Exploring Los Angeles: Must-See Attractions for Visitors

  • Thread starter Niles
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In summary, there are many recommendations for things to see and do in Los Angeles, including the La Brea Tar Pits and Page museum, Hollywood attractions, Disneyland and other theme parks, museums, beaches, and nearby cities such as San Diego and San Francisco. There are also suggestions for specific locations such as the Queen Mary, Getty Museum, and Catalina Island. Additionally, there are suggestions for activities such as visiting art museums or taking campus tours at UCLA.
  • #1
Niles
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Hi all.

I am in Los Angeles for about 3 weeks, starting today. Are there anything you recommend that I must see?


Niles.
 
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  • #2
ME!

Just kidding. My favorite place in all of L.A. is the La Brea Tar Pits and the Page museum next to it. But I am a weirdo.
 
  • #3
If you hit hollywood there is the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and the Ripley's Believe it or Not! Museum, among other things, all in the same general area. They are not things that I found particularly thrilling myself but you may like them if you are really into cinema and such.

Since it is summer the traffic will probably be horrid and the parks will be crowded but there is also Disneyland only maybe an hour away (considering traffic) and Knott's Berry Farm is also about the same distance I think.

I'm not much of a beach person so I have no idea which one would be the best to visit. My hometown Huntington Beach is supposed to have a nice beach but I would not recommend it. It is actually rather dirty so unless you are a surfer and want to go to Jack's Surf Shop there really isn't much point going that far south.

Just south of LA, in Long Beach, there is the RMS Queen Mary though. If you wind up in Long Beach you will also find the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant. I believe in the same vicinity there is also a pirate store and a hot sauce store if you happen to have affinities for either of those things.

There is the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles, which apparently is not the one next to the tar pits. I believe there are also Holocaust and Aviation Museums in LA County somewhere.

Ummm... I live nearby but have not spent much time in the LA area so I don't know a whole lot of the really neat places to go. I'll post more if I think of them.
 
  • #4
Math Is Hard said:
ME!

Just kidding. My favorite place in all of L.A. is the La Brea Tar Pits and the Page museum next to it. But I am a weirdo.

You'd be number one on my list.

Also, on a clear day, UCLA.
 
  • #5
If you have three weeks, I'd suggest hitting up San Diego and San Francisco for a few days.
 
  • #6
Math Is Hard said:
ME!

Just kidding.
Ding! Ding! Ding! That was the #1 answer! Do you want to pass or play?
 
  • #7
Math Is Hard said:
My favorite place in all of L.A. is the La Brea Tar Pits

The place I'd like to see if I'm ever in L.A. is the La Brea Carpets (as in "The Far Side"). :biggrin:
 
  • #8
TheStatutoryApe said:
I'm not much of a beach person so I have no idea which one would be the best to visit. My hometown Huntington Beach is supposed to have a nice beach but I would not recommend it. It is actually rather dirty so unless you are a surfer and want to go to Jack's Surf Shop there really isn't much point going that far south.

How sad. When I lived there, Huntington Beach was still a fantastic beach. The Huntington cliffs were often the place to find the best waves.

Also, back in the day, I knew Jack.
 
  • #9
I don't know if they still do it (haven't lived in LA for nearly 10years) but the Queen Mary in Longbeach used to do excellent sunday brunch which included a tour of the ship/museum.
There is also the Getty Museaum (www.getty.edu/visit/) the collections aren't necessarily that great but the setting and views are incredible, another good view is the Griffith park observatory.

If you are there for 3 weeks, Vegas is only a 4-5hour drive from LA and makes a great weekend, or drive up the Pacific coast Highway to Santa Barbara
 
  • #10
There are actually quite a few good art museums in LA if you are into that kind of thing. The Getty is good and it does too have a good collection. The County Museum is another good general collection, the Norton Simon has a great 20th century collection and finally the Huntington has an odd collection of English paintings -- the rep is that it has the best collection of English art outside of London.

Go to Catalina Island or better yet Channel Islands National Park. They are surprising and beautiful.

The Long Beach Aquarium is worth seeing and the cable car to the pines at San Jacinto (Palm Springs) is fun.

