One Week in LA Itinerary
As a California transplant, I'm always on the hunt for a good list of "Best things to do in Los Angeles." LA is such a huge, sprawling city and there is always so much to do that everyone can have a completely different experience. I have lived here for over 3 years now so I have finally put together a list of some of my absolute favorite treasures the city has to offer. My family recently came to visit for a full week and I took them around to explore some of my favorite places. If you're visiting LA or, like me, live here and just want some real recommendations, follow along on our week long journey below. Enjoy!
1. Runyon Canyon (2000 N. Fuller Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90046) - Whenever I have friends in town, I always like to start their trip with a morning hike at Runyon Canyon. It's a classic "LA experience" and I thought it would give my fam a full view of LA before exploring all the different neighborhoods that the city has to offer. From the peak at Runyon Canyon you can see a huge majority of the city. You can see Hollywood, Century City, the iconic Hollywood sign, the Downtown LA skyline, and the Pacific Ocean. And its basically an ongoing dog parade at all times of the day, what could be better than that? Make sure you bring lots of water and you stretch before the hike. Don't be fooled, just because that lil' chihuahua just made it, doesn't mean it's going to be easy (he's probably been training his whole life). Also, be forewarned, this is not a secluded and private hike, Runyon is BUSY, embrace it and keep your eye out for celebs! laparks.org/park/runyon-canyon
2. Mendocino Farms (14141 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423) - Once our muscles were thoroughly aching, and we worked up a good appetite, it was time for lunch. We traveled back to the valley to visit one of my favorite LA spots for salads and sandwiches, Mendocino Farms. My favorite item on the menu is the "Not So Fried" Mary's Chicken Sandwich. YUM, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. mendocinofarms.com
3. The One Up (13625 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423) - Since my family was still on the Eastern time zone schedule, Happy Hour seemed like the best activity to end the day so that I didn't keep them out too late on their first night in California. We went to one of my favorite Happy Hour Spots in Sherman Oaks, The One Up. This arcade/mixology bar has a super cool ambiance, wacky decor, and a very eclectic movie selection. We also discovered my new favorite snack on the Happy Hour menu, NOT A TACOS. $4 of deliciousness, trust me. www.theoneup.com
Here are some other recommendations of things to do near RUNYON CANYON:
- Greystone Mansion (905 Loma Vista Drive, Beverly Hills, CA 90210) - The Doheny Greystone Estate, owned by the City of Beverly Hills, is a beautiful property to explore. The park grounds are open to the public 10am-5pm daily. greystonemansion.org
1. Smorgasburg (ROW DTLA 785 Bay St., Los Angeles, CA 90021) - Hidden in the Alameda Produce Market in the DTLA Arts District is an open-air food market every Sunday (10am-4pm). Dozens of food trucks and food vendors are set up with an unlimited selection of delicious handheld foods and treats. There is plenty of seating and lots of fun shopping. Another bonus, there is a huge parking garage with 2 hours of free parking, pretty much unheard of in DTLA. One warning, there are just as many pigeons as there are people, so make sure to get there early and don't take your eyes off your food!
Some vendors that my family and I can personally recommend are:
- Baohaus (savory steamed buns)
- Amazebowls (açaí bowls)
- Cheezus (grilled cheese sandwiches)
- Lade Slush (refreshing frozen drinks)
- Ugly Drum (pastrami sandwiches)
And don't worry, every option is 100% instagrammable! :)
la.smorgasburg.com
2. The Last Bookstore (453 S Spring St., Los Angeles, CA 90013) - The Last Book Store is a really fun place to take guests (in between all the endless food options that downtown LA has to offer). This amazing bookstore is full of great books, records, and even a few rotating art galleries and gift shops on the second floor. We walked through the ever iconic "book tunnel", the horror vault, and a room full of 1st edition books. In a time when book stores are few and far between, you won't want to miss out on this interesting place! lastbookstorela.com
3. Grand Central Market (317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013) - Even though there was no way we could possibly be hungry after our morning at Smorgasburg, I didn't want my family to miss out on seeing Grand Central Market. Even if it was just for a picture of the classic neon signs. This downtown Landmark opened in 1917 and is filled with rows and rows of delicious food vendors, Wexler's Deli, Knead & Co. Pasta Bar, PBJ.LA, and McConnell's Fine Ice Cream, just to name a few. The market is open from 8am-10pm seven days a week and they even host a game night every Thursday evening. grandcentralmarket.com
4. Angels Flight Railway (350 South Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90071) - Another historic landmark nearby is the Angels Flight Railway, opened in 1901. This funicular railway is in the Bunker Hill district downtown and now functions primarily as a tourist attraction, but in its time was set up in a different location and was used by local workers to easily travel between Hill Street and Olive Street. The one-way fare is $1.00. angelsflight.org
5. Bradbury Building (304 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013) - This office building, opened in 1893, is a DTLA landmark. The architecture is amazing with the incredible iron work, open air elevators, and atrium style glass ceiling. laconservancy.org/locations/bradbury-building
