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Los Angeles – our recent visit had me reminiscing about various places in this metropolis. You know that saying, you can’t go home again? Well, we went back to Los Angeles, a place l called home for twenty years (minus a month 🙂 ) and it felt good. It wasn’t just the part of seeing old friends and people l consider family, it was also the pleasure l took in being a tourist in what was once my backyard.
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Los Angeles Travel Guide: the best places
Years ago, when friends would visit, l would drop them off at Universal or Venice Beach while l went to work, never fully enjoying things that Los Angeles had to offer. After a while, everywhere just becomes home, and you fail to see the beauty anymore. The traffic sucks, so a drive to the beach has you thinking if you want to deal with the 2 way or longer each way traffic. It was nice to visit at our own leisure this time. It made me appreciate Los Angeles a bit more. Here are five iconic destinations that should be included in any L.A trip itinerary.
LOS ANGELES MUST SEE PLACES :
Los Angeles attractions: Our top 5
- Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame
- Mulholland Drive
- Pink’s Hot Dogs
- 3rd Street Promenade
- Venice Beach
Hollywood Boulevard & Walk of Fame:
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No trip to Los Angeles is complete without visiting the world famous Hollywood Boulevard. I hadn’t been that way in years. The seedy, rundown boulevard that was full of tattoo parlors, tattoo parlors, crappy touristy souvenir shops and for good measure, even more tattoo parlors has now been revitalized, and is now one of the top LA attractions.
Granted, there are still a few suspect places, but it was a relief to see stores like H&M and Marshalls (sure this is a welcome sight in Hollywood, the nearest one had been in Studio City or West L.A !). The Hollywood Wax museum has been moved closer to the Mann’s Chinese theater. This would make for a nice day out in Hollywood.
You could check out the various wax figures, maybe see a movie at the theater which is quite big inside with red velvet curtains. This is just one of the many fun Los Angeles things to do and see and one l never get tired of experiencing.
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The Kodak theater is also there. This is where the Oscar ceremony is held yearly. The Mann’s Chinese theater is a reminder of old Hollywood, when the stars would come out for the premieres, dressed to the nines, unlike the bums we have nowadays that attend said events in shorts and sneakers.
The foot and hand prints of big celluloid stars can be found in the front. It’s always fun to compare sizes with the giants of film and theater. John Wayne had tiny feet, for instance. For real souvenirs, check out Cali Swag, a huge place devoted to all things Los Angeles. It reminds me of the British store at Piccadilly Circus in London. I’m sure that was an inspiration.
Hollywood Boulevard is also a great place to secure tickets to current shows that are being filmed, like Jimmy Kimmel Live which is taped across the street in an old building that l remember as a giant disco. I used to see Eddie Murphy and other stars there a lot. I was more interested in a bartender that worked there there though, a southern gentleman :-).
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Venice Beach: A must see highlight of Los Angeles
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What was once a resort town has now evolved into a destination for millions of people yearly. It is at once a residential and commercial area. The board walk is perhaps what it is most famous for. Here you can mingle with people from all walks of life and catch shows from performers.
Everything from snake charmers to tarot card readers to muscle men at the outdoor gym to the guy who roller skates while playing guitar and wearing a turban. He has actually become a mini celebrity of sorts, complete with a music album or two. I have no picture of him as l was not willing to pay, but l remember him from when l first moved to Los Angeles..in 1988!!! He looks the same :-). Venice Beach, just like the Venice in Italy has a few canals running through it.
In the old days, there were even gondoliers ferrying people about. That must have been cool. If you are feeling brave, you could always walk from Venice Beach all the way to the Santa Monica Pier or go the other way and walk miles to Redondo Beach and beyond (rent a bike instead 🙂 ). Definitely a funny place to visit in Los Angeles.
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Mulholland Drive: Great views of Los Angeles
Nothing motivated me more to succeed than seeing some of the most amazing and expensive homes every evening as l drove home from work. Gigantic, sometimes monstrous, but mostly awe inspiring testaments of success and excess dot the sides of this famous 21 mile long drive.
The road can be seen in movies like Mulholland Drive by David Lynch, it’s featured in songs and even novels. A lot of world movie stars and directors live on the drive, even though you would never know it as most houses sit far back from the road. There is a lookout in the Hollywood Hills, close to Runyon Park (another awesome place for a hike and views) from which you can get spectacular views of the Los Angeles Basin, the famous Hollywood sign and the San Fernando Valley..on a clear day of course :-).
