Los Angeles, California is home to some of the finest sights around. As you make your way through the busy streets, you will soon see why so many people call it home, and why so many people visit LA every year. There are so many things to do and experience in this popular travel destination city.
Yet, Los Angeles still has a big competition when it comes to attracting tourists. In 2016, LA was ranked number 6 as the most visited city in the United States. New York City got first place with 59.7 million visitors, while LA had only 47.3 million visitors. LA wasn’t even the first city from California on the list. Anaheim, California got fourth place with 48.2 million, beating LA with a little less than a million visitors.
Los Angeles has a lot to offer, not just celebrities. If you want to make your visit to LA even better then one thing that you can do is try and learn everything there is to know about the city, so you can have the time of your life as soon as you arrive.
Here are our top reasons to visit LA this summer.
LA has some of the best beaches in the US and every single one has its own unique level of character. Venice Beach is one of the most popular and it is home to a ton of galleries, shops and even street performers as well.
If you want to branch out a bit then you can try and visit the Santa Monica beach as this is in the same district. This is the ideal location if you want to do some shopping and it is also great for those who want to take in all the sights as well.
Universal Studios Hollywood is a must-visit when you go to Los Angeles. They now have the Wizarding World of Harry Potter there, as well as, this is home to its own set of Harry Potter themed rides. It is an incredible experience, to say the least, and it is very easy for you to pick up a bottle of butterbeer when you are on your travels as well. The Dragon’s Challenge is not to be missed and the best thing is that it is very affordable as well.
While you are at Universal Studios Hollywood, be sure to check out the famous sidewalk “Hollywood Walk of Fame” featuring stars on the walkway with celebrity names since the 50s. This year Hollywood, added many new starts to the Walk of Fame like Zoe Saldana, NSYNC, Eva Longoria, Lynda Carter, Mark Hamill, Minnie Mouse, Dwayne Johnson, and many more.
This is one of the most famous districts in LA. Beverly Hills has the 90210 ZIP code, also known for the famous American teen drama TV show from the 90s that featured Jason Priestley and Shannen Doherty as Brandon and Brenda Walsh. If you take a walk down the streets of Beverly Hills then you will soon see that it has everything you have always wanted.
You can do some celebrity spotting and there are even guides that take you past their houses as well. If you want to meet even more celebrities then Hollywood Tours are a must and Rodeo Drive also features some of the finest and most luxurious brands around.
Give Greystone Mansion your attention. The Greystone Mansion, also known as the Doheny Mansion, is a very famous movie location. The mansion possesses a Tudor style and architecture, and the estate is surrounded with many English-styled gardens. Famous movies filmed at the Greystone Mansion include The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), Spiderman (2002), Spiderman 3 (2007), X-Men (2000), Star Trek: Into Darkness (2013), The Big Lebowski, and many more.
Believe it or not, LA is one of the most health-conscious cities around. You will see people enjoying an active lifestyle and there are also hiking trails all up and down the city as well. You can go running, hiking, or even biking if you want and it is very easy for you to get completely absorbed by the fitness buzz that is all around.
Be sure to take some time out and hike out to the Hollywood Sign in Griffith Park – no LA visit is complete without seeing the Hollywood sign.
There are authorized hiking trails in the park like Mt. Hollywood Trail, the Canyon Drive Trail, and the Cahuenga Peak Trail that will let you experience Los Angeles and California from a different perspective, outside the city’s skyscrapers and busy streets.
While in Griffith Park, be sure to check out the Greek theater and L.A. Zoo. Visiting LA Zoo can be a very educational and fun day activity for the kids and even adults. There are multiple events to educate the public on the animals currently in the zoo, and they even have giraffe feeding. The zoo has also a botanical garden for the plant, flower, and nature lovers.
The Griffith Observatory is also a great place to check out while in LA. Visit LA to attend a star party that’s hosted once a month by the Griffith Observatory for the public. The observatory has live shows, special astronomy exhibitions, and even provides free telescopes on clear sky nights to see the stars.
Santa Monica isn’t just home to a beach, because it is also home to a fantastic pier and this gives you the chance to see a huge range of sights. You can’t really visit LA and not walk along this pier because the experience of it all just can’t be compared to anything else.
The Pacific Park on the Santa Monica pier has it all. From family-friendly rides and games to food and shopping to keep everyone happy and entertained. The pier is over a 100 years old, but a place not to be missed. You’d be surprised at how easy it is for you to get there and as a whole, it’s something that you won’t want to miss out on.
Really helpful post, I have never been to America yet so this is a good piece to get me to go.