Redondo Beach is good and has a good parking garage.

I don't know. What do you like to do?
 
  • #11
Niles said:
Hi all.

I am in Los Angeles for about 3 weeks, starting today. Are there anything you recommend that I must see?


Niles.



Blonde bimbos.

And then there is always San Francisco and San Diego...
 
  • #12
BobG said:
You'd be number one on my list.

Also, on a clear day, UCLA.

If you ever come out to L.A., we'll take a tour of the campus.
 
  • #13
jtbell said:
The place I'd like to see if I'm ever in L.A. is the La Brea Carpets (as in "The Far Side"). :biggrin:

I think I missed that one. The tar pits really are pretty cool. They are such a weird, gooey anachronism sitting in the middle of modern, trendy, foo-foo L.A.
 
  • #14
wildman said:
The Getty is good and it does too have a good collection.

Apparently the Getty is currently closed due to near by brush fires.
 
  • #15
Math Is Hard said:
ME!

Just kidding. My favorite place in all of L.A. is the La Brea Tar Pits and the Page museum next to it. But I am a weirdo.

I went to the Tar Pits and the Page museum today, and it is actually quite cool. It is highly recommandable.

Is it possible to visit UCLA (CalTech) and if it is possible, is there anything to see?

Thanks to everybody.
 
  • #16
There are some UCLA campus tours next week:
http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/prospect/tours.htm

These are 2 hour walking tours geared toward prospective students and their parents, so I don't know if that's the type of thing you are looking for.

There's a map here if you're thinking about just coming up to campus and looking around:
http://www.admissions.ucla.edu/tours/group_tours_map.pdf
The places I like are Ackerman student union, the inverted fountain just outside of Franz Hall, and the Law School (very tranquil and pretty up there). The campus is not as lively right now since we are in summer session, but you still might enjoy it.

My brother would tell you this is the best place at UCLA (in the village) to visit:
http://www.diddyriese.com/home.php
Diddy Reese cookies. They are famous for their ice cream and cookie sandwiches.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • #17
The last time I was there you could walk around the campus at Caltech.

It may be possible to get a tour of JPL.
 
  • #18
The Natural History Museum is across the street from USC. In fact, you should visit USC, too, although I probably won't be there much during the summer.

Definitely make sure you go up to the Griffith Observatory! Parking and entrance are free, and you get a beautiful view of the city (or the smog).

Will Rogers State Park is a neat place, too. Will Rogers' mansion is there, plus a lot of open space and some horses. They host polo games every Saturday and Sunday.

As for beaches: Most beaches near LA are sandy; some rocky beaches are found further south. Santa Monica is a popular beach; I don't really like it. Venice beach is a place you should go once, just to see how crazy it is. Manhattan beach is a bit more low-key (but the one day I was there it was raining, which will make any beach less busy).

I also checked out Abalone Cove, which is a rocky beach in Palos Verdes...got there at the end of the day, and there were only a few other people there. The parking lot closes at 4:30 (they let you stay later, unofficially, but they don't let you in after that).
 

FAQ: Exploring Los Angeles: Must-See Attractions for Visitors

What are the must-see attractions in Los Angeles?

Some of the top must-see attractions in Los Angeles include the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, Universal Studios Hollywood, and the Griffith Observatory.

How can I get around Los Angeles to visit these attractions?

The best way to get around Los Angeles is by car. However, you can also use public transportation such as buses, trains, and the metro rail system.

Are there any free attractions in Los Angeles?

Yes, there are several free attractions in Los Angeles such as the Getty Center, Grand Central Market, and the Griffith Observatory. Many museums also offer free admission days.

What is the best time of year to visit Los Angeles?

The best time to visit Los Angeles is during the spring (March-May) or fall (September-November) when the weather is mild and there are fewer tourists. However, Los Angeles is a year-round destination, so it ultimately depends on your preferences.

What are some unique experiences I can have in Los Angeles?

Some unique experiences in Los Angeles include visiting the Watts Towers, exploring the street art in the Arts District, attending a taping of a TV show, and hiking to the iconic Hollywood Sign.

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