Location ~ Los Angeles, California
The question in Los Angeles is never what to do, but where to begin. Los Angeles is more than a mere city - it's an adventure. The county is home to many famous attractions in a relatively concentrated space.
Your choices include amusement parks, architectural landmarks, art museums and galleries, beaches, parks, hiking and shopping, to name a few. After the sun goes down, you’ll find there’s an abundance of nightlife options, including movies (of course!), as well as live music and comedy provided by performers both legendary and yet-to-be-discovered. A region of great diversity, you'll also discover a world of culinary adventures.
The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites places you in the center of the excitement. The hotel spans an entire city block in the heart of the business district, near the city's best sights and sounds.
Architecture & Gardens
Many Los Angeles landmarks are renowned as architectural masterpieces, and LA’s lush gardens are equally as famous. Pritzker Prize winning architects designed Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, the Broad Contemporary Art Museum at LACMA, and the Getty Center. Legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed several LA landmarks, including the Hollyhock House and the Ennis House. Gardens are an integral part of LA’s cultural landscape, such as Descanso Gardens and the Huntington Library. Exposition Park’s famous Rose Garden is on the National Register of Historic Places. Renowned artist Robert Irwin designed the Getty Center’s Central Garden. UCLA’s Mildred E. Mathias Botanical Garden maintains one of the country's most important living botanical collections.
Attractions & Tours
Los Angeles attractions and tours offer everything from state-of-the-art rides to walks through historic neighborhoods. Experience world class thrills at Universal Studios Hollywood, Six Flags Magic Mountain, and Disneyland, still the “happiest place on Earth.” LA’s cultural attractions include the Getty Center, LACMA and Walt Disney Hall. Take flight with the Space Shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center and Air Force One at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Time travel via Dinosaur Hall at the Natural History Museum and the ancient La Brea Tar Pits. Film and TV fans can’t miss Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures. Explore LA with Starline Tours and the infamous TMZ Tour, or go green with Bikes and Hikes and Pedal...Or Not.
Culture
One of the best ways to experience Los Angeles is by visiting its incredible cultural attractions. LA has more museums and theaters than any U.S. city, and a thriving music and gallery scene. An LA Philharmonic performance at Walt Disney Concert Hall is a must-see, as well as an outdoor concert at the Hollywood Bowl and shows at other famous music venues. LA’s world class museums include the stunning Getty Center in Brentwood and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Museum Row. Monthly artwalks take place throughout the city, including popular events in Downtown LA and Venice Beach. And of course, when it comes to film and television, LA is the entertainment capital of the world.
Dining
Los Angeles has one of the most dynamic dining scenes in the country, offering everything from street food to 5-star restaurants. From California cuisine to organic ingredients, food trucks, and dineLA Restaurant Week, LA’s culinary influence can be felt across the country. Food aficionados can experience the fine dining of Wolfgang Puck, Thomas Keller and Nobu Matsuhisa, as well as a new generation of culinary stars like Kogi BBQ Truck founder Roy Choi, Top Chef champion Michael Voltaggio, and Ricardo Zarate, named Food & Wine’s Best New Chef in America. Global kitchens can be found in culinary neighborhoods across the city, while LA’s beach cities offer some of the best oceanfront dining in Southern California.
Evening Activities
Los Angeles nightlife offers endless entertainment options, whether it’s a quiet drink with that special someone or dancing the night away with thousands of fellow party people. Downtown LA's vibrant nightlife includes L.A. LIVE and numerous bars and nightclubs. In Hollywood, dress to impress at Drai’s and The Colony. Universal CityWalk Hollywood has everything from the Hard Rock Cafe to the dueling pianos of Howl at the Moon. LA mixologists create some of the best cocktails in the country at top bars, restaurants and hotels. Laugh it up at the Hollywood Improv Comedy Club or the Laugh Factory.
Fashion
When it comes to fashion, Los Angeles has always been a city ahead of the curve. Fashionistas should head straight to the Fashion District in Downtown LA, one of the best shopping areas in the world for cutting edge fashion and bargain prices. Visit La Brea Avenue for trendy gear and vintage clothing, or stroll nearby West Third Street and its many boutiques. The jet set park their Ferraris on famed Rodeo Drive for the ultimate luxury items, while mere mortals can shop with the stars on Robertson Blvd. Celebrities have also made Ventura Blvd. in the Valley a hotspot for vintage and high end fashion alike. Tomorrow’s fashion superstars are being created today at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM), where the public can attend the annual DEBUT Runway Show, and fashion exhibits at the FIDM museum.
Film & Television
Los Angeles locations have made countless appearances in films and TV episodes. Downtown LA’s City Hall, Union Station, Millennium Biltmore Hotel and the Bradbury Building have had starring roles for decades. Historic Hollywood locations include landmarks such as Yamashiro Restaurant and the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. LA’s natural landscape provides numerous locations, whether it’s Santa Monica beach for Baywatch or Vasquez Rocks, as seen in Star Trek. For over a century, LA has been the home of legendary studios, where silent movies, the latest blockbusters and hit TV shows have been shot. Must-sees for fans are tours of Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures and Sony Pictures. And a sure way to get on TV is to attend a taping of a game show or talk show at a major network studio.
