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90+ Things to Do in Los Angeles

It’s been awhile since we first set out with Rob (the original 3) to explore LA for 24 hours straight. It’s been awhile for us but it’s also been awhile for LA. 

Thanks goodness we never stopped exploring this city. 

For us, this is the list. This is the stuff that we’ve found that is just incredible. 

**Quick Note : Most of this list is deep cuts of LA – really amazing stuff but not typical staples…(ie Venice Beach won’t be on this list). If you’re just visiting, check out our top tips for seeing Los Angeles 

Here are our Top Things To Do in LA

Incredible Experiences

  • Hang Gliding – Yes, you can learn to hang glide in Los Angeles. Even on your first lesson, you get up on your own – jumping off a sand dune near El Segundo (this school offers lessons in a few locations actually).
  • Trapeze School – I can’t recommend this enough. On your first lesson you’ll be up in the air and swinging.
  • iFly – I wasn’t sure if this was cool or a tourist trap until I did it. It’s cool, so cool. You really feel like you’re flying.
  • Sunset Horseback Riding – We’ve done this a few times. A really unique way to see Griffith Park and a super low entry point for horseback riding.
  • Silk Class – I was in the FSU circus for a few months but never got a chance to try silks because they were ‘for girls’. Well, I never gave up the dream of swinging (and falling) through the air.
  • Learn to Sail – Based in Marina del Rey, BlueWater Sailing offers sailing lessons as well as the chance to then rent the boats you train on after you get your certification.

Sites of Lore

  • Garden of Oz – This is a weird little spot at the foot of the Hollywood Hills. When I first heard about it, the garden had a sort of magical quality. It was hard to find and only children who lived nearby were given keys to get into the garden. It’s not more than a quick stop, but how many times have you visited something blessed by the Dalai Lama.
  • LA’s Staircases – You may have seen one or two or even thirty of these concrete staircases disappearing up hillsides or tucked alongside Classic Hollywood apartment buildings. LA is actually full of these staircases and people have spend years hiking and outlining each and everyone.
  • Old Zoo – Perched on a hillside field in Griffith Park are the remains of what was LA’s Zoo for nearly 50 years. Visiting, you can walk through and even cook-out in the rocky enclosures.
  • Sunken City – This is an off-limits area. But you can see it without breaking the law. Sunken City is the remains of a 1929 landslide that toppled some homes and rail tracks to the shore below. This spot is adjacent to the Point Fermin Park Beach & Lighthouse, so there’s more to see when you visit. 
  • Watts Towers – When I first moved to LA, I found out about this sorta mythic structure…I mean, what a weird thing to have built in like the middle of the city. Seeing it in person, it hit me in a different way…I mean, it’s really unique and I’m not sure it can be appreciated until you visit.
  • Chandelier Tree – The famed massive naive tree draped with a multitude of chandeliers. Currently it’s not be lit up at night, but the chandeliers are still hanging there to see.
  • Wayfarers Chapel – This is a beautiful chapel that’s free to visit. It’s across from Abalone Cove Shoreline Park and makes a great stop before your hike/swim.
  • Angels Flight Railway – While this could technically be in the DTLA section, I prefer to think of it like this – a somewhat mercurial things that happens to be downtown – as opposed to a downtown experience.
  • If unique sites and architecture are your thing : take a look at the LA Conservancy’s map of the city.

Animal Experiences

  • Gentle Barn – Get up close and personal with rescued or rehabilitated farm animals on Sundays.
  • Sea Lions at the Marine Mammal Care Center – Book a docent led tour of this rehabilitation facility on Saturdays or Sundays
  • Gibbon Conservation Center – Home to a wide range of Gibbons who love calling out to each other all day long. Tours available @ 10am on Saturday & Sunday.
  • Wildlife Learning Center – Home to a wide array of animals, the Learning Center offers tours as well as camps and individual interactive experiences.
  • Long Beach Aquarium – The Long Beach Aquarium is LA’s best ocean discovery center with an indoor and outdoor area. There’s plenty to do here but you won’t be overwhelmed during your visit.

