Downtown Los Angeles: endless possibilities

Last but not least is Downtown Los Angeles.  If you are interested in the rich heritage of Chinese culture and cuisine, come to Chinatown.  If you want to enjoy fresh food in a historical setting, visit the Grand Central Market.  If you love art, there are plenty of galleries to choose from the Art Walk.  If you are interested in spiritual rejuvenation, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels tour will do just that for you.  If you appreciate architecture, the Symphonian 4 Theatre Tour would be a perfect choice.  If you are looking for bargains, the Fashion District and the Jewelry District are the places to go.  It’s impossible to list all the places that are worth seeing in downtown Los Angeles.  My goal was to awake your interest, the rest is up to you.

The list of my favorite attractions and sightseeing goes on and on. The next one I would have written about is another best kept secret in Los Angeles, the Nethercutt Collection

Getty Center in Los Angeles and Getty Villa in Mailibu

Another wealthy businessman, J. Paul Getty, believed that art has a civilizing influence on society and wanted art to be available to the public for education and pleasure.  His legacy to us is the Getty Museums: the Getty Center in Los Angeles and the Getty Villa in Malibu.  Each place is big enough to make it a whole day outing, but the Getty Center (which is actually located in Brentwood) is bigger and more versatile.  Both museums have free admission and are absolutely amazing!  The only difference is that there is a $15 parking fee for the Getty Center, but you don’t need to make reservations to visit it.  On the other hand, the parking at the Getty Villa is free, but you need to make reservations.  It’s perfectly logical, isn’t it?  Take your time to explore the Getty Museum website; you will find plenty of things to do, to see, and to enjoy.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens

For people who enjoy nature and art, the place to visit is The Huntington Library in San Marino.  This city is just a 10-minute drive from Pasadena and there are clear signs on the freeway all the way to the site.  The full name of this mansion that was built by Henry Huntington, an exceptional businessman whose financial empire included railroad companies, utilities, and real estate holdings in Southern California, is The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens.   Each one of these areas is magnificent, but I bet you will love the Japanese Garden.  Since the financial aspect of touring the Los Angeles area is important, keep in mind that the first Thursday of the month all visitors can enjoy this place for free.  Needless to say, that there are many people who take advantage of this gracious offer (the general admission is $20), so the parking lots are full and many people walk several blocks to get to the entrance.

Welcome to the Universal Studios CityWalk!

I’d like to take you now to Universal City, which is home to the Universal CityWalk.  It is conveniently located next to the metro and provides buses that take visitors up the hill.  If you’d rather drive, keep in mind that parking is not free and the last time I was there it was as much as $15.  Whichever way you choose to get there, you can either come early in the morning and spend the whole day at Universal Studios or just enjoy movies, eating, and the shopping experience at the CityWalk.  Don’t take this entertainment spot for granted because you will cherish the experience for many years.  Moreover, it is less crowded than Disneyland, which is about a 30-minute drive from Los Angeles.  Surely, I am not saying that one is better than the other, because I love both of them, but Universal Studios CityWalk definitely holds its own.

Griffith Park: so many things to do....

Another place in Hollywood that you should visit is Griffith Park.  There are so many things you can do there and it’s truly a family outing place: the zoo, the picnic area, and pony rides are so much fun for kids...  The link will take you to the list of all activities and attractions, but the jewel of Griffith Park is the Observatory.  Besides having the best view of Los Angeles, which is probably the least impressive feature of this place, the observatory has permanent exhibits and shows, and almost all of them are free. Your guests will not be disappointed, and you will be looking forward to returning to this place again.

The Heart of Hollywood

The city of Hollywood is famous for many things: TV, movie, and music studios, nightlife, ethnically and gender diverse shops and restaurants, and much more.  But the heart of Hollywood is located at the intersection of Highland Ave and Hollywood Blvd.  That is where the famous Chinese Theatre is located and the Walk of Fame begins.  The best time to visit this spot is during the day because you can see more things and it’s safer.  I don’t want you to be too worried about your safety (or for that matter the safety of your purse or wallet), but it’s only natural to be more aware when you have street performers and dressed up pseudo movie heroes. 

As long as you are there you can’t miss the Dolby Theater.  First of all, for the most practical reason: you can park your car there and with a validation from any store pay only $2 for up to 4 hours.  It’s a bargain because finding a free parking spot around this area is almost a miracle, and you have to be careful of various parking zoning rules. 

Now, if you are willing to spend up to $30 per ticket (keep in mind that there are various discounts available for all three places that you can get either online or buy package deals at the site), these are the attractions that are worth seeing: Wax Museum,  Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum, and Madam Tussauds Wax Museum.  Each is interesting in its own way, but my personal favorite is the last one.

The Americana at Brand

The second must see place in Glendale, is the Americana at Brand. It’s a great place to dine, to play (if you have kids), to go to the movies, to shop, to ride a trolley, or just to stroll.  I love taking tourists to the Americana after visiting Forest Lawn because no matter how artistic and spiritual you are, there is a little sour aftertaste when you leave the cemetery.  Visiting the Americana brings balance to the sightseeing tour of Glendale, and even though it will require some financial expense (after all, there is a Cheesecake Factory there), it has an abundance of activities you can enjoy for free as well.