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3rd Street Promenade: Hip shopping destination in L.A
This is one of my favourite spots in Los Angeles, (on the west side in Santa Monica) to people watch. Here is another place that has changed so much. I lived on 12th street for over 2 years so this was a popular destination for hanging out. Nowadays, there are more upscale stores including Armani, Apple store, Sephora and American Apparel. It used to be quite seedy.
I was happy to see that both the Doc Marten and the Barnes and Noble bookstore were still there. A lot of the independent places are sadly gone. I remember a very, very old bookstore there called Midnight Special that l would visit with my friend R. a journalist and we would spend hours hanging out.
There are lots of restaurants and movie houses, not to mention the shops in the mall to keep you occupied for hours in this pedestrian only zone. It is also quite close to the beach, so you can check out the Santa Monica Pier. The parking lots on 2nd street offer 2 hour free parking.
Pink’s Hot Dogs: Longtime favorite local haunt in L.A
You know l have to throw in some food :-). Pink’s is a legendary hot dog stand that has been at the same location in Los Angeles since 1939. Anyone and everyone has eaten there at some point. It is not unusual to see a Limousine, or Rolls Royce pull up for some chow.
Pinks is located on the corner of Melrose and La Brea, since 1939, the area in those days was known as “the country” because of its rolling hills, open spaces and tumbleweed :-). I have never deviated from my favorite hot dog, the “Guadalajara”, an oversized hot dog with relish, onions, tomatoes and sour cream. I am drooling as l write this.
Federico, somehow had never been. He said he was always put off by the long lines, but he loved it so much that he had us go back there the very next day! The walls are covered with framed pictures of old and new stars that have come in to eat. It’s said you haven’t made it in Hollywood till you have your picture on the wall :-).
CLICK TO FIND YOUR LOS ANGELES HOTEL
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Bonus places in Los Angeles to visit that locals love:
Farmers Market:
This didn’t make it to the top 5 because for the most part, visitors are not shopping for groceries. It does however give you a glimpse of how the locals live their lives. L.A people being obsessed with organic products, you can find them shopping for fresh food at the farmers market. The 2 most popular ones are in Santa Monica and Fairfax Avenue in Hollywood. You might spot some of your favorite actors and actresses there as well.
The Grove:
Right next to the Farmers market on Fairfax sits this must visit destination that is a bit newer to the landscape in L.A. There are many high end shops such as Nordstroms and also places to eat, people watch and catch a movie. It’s a great way to spend a day, especially when combined with the Farmer’s market. It’s proximity to CBS studios also means there are plenty of chances to catch your favorite actors shopping.
These are just a few of the Los Angeles must see places that are enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Los Angeles being a huge city, it is quite hard to narrow things down. Visiting these unique places will however make you feel like one of the people in the know.
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FIND THE BEST HOTELS IN LOS ANGELES
Have you ever been to Los Angeles, or are you more of a New York kind of person? If you have been, did you visit any of these places? If not, would you like to? Do you have any other suggestions for must visit places in Los Angeles?
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Great pictures of the city. I didn’t make it to Pinks the last time I was there so I’ll make sure to add it to my list for the next.
Thanks :-). I hope you remember Pink’s on your next trip. It’s the best kind of bad for you food. The lines can be insane, but you can time it right :-).
Well you know I love California and LA! Beautiful pics! I have done everything you mentioned here but I have never had Pink’s hot dog! Will have to try it next time. Glad you enjoyed your time At home!
Yes, you may be in ATL, but l think you are a Cali girl at heart. There are so many things to do in L.A. Pink’s is greasy but great food..hahah! You should try it at least once..
I think Venice/ 3rd street is fun for visitors, but I personally wouldn’t go to the other places, and if a guest asked, I might just hand them my keys and say, “good luck.” I think there are many more hidden gems that LA has to offer…of course like you said, getting to them is a pain in the butt. I have never even had a Pink’s hot dog myself but from everyone I’ve asked, I heard it’s overrated. I think the Getty is a great place to go, and driving up PCH feels very “California” to me and eating at The Reel Inn is a great place as well!
Oh yeah! There were some other places l wanted to add, make it a 10 places kind of thing..then l realize things like how to get super close to the Hollywood sign, l didn’t want to divulge :-). If l ever move back, l want to live in peace..hahah.. I thought about PCH but for most people, l think yeah..it looks nice and very Cali, but traffic, and the fact that it would take a long time. I used to enjoy the PCH on weekends on the bike with my friends..through Calabasas and coming back down on the 101..fun days! I don’t think l have eaten at the Reel Inn unless it’s the one l am thinking of on PCH where a lot of bikers hang out. There was a cove whose name l think was Paradise that had great cheap food. Met a lot of “stars” on bikes there..:-). P.S. I should have putt Getty for sure..never went in, but have dropped loads of people there.
