16 Things To Do in LA: What Everyone Does Wrong (& How to Do It Right)

I’ve had friends from the East Coast who’ve never visited SoCal ask me, “Who would ever want to go to Los Angeles?” They’ve heard of the insane traffic, hordes of people trying to find a restaurant that doesn’t have a 2+ hour wait, and overpriced shopping. 

And while that’s all true in some ways, you’ve probably also heard that LA is full of perfect palm tree-lined streets, home of the iconic Hollywood sign, a great place to go thrifting, and an amazing city to see contemporary art. 

So which version of Los Angeles is the TRUE version of this city of angels? Like every city, LA isn’t going to be perfect. So what if I told you that both realities exist AND you can enjoy both the good with the not so good?

As someone who has spent a fair amount of time in the LA area, I’m here to tell you what’s ACTUALLY worth checking out in LA and what you should avoid to better spend your time elsewhere (i.e. things not to do in LA). 

It can be tricky figuring out which stores are actually worth shopping at, the best hidden restaurants that only locals know about, and what touristy attractions are actually worth your time. I’m not going to lie, Los Angeles can be overwhelming (trust me, I’ve felt the anxiety of driving through LA traffic) but this guide will list out ALL the pros and cons of exploring this wonderful city–you just have to know where to look.

Free Things to do in LA

Who doesn’t love free things? And while LA (and Southern California  in general) is infamously known to be expensive in terms of eating and shopping, there are a lot of fun and free activities to do!

1. The Getty Center

If you don’t like crowds, you don’t want to visit The Getty Center, it’s waaay too popular and then you’ll seem like you’re just like everyone else. Plus the center is next to the beach, so you’ll probably catch a cold from the salty ocean breeze and no one wants that 😉

Not to mention, admission is free, but you’ll need a timed-entry reservation and that’s just way too much trouble to go through. Who even cares about admiring beautiful art and architecture, it’s just sooo tiring?

Obviously, the Getty Center is gorgeous and one of the best free activities you can do in LA. The Getty is so unique because they have such an interesting blend of modern architecture and art, while also exhibiting amazing art pieces from different centuries and countries. One of my absolute FAV parts of the Getty is the exterior of the center, which features beautifully designed waterfalls, hedges, and gardens.

The center opens at 10am, so I recommend getting there as early as possible (LA traffic can seriously suck) and that gives you plenty of time to check out both the center and museum while still being able to grab a bite nearby for lunch or dinner.

2. Greystone Mansion and Gardens

The Greystone Mansion and Gardens in Beverly Hills is so stunning with gardens and a koi pond that you’ll be so awe-struck. It’s famously known for being featured in a ton of movies, such as X-Men and Ghostbusters, so coming here might ruin some movie magic for you.

Greystone Mansion is owned by the city of Beverly Hills and operated through the Recreation and Parks division, so it’s well maintained for the public. The grounds of the estate are beautifully kept with trees, flowers, and hedges. 

The mansion itself showcases impressive architecture and tiled floors that really transport you into another world. This would make a great date spot or just a place to stroll around and enjoy a relaxing day.

3. Griffith Observatory

Everyone knows what the Griffith Observatory is. Afterall, it’s the iconic observatory where Sebastian and Mia from La La Land share their first kiss. And sure, Griffith really is as beautiful as it appears in the film but do you really want to trek up the hill and fight the crowds to catch a glimpse of the LA skyline?

The answer is yes, you absolutely do. Griffith may be a tourist spot, but visiting Griffith with my friend was one of the most fun things I have ever done in the city. I won’t lie, parking can be extremely difficult, especially if you go before sundown or during the weekend. We ended up having to park at the very bottom of the mountain by the park and trekked about one mile up a hill in very hot weather. 

Maybe not the smartest thing to do since we were sweaty by the time we reached the top, but the view was so worth it. The observatory and front lawn are stunning and it only gets better from there. 

There are a ton of super cool science exhibits inside the observatory and while you have to pay to enter some parts, the main exhibits are free. The real showstopper is when we took the stairs to the top of the observatory and had the best view of LA that I’d ever seen.

So while Griffith is very busy and popular amongst tourists, I would say it’s still worth visiting at least once. And if you don’t make it to the observatory, you have to take a walk through Griffith Park. 

4. Burlington Arcade

Burlington Arcade is a tiny alleyway in Pasadena that you would miss if you didn’t know it was there, so why visit? It’s not like it totally gives off Diagon Alley vibes from Harry Potter with adorable shops and cafes.

