Dining, Things to Do

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Orientation

The greater Los Angeles area is a vast and sprawling metropolis with many cities, neighborhoods, and micro-communities.

The Beach

The main beach communities of the Los Angeles Area are, from north to south: Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice and Maria Del Rey. Unfortunately, Downtown LA is on the east side of town, so in order to dip your toes in the Pacific, you'll need a car or a bus trip. Access to the beaches is free, but parking is not.

If you're looking for suggestions, here is a link to recommendations for 8 great LA area beaches.

The Arts

There are many great art and history museums in Los Angeles. Here are some resources to explore and just a few options to consider:

Location	URL	Notes
Discover the Arts in Los Angeles	http://discoverlosangeles.com/thearts/	Resource to find deals for numerous museums, plays, etc.
LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art)	http://www.lacma.org	An amazing museum, including two new complexes. Check our BCAM for contemporary art.
Getty	http://www.getty.edu	Two locations, one in LA off the 405 and one at the coast on Pacific Coast Hwy. Both are amazing!
Annenberg Space for Photography	http://www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org/	A small space, but great photography. In 1-2 hours, you'll see it all and be ready for your next adventure in LA.
Petersen Automotive Museum	http://www.petersen.org/	If you're a car nut, this place is for you. Just across the street from LACMA.
Hollywood Bowl	http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/	Music, performances.
Walt Disney Concert Hall	http://www.laphil.com/visit/	Not sure if there will be performances, but worth a look!
Ahmanson Theater, Mark Taper Forum	http://www.centertheatregroup.org/	If a play's your thing, check out these great venues.
Griffith Observatory	http://www.griffithobservatory.org/	Great view of LA, planetarium, and much more!
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens	http://www.huntington.org/	In San Marino-Pasadena.

Amusement Parks, Rides, and Zoos

Location	URL	Notes
Disneyland	http://disneyland.disney.go.com/	In Anaheim. A significant commute from downtown LA.
Universal Studios	http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/	A short freeway drive from downtown LA.
Six Flags Magic Mountain	http://www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/index.aspx	In Santa Clarita/Valencia. A commute from downtown LA.
Knott's Berry Farm	http://www.knotts.com/	A drive. Not as impressive as the others, IMO.
Santa Monica Pier	http://www.santamonicapier.org/	Rides, food, beach...
LA Zoo	http://www.lazoo.org/	Great for kids. Gene Autry Museum across the street.

Sightseeing

Location	URL	Notes
Discover Los Angeles	http://discoverlosangeles.com/	Links to options big and small.
Hollywood Sign	http://www.hollywoodsign.org/	A popular symbol of LA.
Hollywood and Highland, incl. Mann's Chinese Theater	http://www.hollywoodandhighland.com/	See the Chinese, glimpse the Hollywood Sign from the observation level, see the El Capitan Theatre across the street, gawk at people dressed in costume. A short subway trip from downtown.
Griffith Park	http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/griffithpk/
Beverly Hills	http://www.beverlyhills.org/	The Graystone Mansion is a free place to visit.
Santa Monica Pier	http://www.santamonicapier.org/	Rides, food, beach...
Venice Beach	http://www.venicebeach.com/	Famous or infamous?
Chinatown	http://www.chinatownla.com/

Shopping

More places than can be mentioned here. Just a sample:

Location	URL	Notes
Americana - Glendale	http://www.americanaatbrand.com/	Popular new mall.
Beverly Hills - Rodeo Drive	http://www.rodeodrive-bh.com/index4.html	Iconic. Expensive.
Beverly Center	http://www.beverlycenter.com/	Not in Beverly Hills, but a mall nonetheless.
3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica	http://www.thirdstreetpromenade.com/visitors/index.html	Open-air walking mall. Moments away from Santa Monica pier and beach. Another major mall next door. A commute from downtown LA.
The Grove	http://www.thegrovela.com/	Another popular open-air mall. Farmer's market nearby.
Hollywood and Highland	http://www.hollywoodandhighland.com/	See the sights, buy some things.

Dining

There are many, many restaurants and eateries in the LA area.

First, you'll notice that restaurants have a letter grade on the door. This is a rating of cleanliness from the city. You want to eat at an "A" restaurant. Less than an "A" means the establishment hasn't met all health codes. You can learn more here: http://lapublichealth.org/eh/misc/ehpost.htm

If you're interested in exploring LA's food truck scene, I recommend:
LAist Food Truck Twitter List
Roaming Hunger

If you're interested in sampling some of LA's amazing tacos and taco trucks, a great resource is The Great Taco Hunt. But seriously, almost any taco trunk you come upon is going to have something unique and delicious.

You may have heard that LA has excellent Chinese food. The best place to get some of the most authentic and regional cuisines is in the various towns of the San Gabriel Valley, just east of Downtown.

Dining and Things To Do