TOP 10 THINGS TO DO WHEN VISITING LOS ANGELES!

LA is filled with unlimited great adventures, so we’ve narrowed it down to the top 10 hotpots recommended by top LOCAL Los Angeles tour guides who know it best. Los Angeles is as a traveler’s wildest fantasy come true. It’s the epi-center of entertainment, a shopper’s paradise, starlets, gorgeous people, the best climate for hiking and biking as well as the worst traffic you’ve ever seen. The city spans across 467 square miles. You will need expert advice if you want to experience the best of LA in one trip. Our expert guides have put together a list of handpicked suggestions to help you plan your trip.

#1 Craig’s Restaurant

Celebrity sightings are their own adventure in Los Angeles. You never know who’ll be dining at the table next to you in this very popular American cuisine restaurant in the heart of West Hollywood on famed Melrose Avenue. Top celebs like Mariah Carey, Kris Jenner, Nick Jonas and other tastemakers are known to stop by for a meal. Call early for reservations!

 

#2 Hike to the Hollywood Sign through Griffith Park

Griffith Park is one of LA’s hottest landmarks, surrounded by panoramic views, 53 great hiking trails and crowned with a stunning observatory. (“Rebel Without A Cause with James Dean was filmed here) Take in a sunset hike with Bikes and Hikes LA and watch the spectacular city lights illuminate the landscape and even catch a view of the Hollywood Sign.  And while you’re on a trail you may even catch a Pokémon.

 

 

 

 

#3 Party on Sunset Strip

From The Whisky to The Roxy to the Viper Room (Johnny Depp’s former club) The Sunset Strip on Sunset Boulevard still rocks like it did back in the day as famous rockstar bands like Led Zeppelin, Jim Morrison and the Doors once graced these clubs. You can rub elbows with the celebs as you dine at great restaurants like Eveleigh, Church Key and Tocaya. Have a drink under the stars at SkyBar and dance to jazz at Sunset Tower Bar or even have a few laughs at the famed Comedy Store. The Sunset Strip has something for everyone wanting to party the night away.  For celebrity sightings and an old school Hollywood experience, we recommend dinner or drinks at the Tower Bar in the Sunset Tower Hotel.

#4 Bike LA IN A DAY, voted the #1 LA Tour

Get an up close and personal vibe of LA as you roll down the city streets, through quaint towns and along the beach with Bikes and Hikes’ popular LA IN A DAY bike tour. Tour guides will regale with stories about celebrities and cool LA history as you cruise by posh Beverly Hills mansions and city hotspots for a completely different kind of LA experience all while getting some great exercise.

 Highlights:  West Hollywood – Pedal past 30+ Celebrity Homes – Route 66 – Sunset Strip – Walking Tour of Greystone Mansion Gardens & Grounds – Beverly Hills – Bel-Air – UCLA – Westwood – Veterans Hospital – Brentwood Village – Bundy Dr (yeah, that street) – Santa Monica Promenade – Santa Monica Beach/Pier – Venice Beach (stop for lunch) – Abbot Kinney – Venice Canals – Muscle Beach – Skateboard Park – Frank Gehry Beach House – Marina Del Rey – Culver City Studios – Robertson Boulevard – The Ivy Restaurant – Pacific Design Center, and much more…

#5 Melrose Fashion District

From high end fashion boutiques with international designers like Helmut Lang, Marc Jacobs and Diane Von Fuerstenberg to trendy shops like Urban Outfitters to its many art galleries and great cafes, you can shop, stroll and dine to your heart’s content in the Melrose Fashion District. Then take a well-deserved break and a few photos at Melrose’s most famous rooftop park on the third floor of Restoration Hardware, with its sweeping views, couches, fountains and relaxing music.  For more information, visit west hollywood

 

#6 Ride along Mulholland Drive

Mulholland Drive, famous for the 2001 David Lynch movie, is 24 miles of spectacular, scenic views—perfect for a long bike ride with stunning rest stops at the Hollywood Bowl Overlook at 7036 Mulholland Drive and from the Nancy Hoover Pohl Overlook at 8401 Mulholland Drive.

 

 

 

#7 Surf/Kayak in Malibu

Of course LA is synonymous with beaches, so surfing and kayaking are the perfect outdoor adventures. If you’re a bit of a water sport novice you can take a lesson first, then enjoy the Pacific Ocean as you surf and kayak the day away at top beach spots like Santa Monica and for for a less crowded vibe you can head north to Malibu.

 

 

 

#8 The Getty Museum

Soak up some fantastic arts and culture at the world-famous Getty Center situated on a hilltop above Brentwood in the Santa Monica mountains. This 24-acre campus with stunning views and gorgeous gardens is home to the Getty Research Institute, the Getty Conservation Institute, the Getty Foundation and the J. Paul Getty Trust. Take in the artistic past and present with the museum’s permanent collection of pre-20th century European paintings, drawings, illuminated manuscripts, sculpture and decorative arts; 19th and 20th century American, European and Asian photographs; and contemporary and modern sculpture.

 

#9 Bike Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills usually conjures up strolling along Rodeo Drive with its uber expensive designer stores, but there’s another way to experience this rich and famous city—with a bike ride. As you cycle along the gorgeous streets you can see the many mansions where famous stars lived (and still do). And you’ll have lots of opportunities for photo op stops like bizarre hot spot The Beverly Hills Witches’ cottage (Spadena House) or the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel and the Beverly Hills sign.

 

 

 

#10 Watch movie at IPIC in Westwood

Have an unforgettable movie experience at the fancy IPIC movie theater in Westwood. You can munch on unlimited popcorn, enjoy some gourmet nibbles, sip a fancy drink and if you’re a little chilly and tired IPIC even offers blankets & pillows and reclining seats.