6. Clifton's Cafeteria (648 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90014) - Clifton's is a place you have to see to believe. It is the largest public cafeteria in the world. The first floor is a forest-themed dining area complete with a full size stuffed buffalo and a replica of a redwood tree that extends up through 3 stories. Every level you walk up is a new theme to explore. The establishment includes two restaurants and five bars. My favorite is the secret tiki bar that you enter through a mirrored door. I don't want to say any more because half the fun of Clifton's is discovering everything for yourself! cliftonsla.com
7. Bottega Louie (700 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90017) - Our next stop was for an afternoon macaron at Bottega Louie. This uber cute marketplace/restaurant/patisserie is decorated so elegantly and has the iconic rainbow selection of macarons that are almost too pretty to eat. bottegalouie.com
If that wasn't a long enough day for you, here are some other recommendations of things to do near DOWNTOWN LA:
- The Broad Museum (221 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012) - This contemporary art museum is almost a full day activity on its own, which is why we didn't have time to stop. I would recommend making a reservation at the beginning of the month so that you can skip the line when you come to visit. You will not want to miss the Infinity Mirrored Room exhibit! thebroad.org
- California Donuts (3540 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90020) - If you think you've seen the cutest donut, you haven't seen anything until you see one of their panda Oreo donuts. Step up to the window to order from their ever-changing selection! cadonuts.com
1. Joan's on Third (12059 Ventura Place, Studio City, CA 91604) - We started our day in the valley by packing up a picnic to take out to Malibu. Although this restaurant is not located in Malibu, I would highly recommend checking it out if you're ever in the Third Street or Studio City area. Joan's on Third is a specialty food marketplace with two locations in LA. The decor is absolutely adorable with lots of black and white, subway tile, and cow paraphernalia. They have a great selection of salads, sandwiches, and picnic options (such as wine, cheese, charcuterie, etc.) and some heavenly sweet treats (the Nutella poundcake is the way to go). joansonthird.com
2. El Matador State Beach (32350 Pacific Coast Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265) - I think Daniel and I picked the absolute windiest day in LA history to take everyone to our favorite beach in Malibu, El Matador State Beach. This public beach is one of the most popular, and rightfully so. It is filled with large rock structures and caves to explore and photograph. There are always a million photoshoots happening here on a sunny Malibu day, but feels more private than Santa Monica Beach. We enjoyed our Joan's on Third snacks up at the top of the cliffs in the picnic table area, then ventured down the treacherous staircase to put our feet in the Pacific Ocean.
Here are some other recommendations of things to do near EL MATADOR STATE BEACH:
- Malibu Wines Tasting Room (31740 Mulholland Hwy, Malibu, CA 90265) - This wine tasting garden is a Malibu MUST if you're over 21 and in the area. Admission is free if you bring a picnic blanket and want to sit on the grass, they do require you to buy a bottle of wine though, but that's a no brainer. You can also pay for a reservation at one of the picnic tables in the busier months. There is a parking lot down the street at 32111 Mulholland Hwy and you can take the free trolley shuttle to the tasting room. My favorite bottle to purchase is the Saddlerock Sparkling Brut, but they also offer tasting flights if you want to try a few types. malibuwines.com/malibu/
- Carrara Pastries (28914 Roadside Dr #107, Agoura Hills, CA 91303) - All I have to say is stop here and buy a FRITELLE. No questions asked, it's life changing. They're closed on Mondays (which we found out the hard way) so just make sure you plan your Malibu trip accordingly. carrarapastries.us
3. Salt & Straw (12180 1/2 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91506) - We wanted a sweet treat to end our day, and since we were devastated to find out Carrara was closed on Mondays, we headed back to the Studio City area to sample my favorite ice cream. Salt and Straw is an Oregon based ice cream chain but it has blown up all around LA with several locations. They have a solid core list of interesting ice cream choices, and a rotating monthly themed list with even more "out there" flavors. I would consider myself a Salt and Straw connoisseur at this point, my favorite tried-and-true is the Almond Brittle with Salted Ganache and my favorite from the February Chocolatier Series was the Compartes Chocolate's Coney Island. saltandstraw.com
Santa Catalina Island - Catalina is an island just southwest of LA but feels like its a million miles away. The island reminds me of a little seaside village in the Mediterranean, there's so much to do and see. My family and I had so much fun exploring the island and enjoying the slow-paced relaxation of the charming village of Avalon. I will be doing a full blog post with all my favorite things to do, what to see, and tips on how to get there so stay tuned for that. But for now, check out some of the pictures we took on this amazing day trip! visitcatalinaisland.com
1. Wayfarers Chapel (5755 Palos Verdes Dr S, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275) - Our first stop once we arrive in Rancho Palos Verdes was this beautiful chapel located right on the cliffs above the ocean. The chapel was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and is an amazing modern glass sanctuary surrounded by redwood trees. wayfarerschapel.org
