superb Mexican or other ethnic restaurants. The monument has 27 buildings, 11 of which are open to the public as museums or businesses. Celebrating the many cultures that have made the city unique is the mission of El Pueblo.

In addition to these attractions, visitors can visit Little Tokyo, Little Armenia, Little Persia, Little Gaza, Thaitown, K-Town or Koreatown, Little Ethiopia, Little India and more. Sample the exotic cuisine and soak in the flavor of each community.

Hotels in Los Angeles, California