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Home to UCLA, Sony Pictures Studios, and some of the area's most interesting museums, the Westside has a lot to explore. From a legendary luxury shopping hub to an institution that chronicles the history of the Cold War, here's what to see in this vibrant section of the city.
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westside
RODEO DRIVE
Pop culture has made Rodeo Drive synonymous with luxury shopping, but it wasn't always that way. Up until the 1970s, the street was home to regular businesses like a gas station and a hardware store. Today, you can browse the Prada, Hermes, and Rolex stores before sitting down to lunch at Gucci Osteria.
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Sony Pictures Studio
Pose behind a Jeopardy! podium or check out Ecto-1 from Ghostbusters on the Sony Pictures Studio Tour. You'll also see the ninety-four-foot rainbow that arcs above the studio. It's a tribute to The Wizard of Oz, which was filmed on the lot back when it was MGM.
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The Wende Museum
Located in a former National Guard armory, this free museum contains the world's largest and most eclectic collection of artifacts from the Cold War era. See a piece of the Berlin Wall, Soviet-era cars, spy equipment, and vandalized busts of Vladimir Lenin.
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THE HAMMER MUSEUM
Film fans should keep an eye on the calendar for cool screenings at this Westwood museum operated by UCLA. Check out the current exhibits and also make time for lunch at Lulu, a collaboration between famed chefs David Tanis and Alice Waters.
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Getty Center
This 110-acre architectural marvel of a museum is nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains. It’s home to some seriously famous works of art, like Van Gogh’s Irises and Cézanne’s Still Life with Apples. Be sure to get outside the galleries to explore the grounds, including the gorgeous Center Garden.
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Westside
Itineraries
Journey from Culver City to Brentwood to check out an off-beat museum with a thought-provoking collection, a decades-old plant nursery in a Japanese enclave, and a Jewish cultural center with a big collection of artifacts.
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Downtown
Downtown Los Angeles is a tapestry of cool bars and rooftop hotspots, world-class sports venues, historic theaters, and, of course, some of the best restaurants in the country. From the site where the city was founded, to a state-of-the-art sports arena, old and new collide at these Downtown destinations.
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Olvera St.
Known as the “birthplace of Los Angeles”, Olvera Street is home to Avila Adobe, the oldest existing house in LA. Browse kiosks and shops filled with embroidered tunics and leather goods, and order the taquitos at Cielito Lindo. Don’t miss artist David Alfaro Siqueiros’ 1932 mural América Tropical before you go.
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The Broad
Basquiat, Murakami, and Warhol are just a few of the artists you’ll find in the collection at The Broad. It’s also home to two of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama’s Infinity Mirror Rooms, where you can capture the selfie of a lifetime. Sparkle goals.
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Disney Hall/The Music Center
Ballet, opera, and theater all have a home inside the Music Center’s performing arts venues. The Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall is where you'll find Gustavo Dudamel and the LA Philharmonic bringing music to a new generation. The stainless steel stunner of a structure is considered the most sophisticated acoustic space in the world.
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Grand Central Market
Grand Central Market has been feeding LA since 1917. Today, the historic food hall is home to trendy culinary destinations like Eggslut, Sarita’s Pupsaria, and the Donut Man. Stop for a photo with Lisa Schulte and Brendan Donnelly’s eye-catching neon mural.
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LA Live/crypto.com Arena
As home to four LA sports teams and host to other major events, Crypto.com Arena is the centerpiece of Downtown entertainment complex LA Live. While you're there, make time to explore the music-centric exhibits at the Grammy Museum or groove to Reggaeton at Conga Room.
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DODGER STADIUM
Perched above Echo Park, the MLB's oldest stadium west of the Mississippi has an amusement park feel with photo ops like an oversized bobblehead and a vintage ice cream truck. On non-game days, you can drop by to shop the team store or take the tour.
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Downtown Itineraries
Venture from the heart of downtown to Little Tokyo to ride a hundred-year-old funicular, browse a legendary bookstore, and get a crash course in Japanese American history.
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Walt Disney/ Concert Hall
Dodger Stadium
The Broad
Crypto
Arena
Olvera St.