Best Beaches

  • El Matador State Beach -This is the most iconic beach in LA. It’s the the tall rocks standing out in the water, it’s the cliff hike down…it’s the coolest beach. Parking is sorta tricky here on weekends and holiday – make sure to bring cash to park in the lot.
  • Terranea Beach & Cave – Terranea is a coastal resort just South of Redondo Beach. When it was developed, there was an agreement struck that kept some of the beach open to the public. So, you can park here and walk through the property to get down to the beach. It’s a small beach but it’s also pretty empty most of the time…and there’s a little cave you can walk into – especially around low tide.
  • Abalone Cove Shoreline Park – This can be a beach day, but we visit this place for the hiking. Go here during low tide, and walk our on the rocky shelves to see massive starfish, tons and tons of sea urchins and all kinds of crabs. While the first cliff is the most accessible from the parking lot, we recommend hiking along the road (yes there is a small hiking trial beside the road) and going down to the second cliff.
  • Point Dume State Beach – Of all the beaches in LA, this is our favorite beach to go to. It’s not flashy or fancy…it’s empty. It’s a super long beach and we’ve only ever seen like 50 people on it at a time. When you’re here, you’re like alone. There’s also the cliff hike above that’s worth checking out – we once watched a whale and a shark fight from up there.
  • Dockweiler Beach – This is the most accessible beach bonfire spot in Los Angeles. On weekends and holiday – good luck getting a fire ring, but stay around after sunset to see (or join in) digging unsanctioned fire pits in the sand.
  • Annenberg Beach House – This is a bit of a splurge, but only because the beach is usually free. Still, this is a great way to experience the Santa Monica Beach – it’s like having your own club membership right in the sand. Offering, a pool, splash park, story time, adult areas and food.

Best Beach Activities

  • Snuba – Snuba is a mix of snorkeling and scuba & it’s probably my favorite discovery in the past year. It makes the sea floor accessible to everyone.
  • Parasailing – It’s sorta surprising with LA’s massive coastline that there aren’t a ton of easily accessible water adventures. Don’t worry, we found this one for you.
  • Water Activities in the Redondo Marina – The Redondo Marina is maybe the most overlooked experience in LA. With a massive rock wall, the marina is super calm and actually really clear. This is a great place to rent an SUP, peddle boat or kayak and spend an hour or two on your own. Plus, there are usually sea lions.
  • Sailing in Marina Del Rey – Owning a boat in LA is complicated, but you don’t have to own a boat to take one out. Joining a boat club lets you take a boat our whenever you want – and you don’t have to mess with the upkeep. Alternately – you can learn to sail and then rent the boat you learned on – check out the ‘Incredible Experiences’ section for more details.
    • Another boat rental option is Boatsetter. This site lets owners rent out their boats, and I’ve found rates as low at $108 an hour.
  • Couples Gondola Ride – Ok, this is another thing you can do in the Redondo Marina – there is a romantic gondola ride. There are different package tiers which add on food and beverages.
  • Go Fishing – Pick a pier and head out -or- out to Kenneth Hahn State Park and fish in their stocked pond.

Best FREE Attractions

  • Getty Center – While this is an art gallery, that portion is almost forgettable when compared with the view you get while strolling through the grounds. Admission is Free, but there is a fee to park.
  • La Brea Tar Pits – My #1 attraction in Los Angeles.
  • Griffith Observatory – This is a really remarkable destination. Admission is free to the museum and telescopes, but the theater is an additional cost. Also, parking can be difficult…when we visit, we always park down below near Trails Cafe and hike up to the Observatory.
  • The Broad – LA’s most modern art museum.
  • The Getty Villa – Not to be confused with the Getty Center, the Getty Villa is the beach side sister museum and grounds/gardens.

Be a Tourist

Downtown LA

Things You’ve Heard Of But Haven’t Done

  • Santa Anita Park – If you’ve never been to a horse race, you should go – it’s really fun for a few hours. (Check out Goldstar for discount tickets.) If horse racing isn’t your thing – Santa Anita Park is also home to a bunch of other events including mirco-brew festivals, night markets, and concerts.
  • Huntington Gardens – (It’s actually titled ‘The Huntington’ but everyone calls it Huntington Gardens) This is a big day out, and can be exhausting. It’s totally worth a trip out – there are SO many different gardens – of course my favorite it always the Japanese Gardens. Plan on brining a lunch or eating there – don’t try and power-through this experience unless you want to end up dehydrated and sore.
  • Ronald Regan Presidential Library – In the pantheon of Presidential Libraries, this one is the most like a theme park – see a piece of the Berlin Wall, sit in a recreated oval office, walk through Regan’s air force one.
  • Richard Nixon Library & Museum – This museum is about an earlier president, but it feels more relevant to me since most the history I was taught in High School revolved around the 1940-70’s
  • Echo Park Swan Boats – At night they light up.
  • The Queen Mary in Long Beach – It took us years to make it to the Queen Mary, and it lived up to the hype. We were there for dining and drinks – which had an air of turn-of-the-century upper class delivered in a modern way. I’m a big fan of ghost tours, so I recommend taking a tour that leads you deep into the boat.
  • The Magic Castle – For at least the first decade I was in LA, there were few places more sought after than the Magic Castle – the home of the world’s greatest magic tricks and an endless stream of table side magic. Rumor was that you couldn’t visit unless you knew someone who was a member…but then we learned you can get into the magic castle if you stay at the hotel.

Food

There are tons and tons of dining guides for LA, this is not that. This is the most famous or legendary local favorite dining spots in LA.

