There is a famous saying in Southern California, "Nobody walks in L.A." But for the intrepid visitor, one who wants to see the true Los Angeles, the opposite is true. With just a good pair of walking shoes and very little money, you can plan a memorable visit to the area and see parts of the city most tourists never experience.
Parks
As with most cities, Los Angeles has numerous parks, but one park, Griffith Park, is one of the largest city parks in the world. Located in the Los Feliz neighborhood of the city, this massive expanse of rugged hillsides, rolling slopes, meadows and playgrounds is open to visitors 365 days a year.
After wandering the many trails and glens, head to the east side of the park and discover a hidden gem--Travel Town. This train museum offers free admission and the opportunity to examine railroad history close up. Visitors can climb into the cabs of several old locomotives and visualize what it might have been like to pilot a steam train across the west. Travel Town is open every day except Christmas.
Beaches
A trip to Los Angeles is never complete without a visit to one of the area beaches. While adjacent beaches like Malibu, Santa Monica and Manhattan Beach are known for their famous shores, the one beach you have to visit is Venice Beach, home to the Venice Ocean Front Walk. Here, it's the people, not the surf that grab attention. The esplanade is full of buskers including singers, comedians, circus acts and palm readers. If you've never seen a man juggle a chainsaw, chances are you will at Venice. There are pay parking lots in the area but you can park on the street for less.
History
Los Angeles has its share of historic and architecturally significant buildings, and the best place to take them in is downtown. Budget a few hours to wander from the grand old Biltmore Hotel on Pershing Square to the neighboring Los Angeles Central Library and take in its painted ceilings, atrium chandeliers and classic charm.
From the library, head to the Bunker Hill area and find the Bradbury Building on Broadway. Featuring an Italian Renaissance-style exterior, the Bradbury's interior is a striking atrium of the highest grandeur. Recognizable from numerous television and movie appearances, the building is best remembered from the motion picture, "Blade Runner." Finish your walking tour by visiting several of the old Los Angeles movie palaces located nearby, including the Million Dollar Theater and once palatial Patages/Warner Theater that is now part of the jewelry district.
Hollywood
Recent improvements to the area near Hollywood and Highland Boulevards make this historic area a must-see location. Sid Grauman's Chinese Theater still serves as the unofficial epicenter of Hollywood with the hand and footprints of most of Hollywood's glitterati. The Chinese Theater is open everyday of the year, and there is never a charge to see if you can fill the shoes of John Wayne or Mickey Mouse. The new Kodak theater complex, home of the Academy Awards, is next door and leads into the Hollywood and Highland center which features numerous shops and restaurants as well as one of the best views of the famous Hollywood sign.
Nearby, the infamous Hollywood Walk of Fame offers a chronological history of the entertainment community. After a visit to the real Hollywood, take a ride over the Chuanga Pass to Universal Studio's Citywalk. Citywalk is a huge outdoor dining, shopping and entertainment district adjacent to one of Hollywood's most famous studios. Entry is free, but you do need to pay to park or you can park in the Metro Station parking lot off Lankershim Boulevard and take the free tram ride up the hill to Citywalk.
Culture
Overlooking UCLA is a modern masterpiece of architecture and culture--The Getty Center. Comprised of numerous galleries, historic exhibits, a conservation institute and a research center, The Getty Center offers free admission to all exhibitions. If all that culture is not enough for you, the Getty Foundation has a second site within Los Angeles County called the Getty Villa. Dedicated to the study of art, architecture and culture of the ancient Roman, Greek and Etruscans, the Villa, like it's sister museum, is open to the public free of charge.
Most Los Angeles museums offer free admission at least one day a month. Some of the choices include the La Brea Tar Pits, which is free the first Tuesday of every month, the Los Angeles Museum of Modern Art, which is free every second Tuesday of the month, the Museum of Natural History, free on the first Tuesday of each month, and the California Science Center, which is free every day of the year.
Member Comments