Grand Central Market
The Getty Centre
Rodeo Drive
The Wende Museum
Sony Pictures Studios
The Hammer Museum
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Greater hollywood
It may be synonymous with the film industry, but there's a lot more to see than movie stars in Hollywood and its environs. From legendary music venues to a hillside observatory where you can take in the actual stars, navigate your way through the neighborhood's most beloved landmarks.
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Griffith
Observatory
Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Pantages Theatre
Universal Studios Hollywood ™
Hollyhock House
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
Hollyhock House
Grab a blanket and head to Barnsdall Art Park, one of East Hollywood's best picnic spots. The 36-acre green space is also home to Hollyhock House, Frank Lloyd Wright’s first commission in Los Angeles and the city’s first UNESCO World Heritage site. Keep an eye out for the return of guided tours.
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Hollywood Pantages Theatre
There's always a hit Broadway show to see at the Pantages. The grand Hollywood Boulevard theater was home to the Academy Awards in the 1950s and hosted the premiere of Cleopatra in 1963. Before or after a show, swing in for a drink at Frolic Room, the legendary dive bar next door.
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Hollywood Bowl
In its hundred-year history, the Hollywood Bowl has hosted everyone from Ella Fitzgerald to Alice Cooper. Splurge and have dinner delivered directly to your box seats, or opt for a picnic in the tiers of bench seats above.
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Universal Studios Hollywood
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (™) may generate lots of buzz, but the hour-long Studio Tour is still one of Universal's biggest hits. Hop a tram to see movie-famous back lots like Courthouse Square, the Bates Motel from Psycho, and a 3-D King Kong experience created by Peter Jackson.
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Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
Long known for dramas starring legends like Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart, Warner Bros. Studio now draws visitors who want to see sets from The Big Bang Theory and Friends. You can actually grab a snack at Central Perk Café and then hang out in a re-creation of Monica’s apartment.
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Griffith Observatory
At this hillside shrine to the cosmos, make your way to the Wilder Hall of the Eye, where the powerful Tesla Coil is fired up daily. Also be sure to check out Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon Theater, a bust of actor James Dean, and incredible views of the Hollywood Sign.
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Greater Hollywood Itineraries
Journey from the heart of Hollywood to the Silver Lake neighborhood to check out a classic restaurant with a killer martini, a music venue nestled in the trees in Griffith Park, and a hidden stairway that soars above Sunset Boulevard.
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South LA
From the museums and landmarks of beautiful Exposition Park down to the mighty Watts Towers, South Los Angeles is one of the city's most vibrant regions. Navigate your way through some of its coolest cultural hubs.
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Leimert Park
The Forum
Exposition Park
Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area
SoFi Stadium
USC
Exposition Park
This 160-acre park has a surprise around every corner, from the “mystery mural” at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to space shuttle Endeavour at California Science Center. Stroll through the Rose Garden in between stops at California African American Museum and Natural History Museum Los Angeles County.
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University of Southern California
In addition to its multiple galleries, the Fisher Museum of Art, and the Viterbi Museum, USC’s campus boasts art ranging from Greco-Roman antiquities to contemporary works in plain view. Take a self-guided tour next time you’re here for a game or a cultural event.
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Leimert Park Village
Leimert Park has long been a hub of Black art, music, and culture. Try Hot and Cool Cafe’s vegan bar bites, a book signing at Eso Won, or a blues night at Barbara Morrison Performing Arts Center. On the last Sunday of the month, check out the neighborhood’s art walk.
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KENNETH HAHN STATE RECREATION AREA
This 300-plus-acre park perched above beautiful Baldwin Hills is one of LA's best vistas. Enjoy the quietude of the Japanese Garden or trek to the park's highest point to see the city unfold beneath an obelisk that honors Martin Luther King Jr.
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SoFi Stadium
Go behind the scenes with a guided SoFi Stadium tour, where you can run through the sixty-foot tunnel and even kick a field goal on the gridiron. Twelve acres of green space honor the California landscape, complete with “canyons” that are landscaped to reflect different areas and mini botanical gardens.
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THE FORUM
Long before SoFi Stadium hit the scene, the “Fabulous” Forum was the place to be in Inglewood. Home to the Lakers from 1967 until 1999, the Roman coliseum-style structure now hosts huge concerts and events.
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South LA Itineraries
Journey from Exposition Park to Leimert Park to check out a museum that celebrates Black art, a meditation garden nestled in the West Adams neighborhood, and one of the city's most beloved bookstores.
