Our look at the best of what Los Angeles has to offer kicks off with more attractions endemic to this frantic California metropolis.
The Getty family name is the equivalent of royalty in the United States. Family patriarch and wealthy industrialist Jean Paul Getty was one of the first people with a fortune over $1 billion USD. Today his legacy is felt most powerfully in Los Angeles, where The Getty Center represents one of the exemplary philanthropic trust museums in the world. The site, or campus rather, is magnificent, with lush gardens, opulent architecture and enough art to keep the most ardent student busy for several days. The Getty collection includes classical sculpture, works from European masters, manuscripts, photographs and more. The absolute best feature for tourists however, is the price: free.
Mulholland Drive, like Sunset Boulevard, provides a superlative vantage point from which to take in the sprawl of Los Angeles. Multiple references in popular culture, from the Tom Petty classic “Free Fallin’” to the David Lynch thriller Mulholland Drive, testify to the allure of the iconic road. Notable area natives like Jack Nicholson and Warren Beatty also lend a certain flair to a drive on Mulholland. For a touch of romance, pull the convertible over at night.
The natural amphitheater of record is not in Greece but in the foothills of the Santa Monica mountains in Los Angeles. A short walk from Hollywood Boulevard, the Hollywood Bowl is one of the most famous landmarks in the city. Built in 1919 in a vast canyon, the Bowl was the defacto site for major concerts, from The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and Barbara Streisand for decades. Bill Cosby still hosts a jazz festival at here every June and in the summer months, visitors can watch rehearsals for free on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9 to noon. Don’t worry about seats either – the Bowl holds over 17,000.
The preeminent street in Beverly Hills may be out of reach budget-wise for most shoppers. But at least you can walk here for free, at least for now. From plastic surgery guinea pigs with big hair, big designer handbags, big Starbucks cups, stiletto heels and small dogs to flamboyant playboys, Rodeo is a total scene. For a taste of culture, gaze at the Anderton Court Shops with design by Frank Lloyd Wright. Other than that, shop. If you can afford the prices at Bottega Veneta, Brioni, Ferragamo and Harry Winston that is.
A Los Angeles staples, Farmers Market has been around since 1934. A constant hive of activity to this day, the Market provides locals and visitors alike with a cornucopia of wonderful California produce from just outside the metro area. While expansion has altered the face of Farmers Market, from the time when Walt Disney sat down at a table to map out his plans for Disneyland and James Dean had breakfast here the day of his death, the noble intentions of the original founders still resonate. If you crave the creature comforts of urban modernity however, head to The Grove at Farmers Market. The 80,000 square foot retail, entertainment and restaurant complex has fast become one of the most popular spots in Los Angeles.
Griffith Park is a massive piece of real estate within the Santa Monica Mountains that houses a number of important Los Angeles attractions, the most prominent of which is the Hollywood sign. Other than that however, Griffith Park contains two golf courses, baseball fields, basketball and tennis courts and a pool. The Griffith Observatory will be familiar to fans of the classic film Rebel Without A Cause with James Dean and Natalie Wood. The great Los Angeles Zoo is also within the park confines.
Venice Beach is fun for the circus-like atmosphere it provides but for authentic beach experiences, head to the network of towns that together form South Bay. They represent the ideal escapes for visitors weary with the hectic pace of urban Los Angeles. While they range in posh-ness and bang for your buck, Manhattan, Redondo and Hermosa Beach have great spots for those who want to bask in seclusion, engage in a surfeit of recreations or chill out under the sun with a beer and a burger in hand.
Before you plan your Los Angeles vacation, pore over some of the best rates on city hotels around.
Photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
This is a great post!!! Paadena also offers a variety of museums.