Fun things to do in Los Angeles, California.
LA, LA Baby! She’s a LA, LA Baby! Hello Loves, hope you’re doing well and you’re staying safe. For those who don’t know, I live in SoCal and I love spending my weekends in San Diego; however, I am not too far from Los Angeles, so from time to time I like to visit La La Land because there’s so much to do, it’s amazing! From having a picnic right by the Hollywood sign to enjoying a glamorous sunset paddling a swan boat in Echo Park, LA will not disappoint, unless you absolutely detest traffic lol. Anyway, here are a few of my favorite things to do in Los Angeles that I hope you enjoy! Remember to go with a positive attitude and be flexible with time so you can enjoy it to the fullest. Alrighty then, let’s get to it!
Where to stay?
1. The LINE Hotel
Location: 3515 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90010
Bookings: thelinehotel.com
We stayed at the LINE hotel for our wedding anniversary and it was simply divine. We got a room with an amazing view of Los Angeles and to top it off, the Hollywood Sign. It was simply magical. I didn’t know a small space can feel so elegant and living like a celebrity. I highly recommend it.
*Photo from www.angelsflight.org
2. ANGELS FLIGHT RAILWAY
Location: 350 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071
Price: $1.00 each way, $2.00 roundtrip | Cash
Hours: Monday - Friday: 6:45 AM - 10:00 PM
So you’ve probably seen this funicular in the famous movie called “La La Land.” Yes, it may be super touristy, but I highly recommend you at least experience it once. Located in downtown Los Angeles, this funicular dates back to 1901 when it first opened. Talk about old… haha. Angels Flight is considered the world’s shortest railway and has given more than 100 million rides on its hillside track! I know it’s nothing like Switzerland, but it’s super cute and it’s only $2! Check out more of its history on their website: Angels Flight Railway.
3. BRADBURY BUILDING
Location: 304 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Hours: Weekdays 9am-6pm | Weekends 10am-5pm
Price: Free!
This five-story building is a famous architectural landmark built in 1893 in downtown Los Angeles and it’s walking distance from Angels Flight Railway. It’s famous stairs and walkways are absolutely worth seeing! It makes it even more fun to experience knowing that famous music videos and movie scenes were filmed there, like Blade Runner! I love Harrison Ford, so that’s why I get excited tehehe… Definitely a place for a pit stop.
4. THE LAST BOOKSTORE
Location: 453 South Spring Street Ground Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90013
Hours: 11am-8pm Daily
Website: thelastbookstore.com
Now, let’s give our stomach a little break and walk or drive to The Last Bookstore, an artsy seller of books (used and new), records and more! It was founded in 2005, originally known as the loft book store. But now, it’s two-stories and it’s honestly one of the cutest bookstores I’ve been to! You can find yourself getting lost in a vast ocean of books and art demonstrations while trying to find good reads! Another fun thing to do is to take the iconic instagramable “hole in the books” photo and “the tunnel of books!” A must-visit for all book lovers!
5. ENJOY A PICNIC AT HOLLYWOOD PARK
Location: 3160 Canyon Lake Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90068
Hours: Monday - Sunday: Sunrise to Sunset
Website: laparks.com
We absolutely loved taking in some sun rays at this beautiful green pastured park right under the Hollywood sign! I felt like I was in the movie La La Land. I highly recommend taking some food for a picnic to enjoy a beautiful day in LA. If you’re looking for a place to take photos close to the sign, this is the spot. We were so thankful because there were hardly any people there, so it was fun enjoy it without crowds. We even took a couple of baseball gloves and played catch. Talk about a nice afternoon.
6. CATCH A SUNSET AT GRIFFIN OBSERVATORY
Location: 2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Hours: Friday 12pm - 10pm | Saturday & Sunday 10am - 10pm
Price: $15 per hour for parking
Website: griffithobservatory.com
If you want to take in the city of Los Angeles for sunset, this is the place to be! Thankfully we went during a clear day, so we were able to see the beautiful city with the warm colors of the sunset. Because of COVID, the observatory was closed. I know…sad day. But, it’s actually better to be safe. Anyway, even though it was closed, we were able to walk around the outside which is just as beautiful. Also, this is the place to take a photo with the Hollywood sign in the back, so get going! Highly recommend this spot!
*Photo from www.wheelfunrentals.com
7. TAKE SWAN PEDAL BOAT RIDE IN ECHO PARK
Location: 751 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90026
Hours: Hours Vary by month. Check out their website.
Price: Adult $11 per hour | Child $6 per hour
Reservations? Yes! Reserve your swan in their website.
This is such a cute activity to do with your loved ones! You get the view of the skyscrapers and you can make a reservation for sunset and even at night because the swans light up! It’s super cute. You do need to make a reservation online to rent the swam boats for an hour and if you decide you can’t make it, they do give you a refund as long as you email them an hour prior from you reservation. You can fit up to 5 people in one boat, so take the whole fam bam. I highly recommend you get paddling down the gorgeous view of LA.
8. VENICE CANALS AND BEACH!
Location: Venice Canals
Take a detour to Venice Beach to see the beautiful canals in the midst of homes I wish I owned. We found parking by a residential place and made our way to the canals. It’s so beautiful because they have a walkway where you can cross the bridges and experience a little bit of Venice, Italy in Cali! After basking in all the beauty, you can walk a few blocks to Venice Beach, where you can buy yourself some souvenirs, watch skaters do awesome tricks in the skate park, buy snacks and enjoy the breeze of the waves.
9. SANTA MONICA PIER
Location: 200 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Website: santamonicapier.org
After enjoying your time in Venice Beach, I recommend you stop by the famous Santa Monica Pier. It dates back to 1909, when it first opened. Within a few years, they decided to build a carousel, which still stands there today! Later in 1923, they built the first thrill rides. They’re currently not running due to COVID, but it’s still worth going. I encourage you to visit and enjoy an ice cream cone from Scoops Ice Cream & Treats while walking along the pier enjoying the fresh ocean breeze.
I highly recommend downloading the WRIBBN app to organize your to do list and plan your trip! Check out my LA lists to start planning today.
Well, thanks for reading my LA blog! I really hope you get to enjoy everything Los Angeles has to offer. It’s crazy how much there is to do, so take advantage of your time and happy traveling!
Love you all!
