Things to Do in Los Angeles

A drive on at least one portion of this iconic road should be a part of any first-time visit to Los Angeles. Built largely in 1924 as the scenic highway it remains today, Mulholland (as it’s locally known) offers unparalleled views of the L.A. Basin, San Fernando Valley, the Hollywood Sign and more.

Whether it’s hiking or horseback riding, biking or busing, there are plenty of ways to explore the well-heeled neighborhood of Hollywood Hills. Its famous bright white Hollywood sign has become an iconic California image and its panoramic views of downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley have made it worth venturing outside the city for tourists hoping to capture the perfect sunset picture.

Travelers can climb to the top of Mt. Hollywood or wander through scenic Griffith Park. John Anson Ford Theater, the Hollywood Bowl, the Hollywood Reservoir and Forest Lawn Memorial Park are also popular sites on a visit to this famed high-rent neighborhood, but visitors would do just as well to drive around the quiet streets taking in some of the most classic (and impressive) residential architecture in California.

Open since 1934, the Los Angeles Farmers Market, aka the Original Farmers Market, draws both locals and visitors to its 100-plus food stalls, grocers, eateries, and other vendors that sell everything from fruit, meat, and baked goods to skincare, candles, flowers, and housewares. You can easily spend a couple of hours here eating, browsing, and people-watching.

Maritime history runs deep in the waterside community of San Pedro, home to the heavily trafficked Port of Los Angeles. Seafaring is a central attraction theme, from an old battleship and lighthouse to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. With its uptick in shops and restaurants, the area is gaining popularity as a hip waterfront destination.

Santa Catalina—widely known as just Catalina—is a beautiful Southern California island just off the coast of Los Angeles. With rocky terrain, blue waters, and Mediterranean flair, it’s an idyllic escape from the City of Angels, and hard to believe that it’s only a 1-hour ferry ride away. Catalina’s only small town, Avalon, is home to boutique shopping, oceanfront dining, and harbor views. There are plenty of chances to get in or on the island’s stunning waters as well—if you can drag yourself of off the beach.

The Capitol Records Building has been one of the most recognizable features of the Hollywood skyline since its construction in 1956. Distinguished by its cylindrical shape, the 13-story skyscraper hosts the Capitol Studios, where the likes of Frank Sinatra, Paul McCartney, and Nat King Cole have all recorded music.

One of the most-visited Madame Tussauds stands on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue. The wax figures depicted at Madame Tussauds Hollywood include entertainment icons, film directors such as Alfred Hitchcock, and movie characters like E.T. and the X Men, as well as pop stars, infamous criminals, and athletes.

One of the world’s most recognizable arenas, Staples Center is home to several sports teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers. Entertainment buffs also flock to the multipurpose stadium for concerts and other events.

From the Hills to the Sign, the Los Angeles neighborhood of Hollywood has become synonymous with the entertainment industry—and, often, its glamorous appeal. People come from all over the world with hopes of a favorite-celebrity sighting in Tinseltown, or simply to revel in the area’s history and legacy. On the legendary star-studded Hollywood Walk of Fame, you can actually match your handprints and footprints to those of Hollywood stars, embedded in cement. Famous theaters include the grand Grauman’s Chinese Theatre—now the TCL Chinese Theatre—and the Egyptian and El Capitan, both of which are flamboyant icons from Hollywood’s glitzy past.

Many a saber-toothed tiger, dire wolf, mammoth, and ground sloth had the misfortune of “discovering” the La Brea Tar Pits some 40,000 years ago. Excavation on the ice age fossil site—formerly the city’s natural history museum—began in 1915 and continues to this day right in the heart of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is full of shopping and entertainment diversions, but one of the most famous areas is Melrose Avenue. Even before the popular 1990s showMelrose Place was set in the area, at least part of the avenue was already a shopping and hangout destination for the burgeoning new wave crowd. The neighborhood remains an excellent spot for shopping, with more than 300 boutiques lining the street, as well as trendy restaurants and bars.

Unlike in the TV show, the actual Melrose Place doesn't have apartment buildings – it has yet more shops. In addition to the places to shop and eat, Melrose Avenue is also home to some of LA's best-known street art. Artists whose work you can see along the corridor include Annie Preece, Sebastien Walker, Ivan Preciado, and Jules Muck.

One of Los Angeles’ pre-eminent shopping and entertainment complexes, Hollywood & Highland boasts two heritage movie theaters—the TCL Chinese Theatre and the Dolby Theatre—and dozens of shops and restaurants. It’s also located steps away from the Hollywood Walk of Fame and hosts the annual Academy Awards,

Home to the rich and famous, the glamorous city of Beverly Hills is the crown jewel of Los Angeles County: palm tree–lined streets, chic boutiques, palatial homes, and posh restaurants. This glitzy enclave is one of the best places in LA to bask in the glow of luxury, do some considerable damage on your wallet, and, most importantly, spot celebrities in their natural habitat.

Once the flagship of the Cunard Line, the elegant ocean liner RMSQueen Mary sailed between Southampton, England, Cherbourg, France, and New York City from 1936 to 1967. Now permanently moored in the port of Long Beach,the Queen Mary serves as a floating hotel, restaurant, special event venue, and tourist attraction.