Southern California embodies the image of California Dreamin', with warm beaches, Hollywood studios, ritzy shops and an abundance of wildlife. Walk through secluded coves filled with fish, drive along the Pacific Coast Highway or spend the afternoon wandering along Hollywood Boulevard. The top activities in Los Angeles were selected from suggestions by a range of experts from Fodor's and Frommer's Travel Guides.
Beaches
Head to Los Angeles' Malibu area, with its 20 miles of coastline, to spend the day on the beaches. Novice and expert surfers alike can enjoy a day in the blue waters of the Pacific. A few of the popular beaches include Paradise Cove, Zuma, Surfrider and Leo Carillo. As the birthplace of California's surf culture, consider renting a board, taking some lessons and enjoying the good swells that roll in year round in Malibu. If surfing does not interest you, consider heading to the tidal pools in Los Angeles. Here you will discover a marine jungle filled with fish, sea stars, sea grass and even sea urchins.
Gardens
Los Angeles has a trio of amazing botanical gardens located within its county limits. Each of these gardens has a different personality. The most expansive is the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, where visitors find formal gardens combined with art galleries scattered across 200 acres of land. At Descanso Gardens, visitors enjoy a woodsy garden that provides the feel of a nature walk. The Los Angeles County Arboretum is best known for its peacocks. Bright indigo birds roam around the 127-acre grounds that have separate African, Asian, American and Australian gardens.
Tinsel Town
According to Frommer's, no trip to Los Angeles is complete without a trip to Tinsel Town. Frommer's list this activity as a "Must Do" even if you are in Los Angeles for only one day. A few standout places on everyone's Los Angeles to-do list include a visit to the 1956 Capitol Records Tower, designed to appear like a stack of 45-rpm records. Or head for a walk along Hollywood Boulevard, to see famous locations like Grauman's Chinese Theatre, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, El Capitan Theatre and the Egyptian Theater. To get glimpse of the Hollywood sign, head to the observation deck at the Hollywood and Highland complex.
Walks
Spend an afternoon wandering around the downtown area of Los Angeles, where you can enjoy new restaurants, galleries and renovated landmarks. Visit the Downtown Art Walk on the second Thursday of every month. If you aren't in town for the Art Walk, head to Gallery Row and browse through all the venues on Main Street, which includes Metropolis Books and 2nd Street Cigars and Gallery. When in the area, stop at the Grand Central Market for a bite to eat. This Market is the largest and oldest open-air market in Los Angeles, with a variety of fresh and organic produce and meals to enjoy.
Pier
In recent years, Santa Monica has become one of Los Angeles' more trendy hangouts. The area has undergone a restoration project and now features hip shops, trendy cafes and bars and the historic Santa Monica Pier. According to its website, the Santa Monica Pier opened in 1909. This area provides a beach getaway combined with boardwalk amusements. Spend the day wandering Main Street and enjoy the interesting architecture and posh restaurants and take a moment to ride the restored 1916 Looff Carousel, with 44 handcrafted horses.
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