2. Abalone Cover Shoreline Park (5970 Palos Verdes Dr S, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275) - Right across the street from the chapel is the Abalone Cover Shoreline Park & Ecological Reserve. It basically looks like a large sprawling park until you take the narrow trails down to the ocean where you come face to face with a whole ecosystem of tide pools. There is also a beautiful view of the ocean from the top of the cliff where we saw our first dolphins playing around in the water! rpvca.gov/Facilities/Facility/Details/Abalone-Cove-Shoreline-Park-1
3. Bay Cities Deli (1517 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401) - I drove up the coast from PV to Santa Monica to give my family the scenic view through Redondo Beach, Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach, Marina Del Rey, and Venice. Our stomaches were grumbling at this point, so I had to take them immediately to the popular Bay Cities Italian Deli & Bakery. This deli is famous for their Godmother sandwich, Genoa salami, prosciutto, mortadella, coppacola, ham and provolone on Italian bread with "the works" (mayo, mustard, Italian dressing, onions, pickles, tomatoes, lettuce, and pepper). It is a masterpiece. order.bcdeli.com
4. Third Street Promenade (1351 3rd Street Promenade #201, Santa Monica, CA 90401) - With our stomachs happy, it was time for a bit of shopping. Third Street Promenade is an upscale outdoor shopping district with tons of restaurants, street performers, and boutiques. Luckily SM is filled with a lot of nice parking garages with easy access to the promenade. santamonica.com/shopping/
Here are some other recommendations of things to do near PALOS VERDES:
- Dockweiler State Beach (12001 Vista Del Mar, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293) - If you haven't seen enough beaches on your trip already, Dockweiler is a fun beach because it is one of the only LA beaches where you can legally have a beach bonfire. The whole shoreline is filled with fire pits, so bring your own charcoal or wood and a picnic for a fun afternoon/evening activity! You can also watch as the planes fly overhead, as this beach is located just minutes from LAX.
1. Sweet Butter Kitchen (13824 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423) - We started our day with a birthday brunch for Daniel (HBD DANIEL!) complete with Banana Nutella pancakes the size of my head and my personal favorite, the Sweet Butter Scramble. Sweet Butter is a delicious outdoor cafe on Ventura. It can be very busy on the weekends, so get here early, but during the week is a relaxing spot to sip on some coffee and enjoy the sunshine. sweetbutterkitchen.com
2. The Late Late Show (CBS Television City) (7800 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036) - Our next stop was the CBS lot for a taping of The Late Late Show with James Corden. This was my first experience going to a late night taping and we had so much fun! I signed up for the free tickets about a month or two ahead of time on 1iota. They emailed us the week of the taping with our tickets and all the info we needed about what to wear, where to go, and what to expect. James was hilarious, the guests were awesome, and overall we had a great time! Even if our cheeks and hands hurt from over-laughing and clapping for 2 hours straight. 1iota.com/show/439/The-Late-Late-Show-with-James-Corden
3. The Grove (189 The Grove Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90036) - After the Late Late Show, we headed across the street to The Grove shopping center. This outdoor retail and entertainment complex is a fun place to spend the day shopping, eating, seeing a movie, or simply sitting in the park watching the fountain and listening to Frank Sinatra. The architecture and style of the complex is so well done, with cobblestone streets, retro facades, and even a double decker trolley. Be prepared for a lot of tourists! thegrovela.com
4. The Original Farmers Market (6333 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90036) - This food market was founded in 1934 and includes a plethora of restaurants, shops, and produce vendors. It has a similar vibe to Grand Central Market, but is a bit easier to navigate around. Every time I am here I am tempted to try The French Crepe Company, it smells amazing. Has anyone tried it? farmersmarketla.com
Here are some other recommendations of things to do near THE GROVE:
- Melrose Trading Post (7850 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046) - This is actually one of my favorite things to do on a Sunday morning in LA. This flea market is located in the Fairfax High School parking lot. There are tons of vendors selling handmade items and vintage finds, like jewelry, antique furniture, candles, clothing, artwork, you name it! This is also another great place for dog-watching. The entry is $3 and they are open every Sunday 9am-5pm. melrosetradingpost.org
1. The Getty (1200 Getty Center Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90049) - On their final day in LA, my family and I finally made it to the Getty Museum. This art museum is a must-see if you're visiting LA. Just the campus itself is filled with amazing gardens and beautiful views of the city and the ocean. There is art for just about everyone in their five different pavilions, from paintings, to sculptures, to furniture. The tram ride up the side of the hill is a fun attraction as well! getty.edu/visit/center/
2. MidiCi Pizza (14612 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403) - Okay, okay this isn't exactly an "LA" experience since MidiCi has locations all around the country, but this was MY first MidiCi location and I'll be back every day forever. I love their Neapolitan-style pizza and they have such a hip, cool atmosphere. Sadly this was our last stop before returning home to relax before my family left for the airport, but it was a crowd favorite! mymidici.com
Thanks for following me along on my family vacation around Los Angeles. I would love to know what some of your favorite LA spots are to take visiting guests! - Rachael
