Top 5 Things to do in L.A.
- JEN
- Feb 2, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 5, 2023
It may be the city of Angels, but Los Angeles is also the city of explorers! I was lucky enough to spend some time in L.A. late last year and I made sure to hit up the key sites for some L.A. sightseeing and exploring whilst I was there.
In this post I share my top 5 things to do when visiting L.A.:
1. The Griffith Observatory
2. Visit Santa Monica Beach & Pier
3. Santa Monica to Manhattan Beach Bike Ride
4. Take in a football match at The Memorial Coliseum
5. The Hollywood Walk of Fame
1. The Griffith Observatory
Set high up above the city, the Griffith Observatory is a great place to start your exploration of L.A. It is situated on Mount Hollywood in the heart of Griffith Park.
We visited by car and parked in the Observatory Parking Lot close to the summit. If you’re feeling more adventurous and have time on your hands, there are also a range of trails for you to hike or bike up.
Upon arrival, take in the view of the infamous “Hollywood” sign and wait your turn to be photographed infront of the “Wings of Mexico”. These bronze wings, a gift from Mexico, are a popular stop on your short walk to the Observatory.
Moving on you’ll then come to the impressive Observatory building. Entry is free and once inside you’ll find a hub of information on space and the solar system. There’s a range of talks and shows to attend – we particularly enjoyed the film on the impressive construction and extension of the building.
Moving outside, and onto the highlight of the visit, is a short walk to the roof to enjoy fantastic views over L.A. From here you can begin to truly understand the scale of the city and there are countless photo opportunities to be had.
L.A. lays before you like a map just waiting to be explored and that’s why the Observatory is the perfect place to start your Los Angeles trip!
2. Santa Monica Pier & State Beach
Technically separate from L.A., and a city in its own right, Santa Monica embodies what most people think of when they envisage L.A. – laid back beaches, skilled surfers and boardwalk fun! And all of this can be found at Santa Monica Pier and State Beach.
From the bright lights of the ferris wheel to the quintessential lifeguard stations dotted along the seafront, a visit to Santa Monica is an instagrammer’s dream from morning ‘til night.
Take a couple of hours out from exploring and enjoy some downtime on the beach. Listen to the screams from the nearby rollercoaster and watch surfers catch a wave in the Pacific. When you get hungry, visit one of the cafes that line the beach. We enjoyed a light lunch on the sand at ‘Perry’s Beach Café’ and, when the sun went down, we visited a little bar called ‘Big Dean's Ocean Front Café’. The latter had sport on the TVs and a great range of local beers.
Once you’re bored of relaxing, take the short walk and check out the rides and attractions available on the Santa Monica Pier. There’s something for everyone, from fantastic views out over the Pacific Ocean, to an aquarium, to a multitude of rides – it’s perfect whatever your age.
3. Santa Monica to Manhattan Beach Bike Ride
If you’re feeling active and want to see as much as you can of the Pacific shoreline in as short a time as possible, hire a bike and cycle from Santa Monica to Manhattan Beach..
We pre-booked and picked up our bikes at ‘The Bike Center Santa Monica’. It was quick and easy and, with it being close to the pier, we were on our way within minutes of arriving!
The total time to cycle from the pier to Manhattan Beach and back is about 2hrs (1hr each way) but allow a little longer to give you time to take in the sites along the way. We stopped to check out the skateboarding at ‘Venice Beach Skatepark’, visited the iconic Muscle Beach (once the training ground of Arnold Schwarzenegger) and explored the idyllic canals which gave Venice its name.
Manhattan Beach is a laid back beach city where you can catch your breath before your return journey. Enjoy the quieter, more chilled out atmosphere here and do some imaginary house hunting of the ocean front homes before heading back.
And if you’re feeling lazy but want to do all of the above without exerting much energy, rent an electric bike or scooter!
4. Take in a football game at The Memorial Coliseum Stadium
If you’re lucky enough to visit L.A. during the college football season, I can’t recommend going to The L.A. Memorial Coliseum to watch a USC Trojans (Fight On!) game enough.
Easily accessible from the recently opened Metro E Line (Expo), we hopped off the metro and first wandered through USC’s Campus to take in the sights of the infamous Tailgate parties. As a Brit, they’re an alien concept, but look like so much fun!
Onto the game, we took the short walk through the ‘Exposition Park Rose Garden’ to the Stadium. Along the way, we saw (and heard!) the college marching band in all its glory and followed the noise to our seats.
Once the football starts, the band are playing and the fireworks are going off, it’s a sight to be seen! The atmosphere was fantastic and an actual Trojan on a horse celebrates each touch-down. Its OTT and I loved it – British sport has a thing or two to learn from the Americans!
The stadium is also a spectacle. Originally built in 1923, it’s hosted two Summer Olympics and will welcome them back in 2028. If you have time, go!
5. Hollywood Walk of Fame
Finally, no trip to L.A. is complete without a visit to see the big names that line the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Although hectic and maybe not to everyone’s taste, you can’t not stop and snap photos of your favourite celebrities’ stars. Just avoid the crowds and the countless guides trying to sell you celebrity tour tickets and take in the 1.3 miles route at your own pace.
Whilst at this end of town, stop by Grauman's Chinese Theatre too to see the handprints of some of Hollywood’s biggest names!
In summary, narrowing down what to do in a city of L.A.’s scale isn’t an easy feat. These are just the 5 things I’d recommend adding to your L.A. travel itinerary to allow you to sample the diverse range of attractions L.A. has to offer – from hilltop views and beach life to college sport and the city’s iconic film heritage.
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