Nice – some of these I didn’t know about. Will try the next time I go out there. Which is in a couple of months!
Cool! You are so lucky :-). There are so many wonderful places to go in L.A. There is an amazing authentic Mexican restaurant on Beverly and Poinsettia close to Pink’s called El Coyote that is a local hangout too. Great cheap house margarita (called Scratch). Enjoy 🙂
True confession: I’ve lived in L.A. for the majority of my life yet I’ve never been to Pink’s. I always get so discouraged by the line. And the lack of parking on LaBrea. But I’m going to have to make a point of going. Hot dogs are a rare treat and I love a good chili cheese dog. Mmmm. I agree that these are all quintessential spots to visit in L.A. Fortunately, I’m just a 10 minute drive from the closest beach (Playa del Rey), so I never have to go too far to get to the water. Wherever I live, I always have to be super close to the water. Like you said, when you live in a city, you tend to take it for granted, but this post is making me happy to be an Angeleno. 🙂
Haha..Federico said the same thing. He liked it though once he ate it. Some people think it’s overrated, but l’m not sure what they expect from a hot dog..haha! I personally don’t know any place you can get hot dogs loaded with all that’s bad for you :-)..haha..certainly not wienerschnitezel :-). Lucky that you’re close to the beach. I loved it when we lived in L.A, but once we moved back to Hollywood, that was all she wrote..too much work, even though l had a little Honda scooter that we would take there sometime..until the meanies started making us wear helmets.. :-(. You should be happy to be an Angelino. That was the place l ever lived the longest in my life. Loved it.
I have lived in LA and also visited a lot prior to and have done everything on this list. Including stand on that ridiculously long line for Pinks, which wasn’t that serious. I think more tourist are on that line then Angelenos to be honest, unless they have some friends from out of town. Your pics made Hollywood Blvd. look great. In essence there isn’t much there and it is definitely seedy.
I agree that maybe that line might be just way too long. I always eat a bit later and much of the line is gone. It is also very common to see people that work around there in line, including “actors” reading scripts. I think it’s quite the mixture of both, but l think maybe more locals. I know we ate there a lot when l worked in WeHo, but l’m sure visitors that see the line wonder and make their way over there :-). When was the last time you were on Hollywood Blvd? I was truly shocked. It definitely doesn’t look seedy like it used to. I remember a friend lived on Hollywood and l think Selma and l totally hated going over there. It looks much, much better.
I want to visit Cali, LA and San Diego specifically. Your photos are awesome! Definitely made me feel there and in the moment.
Thanks for the compliment :-). You would love both places. San Diego is pretty special too. I hope you make it there soon.. 🙂
Such beautiful places there! I would love to see each and every one of them and try out that hot dog, it looks really delicious. And I’m sure it was, judging from the line and the fact that Federico had to get a personalized memory from there 🙂
I bet you would really enjoy Los Angeles and the beach area especially. Very family friendly. The hot dog maybe not, thanks to the diet the doctor has you on :-), but it would be okay to sneak in one or two. Federico enjoyed it very much. The next day, he had to have the Marlon Brando dog :-).
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I grew up in Alhambra and remember a lot of these places. Your post makes me want to go back and check them out! Anita
Glad to hear you liked it. They look a lot different now compared to the old days. I didn’t know you grew up in L.A, l thought Texas all the way :-). Memory lane is great isn’t it..love it!
This is on time! I only went to LA once and had to cram a tourist trip within 2 days lol. So now in Feb I am going for a full week I am too excited and I will have to check out some of these places out!
Oh how nice! I hope you have a great time. Yeah..2 days is not quite enough to enjoy everything. The Getty as mentioned by Tonya is also pretty cool from what my friends say. It was still quite new when l lived there, and the appointments being made were months out which was impossible for me. I can’t wait to get your full take on the city of sin :-).
Your photos are STUNNING, and you have a new subscriber! I will be in Los A for two weeks this June, and these pics have me reminiscing with excitement. Saved for later reference.
Thanks Keisha! What a great compliment :-). You are certainly going to enjoy the city. If you get a chance, you should try and get to a taping. It’s a fun experience. There are so many hidden gems :-).
I’ve never been to LA – but Spanky spent some time there and didn’t like it. She loves San Francisco and San Diego but found that LA lacked charm, that everything was too spread out (needed a car), and just didn’t do anything for her.
