14 Best Things to Do in LA with Out of Town Guests
Be a tourist, or show a tourist around with the best affordable things to do in Los Angeles. One of the best parts about being in LA is that everyone comes to visit you; and you get to play host to all your friends and family! But that brings up the inevitable question - what should we do? Where should I take them?
Yikes right! If you’re like me, I become a stressed host as I want them to be happy and love this new city I call home. Everyone is looking for something different. That being said, here is my comprehensive list — with input from other LA-ites and tourists alike - of the hit-list of things to do in LA for a tourist, when your friends and fam are in town. Enjoy!!
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1) The Getty Villa or the Getty
The Getty Villa is off the PCH, so be sure to ogle those pretty ocean views with the windows rolled down; I like to pretend I’m driving a red convertible with a chic scarf blowing in the breeze. It’s literally a Roman Villa perched on the cliffside, across the street from the Pacific Ocean. Go for the architecture, gardens, fountains, and classical art. Romantic, historic, and otherworldly. Advance reservations are required, so don’t just show up unannounced or you may be left going to the beach! ;)
If you want more modern, and diverse artwork filling multiple, sprawling buildings, in a campus institutional setting (gorgeous sculptures and architecture abounds), and an even larger garden focused around a mandala like maze — the original Getty near Brentwood — is the place. I focus on the temporary and more contemporary exhibits of photography and art — as you could be there all day if you view all the art! Once you pay their parking fee, take a Getty light rail to the top of the mountain, overlooking the 405. Just thankful the Getty was spared from 2017 wild fires, which burned everything in its path and filmed with haunting accuracy. Fun fact: when the Getty Museum was established, it was clearly called out that no one would pay admission fees. However, they didn’t stipulate parking fees - hence why there’s a hefty parking fee but no admission fee. Load up your car and make a day or a half day of it!
2) The Beach
I’ve asked my guests time and time again, what was your favorite part of visiting LA - and often times it’s the beach, plain and simple. Unless they hail from a location with better, prettier beaches, you must make a stop to the beach. The Santa Monica Pier is the center point. Either buckle in for a long walk or rent a beach bike and head south along the beach bike path. For the eclectic, kooky, and rebellious — grab breakfast at the front and center Sidewalk Cafe; people watch and get your daily dose of vitamin D. Swing by the Venice skate park, Muscle Beach outdoor gym to stare at everyone showing off. When you’re close to the marina and Washington Blvd, do a detour and walk the Venice Canals. For high-end, beachy cool shopping, meander Abbot Kinney Blvd, where all the locals go. If you made it far south to the marina, stroll Fisherman’s Village (grab dinner or happy hour if hungry) and make sure to see the Marina Del Rey North Jetty before ending the day with a sunset view.
The beach bike path
The Venice Canals
Highly recommend renting a bicycle and biking along the beach bike path. Go north for fewer crowds and stunning views of the mountains, or head South to enjoy the bustle of Venice and the more wealthy Marina Del Rey ; it never gets old! The Bike Center rents bikes near the Promenade. One can find many bike rentals during peak tourist season along the beach in Santa Monica and Venice. Once winter hits, many shops close up so try your hotel or rent one of the city bikes.
3) Take a Drive on the PCH
Live out your Californian, movie star dreams. Rent a car, and drive up the Pacific Coast Highway (the PCH), saving time for lots of time to pullover, walk the beach, and snap plenty of photos. For the LA experience, stick to the area between Palos Verde, Long Beach, and Malibu.
If you’re hankering for a multi-day road trip, drive all the way to San Francisco and explore the entire Cali coastline along the way including highlights like Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo.
4) The Malibu Pier
Malibu is a sleepy beach community with stunning beaches, views, sunsets and seaside restaurants. Read my Malibu Pier day post - my favorite part is going for an early morning breakfast, and watching the sunrise and pretending to be a beach bum. No matter how you cut it, the term Malibu is epic; so live it out. And yes, it has a special place in my heart as that’s where my significant other popped the question (I said yes) - so if you love pretty beaches and views minus the hustle of LA — Malibu is for you.
5) Griffith Observatory
Unforgettable domed building on a hill outside of Downtown. I remember driving by and asking - what is that? It’s the famous Griffith Observatory! Many scenes from the musical motion picture La La Land are filmed here. Great views. When the season’s right, they hold telescope, star gazing parties at night - go and gaze into telescopes and see the planets and stars. The planetarium, watch a show, and feel that much closer to celestial bodies. Great for kids, families, adults, dates alike. If you’re outdoorsy, do a short hike (beware, don’t get lost and bring lots of water during the hot days). The surrounding parks are WILD and trails go on for miles, so plan for a hike.
6) Picnic at Hollywood Forever
I still haven’t seen it anywhere else, watch a movie on the lawn, picnic at pretty cemetery (where famous people are buried) - it’s the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. I refuse to line up several hours early; thus I don’t go - but if you have friends holding a prime picnic spot, or you don’t mind sitting in the nose bleeds - go. Bring a blanket as the temperatures drop at night, and low lawn chairs help support your back, because four hours is long time to be sitting down (read up on their long list of rules!). Everyone who has gone loves it. Go forth and be very LA!