This would make for a great date spot and would look even dreamier at night when all the lights come on at night. There’s also a cute photo booth that would make for some Instagram-worthy pictures and reminds me of London. You probably won’t have to spend a lot of time here since it’s just one alley, but The Huntington Library (which I talk more about later in this guide) is also close by and would make for a great day trip!

5. The Last Bookstore

If you love to read like me, you wouldn’t want to come here because you’d probably get distracted with the piles upon piles of books and never want to leave.

The Last Bookstore is the largest new and used bookstore in California and they’re also the coolest. This is literally every bookworm’s dream come true with their AMAZING book catalog. They also sell records, comics, art, and yarn. 

Super random? Yeah, but also so unique! The best part of the Last Bookstore and what they’re most famous for are their uniquely themed rooms and iconic book tunnel. I’ve never seen a bookstore as extensive or interestingly decorated as this. I highly recommend coming here to check out some books and take some super cool pictures!

6. Hammer Museum

Have you ever heard of a museum that had free entry? Well, the Hammer Museum has free admission, so it must be a scam, right?

The Hammer Museum at UCLA is unlike most museums because it’s completely free to enter, which is really enough of an incentive to visit (plus you don’t need advanced reservations). There are so many cool exhibitions featuring contemporary art and even a sculpture garden. There’s also a nice restaurant and you might as well check out the UCLA campus while you’re in the area.

7. Rainbow Wall

Does anyone still take pictures in front of rainbow walls?. Like who cares if they’re super cute and makes for an AMAZING backdrop, especially if you’re wearing an adorable white dress. Take this Rainbow Mural Wall in West Hollywood on 741 N La Cienega Blvd, for example.

The pastels and vibrant pops of color are SO distracting, I can’t look away from how aesthetically pleasing it is. The wall also faces north, so you’ll be in the shade most of the time, which means you won’t want to leave and we can’t have that happening, so best not to check out this wall at all.

Dining in Los Angeles

Yea, some of the restaurants here are going to be expensive, but the trick is finding a place that’ll be worth your money. There are soo many options that aren’t just your typical fancy sit down and dine restaurant.

8. The Grove

The Grove is THE center of shopping and dining in LA, which means it’s super popular and inevitably busy. While you could skip this iconic LA destination, I’m going to tell you why I still brave the LA traffic to come here.

My favorite part of The Grove, and the main reason I’ll make the drive to visit, is for their farmers market and farmers market restaurants. You COULD eat at one of the many restaurants in the mall’s main area, but why do that when you can get a wider variety of foods at the farmers market? 

They have every cuisine imaginable from French, Italian, all types of Asian food, Mexican, desserts, and so much more. I prefer getting a dish from each stall and sharing family style with the people I’m visiting with.

The Grove also hosts a lot of events like author meet ups at the Barnes and Noble and was even been the film premiere site of the Taylor Swift: The Era Tour film and The Tortured Poets Department x Spotify pop up library!

9. Grand Central Market

The Grand Central Market has way too many selections that you’ll be too overwhelmed and will buy way more food than you can eat. Seriously, there are so many stalls here that I’d be paralyzed by not knowing what to get!

Grand Central Market features 40 stalls featuring award-winning burgers, to world famous lobster rolls, and everything in between.

Established in 1917, Grand Central Market is the largest and oldest public market in LA, and is such an important part of LA history that you HAVE to see it, even if you don’t end up getting anything (although, I don’t know how you couldn’t resist trying at least one thing).

Gardens in Los Angeles

Gardens are the perfect place to have a casual but intimate get together with friends or a date! These gardens have plenty of paths to walk around and, of course, GORGEOUS flowers to admire and smell along the way.

10. Huntington Library

I wouldn’t visit The Huntington in San Marino. I mean, who CARES about a library that has 12 million items that are hundreds of years old or thousands of stunning art pieces that date back centuries. Historical pieces are SO last year. And don’t even get me started on the 130 acres botanical garden that is home to thousands of plant varieties. You’d probably get allergies from all the pollen and lose your breath from how beautiful the gardens are.

In all seriousness, I actually think that the Huntington Library is one of those rare places in LA where the $25 admission fee is actually justified given how extensive the property is and how much research, restoration, and care is provided to the library, museum and gardens.

The Huntington is one of my absolute favorite places in Los Angeles and feels like a Victorian paradise away from the hustle and bustle of the modern city. Whenever I visit, I get so lost in seeing all the amazing historical pieces and the GORGEOUS flower arrangements. I love getting all dressed up with my friends and pretending we’re in a different time period–plus they make for cute photo ops.

