Often regarded as the “Entertainment Capital of the World”, Lоѕ Angеlеѕ iѕ thе ѕесоnd most popular traveled destination in United Stаtеѕ аftеr New Yоrk. The city has long been known internationally in the film and entertainment industry, particularly for Hollywood, a place that has drawn aspiring actors and actresses from across the country for over a century. Besides, it is also popular for its incredible range of culinary delights, historical museums, hip shopping centers, interactive attractions, pristine beaches, and interesting neighborhoods that one can explore as part of USA Tour Packages. If you are planning a trip to Los Angeles, then check out the list of best places that everybody really ought to visit in Los Angeles at its best.
Universal Studios Hollywood
An iconic landmark of Los Angeles, Universal Studios Hollywood is one of the biggest film studios and theme parks in the world. Home to one of the oldest still-operating film studios, Universal Studios Hollywood is a sprawling complex known for its amazing rides based on blockbuster movies. Among, the favorite movie and TV-themed rides and sets include Jurassic World – The Ride, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Despicable Me Minion Mayhem, The Simpsons, and Transformers. One can also experience the one-hour guided tour of the studios where you will get to explore behind the scenes of some of Universal’s most popular movie sets. Apart from this, the complex also features Universal City Walk, an outdoor shopping center where visitors can catch live performances, see a movie, or watch celebrities. Attracting millions of visitors every year, it is one of the most visited tourist places in Los Angeles.
Griffith Park & Griffith Observatory
Located in the eastern part of the Santa Monica Mountains, Griffith Park is one of the largest municipal parks in the United States and among the top places to visit in Los Angeles. Since the greater part of the parkland to the city was donated by Griffith J. Griffith in 1986, it is named the Griffith Park and Observatory. Covering an area of 4,210 acres, the park is home to the Los Angeles Zoo, the Griffith Observatory, a planetarium, and a Greek theater. Also, it houses golf courses, tennis courts, hiking trails, and a riding center created for the 1984 Olympic Games. Among, Griffith Observatory is one of the city’s most interesting landmarks boasts dozens of engaging exhibits, an out-of-this-world planetarium, and multiple telescopes available for public use. The main highlight here is the Zeiss telescope, which is used for watching the moon and planets.
The Getty Center
Designed by Richard Meier, the Getty Center is a huge complex located on a hilltop in the Santa Monica Mountains, in Los Angeles. Set on 110 acres, the center houses a huge collection and regular exhibitions of art into the history of Europe and America. Opened on December 16, 1997, the collection of the museum has extensive amounts of art that includes paintings, drawings, sculptures, decorative arts, as well as 19th and 20th-century photography. Along with contemporary and permanent collections, the museum also has a research center that has its own gallery on rare books, manuscripts, photographs, and artists’ notebooks. Also, the complex is home to a beautiful central garden that houses a pond and an amazing layout of trees and flowers. Attracting around 1.3 million visitors every year, it is one of the must-include places in Los Angeles tour packages.
Peterson Automotive Museum
Peterson Automotive Museum is one of the popular museums located in Los Angeles. Spread over four floors, the museum houses an amazing collection of cars and motorcycles that represent more than 120 years of automotive history. Visitors can see more than 250 unique vehicles, collected from around the world, including some very iconic cars, motorcycles, and trucks. The main exhibits at the museum include supercars, Hollywood dream machines, racing cars, and more. Also, the museum conducts educational tours where you will get to know about these spectacular machines and various dedicated exhibits to different eras. If you are a car lover, then don’t miss to visit this museum while holidaying in Los Angeles.
Santa Monica Beach
Located just west of Downtown Los Angeles, Santa Monica Beach is one of the most gorgeous and famed beaches in Southern California. With its soft and golden sand, this beach is an extremely lively beach that offers the best overall beach experience in Los Angeles. From bike trails to a plethora of outdoor activities, the beach offers something for everyone that draws tourists in vast numbers during Los Angeles trips. Besides, visitors can also visit the nearby attractions such as the iconic Santa Monica Pier, Carousel Park, and the International Chess Park.
Venice Beach
With a stretch of golden sand, Venice Beach is a vibrant beach and among the busiest beaches in Los Angeles. Well-known for its eclectic oceanfront boardwalk, the beach offers prime surfing and sunbathing opportunities as well as a plethora of activities like walking, cycling, basketball, paddle tennis, rollerblading, and jogging. Also, the beach is filled with vendors selling street foods and local goods. Thronged by thousands of tourists, it is one of the best places to visit in Los Angeles.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark with more than 2,500 terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalk along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street. The five-pointed stars honor the accomplishments of musicians, directors, actors, producers, and even fictional characters associated with Hollywood. Stroll along the complex for window shopping that ranges from five-dollar stores to elite brands. One can also visit the family-friendly restaurants that flank the boulevard which offers a variety of European, Continental, American, and Chinese delicacies. Besides, you can find many street artists and roadside performers who allow you to click pictures with them.
