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After having four groups of friend come visit me in LA this summer, I realized that this city really has something for everyone. I can also completely understand why tourists visit and absolutely hate it. But, as someone who has lived here almost five years, I have found all my favorite pockets. So, here’s my quick and dirty guide to Los Angeles.
👎 What to skip
Hollywood Boulevard/The Walk of Fame. It’s basically the Times Square of LA, and there isn’t much to see. Or, if you really want to see it, just make sure you quell your expectations and don’t plan a whole day around it. Maybe pick a star you want to see and then check out the Chinese Theater for a movie. The only other thing I would highly recommend in that area is Musso & Frank—an old Hollywood hot spot that still has all the charm.
I would also skip Santa Monica and head down to Manhattan Beach or Redondo Beach instead. Santa Monica lacks the charm the other nearby beach towns have, and I personally can’t stand the pier. Manhattan and Redondo, on the other hand, are where the locals head for a beach day or to walk along the beautiful homes and shops.
📍 What to see
As I mentioned, there is so much to see, and the city is vast. So, I find it helpful to figure out what kind of traveler you are and find a pocket of LA that has what you like. For instance, if you love to go thrifting, stick to Highland Park. If you love outdoor gardens, plan a day to see the Getty and the Huntington Gardens (pro tip: plan to see the latter on the free Thursday).
What I really recommend is planning a trip to LA around something specific you want to do. Seeing a show at The Greek is one of my absolute favorite things to do here, and the entire nearby Los Feliz and Silver Lake area is chock full of great restaurants and shops.
🚗 Other helpful tips
You have to rent a car. There’s no getting around it. It’s a huge city and the good stuff is on the outskirts.
Fly into Burbank airport if you’re planning to stay anywhere that isn’t the west side (AKA the side by the ocean). It’ll save you a ton of time, and LAX is a nightmare. I also recommend visiting during midweek. A Wednesday-Friday trip will likely be cheaper, and the city is still lively.
😋 Eat here
Kitchen Mouse (mostly vegan), Messob Ethiopian Restaurant (great for GF people), Wallflower (the best Indonesian food), Town Hof and Thanks Chicken (best Korean chicken and beer spot), and Jitlada (Anthony Bourdain's favorite Thai spot).
🌊 My favorite things to do when my friends visit
Hike up to the Griffith Observatory starting at the Ferndell trail, have a beach day, pack a picnic and go to the Getty (it’s free aside from parking), spend a day at the Petersen Car Museum, explore the Huntington Gardens and drive around Pasadena, see a movie at a local movie theater (movie culture is just better here), go thrifting at my favorite shop, 2nd STREET, and walk around Highland Park.
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