In case you are planning a trip to Los Angeles, figuring out what to see and do can be quite challenging. There are numerous wonderful attractions and activities in Los Angeles, the possibilities can be overwhelming for visitors. Los Angeles extensive population of ten million people enjoys a lifestyle that is enriched by its diversity. From the people themselves to beautiful beaches, world-class museums and theme parks. You need to plan carefully, be very flexible and get the most out of your stay here. Remember to be selective and see what you want to see. Below are some of the fascinating things to see and do in Los Angeles:

Visit The Getty Center

The Getty Center Museum is world-class and it’s free of charge. It offers great art collections, beautiful modern white architecture, wide ranging exhibits, beautiful views, grand sculptures, beautiful gardens and even free tours.

The Getty Center in Los Angeles features the Getty’s collection of Western art from Middle Ages to the present against a setting of theatrical architecture, spectacular views and tranquil gardens.

The museum also has paintings, manuscripts, drawings, decorative art and sculptures as well as American and European photos. Remember that the museum has “ran out of time” signs stamped all over it, so arrive early and do not plan to leave until after lunch.

It is a great idea to do some research before you visit this place in order to decide on what to see first. Alternatively a guided tour might help. The attractions are nearly as numerous as the number of people who are visiting the sites. Queuing should be mostly about food but you can choose to bring your own food if you wish.

For more information and photo’s of the Getty you can go here.

Go Whale Watching

Newport Landing provides continuous whale watching and daily cruises departing from the Newport Beach. Newport Landing is centrally situated in Orange County and couple of minutes from Los Angeles in the heart of Southern California. It offers whale watching cruises viewing several different species of whales including blue whales which attain lengths of up to eighty feet or even more. Together with whales, numerous species of dolphin are commonly spotted. It is very common to see big pods of dolphin that number in thousands.

Numerous other marine creatures can also be seen including pelicans and seals among other creatures. Killer whales and sharks are also seen sometimes.

Visit The Staples Centre

In reality, the Nokia Theatre, The ESPN Zone and the Staples Centre are just a stone throw away from one another in downtown Los Angeles, just off South Figureroa Street. Each of them is a lavish venue that hosts a number of highly-billed events.

On a normal weekend, the area is often filled with celebrities and beautiful people, and you can find savory food and drinks at various places within a walking distance. It is one among the most popular places to see and be seen in a city that is known for fame and exposure.

Venice Beach

One of the coolest places in Los Angeles continues to be Santa Monica and the neighboring Venice Beach. The beach strip is something out of this world, with continuous action going on all around visitors and an ambience that is as diverse as the city itself.

There is no other place in the world you will be able to see a man in a gorilla suit juggling knives for donations only a couple of feet away from muscle-bout stud lifting huge weights. Add a bevy of shops that offer everything from gravity bongs to chocolate covered strawberries, and you have a place that really has something for everyone.

Visit The Huntington Library

Actually, this place has some famous art and many important documents like the Gutenberg Bible. The Huntington’s 120acre of botanical gardens is boundless and amazing. It’s not just herb gardens and rose gardens. They have full-one ecosystem – a Chinese garden, Japanese garden, desert, jungle, a subtropical garden and lily ponds.

It is rather crazy in there, and if you call ahead, you can even have high tea. Alternatively, since you are right near Pasadena, you can have lunch at Pie �n Burger instead. Los Angeles may not have the best high-end dining in the country but it surely has the best burgers.

Have Some Sushi in the Valley

If you are from any place other than Japan, you will be quite impressed with the sushi here. Wonderful sushi joints grow like weeds in the crappy-looking strip malls on Ventura Boulevard in the Studio City, the heart of San Fernando Valley.

The sushi is not cheap, but they are all worth the cost. Katsu-ya with its seared albacore with crispy onions has flourished into a mini-chain here. Furthermore, you will get to go to the Valley, which is the locals’ version of Suburbs but has become oddly cool.

Go For The Warner Brothers Studio Tour

The universal studio lot is wonderful, but you will have to go to the theme park for that tour. Therefore, take the Warner Brothers studio tour instead, or maybe you can arrange a tour of one of the other big studios near the place you are staying.

In most cases, they are all just big, generic, windowless warehouses which act as soundstages, but every block has great New York facades. Plus, Warner Brothers has the Gilmore Girls’ sweet, fake ideal town, and for some reasons, Universal still has its old West set. Either way, it’s quite fun to see people in silly costumes driving around in golf carts.

Olvera Street

This small strip of shops and restaurants in downtown Los Angeles is one among the best way to get a taste of Los Angeles’s Mexican heritage. With very authentic food, historical buildings and mariachi music, you will be taken to another time and place without actually leaving the city.

The Hollywood Sign

This structure, located at the peak of Mt. Lee in Griffith Park is probably the most long-lasting symbol of Hollywood. The nine 15-meter letters can be seen from the Los Angeles basin, and sometimes even from a passing aircraft. Since hiking to the site is not permitted, the best places you can snap a photo of the sign are from Griffith Park Observatory and Hollywood and Highland.

Enjoy the many attractions Los Angeles has to offer. From fun-riding at the Warner Brothers Studios Hollywood to viewing the famous artwork housed in the Getty Center to cruising along Venice beach, you will find a world of adventure among the fashion, film and fun Los Angeles.

We hope you enjoyed this article, if you want to learn a little about the History of Los Angeles, you can go here.

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