5 Fun Things to Do in Los Angeles
By: Patricia

By :Tara Donaldson

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The list of things to do in Los Angeles, the city of angels/dreams/celebrity-everything, is truly endless. You can begin a day with breakfast at The Pantry, followed by a walk down Hollywood Boulevard to check out the Walk of Fame and Man’s Chinese Theater, head over to Disneyland for a quick visit with Mickey, wrap up the evening with dinner at a trendy Echo Park restaurant, top it all off with drinks at a rooftop bar, and still you will only have scratched a very small portion of the surface. Through all the excitement, these five experiences are great for at least a taste of this limitless city:

The Getty

Photo by Nallstar on Flickr

The J. Paul Getty Museum is at once a collection of fine works of art and an architectural work of art itself. Situated at the top of a hill overlooking the city, the views are impressive from this vantage point. When the weather is nice, which is really almost always, it is great to sit at one of the multiple cafés and enjoy a bite to eat or drink while taking a break between exhibits. The Getty offers something for everyone; even if art doesn’t strike your fancy, you can always take in the beauty of the garden and sip a glass of wine from the café.

The Griffith Observatory

A Los Angeles icon and frequent filming location, the Griffith Observatory is a great place to visit. It has been featured in the famous James Dean movie, Rebel Without a Cause, and more recently in the movie Yes Man as well as several other films. Located high on Mount Hollywood, the Observatory also offers some amazing views of Los Angeles, and in my opinion, the best view of the must-see Hollywood sign. While offering an excellent educational experience with regard to our sky and what’s in it, it is also a great place for a date, and entry is free!

A Taco Truck

Photo by Navin Rajagopalan on Flickr

Food trucks are all the rage in Los Angeles, and it would be well worth the time spent standing in line behind anxious Angelenos to sample a few. However, before the food truck frenzy, there was always the good old taco truck. A Los Angeles staple, these trusty trucks can be found on any given evening on the busy streets of various neighborhoods, and almost always with a line of people. Hugo’s Tacos is a local favorite for those in the know, and at just around $1.25 per taco, this taste of L.A. is an affordable treat!

Santa Monica Beach & Promenade

Photo by Steven Gribble

Ah, the beach. A visit to Los Angeles would not be complete without a visit to the beach. Santa Monica is one of my favorites and offers a well-rounded experience, including a great view of local surfers! The water sparkles as the warm sun hits it, and the sand is clean and soft. There are just enough people here, not so many that there isn’t anywhere to rest your towel and not so few that you feel secluded. Once you’ve soaked up your fill of sun, you can take a stroll down the boardwalk, ride rides, eat food, and have fun. Doing a little shopping on 3rd street is a great way to continue the fun once it is time to leave the beach.

Little Temple –

Ready for some L.A. nightlife? Little Temple is low-key, but very hip bar and club bringing impressive live music to the scene. New and upcoming artists get a chance to exhibit their skills to a very excited crowd at this venue, often just before they ‘make it big.’ I was lucky enough to see Colbie Caillat perform here as a shy young girl whom no one had heard of before she was selling records and winning Grammies. The dark and Zen-like décor makes the place cozy and inviting and the array of talent never disappoints!

About Tara:

"Striving to survive a life inflicted by the travel bug, traveling often, discovering that more travel brings more knowledge about life, the world, and yourself!"

Follow her adventures here: http://www.livingwiththetravelbug.com