7) Weekend Flea Markets
My favorite flea market, for the size without the hassle is the Melrose Trading Post (Sundays at 9am). If you’re a serious thrifter, the biggest one in LA is at the Rose Bowl Flea Market (2nd Sunday of the month); but go early to beat the heat! It gets crowded and overwhelming quickly! The Los Feliz Flea market (Saturdays at 11a) also ranks high on the to-do list. Bring cash (or be ready to go to the ATM). I’ve found off-beat vintage clothes, posters, artwork, furniture, houseplants and rugs - that I still have today! If you’re good at negotiation, some vendors will give you a good price. But if you’re not one for these goods, it’s still worth a gander — bigger, better, and more variety than many others. It’ll leave you thinking “soooo LA”! If you’re hungry most of them have a food section, or skip the lines and frequent a nearby restaurant :)
8) Farmer’s Markets
My favorite farmer’s market is the Santa Monica Promenade Farmer’s Market (Wed and Sundays). It’s got the size (endless rows), great location (a skip from the beach and prime shopping district), and the vendors are top notch (fresh fruits and veggies all round)! For more low-key, I frequent the Mar Vista Farmer’s Market - as the prepared food vendors are sooo tasty (tamales yass). For Eastsiders, Silver Lake Farmer’s Market is the go-to. Check each website for dates and times; as they are limited and mostly weekend mornings to early afternoons.
9) Hollywood and Vine
Only go if you want to see:
Hollywood Stars on the sidewalk
The Chinese Theater (and where many award shows are hosted)
You can look past the panhandlers, people dressed up like characters and fake celebrities asking for tips; and don’t mind the touristy crowd, knick knack shops, and can stand the seedy underbelly of Hollywood
From here, i’s easy to catch the hop on and hop off tour buses, find a star map and try to peer over the big private walls for a glimpse of an empty mansion! It’s literally the hub of LA / Hollywood Tourism and is the bane of every local’s existence. For more of my humble opinion as a local - check out my post - LA Tourist Spots Rated by a Local. I would personally skip it; yet tourists still happily flock there like a moth to a flame - so go if you must!
The view on top of the Hollywood Sign hike
10) Hollywood Sign Hike
There’s more than three ways to hike the Hollywood sign - which will take you to behind the famous HOLLYWOOD sign ^. If you are an avid hiker and have the gear (hiking shoes, water bottles, hats, etc) and the skills - my favorite and most strenuous is the Wonder View Trail way (now called the Burbank Peak Trail). But do NOT attempt this in flip flops, sandals, etc.
If you are not properly geared up (mentally, physically, etc) - then just go to one of the photo op sites and you can take a lovely picture with less effort :) . If you don’t mind the separate trip, I recommend driving to Lake Hollywood Park; hands down best place for a photo opp and a picnic :)
11) Huntington Gardens
To me, it’s first a Garden, then a Museum and a Library. Most people go for the Gardens, and then wander some of the exhibits, green houses, rose gardens, Japanese Garden (which has been filmed many times over). You can spend all day here - literally! It is a pricey ticket; but 100% worth it if you are into gardens. I took my mom here, and she announced, “This is my favorite garden in the entire world!” My heart swells! Dress for the weather, and go early to avoid the crowds. If you know someone with an annual membership, partner with them and save a few bucks :) When it’s open, they even have a cute tea house where you can grab teas and cookies, and pretend you’re in another country. Don’t miss the cactus greenhouse, and the rose garden!
12) Live Filming and Audience Experiences
It may sound cheesy but go and be part of the live audience with live filming of a TV show, game show, talk show (spot celebrities!) etc - is a TRUE LA experience! You gotta line up early (1-2 hours ahead depending how popular that filming is) because a ticket does not guarantee entry, then you have to be herded in and follow instructions, laugh / clap when the sign tells you, and be quiet when it says On Air. But honestly, unforgettable. I dream about that blue-eye celebrity who I swear was eye flirting with me on Late Night with Jimmy Kimmel! Some shows have top 100 band performances - but they only play 1-2 songs — but if you’re a superfan you won’t regret it. Every out of town guest I’ve brought, loved it. Check the 1iota schedule and sign up early!
13) Downtown LA
Get an early breakfast (beat the rush) at the Grand Central Market, take Angel’s Flight Tram up the hill, do the Broad Museum or the Downtown Grand Ave MOCA (if you’re into art), bring out your bookish side and visit to the eccentric The Last Bookstore, and marvel at grand buildings including Bradbury Building, Union Station.
If you’re near Union Station and it’s the weekend, walk down the oldest street in LA Olvera Street and order churros and tacos. Be careful of Skid Row, so perhaps Lyft / Uber for those longer distances (where you may not know of the best route). I could go on and on about the wonders of Downtown :)
The Broad Museum on the right
The Academy Museum
14) Museums
Top three museums I recommend for tourists:
The Broad Museum - modern art museum - worth it for the building alone. Note: if you want tickets to the Infinity Room book ahead (they are separate tickets from general admission); go if you’re in Downtown
The LACMA - biggest art museum on the west coast, skip the permanent exhibits and hit up the new, rotating, special exhibits. Walk the grounds for the outdoor exhibits including the taking pics at the iconic lamp posts on Wilshire!
The Academy Museum - if you’re a movie lover, this is the museum for you! The newest member to the LA museum line-up and next door to the LACMA. Don’t miss the giant, outdoor spherical, top floor pavillion for a photo (hello future wedding venue!)! Their in-house restaurant Fanny’s is surprisingly good for coffee and baked goods so lounge in the red velvet booths and pretend to be rich.
Hope the above tips helps! Feel free to drop me a line and send any questions and/or share your experience! linhdy@hotmail.com
