What to Do: Los Angeles

Oh Los Angeles, the city of stars, fame, and possible fortune! My time in LA was a complete whirlwind with only two full days to spend before I began my road trip through the states. I found this super daunting as there is so much to see and do! I managed to make the most of it and packed in as much as I could in the short amount of time.

The easiest, and most cost-friendly, way I found to get around was on the Hop On Hop Off bus. The bus takes you to all the major spots and has multiple routes all around the Los Angeles area, and run quite frequently. You can also bundle the ticket with entry in to a bunch of sites too for discounted access!

Venice Beach Boardwalk
For the most eclectic fashion, whacky souvenirs, and interesting people, Venice Beach Boardwalk is the place to be. It’s pretty funky, modern, and wild and is just back from the beautiful Californian beach. You can also see the ‘Muscle Beach’ – which is actually a real thing – where a bunch of buff guys work out in public, which is pretty entertaining.

Walk along the Hollywood Walk of Fame
An obvious must do in LA, but I recommend heading in early to avoid the crowds. The walk is about 2km long and links up to a few of the main sites in Hollywood.

TCL Chinese Theater
Stand where celebrities once stood, see the handprints of the most famous celebrities in the world, and walk down history lane. I even spotted Shirley Temple in there!

Dream of living in Beverly Hills
The beautiful, upscale area of Beverly Hills will immediately have you in house envy. Each street is perfectly manicured, immaculate, and different from the next. Even the fire hydrants are painted silver, not yellow, to fit in with the pristine surrounds! With the median house price of over $1 million, you may not be able to afford a house there, but you might spot a celebrity!

Swim at Santa Monica Beach
You can pretty much swim here all year round, but the water temperature is perfect in the summer time. White sand and crystal clear waters – it’s a great place to relax and enjoy the Californian heat.

See a sporting match
Teams in LA are pretty popular worldwide – LA Lakers, Dodgers, Kings – so you have to do yourself a favour and see what the hype is about, even if you aren’t in to sports. The vibe is incredible, the stadium is abuzz, and you can experience all the quintessential American stereotypes that you see on TV – kiss cam, songs, etc. It’s a great night out!

See the Hollywood sign
Because what is a trip to LA without it? If you have time do the hike up to the top and check out the views over the city!

Spot a famous person
It’s bound to happen at some point in LA – just keep your eyes peeled! I’m not 100% sure who this guy is but I know he plays basketball and the film crew were telling us to back off and give him space.

Walk along Santa Monica Pier
Super touristy but something that just has to be done, walk along the pier and spot the tourist traps, eat a hot dog and an ice-cream, and check out the beautiful views over the Pacific Ocean.

Hang out with ‘celebrities’
Even if you don’t spot a real celebrity, head down to Madam Tussauds Hollywood and hang out with some wax celebrities. The attention to detail is phenomenal and, although it’s a bit creepy, it’s pretty cool seeing your favourite TV and music stars immortalised.

Window shop on Rodeo Drive
The most expensive designers in the world call Rodeo Drive home, but if the price tag scares you don’t be afraid to look and dream of what could be!

Los Angeles is one of those places where you really need to do all the tacky touristy things just to say you have done them. What do you love about LA?