For the locals in LA, the city is most notable for its cultural melting pot, its entrepreneurial startup culture and its beautiful Mediterranean climate. But for visitors to our city, there’s so much more to explore - particularly, if you’re happy to take day trips out into the wider L.A. County too. Whether you’re interested in visiting the most important historical landmarks and doing some sightseeing or you’re looking for a day out at a theme park, we have it all. There’s even opportunities for a trip out to the coast and some of the most famous beaches in the area too. Then, when you return to the city after a great day out, you can make the most of some of the best spots in town to get a bite to eat.

You can’t come to LA without doing some sightseeing!

Where better to start than with the Hollywood Walk of Fame? Currently, over 2,800 stars adorn the sidewalks of 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and 3 blocks of Vine Street. First unveiled in 1958, permanent stars began to be installed in 1960; the attraction has been undergoing a long-term restoration plan since 2008, and still attracts millions of visitors each year. For the full Hollywood experience, you should also stop at Lake Hollywood Park for one of the best views of the iconic Hollywood Sign afterwards. 

Talking of views, there is no better spot to get a good look at the city and beyond than at the Griffith Observatory. Located on the south facing slope of Mount Hollywood, you can get a beautiful look at the entire city from upon high, before entering the observatory and taking a look through their telescopes at the cosmos. 

Visitors always love to take a trip to Beverly Hills, home to many Hollywood stars and the basis for several high-profile TV shows over the years. Rodeo Drive has some of the best luxury, high-end fashion boutiques throughout its three-block area, and you can take a look at some of the best designer stores in town too. For those looking for a bit of nightlife, the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood, on the appropriately named - but extensive - Sunset Boulevard, is home to comedy clubs, live music venues, nightclubs, bars and restaurants. There is truly something for everyone in Los Angeles. 

A day out with the family to a theme park makes a lifetime full of memories

Visitors to Disneyland, Anaheim; © Gela Delrose

If you’re visiting with a multi-generational group, perhaps your best bet for a day trip that suits all ages is to one of the theme parks situated in L.A. County. Two of our theme parks let you get up close to the movie-making culture of the city, but in very different ways. You could make the trip to Universal Studios Hollywood and experience their movie-themed park and attractions. Here, you will find the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, as well as attractions celebrating the beloved worlds of Despicable Me, Fast and Furious and Jurassic World, amongst others. 

Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood will take you on a guided walkthrough tour of an active lot, which means the specific tours offered there are ever-changing depending on what is currently being filmed on site. Ranging from 3 hours up to 6 hours, you can pick a tour that suits your group’s interest (and attention span), as each tour is guaranteed to show you the Soundstage, the Backlot, an interactive soundstage (Stage 48) and props, costumes and recreated sets in the Action and Magic Made Here finale. 

If the movies aren’t entirely your bag, you could take a trip to Anaheim and visit Disneyland Park - the first site opened by the Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the supervision of Walt Disney himself. The site is over 100 acres in size and features 9 distinct and themed areas, and attractions celebrating so many of the internationally recognised characters or franchises such as Finding Nemo, Pirates of the Caribbean and Star Wars.

Take a break at one of our iconic beaches

However, if you’re looking for somewhere to unwind after a few busy days of sightseeing or theme parks, perhaps a trip to the coast is on the menu. With the unique Mediterranean climate of Los Angeles, there’s almost never a bad time to take a visit to the beach and see the seafront - even in spring and fall, the weather can be bright and warm enough for most tourists to enjoy a day out to the coast! Santa Monica Pier is one of the best seafront destinations in the area, dating back to 1909, with a small amusement park and areas for fishing along the 500m pier. The Santa Monica Beach itself is 3.5 mile long with parks, picnic areas and playgrounds dotted throughout, as well as volleyball courts and the International Chess Park. This beach will also be the location for both beach volleyball and surfing at the 2028 Summer Olympics, hosted by Los Angeles.

Venice Beach, and its canals, is equally internationally-renowned with a 2.5 mile boardwalk, outdoor gym and street performers. Specifically, the Venice Canal Historic District is regarded as one of LA’s Historical-Cultural Monuments and was built in 1905 to develop the area using manmade canals to replicate the feeling of the original Venice, Italy. Venice Beach itself has some of the most competitive basketball courts in the country, with many top NBA players having honed their skills playing streetball here. The area will host the triathlon, the start of the marathon and the start of the road cycling races during the 2028 Summer Olympics. 

And then there’s Malibu, and Miley Cyrus reminding the world about the beauty of the area with her 2017 hit single. The 20+ mile stretch of coastline offers dramatic, rocky and sandy scenic views, whilst also being a desirable area for celebrities to live and for surfers to ride the waves. Many of these beaches are open to the public year round, and a great way to make the most of the Mediterranean climate that envelops Los Angeles. 

Of course, there are other noteworthy spots in Los Angeles that are well worth a visit. We also love the historic foodhall at Grand Central Market in Downtown LA, as well as The Grove & Original Farmers Market which is home to a range of sit-down eateries as well as market stalls. Finally, we couldn’t talk about top tourist destinations without mentioning Union Station. It remains the largest passenger terminal in the Western United States, and was built in 1930 in a mostly art deco style. There is so much to discover in Los Angeles, and so many reasons to visit the area… what are you waiting for? Book your visit today.

Title image: Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; © Ekaterina Belinskaya