Of course that’s about 15 years ago so I don’t know if its changed at all…
Frank (bbqboy)
Haha! It is always the same.. I find if you like L.A, more than likely you will hate San Fran and vice versa. I love L.A, l like San Francisco and like San Diego :-). Things have changed a little since she was last there. Don’t know if it’s for the better, they are building up and up..which l find sad, almost claustrophobic. These are fun, mostly free things to do which gives you a feel of the vastness. It is definitely spread out, but nothing for instance beats a day at the beach (maybe not Venice), eating at one of the old school restaurants like Musso and Frank, drive on PCH and end up watching the twinkling lights from Mulholland. A car is a must though unfortunately :-(.
I’ve only been to L.A. once but I had a great time. I’ve seen a few of these spots but clearly I need a return visit.
Glad you had a good time :-). Yeah..a return trip to L.A is never a bad thing..
I’ve never been to LA. It looks like there is a lot to do.
I think you would like it. There is definitely a lot to do there..and most don’t involve spending a crap load of money at Disney :-).
I’m a New York person, but I’ve never been to LA so I guess I don’t really know for sure. One day I’ll visit; this post is very tantalizing!
I’m glad you found it tantalizing (one of my favorite words by the way 🙂 ). I love new York as well, though not as much as L.A. I spent 10 years in Boston so l visited a few times. Very different, but both good. Thanks so much for taking the time to comment. :-).
I visited Los Angeles for the first time last year and loved it. Driving in the Hollywood Hills was a hoot!!!
Aah..my neighborhood! I couldn’t move away from the hills to save my life. Literally moved like less than a mile each time :-). So glad you loved it.
I’ve been to NY once and I’ve never been to LA but it’s definitely on my list. Your pictures are amazing and I enjoyed the way you captured your experience.
Siobhan
http://www.befreeproject.com
Thanks so much for the compliment..and the comment ;-). I think you would like it. It’s kind of hard not to like something there..
Loving the photos and tips! I am heading to LA soon, so this is right on time.
Oh good! :-). Let’s pretend that l wrote it specifically for you. I hope you have an awesome time!!!
As someone who lived in L.A. for over a decade, I think this is a great list for someone’s first visit to L.A. (I do think Pink’s overrated though.) It can be so overwhelming because it’s such a big city. Your photos make me miss it.
It was refreshing to visit after some time away. It gave me a new appreciation for it, and l realized l had missed it. Yeah..this is good for a first time traveler to get an overview of the city. Perhaps l will do a follow up on another visit to get pictures. I think of places like Musso and Frank and that Magic Club up in the hills.. Thanks for the comment :-).
I love Los Angeles. I actually wasn’t too crazy about Pink’s Hot Dogs, but LA is so fun and there are plenty of other great restaurants.
LiveLifeWell,
Allison
Are you a health nut Allison? ;-)..haha..no worries. We can’t all love the same things. Yep, there are other great places to eat. We found a great one in NoHo this time around that had just opened recently. Can’t wait to revisit it..
I have never been to LA but I’m hoping to add it to my list soon. Thank you for sharing this awesome list
You are welcome :-). I hope you get to visit soon. Yeah..put it on the list ;-). You will find something you like for sure.. Thanks for the comment.
I live in Cali and I have never been to Muholland Drive or that location of Pink’s. I’ll add those two as places to check out.
Cool! The views are stupendous..and the houses that you can see…well..excess to the max :-). There are a lot of movie stars houses all along there. Hey! you might even find them at Pink’s :-).
Great memories. LA forever! Great photographs as usual. 🙂
I have been to California and LA and I enjoyed it very much. The people were very chilled and relaxed. We made it to a real Mexican place but it was our first day in America and we were too scared to try out the “local” food so we had “Breakfast Americano” instead! We went to Hollywood Boulevard & the Walk of Fame, Mulholland Drive and where all the fancy shops were. We had coffee and hot chocolate and people watched! Hollywood was amazing as was the beach. I’m not sure which beach though but it was the Baywatch one, so we did our “BayWatch run” lol!
Funny thing. I haven’t been to New York yet but somehow, I think New York would be so much more me!
Yep! L.A forever. It’s where l have been the longest, so it feels more like home to me. Oh my goodness, just thinking about Mexican food is making me very hungry :-), not to mention the margarita that usually goes along with it.. Glad that you got to see all those iconic places, and l am laughing at the thought of you doing the Baywatch run.. I never understood why those girls carried lifesavers as they had their own floatation devices :-). Well, New York is more like Berlin so l totally can see how you would probably prefer that. I like both, but prefer L.A. 🙂
Awesome clicks. I have not yet visited this place and planning in near future. Thanks for making my research so easy. 🙂
You’re welcome. It is a lovely city and there are so many great things to do there. I hope you get to visit soon 🙂 .