Location | TravelExplorerCanada
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Welcome to LA

THANK YOU
to the team at Hilton Santa Monica for hosting us!

THINGS TO DO IN LOS ANGELES AREA

Welcome reception at 6pm means you have all day to explore Los Angeles on your own!  Here are some great things to do – and many of these things can be combined if you get an early start, you can do up to 3 of the below.  Uber or Lyft to start your adventure.

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HOLLYWOOD – starting at 6801 Hollywood Blvd
Hollywood Boulevard is a Los Angeles cultural icon, with museums, landmarks and other Hollywood attractions that celebrate L.A.’s rich film and entertainment heritage. There are so many things to do in Hollywood, California!  Start at 6801 and walk your way down to see:

  • Hollywood Walk of Fame – 2500+ brass stars stretch 18 blocks and celebrate entertainment icons

  • TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly Mann’s Chinese Theatre) – home to the Academy Awards

  • Madame Tussauds Hollywood – the most famous wax museum in the world

  • Hollywood Wax Museum – the oldest wax museum in the world

  • The Hollywood Museum - a must for movie fans and memorabilia collectors. It's one of the hidden gems of Hollywood, with more than 10,000 props and artifacts from classic and modern movies housed in the three-story building.

  • And so much more – Pantages Theatre, El Capitan Theatre, shopping, dining

  • Many iconic hotels are in this area where your journey begins including the Roosevelt Hotel and the Chateau Marmont (a bit further west, but worth the walk).

 

 

BEVERLY HILLS

There is no better way to discover an area than by foot.  Free walking tour itineraries can be found and downloaded here including:

  • Arts & Culture – see public art, architectural gems and art galleries

  • A Step Back in History – see the iconic historical spots to learn about the city’s diverse heritage

  • Seen on Screen - an up-close tour of the many sites that have made the city famous

  • Sweet Treats – if you have a major sweet tooth, this tour is for you!

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GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY & GRIFFITH PARK & HOLLYWOOD SIGN - 2800 East Observatory Road

Located in on Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, the Observatory offers 60 exhibits, public telescopes, cafe, bookstore, and the best views of the Los Angeles basin. Admission is FREE.  Plan about 1 hour. Visit their website here for more info. 

Important Notes:  Visitors to Griffith Observatory must be fully vaccinated to enter; the Planetarium is closed on Tuesdays.

The Hollywood Sign:  the best place to see the sign is from the Griffith Observatory.   If you’re up for a workout, you can also hike toward the Sign along trails in Griffith Park.  Hikes range from easy to difficult and can take anywhere from 2-3 hours.  Learn more about hiking to see the sign here. 

The Getty Center – 1200 Getty Centre Drive

A great attraction rain or shine.  Visit the website here.  Admission is FREE but entry requires a timed-entry reservation – reserve here IN ADVANCE.

A museum with something for everyone: art, spectacular gardens and amazing city views. The museum boasts an impressive collection by such luminaries as Van Gogh, Monet and Cezanne, along with the architectural triumph of its six buildings and gardens.  Plan 2-3 hours to fully enjoy the Center, great restaurant for lunch with views of the Santa Monica Mountains – reservations recommended – same day reservations may be available by calling 310-440-6810 or by inquiring at the museum information desk or at the restaurant entrance.

 

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VENICE BEACH – Uber directly there, or walk to the Santa Monica Pier and rent bikes

Abutting Santa Monica’s south side on the Pacific Coast Highway, Venice Beach—or simply Venice—was developed as a Los Angeles beach resort that paid homage to its Italian namesake with canals, piazzas, pedestrian bridges, a lagoon, and a colonnaded business district. Designed by eccentric millionaire Abbot Kinney in 1905, Venice’s original waterways and charming beach cottages can still be seen on Dell Avenue in the Venice Canal Historic District.

Today’s Venice, though, is more famous for quirky happenings on its iconic beachfront boardwalk and pier, where mimes, jugglers, musicians, and street performers of all kinds inhabit an ever-changing and unforgettable bohemian subculture. You may also see some of the country’s best pickup basketball games on local outdoor courts. Watch it all from the loud and lively waterfront skate park, or sit near the daily drum circle on the beach.  *Text courtesy of Visit California

5 Fun Things to do in Venice Beach:

  • Walk down the beachfront boardwalk and pier

  • People Watch at Muscle Beach

  • Eat like a local at Gjelina, Zinque or Tito’s Tacos

  • Shop for Quirky Treasure on Abbott Kinney Boulevard

  • Check out the Venice Canal Historic District

     

OTHER TOURS AND ATTRACTIONS (available for a fee):

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