Los Angeles, a southern California city, is famous for its celebrity culture, pleasant weather, and various activities, from its sun-kissed beaches to the star power of Hollywood. Beyond the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, travellers to Los Angeles will discover a city with a plethora of outdoor activities, including hiking, surfing, and horseback riding, as well as an astounding variety of restaurants. The City of Angels never fails to dazzle (or steal the show), whether you’re here for the beach, the surrounding amusement parks, or the chance to spy a star in Beverly Hills.
The Getty Center
The Getty Center is home to some of the world’s most prized pieces of art and represents one of the greatest triumphs in American architecture. The iconic Richard Meier-designed concrete and steel sphere is home to a vast collection of artwork spanning centuries and cultures. Art from the Renaissance to the present day, including American photography from the 20th century, Baroque sculptures, rare books, and historical manuscripts, are all on display at this state-of-the-art complex nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains. When the weather is nice, visitors to the museum may take in breathtaking vistas of Los Angeles.
Recent visitors praised the museum’s affordability and aesthetic quality, drawing comparisons between the art centre’s understated elegance and the flashy glamour of Hollywood. Guided tours are highly recommended by guests, who say they learn new information and see portions of the museum they would have missed otherwise. The Getty Center offers tours of its buildings and grounds, tours of the museum’s “Collection Highlights”, and tours of its many art exhibitions arranged by period. Times and days of tours change based on the sort of trip. See their website for a full schedule of events at the Getty Center.
The Getty Center might be hard to find due to its location just north of Santa Monica on the UCLA campus. (Please note that the sole public access to the Getty Center is through Getty Center Drive from North Sepulveda Boulevard. The GPS on certain vehicles might lead you in the wrong way.
Venice Beach
Although the museum’s permanent collection is enormous and exhibits a wide variety of themes, the dinosaur exhibits bring in the most visitors. Dinosaur skeletons fill the 14,000-square-foot Dinosaur Hall, with highlights being the “growth sequence” of Tyrannosaurus rex fossils, which has three complete skeletons spanning the species’ developmental stages from infant to adult. The exhibit also includes a Triceratops and a Stegosaurus.
The museum has exhibits on the natural history of California and other regions. Another must-see exhibit is Becoming Los Angeles, which covers the region’s history from 500 CE to the present. Children will enjoy the interactive exhibits and displays in the Discovery Center and Insect Zoo.
The Original Farmers Market and The Grove
One of Los Angeles’ most recognisable monuments, The Original Farmers Market, can be found just south of West Hollywood. This cream-coloured building has been luring locals and visitors with its promise of fresh vegetables and the scent of ready-to-eat delicacies since its founding in 1934. Weekday hours of operation may vary from day to day.
While there is no charge to enter, you should be prepared to spend some money on tasty goodies if they catch your eye. Parking in any of the market’s two lots is free for the first 90 minutes if you bring your ticket inside to be validated. (There will be a charge for parking after the 90 minutes are up or for tickets that aren’t validated.) Take a guided food tour if you need assistance finding your way through the market (one of the best California tours).
Some past guests wished more stands were selling fresh fruit and meat, but many others found the prepared cuisine delicious and recommended it as a must-see. However, remember that this market is packed and has few tables, so plan to dine elsewhere or wait for one to become available before visiting. Go to the market’s website for further information.
The Grove is where you go for a more cutting-edge retail experience. Next to The Original Farmers Market is this huge shopping and amusement centre. You may find many of your favourite stores, restaurants, a movie theatre, and entertainment options here.
J. Paul Getty Museum
Those with a deeper appreciation for the arts should visit The Getty. Travelling there on the only regular tram is like stepping into the future. A short trip through beautiful scenery will bring you to a location that will surely become a favourite for Instagram posts. This artwork isn’t simply for the walls of a gallery. You may admire (and share) various works of sculpture in the gardens here.
Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park
Griffith Observatory provides sweeping views of the greater Los Angeles area on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood. Location-wise, it offers spectacular panoramas of the region, a feature that many people praise. However, this is more than simply a beautiful backdrop.
Perhaps this is not your first visit to Los Angeles. You’re prepared to leave the “real world” (now that everyone knows Griffith Observatory after La Land). And maybe you want to get away from the crowds yet experience the real Southern California.
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