Disneyland
No trip to Los Angeles is complete without a trip to Disneyland. Disneyland is one of the best Disney theme parks in the world. Located around an hour’s drive from Downtown Los Angeles in Orange County, this theme park was designed and constructed under the instructions of Walt Disney, who came up with the concept of Disneyland after visiting various amusement parks with his daughters in the 1930s and 1940s. Opened in 1955, it is one of the star attractions in the city of Anaheim and also a premier family vacation destination. Spread across 8 huge lands, it is one of the biggest Disneylands in the world featuring huge castles and models, rides, and shops. Costumed performers wander the parks, offering children a once-in-a-lifetime experience with their favorite Disney characters.
La Brea Tar Pits
One of the best places to visit in Los Angeles, La Brea Tar Pits is an evacuation site where you can understand the history of the Los Angeles area during the Ice Age period. It offers a unique opportunity to see live excavations of fossils and learn about the process. Formed 40,000 years ago, the tar preserved the fossils throughout the ages, leaving behind an incredible glimpse into another age. The La Brea Tar Pits Museum located next to the park displays fully reconstructed fossils of a variety of mammals including mammoths, saber-toothed cats, dire wolves, and others, all dating from between 40,000 and 10,000 years ago. Also, one can spot the replicas of extinct animals in the outdoor area. Apart from this, visitors can also watch scientists working and researching the fossils to recreate the past in the fossil lab. Thronged by thousands of visitors, it is one of the must-visit places while holidaying in Los Angeles.
Rodeo Drive
Rodeo Drive is a two-mile-long street located in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles. It is a popular destination for artists and one of the most lavishly fashionable places to visit in the USA. Lined up with boutiques and high-end shops, the place is also home to House of Bijan, the most expensive clothing store in the world. If you are a foodie, then it is one of the best places to relish American snacks and Italian delights, a favorite of locals being Panini Cafe’s kebabs and handmade chocolates. Besides, it also has well-manicured gardens with exotic flowers and colorful fountains which makes it a perfect place to spend some quality time with family. If you are visiting the street during Christmas, you can see the street full of neon lights, carolers, and hot pies.
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is the largest natural and historical museum located in the western United States. The museum features nearly 35 million specimens and artifacts, covering more than 4 billion years of history. Divided into three floors, the main highlight of the museum is its newly reopened 14,000-square-foot Dinosaur Hall, which houses an amazing display of dinosaur exoskeletons and other intriguing artifacts related to the species. Triceratops and a Stegosaurus are also on display. Also, some of the special exhibits in the museum include the butterfly pavilion and insect pavilion.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
The largest museum in the western United States, Los Angeles County Museum of Art houses a collection of nearly 149,000 objects that illuminate 6,000 years of artistic expression across the globe. Founded in 1961, the museum has several buildings. It is home to a huge collection of art that includes Modern art, American and Latin art, Greek and Roman art, Asian art, and Islamic art. This work has all sorts of art like paintings, sculptures and statues, manuscripts, and intricate works in ceramic and metal among many others. Also, the museum has a decent collection of film and photography. It is one of the must-visit sites for art aficionados during their Los Angeles Trip.
California Science Center
The California Science Center is a state agency and museum located in Exposition Park, Los Angeles. Previously called the California Museum of Science and Industry, but later renovated, remodeled, and renamed the California Science Museum in 1998. The museum has a huge collection of Space Shuttle Endeavour and an amazing aircraft. The other exhibit at the center includes the living world, technology, and ecosystems. The recently opened Ecosystem exhibits an impressive 188,000-gallon kelp tank, live plants, animals, and a large aquarium. Besides, this science center also regularly hosts several temporary exhibits and has an IMAX theater where one can watch educational films.
Battleship Lowa Museum
The Battleship USS Iowa Museum is a maritime museum located at the Port of Los Angeles, California. Built in 1943, this ship served during the Second World War, Korean War, and Cold War and was impressively awarded eleven battle stars. Finally, it was decommissioned in 1990. Now, visitors can take a guided tour which allows them to access to the inner workings of the ship, including the engine room, boiler room, and the Combat Engagement Center, among other restricted areas. The main highlight is the massive 16-inch guns. Also, the museum hosts different events for on-location filming and hosting parties.
Santhi is an avid traveler and primary contributor to the blogs at Trawell.in. She has explored most of the states in India and gained vast knowledge on tourist destinations in India and abroad. She also contributes content to other travel websites.
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