  • Philippe The Original – Simply the best French Dip – supposedly the original French Dip. (Cash Only)
  • Bludso’s – This is really LA’s homegrown BBQ (and it’s some of the best in the world).
    • Bludso’s is actually also located in The Proud Bird near LAX – which is one of the best places to eat with kids because they have outdoor dining and a playground. Plus, you can watch all the planes land.
  • Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles – Because these two things really do belong together.
  • Porto’s Bakery – Timing is everything at this cuban bakery. In the morning Porto’s has great pastries and coffee, but I’m partial to the afternoon and the medianoche sandwich.

Bars with Extra

LA Film & Theater

  • Elysian Theater – After a shuffle in the LA indie theater scene in ’20 & ’21, the Elysian Theater emerged as the best spot to see avant-garde productions and brand new staged experiences. If you want to see something new – you can’t go wrong with a show here. Whatever you see will be unlike anything you’ve ever seen before.
  • Movies in the Cemetery – To some this comes as a surprise, to some this is basic by now. But, movies in the cemetery is still the best outdoor movie experience in LA. I’ll take this view to the grave. And, if you want to take it to the next level – try the slumber party night.
  • Downtown Theater Walking Tour – Downtown LA is littered with its own history. One of the biggest examples of this to me is Broadway, a street lined with theaters-turned-jewelry shops. This tour takes you into the old 20th Century, when downtown LA was a theater town.
  • Egyptian Theater – There are two theaters to consider when you want to see older films, and I’ve always had a better experience at the Egyptian Theater than at the New Beverly (Sorry Quentin). This was Hollywood’s big premier theater back in the Golden Age of Film, and it shows a curated selection of classics, obscure and edgy new movies. (You can catch similar films at its sister theater – the Aero – in Santa Monica, but it’s not the same experience.)
  • Drive-In Movies – There are a bunch (maybe too many) pop-up movie experiences in LA, but nothing rivals a classic drive-in theater experience…in an actual drive-in theater, not just an empty lot. For the full experience – retrofitted parking, snack shack, double features – we love the Vineland Drive-In & we also recommend the Roadium.
  • Shakespeare in the Park (Seasonal) – There are two companies that put on free Shakespeare performances throughout the Summer. You can find the Independent Shakespeare Company at Griffith Park and there’s the touring company Shakespeare by the Sea.

Parks

  • Vasquez Rocks – This is a completely otherworldly rock formation – literally it’s been in like dozens of movies as ‘an alien world’. As a visitor, this park is great for short hiking, climbing and picnics.
  • Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area : I can’t believe this park is right in the middle of the city. It’s a great outdoor getaway with play spaces, hiking, large open fields, and even a pond where you can fish. I think most people that shoot through mid-city don’t realize what their passing by.
  • Ernest E. Debs Regional Park – Trust me, you’ve never heard anyone talk about this park. In a city where every trail is over hiked, this is the definition of a hidden gem. While it’s not the longest hike in the city – it’s one of the most peaceful, the most wild and a great experience.
  • Malibu Creek State Park – Ok, this park has it all…super long hikes, swimming holes, camping, a movie set, shade, and some rocks to crawl on.
  • Malibu Grotto Hike – Another Malibu option that is an overall shorter hike but still has a great pay off is the Malibu Grotto Hike which ends at a stream with a little cave area you can climb into.
  • Castaic Lake – This is a great lake and park for doing whatever you wanna do on the water – swim, kayak, SUP, power boat, jet skiing & it’s also stocked for fishing. (Boat rentals are available on site)

Day Trips

  • Angeles National Forest – This is the shortest of all the ‘day trips’, and the one that will surprise you the most. It’s been so close to you this whole time. The Angeles National Forest is basically the mountains overlooking Burbank and Glendale. From the valley it takes about :45 just to drive up and from there you can follow the road all the way to Big Bear. Our favorite stop is the Switzer Picnic Site, it’s easy to access and has several hikes to choose from. (Get an adventure pass before heading up to make parking possible.)
  • Catalina Island – LA’s closest island getaway
  • Temecula – LA might have 1 or 2 wineries, but Temecula is LA’s closest wine country – you might have heard of the famous almond wine. This really is a great, comfortable getaway – which offers all sorts of wine country experiences, including hot air balloon rides.
  • Palm Springs – There’s so much to do in Palm Springs and the surrounding desert communities, but Palm Springs can also be a good day trip anytime you need a completely different atmosphere. (We love coming here in winter and taking the gondola up to the top of the mountain)

Camping In LA

Yes, there is outdoor camping all over Los Angeles

Sunset Views

Seasonal Fruity Picks

  • Apple Picking – Just below Big Bear, there’s a cluster of apple farmer that have become a yearly tradition for us.
  • Nearly Year Round – While the offerings change, Underwood Family Farms almost always have something on site that can be picked – no matter the season.

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