Los Angeles, California is the location of Hollywood, Beverly Hills and a number of sites and neighborhoods that are household names throughout the world. The City of Angels is a center of the entertainment industry, culture and the fashion world. Being on the coast the city offers both a dynamic urban center as well as white sandy beaches. Don’t leave before you’ve seen the iconic Hollywood sign, the museums and monuments. Who knows you may just spot one of your favorite Hollywood stars!

Must Sees!

Griffith Observatory

From its hill top overlooking the city this art-deco 1935 building has had a few modern additions made. Within the building are a state-of-the-art planetarium and the Zeiss telescope which is often open to the public as well as three solar telescopes. A Sky Show is put on in the planetarium and there are a series of exhibition halls with thought provoking themes. There are also monuments and statues on the observatory grounds and a roof observation deck. Entrance to the grounds and building are free and planetarium shows cost between $3-$7. Find the observatory at 2800 East Observatory Road. Open hours are from 12 noon to 10pm on weekdays and from 10am to 10pm on weekends, there are 8-10 planetarium shows daily.

Disneyland Park

Known the world over, this iconic amusement park features all the well loved Disney characters, creative décor and exciting rides. Young and old alike will find a visit here a worthwhile experience. Take a stroll down Main Street USA towards the beautiful Disney castle then take the thrilling rides which will keep you busy all day. Each section of the park has a unique theme like the Frontierland and Critter Country. Throughout the day there are parades and shows.

Plan your visit carefully to avoid long waits in the lines for rides and if possible stay for the fireworks at the end of the evening. Get the 1 day 1 park ticket (the other park option is Disneyland California Adventure Park, you can get a joint ticket to the two parks as well) for $81 for ages 3-9 and $87 for ages 10 and up. There are several ticket options for 1, 2 or 3 days and combinations with the other Disney Park in the city. Disneyland Park is open from 8am to 12 midnight but you can also buy “early” tickets and get in at 7am, this will help you avoid the crowds. Find the park at 1313 S. Disneyland Drive, Anaheim.

Grauman’s Chinese theatre

The Grand Dame of American cinema houses the Chinese opened its doors in 1927 and since then has been a venue for countless film premiers attended by Hollywood’s biggest stars. Great efforts were made in constructing this China themed theatre and much of the décor was made-to-order or imported from China. Today the theatre forecourt has two 90 foot high red columns supporting a bronze roof and a 30 foot stone carved dragon spans the space between the columns. Perhaps more famous than the theatre itself in the Walk of Fame on the sidewalk outside the theatre where select stars of film and stage have been immortalized. Walk the sidewalk to find your favorite star’s foot prints and handprints forever imprinted in the cement. It is possible to see the outside of the theatre (at 6925 Hollywood Blvd) and the Walk of Fame for free but you could also take a tour of the theatre or simply go and see a movie in the theatre which still functions as a cinema.

Getty Center

One of LA’s greatest museums, here you can see European art work in a number of medium there is also an American and European photography exhibition. The museum has regular temporary exhibits on loan from around the world. Not only is the art one of the finest collections in the country but the building itself has gained architectural acclaim. The museum is located at 1200 Getty Center Drive and is open 10am-5:30pm on weekdays and until 9pm on weekends. It is closed on Mondays. Admission is free but parking costs $15.

Must Eats!

Diddy Riese Cookies

Located at 926 Broxon Ave this establishment makes it onto the Urbanspoon.com and Trip Advisor top 10 list of LA restaurants. The entrees are under $10 and this is the place for those with a sweet tooth.

800 Degree Neapolitan

The top of the urbanspoons list of trending LA restaurants they serve Italian cuisine and the place is kid friendly and stays open late. The pizzas are cooked in wood burning ovens and service is fast. The range of pizzas include Tartuffe pizza and rock shrimp pizza as well as the standard favorites.  Find the 800 Degree restaurant at 10889 Lindbrook Drive.

Angelini Osteria

At 7313 Beverly Blvd this romantic Italian restaurant serves the best ice-cream and gelato in town as well as lasagna, beef ragu and other rustic traditional north Italian dishes.

The Bazaar by Jose Andres

Located at 465 S La Cienega Blvd in the SLS Hotel, Beverly Hills this establishment serves typical Spanish cuisine including a varied tapas menu as well as innovative and pleasantly surprising twists on traditional standard Spanish food. Try the sea urchin pipirrana with Andalusian vegetables or the king crab raspberries in raspberry vinegar.

Spago Beverly Hills

A magnet for stars this is the place to be seen and to people watch, oh yes and also to eat delicious food. It is the flag ship restaurant in the Wolfgang Puck restaurant group. The restaurant serves seasonal food selected from California’s best produce. One of the well known classics here is smoked salmon and caviar pizza and for dessert try the 12 layer chocolate cake! The restaurant is at 176 N Canon Drive in Beverley Hills.

Mastro’s Steakhouse

Located at 246 N Canon Drive this is one of a reputable chain of restaurants serving top quality seafood and meat dishes. This is a Mecca for carnivores who can get stuck into a bone-in-filet or New York Strip surrounded by traditional American style décor.

Share this: