Los Angeles, the largest city in California, is a fascinating place to visit with a bouquet of sights to offer to a short or long-term visitor. The city is absolutely huge and sprawling, and there are many sightseeing spots.
We were short on time – we only had four days to spend in Los Angeles – so we needed to do some planning. By honing in on the prime places of interest, we succeeded in thoroughly enjoying a trip to the City of Angels.
Whether you like beaches, mountains, and other outdoorsy fun, or if you are into culture, arts, and entertainment, like many families, our family members also had varied interests.
Each member of our family had a different interest. Los Angeles has something for everybody.
So without any further ado, here are our picks for the top hotspots to see in Los Angeles:
Downtown Arts District: The Broad, Disney Hall & MOCA
When you begin your L.A. vacation, you’ll be tempted to indulge in the cavalcade of outdoor fun that this city is known for. But it is imperative that you slot in time for a visit to a few of its essential museums.
We began with The Broad Museum (Broad rhymes with rode) and were instantly mesmerized by its breathtaking architecture, where the dazzlingly white and angular building facade looks like a honeycomb.
This free-to-enter museum showcases works by famous modern artists such as Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Jeff Koons, and others.
After The Broad, head over to the Walt Disney Concert Hall, home to the LA Philharmonic and just a two-minute walk away. It was designed by Frank Gehry, and you cannot help but admire the flowing curves of stainless steel that jut out into the sky.
Take a walk in the lobby and perhaps take in a show if time permits.
Near the concert hall is the Museum of Contemporary Art, or as the locals call it, MOCA.
There are actually two outposts of this museum — the Geffen Contemporary, renovated by the noted architect Frank Gehry in the Little Tokyo district, and the one we visited in downtown L.A., designed by another noted architect, Arata Isozaki.
Both museums display permanent and temporary exhibits of contemporary art created after the 1940s.
Museum Row: LACMA and La Brea Tar Pits
The LA County Museum of Art, or LACMA as it is known locally, is another hallmark museum of this city.
This is the largest museum in the western U.S., and the galleries cover the whole gamut of art, from ancient to modern, with an emphasis on California culture and art that is slightly unusual.
We really enjoyed stopping by the museum plaza with its gorgeous installation, “Urban Light,” consisting of rows of vintage street lights.
Right next to LACMA is the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum, and a stop at this continuing excavation site is necessary to see the fossilized animals from the Ice Age that have been preserved in the bubbling asphalt pits since the Pleistocene era.
The Huntington: Art, Books, and Botanical Paradise
Los Angeles is home to many historic mansions that are converted into museums, and one can have an excursion, enjoying the ambiance of these places.
Our first choice was The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens. Located in San Marino in nearby Pasadena, it is a place where you can easily spend a few hours, if not a whole day.
Additionally, it is an educational and research institution established by Henry Huntington, a railroad tycoon.
The Huntington, as it is more commonly known, was the brainchild of Arabella Huntington, who had also been married to Collis Huntington, also a railroad tycoon and the uncle of her second husband.
Start with the art galleries, getting a view of the personal furnishings and art collections of the Huntingtons, as well as wonderful temporary exhibits that reflect modern times.
Walk through the library exhibition hall to see the many historic manuscripts, letters, books, and papers, such as John James Audubon’s seminal book on birds.
Leave plenty of time to see the star attraction of this estate — the Botanical Garden. Divided into mini garden zones that cover an expanse of 130 acres, this place is a green lover’s dream.
There are 16 themed gardens, and we experienced a jungle with lush trees, a Chinese and a Japanese garden, a rose garden, lily ponds with beautiful water lilies, turtles and Koi fish, and much more.
My favorites were the Desert Garden and the Palm Garden, where we saw cacti, succulents, and palm trees that we had never encountered before.
Best Los Angeles Tours & Excursions
The Getty: Hilltop Art with Ocean Views
The Getty Center and the Getty Villa are other worthy stopovers.
Entry to the Getty Center or The Getty, located in Brentwood, is via a memorable tram ride up a mountainside with breathtaking views, with the added bonus of free entry, albeit with timed reservations.
The museum displays art through the centuries, and you can explore the massive gardens, the spectacular city views, and admire the museum architecture, a Richard Meier design.
The Getty Villa in Malibu, atop an ocean-view hillside, is a gorgeous re-creation of a 1st-century Roman villa and is also a museum that primarily focuses on ancient Greek, Roman, and Etruscan art and artifacts.
Once again, admire the landscaped gardens dotted with ancient sculptures and mosaics. There is free entry with timed tickets.
Music and Movie Magic: Grammy and Academy Museums
And then, of course, there are the museums that are typically L.A. and are one of a kind.
We began with the Grammy Museum, located downtown at L.A. Live, a sports and entertainment venue on Olympic Boulevard.
A visit here is a must to get a lifetime experience of American music and culture, and an immersion into the history of certainly the biggest music award event.
Start by noticing the embedded plaques on the pavement as you make your way to the entrance. Similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Grammy Walk of Fame honors each year’s top four Grammy Awards.
Once inside, you will spend a memorable time walking through exhibits of glitzy outfits, instruments, and other memorabilia belonging to music legends of the past and present.
Classic Car Culture: Petersen Automotive Museum
For a spectacular show on L.A.’s car culture, nothing beats the Petersen Automotive Museum on Wilshire Boulevard.
The building face in red with the wrapping of stainless steel ribbons resembles a race-car track, and inside, three floors of exhibits showcase the world of automobiles.
From Henry Ford’s Model T to the cart-like first Cadillac to the many iconic Hollywood cars from movies like Batman and Top Gun, to name just two, suffice it to say you will not be bored.
I enjoyed seeing the cars of the future exhibits as well as the many celebrity cars and a variety of race cars on display.
Complete your city museums tour with a stopover at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures or the Oscars museum.
This Renzo Piano-designed seven-story museum encompasses the history, art, and science of cinema. As you get your first glimpse of this museum, admire the gold cylindrical part of the building facing Wilshire Boulevard.
I enjoyed the “Stories of Cinema” exhibit, which occupied three floors of the museum. The Oscars Experience is quite spectacular as it immerses you in the experience of receiving an Oscar.
Iconic Beaches: Santa Monica and Venice
The amazing weather and never-ending sunshine of L.A. make it a perfect outdoor destination, too.
We began with Santa Monica Pier, a top tourist attraction in Santa Monica, on the outskirts of L.A. Head here to enjoy the sublime Pacific views or immerse yourself in any of the many activities available for everyone.
The crowd was tremendous on the day of our visit, but it wasn’t difficult to find a parking spot.
We entered the pier and admired the Ferris wheel, merry-go-round, and myriad other rides and games, all with twinkling lights as the sun went down.
We checked out the many quaint shops and booths selling shells and trinkets, and then decided to round out our evening with a seafood dinner at one of the many restaurants on the pier.
Mountain Views: Griffith Park and Hollywood Sign
Griffith Park was our outdoor destination on another day.
A municipal park at one end of the Santa Monica mountains, the park includes the L.A. Zoo, the Autry Museum of the American West, and two important attractions of L.A., namely the Griffith Observatory and the iconic Hollywood sign.
But assuming Griffith Park to be a mere city park would be a mistake, as it is the largest municipal park in the U.S., with 4210 acres of mountains, steep slopes, and canyons filled with hiking trails.
And if you’re a braveheart, you could hike up Mount Hollywood, the highest point in the park.
This is also where you are closest to the Hollywood sign, and the best place to view it without hiking is from the parking lot on your way to the Griffith Observatory.
We were unable to enter the Griffith Observatory, but if you have time on your hands, you must enjoy the planetarium shows, the sky, and space exhibits, and use the public telescopes.
And of course, when in L.A., you must stop by its famed beaches as they are embedded in its culture and identity.
Malibu, on the Pacific Coast Highway, which hugs the west coastline of Los Angeles, is well known for its gorgeous, endless beaches and endless sunny weather. Find out more about Malibu beaches here.
Then there is Venice Beach, also along the Pacific Coast Highway and adjoining Santa Monica. Inspired by Italy’s Venice, the millionaire Abbott Kinney designed this Californian Venice in 1905.
You can experience Venetian canals, piazzas, pedestrian bridges, and other attractions reminiscent of Venice. Enjoy the beachfront boardwalk and pier, which you may have seen in many Hollywood movies. Find out more about Venice Beach here.
Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive
A trip to Los Angeles is incomplete without experiencing its glamorous side. So we headed towards Beverly Hills, arguably the most famous neighborhood in Los Angeles.
A simple drive through this area will take you past opulent estates, lavish bungalows, and houses, each of which is home to the rich and famous stars and celebrities. You could also do a Beverly Hills Trolley tour, a narrated trip, to get a closer look.
We drove along Sunset Boulevard to gawk at the superbly tall palm trees that lined both sides of the avenue.
And then we reached Rodeo Drive, the superbly posh and flamboyant shopping district with white marble boutique storefronts and luxury cars on its impeccably spotless streets.
Hollywood Boulevard and Walk of Fame
After clicking the mandatory photos, we traveled to Hollywood Boulevard to experience the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
One of the most visited landmarks in L.A., we too were engulfed in crowds that had come to admire the 2800 terrazzo and brass five-pointed stars celebrating entertainers, both real and fictional, embedded in the sidewalks.
Theme Park Essentials for Families
A family vacation to Los Angeles could be considered unfulfilled without a visit to two extravagant attractions. Unfortunately, we had to give both these places a miss due to time constraints, and we left it for a possible next trip.
You would have to begin with Disneyland, the only theme park designed and completed by Walt Disney, which began in 1955, bringing in the modern theme park culture.
There are two theme parks in this resort, Disneyland Park and Disneyland California. Find out everything here.
For the ultimate Hollywood experience, one has to visit Universal Studios Hollywood, built as part of the Universal Studios lot, and the cherry on top is that you can easily complete a full tour in one day, as it’s much more compact than its sibling in Florida. Find out all that you need to know here.
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Author Bio: Susmita Sengupta, an architect by background, from New York City, loves to travel with her family. She writes frequently for Go World Travel and other online travel magazines such as GoNomad, Matador Network, Travel thru History, In the Know Traveler and others.
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