Los Angeles travel tips: Things to do and places to go

Is Los Angeles the city that represents the US most? This question is the opening to the first episode of remote.NW podcast in which Johannes and Tom collect several travel tips for Los Angeles. Steffi took advantage of those recommendations to plan her very first visit to the Californian city. Besides the „show & shine“ that characterizes areas like Santa Monica, Malibu or Venice Beach she is convinced that everyone should take a look at Downtown LA to get a better understanding of the different puzzle pieces that form the entire picture of the city.

Our conclusion? It’s hard to steam together a top 3 list for LA. It’s a city you have to experience with all its tourist hotspots like Hollywood, Santa Monica oder Venice Beach to get a glimpse of the city’s diversity, contrasts and extremes.

So the motto for LA is more then ever: Visit the city, let the impressions sink in and come back to review. If you wanna know where you have better chances to run into Ryan Gosling than on the Walk of Fame, then tune into the episodes of remote.NW. On overview of different neighbourhoods and sights we talk about in both Los Angeles episodes can be found here – in our extended shownotes:

Hollywood

The fact that this Los Angeles landmark wasn’t always part of the city center shows how fast LA and its cityscape changed over the years. Even though it’s really touristy a visit of the famous district as well as a walk along the Walk of Fame are musts when visiting Los Angeles, especially for the first time. By the way. The famous Walk of Fame is the sight that I could win the least. Nevertheless every Los Angeles bucketlist needs to contain:

• Hollywood Hills & Hollywood SIgn
• Walk of Fame
• Chinese Theatre
• Rodeo Drive
• Beverly Hills

Santa Monica

One of the classic LA spots, a little upscale but not over the top offers a great mix of shops, cafés and restaurants. Don’t miss:

• Santa Monica Pier
• Walk along the Beach with view of the ocean and the mountains

Venice

Venice Beach is where the charme of the 80ies and 90ies is still alive. Even though it feels a bit outdated, you should miss stopping by at:

• Venice Beach
• Skate Park
• Venice Canals
• Venice Sign
• Abbot Kinney Boulevard

Downtown LA

You should definitely include the center of LA with its skyscrapers into your itinerary to fully understand the city. Even though they are not obvious Downtown LA offers quite a few hidden gems:

• The Last Bookstore
• Historic Bradburry Building
• City Hall viewing platform
• Walt Disney Concert Hall
• LA Arts District

The best spots for LA sunsets

• Getty Museum
• Griffith Observatorium
• Hollywood Hills
• Venice Beach, Santa Monica
• Venice Skate Park

Shopping-Tipps

• Abbot Kinney Boulevard, Venice
• Melrose Avenue, Central Los Angeles
• Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills
• 4.Straße, Santa Monica

Cafés, fast food & restaurants

• Urth Café: Frühstücksrestaurant, several Locations
• Ten Speed Coffee, Topanga Hills
• Shake Shack Crystal Cove, Laguna Beach
• Alta Coffee, Newport Beach
• True Food Kitchen, several Locations
• Pizza Press, several Locations
• In & Out Burger, several Locations
• Mama D’s Italien Kitchen, Newport
• Tagine, managed by Ryan Gossling
• Bungalow Bar, Santa Monica

Entertainment

• Walt Disneyland, Anaheim
• Warner Bros Studiotour, Hollywood Hills
• Universal Studios, Hollywood

Hip outskirt neighbourhoods

• Topanga Hills

This hippie-style, esotheric-vibe neighnourhood is ideal to escape the hustke and bustle of the city. It offers great views and cool photo opps.

• Silver Lake

This new epicenter of creative culture is a true alternative to Venice and in addition to that one of the most walkable Neighbourhoods in LA.

Beaches South of Los Angeles

• Manhattan Beach
• Long Beach
• Huntington Beach
• Newport Beach
• Laguna Beach & Thalia Street Beach

QUESTIONS & COMMENTS 

Have you ever been to Los Angeles or are about to plan a California roadtrip? Listen to remote.NW to plan your itinerary and leave us your comments, questions or your personal tips!