Doors are open from 10am to 5pm and I recommend getting there as early as possible to find parking, beat the crowds, and have ample time exploring everything on the property. 

Reservations are required on the weekend, so I also recommend buying tickets beforehand, especially since they do have limited visitor capacity. The estate is composed of the library, art museum, and botanical gardens–each of which you could spend HOURS exploring and still not see everything they have to offer. Whether you’re a history buff, art critic, or you just love taking cute photos in front of flowers, the Huntington is so worth a day trip with your friends!

11. Arlington Garden

The Arlington Garden is free to enter, so is it actually worth your time? The garden is so big and versatile with different terrains, you’d probably get lost somewhere amidst the vibrant flowers.

This would be the perfect date spot or friends and family get together to enjoy a nice meal and take in the beautiful gardens. More lowkey than the gardens at the Huntington Library, this would make for a great pitstop during a long day of exploring LA. There’s something so serene about walking through pathways of flowers and is something that I never get tired of!

12. Descanso Gardens

You have to pay to enter (tickets are $15 for adults), so is it actually worth the visit?

I went to the Descanso Gardens with my family and it was such a fun and relaxing day. We explored the huge garden grounds (there are seriously so many different types of flowers and trees that I don’t think we saw everything).

We had packed our own lunch of sandwiches and fruits which we assembled at the picnic table and it was honestly such a great time. Descanso Gardens is really kid friendly and popular amongst families to have an outing and one that I would def visit again.

Downtown Los Angeles (DTLA)

I’ll be honest, I don’t LOVE DTLA, but I don’t think anyone really does. It isn’t the best in terms of cleanliness or homelessness, so it isn’t always *picturesque.* BUT I do think that DTLA has its own charm and some great gems if you know where to look. Afterall, it wouldn’t be such a popular destination if it didn’t have SOME places worth visiting.

13. Thrifting at Melrose Trading Post

Thrifting is soo much work, especially when you have hundreds of vendors to shop from. You’ll find so many amazing pieces at a great price that you’ll buy way too much and have trouble lugging all your found treasures home.

Melrose Trading Post is open every Sunday at Fairfax High School from 10am to 5pm. You’ll find everything from antiques, collectables, vintage clothes, furniture, home goods, and jewelry. It can certainly be overwhelming navigating all the stalls, but if you take your time you will definitely find some super special and unique pieces.

As always, head there early for parking. There is limited valet parking, but your best bet is just carpooling with friends and planning out enough time. Admission tickets cost $6, which supports Fairfax High School and the artisans featured at the trading post!

14. The Broad

There are so many cool photo ops at The Broad, you’d spend all day taking pictures of yourself and your friends and you won’t want to leave. Oh, did I mention that admission is also free? Yup, you can check out some super cool art AND take amazing pictures at no cost at all–what a bummer.

The Broad is iconically known for their contemporary art and YaoYi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms. You’ve probably seen pictures on Instagram of people posed in a mirrored room that seems to have millions of dazzling lights. Yup, that’s taken at the Broad and makes for an amazing backdrop. One of the rooms does require advanced reservations, but you can buy these at the museum.

15. MOCA

MOCA has way too many art pieces, I get so caught up in the exhibits that the day is over before I know it. General admission is free, but special exhibitions are ticketed so plan which ones you’re interested in seeing.

I don’t always understand modern art, but I can’t deny that they’re really interesting and tell such fascinating stories. MOCA is a great place to beat the LA heat, while also getting an appreciation of LA pop culture and art.

Staying in Los Angeles

16. Palihotel Westwood Village

A hotel is just a place to sleep in, so who cares about a super cool and hipster hotel that’s both modern and vintage? The Palihotel isn’t on a busy street, so there won’t be traffic to keep you up and that’s not fun at all. We hate the rooms, which are bright and airy with perfectly picked decor that makes the whole place feel so timeless, so you won’t want to leave.

Palihotel is exactly like the images online–beautiful, comfortable, and so so relaxing. The staff is also so friendly and the hotel provides so many amenities like 24/7 coffee, private patios, and free wi-fi that will make the entire experience so much more enjoyable.

As you can tell by now, my “critiques” of these Los Angeles gems are actually praises for how amazing they really are. LA gets a bad rep for being pricey and a bit run down, but it has so many neat places that you just won’t want to miss.

If you’re planning your first visit to LA, don’t be overwhelmed with all the choices you have. No matter what you end up picking from this list, you’ll def experience super unique art, food, and museums unique to LA! And when you do, tag us on Instagram @whimsysoul!