Want to know the best Los Angeles trip ideas to fill your fabulous travel itinerary? These are some of the most recommended places to visit and things to do in Los Angeles California.
Planning a trip to LA is super exciting! If you’re anything like me, you’re here because you love to research and plan your trip ahead of time. As a travel enthusiast, I am giving you the best Los Angeles trip ideas to fill your travel itinerary.
You are going to learn about places to visit like Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach, and Larchmont, and things to do like thrift shopping, Hollywood tours, and drag brunch. After learning about these places and things to do, you are going to be ready for your next Los Angeles travel adventure!
This post is all about 13 fabulous Los Angeles trip ideas to fill your travel itinerary.
Best Places To Visit
1. Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica Pier is one of the most iconic spots in Los Angeles. There are so many fun things to do to fill your afternoon! Consider purchasing a multi-ride pass to enjoy the amusement park rides like the ferris wheel, bumper cars, and west coaster. Or purchase a ticket for an individual ride! Walk along the pier to enjoy the views of the pacific ocean and grab some ice cream! Or enjoy checking out the variety of vendors and shops selling homemade jewelry, crafts, artwork and souvenirs.
2. Venice Beach
Not far from Santa Monica Pier is Venice Beach! This is one of my favorite places in LA to see the ocean. It’s an easy walk across the beach to the water. After soaking in the salty air next to the water, take a walk along the boardwalk! There are so many unique shops and street vendors! Within the town of Venice Beach there are several great areas to shop and dine. I love checking out the California vibe restaurants like Great White, The Butcher’s Daughter, and Cafe Gratitude.
3. Larchmont Village
A super cute area with the most gorgeous Spanish style homes is Larchmont village. Their downtown main street has a lot of trendy stores including Levain Bakery, Jeni’s Ice Cream, Buck Mason, and Diptyque. I recommend getting pizza from Village Pizzeria Larchmont and for a sweet treat, check out Bricks and Scones!
4. Griffith Observatory
One of the most popular places to visit in LA is Griffith Observatory. Not only is it obviously a fun place to see at night, there are also several hiking trails to explore during the day. If you do plan to visit at night, I recommend getting there early (well before sunset) to find parking and make your way to the park. Before sunset is also a good time to purchase tickets for a planetarium show. After sunset, check out the telescope in the east dome and explore the indoor museum on the lower level.
5. Korea Town
Korea Town is one of my favorite neighborhoods! There are so many fantastic restaurants! If you enjoy Korean barbecue, I recommend Sun Nong Dang. They have delicious made from scratch banchan and having the BBQ at your table is so fun! For dessert, check out Melo Melo. They have coconut-based desserts with unique flavors like taro-ube, red dragon fruit, and durian.
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Best Things To Do
6. Thrift Shopping
There are so many vintage and thrift stores in Los Angeles! You can easily make a whole day of your travel itinerary by second-hand shopping throughout the city. One area to check out is Little Ethiopia where you’ll find Cannonball & Tilly, Helping Hand Thrift Shop, and a few other curated vintage stores.
7. Hollywood Bus Tour
For some classic tourist fun, consider taking a bus tour through Hollywood and the Hollywood Hills. This is a great way to see a large area of LA in a short amount of time. Many bus tours go through Beverly Hills, Hollywood, West Hollywood, and drive up through the Hollywood Hills to see celebrity homes. I love doing these kinds of tours at the start of a trip so I get a better understanding of the city I’m visiting and see the lay of the land.
8. Drag Brunch in West Hollywood
There are several West Hollywood clubs that offer drag brunch! Some of the clubs I recommend include Hamburger Mary’s, Mickey’s, Rocco’s, and The Abbey. The Abbey is actually the club to inspire Chappell Roan’s song Pink Pony Club. They offer drag brunch every Saturday and Sunday!
9. Jazz Club
Another Los Angeles trip idea is to attend a jazz club! There are several jazz clubs throughout the city offering a variety of live music shows. Some of them include Gold Diggers, Catalina Jazz Club, Vibrato Grill Jazz, Pips on Labrea, Blue Note Los Angeles, and Rhythm Room LA.
10. Paramount Studios Tour
If you’re a big fan of movies and old films, go where many movies and tv shows are made! Paramount Pictures offers a tour of their Los Angeles studio. They offer a variety of tours of the lot and different sets.
11. Spa Day
A fabulous Los Angeles trip idea is to relax at a spa. Set aside a day in your travel itinerary to enjoy a spa day. If you’re interested in a full day experience, I recommend visiting a Korean spa like Wi Spa and Spa Palace. They offer several services and have a restaurant on site so you don’t have to leave. Another great spa to check out is Den Mother.
12. Hiking
Los Angeles has many outdoor recreation areas perfect for hiking. As I mentioned previously, Griffith Observatory is a great place to go hiking. There are several trails to choose from and many lead up to the observatory park. Other hiking trails include Runyon Canyon Park and Ferndell Nature Trail.
13. Fitness Class
If you’re interested in staying active during your visit to Los Angeles, consider taking a fitness class! I love that Los Angeles offers so many different fitness studios. From spin and yoga, to pilates, boxing, and dance, there’s something for everyone. I personally grew up dancing, so I love the idea of taking a drop in dance class in LA. There are several dance studios that offer drop in classes for adults.
I hope this list inspires you as you look for your own Los Angeles trip ideas to fill your travel itinerary. The city of lights offers an endless list of things to do! It’s a great city to visit any time of year and there’s something for everyone.
This post is all about 13 fabulous Los Angeles trip ideas to fill your travel itinerary.
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