Museums & Galleries
Los Angeles has more museums than any city in America. World class cultural attractions are located in Downtown LA’s Exposition Park and Museum Row on Wilshire Blvd. The renowned collections of the J. Paul Getty Museum can be viewed at the Getty Center and Getty Villa. Pasadena is home to the Norton Simon Museum and the Pacific Asia Museum, while history buffs can tour the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum. LA’s gallery scene can be experienced in Chinatown, Bergamot Station and the NoHo Arts District, as well as monthly artwalks.
Music
There’s nothing quite like experiencing concerts in Los Angeles, whether it’s a stadium show with tens of thousands of screaming fans, or a late night jazz session in an intimate club. LA’s world class venues include the stunning Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Nokia Theatre at L.A. Live in Downtown LA, Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre, and the historic Wiltern and the Palladium. LA's year-round sunny weather is ideal for enjoying outdoor concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, Greek Theatre and John Anson Ford Theatre. Music festivals and free concerts include the Grand Performances at California Plaza, the Music Spotlight Series at Universal CityWalk, and the Twilight Dance Series at the Santa Monica Pier. Concerts happen every night in smaller clubs like the Conga Room and the House of Blues Sunset Strip.
Recreation
The City of Los Angeles spans 468 square miles, and LA County stretches over 4,000 square miles. With so much land and enviable weather, some of the best recreational activities in the country can be enjoyed in LA year round. LA’s 75 miles of coastline include world famous beaches from Malibu to Santa Monica, the South Bay and San Pedro, including activities like skateboarding and surfing. LA’s vast network of hiking trails includes miles of footpaths in Griffith Park and the Santa Monica Mountains, while bicyclists can explore the city’s dedicated paths. You can work on your tan and your short game at one of the county’s 19 golf courses. Skiing and snowboarding are a short drive away, and during the holidays the city’s numerous outdoor ice skating rinks are packed.
Shopping
Shopping is one of the best activities in Los Angeles, whether it’s digging through vintage stores or window-shopping for extravagant luxury goods. The Los Angeles shopping experience begins in the sprawling LA Fashion District in Downtown LA, and from there it’s choosing from top shopping centers like The Grove, Beverly Center, Hollywood & Highland, The Americana at Brand, Third Street Promenade or Santa Monica Place. Eclectic shopping neighborhoods can be found throughout Los Angeles, while the city’s numerous museum gift shops offer a variety of unique cultural gifts. If you’ve got deep pockets, Rodeo Drive and Robertson Blvd. are must-sees, while bargain hunters will want to check out the outlets in Camarillo, the Citadel, Desert Hills and Ontario Mills.
Sports
The rich legacy of Los Angeles sports is filled with world championships, national titles, Hall of Famers and historic arenas. LA is truly the city of champions: the Lakers have won 16 NBA championships, the Dodgers have won five World Series titles, the Galaxy has won three MLS Cups, and in 2012 the Kings went on an historic run and were crowned Stanley Cup champions. LA is the home of NCAA titles as well, including the USC Trojans football team’s 11 National Championships and the record 108 NCAA Team Championships won by the UCLA Bruins. LA sports events take place in landmark arenas like the LA Coliseum, STAPLES Center, Dodger Stadium, Pauley Pavilion and the Rose Bowl. Los Angeles is the best city for weekend warriors, whether you’re looking for a pickup basketball game in Venice or a hiking trail in the mountains.
Theatre & Dance
There are more theaters in Los Angeles than any other city in the United States, and its 1,500 annual productions are more than any city in the world. Dance productions range from classical ballet to avant-garde performances. Hollywood’s landmark Pantages Theatre presents all-time Broadway hits like Book of Mormon, Peter Pan and West Side Story. Center Theatre Group is one is of the largest theatre companies in the nation, with year-round programming at the Mark Taper Forum and the Ahmanson Theatre in Downtown LA, and the Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center (KDMC) is one of the largest West Coast presenters of dance. REDCAT is a creative laboratory inside Walt Disney Concert Hall that nurtures today’s cutting-edge artists.
Wellness
Los Angeles has long been known for its health-conscious lifestyle, and for that reason some of the best day spas can be found right here in the City of Angels. Beverly Hills is synonymous with luxury, especially in world class hotel spas at the Montage Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills Hotel, and the Beverly Wilshire. The Huntington Spa at The Langham in Pasadena is an 11,000 square-foot haven of wellness, while Bliss is the word at two W Hotel locations, both featuring the famed brownie buffet: the W Westwood and the W Hollywood. The Spa at Terranea overlooks the Pacific Ocean and the Palos Verdes coastline, embracing the beauty and energy of its idyllic Southern California setting. When it’s time to slow down and recharge, Los Angeles day spas and resorts are among the best in the country.
