Los Angeles
We’ve compiled the best of the best in Los Angeles - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
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1. Annenberg Community Beach House
This beachfront property was originally developed in the 1920s by William Randolph Hearst as a palatial private residence and a gathering spot for Hollywood's megastars. In 1947 it was converted into a members-only beach club; the state of California bought and renamed the club in 1959, but it took the earthquake of 2004 for the state to reconceive the property as a public place. With the help of the Annenberg Foundation, it reopened as a community beach house in 2009. Feel like a millionaire lounging by the pool on one of the beachside chairs, or lunch at the café while enjoying uninterrupted ocean views. The house's Beach=Culture event series includes a variety of classes (yoga, beach volleyball), readings, and exhibits; check the website for the calendar. Hours are subject to change, so call to confirm hours and book in advance. Book a pool reservation online in advance if possible.
415 Pacific Coast Hwy., Santa Monica, California, 90402, USA310-458–4904Sight Details
Rate Includes: Free; pool $10 -
2. El Capitan Theatre
HollywoodHome to Los Angeles's first home of spoken drama, El Capitan Theatre carries on that tradition by way of film showings—specifically Disney films, having been acquired by the company in the 1980s. Watching movies in this classic movie palace, originally built in 1926, is an elevated experience, thanks to its special screenings and its elegant East Indian Revival interior. Having survived several transformations, it has been restored to almost exactly how it looked in 1926. It's also the grand venue for all Disney movie premieres during which movie fans can spot (and perhaps even meet) celebrities as they walk the red carpet on Hollywood Boulevard.
View Tours and Activities6838 Hollywood Blvd., Los Angeles, California, 90028, USA800-347--6396 -
3. Hollywood Walk of Fame
HollywoodAlong Hollywood Boulevard (and part of Vine Street) runs a trail of affirmations for entertainment-industry overachievers. On this mile-long stretch of sidewalk, inspired by the concrete handprints in front of TCL Chinese Theatre, names are embossed in brass, each at the center of a pink star embedded in dark gray terrazzo. They're not all screen deities; many stars commemorate people who worked in a technical field, such as sound or lighting. The first eight stars were unveiled in 1960 at the northwest corner of Highland Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard: Olive Borden, Ronald Colman, Louise Fazenda, Preston Foster, Burt Lancaster, Edward Sedgwick, Ernest Torrence, and Joanne Woodward (some of these names have stood the test of time better than others). Since then, more than 2,000 others have been immortalized, though that honor doesn't come cheap—upon selection by a special committee, the personality in question (or more likely his or her movie studio or record company) pays about $30,000 for the privilege. To aid you in spotting celebrities you're looking for, stars are identified by one of five icons: a motion-picture camera, a radio microphone, a television set, a record, or a theatrical mask.
View Tours and ActivitiesHollywood Blvd. and Vine St., Los Angeles, California, 90028, USA -
4. Muscle Beach
Bronzed young men bench-pressing five girls at once, weightlifters doing tricks on the sand—the Muscle Beach facility fired up the country's imagination from the get-go. There are actually two spots known as Muscle Beach. The original Muscle Beach, just south of the Santa Monica Pier, is where bodybuilders Jack LaLanne and Vic and Armand Tanny used to work out in the 1950s. When it was closed in 1959, the bodybuilders moved south along the beach to Venice, to a city-run facility known as "the Pen," and the Venice Beach spot inherited the Muscle Beach moniker. The spot is probably best known now as a place where a young Arnold Schwarzenegger first came to flex his muscles in the late '60s and began his rise to fame. The area now hosts a variety of sports and gymnastics events, along with occasional "beach babe" beauty contests that always draw a crowd. But stop by any time during daylight for an eye-popping array of beefcakes (and would-be beefcakes).
1800 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, California, 90291, USA -
5. Samuel Oschin Planetarium
Located in the heart of the famed Griffith Observatory, the 290-seat Samuel Oschin Planetarium may be on the modest side as far as planetariums are concerned, but the shows held here are no less epic and electrifying. This state-of-the-art theater has an aluminum dome and a Zeiss star projector that plays awe-inspiring multimedia exhibitions that address the mystery of the cosmos. There are typically three 30-minute ticketed shows in rotation, so be sure to allow time to catch one while spending a day at the park. Be sure to sit in the back for the best experience.
2800 E. Observatory Rd., Los Angeles, California, 90027, USA213-473--0800Sight Details
Rate Includes: $10 -
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