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Watts Towers
Watts Towers came to define South Los Angeles’s landscape and inspire generations of artists and musicians from Charles Mingus to Noah Purifoy. Art researchers and marine biologists have studied the found objects used in Simon Rodia’s masterpiece. See it up close with a guided tour, offered several times a week.
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Watts Tower
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San Fernando Valley
From its audacious Googie-style diners to the rugged horse ranches that populate its farthest reaches, the sprawling San Fernando Valley isn't easy to define—but fun to explore.
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Valley Relics Museum
Great Wall of Los Angeles
Casa Vega
Hollywood Burbank Airport
The Japanese Garden
Valley Relics Museum
Located inside a pair of hangars at Van Nuys Airport, Valley Relics Museum is packed with beautifully preserved neon signage that tells the story of a bygone era. Display cases are filled with photos and quirky ephemera. It's open Saturdays and Sundays.
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THE JAPANESE GARDEN
See all the elements of a traditional Japanese garden—log bridges, lanterns, waterfalls, a zen garden with raked stones—at this meticulously maintained peaceful oasis tucked into a corner of Van Nuys. In the summer months, you'll see lotus blossoms and water lilies in bloom in the Water Garden.
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Great Wall of Los Angeles
Designed by legendary Chicana artist Judith F. Baca, the Great Wall of Los Angeles is a half-mile mural tracing the history of ethnic people of California from pre-history to the 1950s. The iconic work of public art is just a short drive from NoHo Arts District.
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HOLLYWOOD BURBANK AIRPORT
Formerly Bob Hope Airport, this compact travel hub serves around 1.9 million million travelers annually. At LAX, that number is closer to 88 million.
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San Fernando Valley Itineraries
For a crash course in Valley flavor, check out a historical site that dates to the Mexican-American War, a bar in a barrel, and a tiki spot with major mid-century vibes.
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Mid-City
Home to dinosaur bones, priceless works of art, and some of the city's most beloved shopping hubs, Mid-City has culture for days. From an Art Deco landmark-turned music venue to a farmer's market that's a full-on culinary experience, here's what to see.
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Original Farmers Market and The Grove
The Wiltern
LACMA
Holocaust Museum LA
Petersen Automotive Museum
THE WILTERN
Check out a concert or some standup comedy at one of LA's most eye-popping Art Deco landmarks. The 1931 blue-green tile-covered building situated at the corner of Wilshire and Western (hence the name) once served as Warner Bros. flagship theater; today it's a stately venue with a grand lobby and an ear for alternative music.
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LACMA
Make time for LACMA’s varied art collections, which run the Encyclopedic gamut. Outside, snap a photo alongside Chris Burden’s Urban Light. This installation of 202 antique street lamps has served as the backdrop for untold numbers of engagement photos and quinceañera shoots.
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Petersen Automotive Museum
With rotating exhibits of everything from low-riders to vehicles from the James Bond movies, Petersen Automotive Museum is a shrine to car culture. Splurge on a tour of the Vault, where the museum keeps upwards of two hundred of the world’s rarest cars.
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HOLOCAUST MUSEUM LA
Founded in 1961 by Holocaust survivors, Holocaust Museum LA is the oldest museum of its kind in the United States. Its mission is to educate and inspire a more dignified and humane world through modern-day exhibits and programs.
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The Original Farmers Market and The Grove
A local treasure trove of gift shops and food vendors, the Original Farmers Market is home to everything from historic diner Du-Par's to Monsieur Marcel, a gourmet marketplace where you can feast on fresh platters of seafood accompanied by fine wine. Hop the trolley and watch the dancing fountains at the Grove, LA's iconic outdoor mall.
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Mid-City Itineraries
Journey from Miracle Mile to Melrose Avenue to check out a museum that celebrates craft, a Jewish deli with rock-and-roll heritage, and a street that's drawn trendy shoppers since the eighties.
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Casa Vega
Stop for a classic margarita at this iconic Mexican spot that's been operated by the Vega family since 1956. With its red vinyl booths and oil paintings of matadors taking on toros, the restaurant is a mid-century dream.
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BEACH CITIES
You can't visit LA without spending some time by the ocean, soaking in the SoCal sun, and experiencing a little history. From an oceanfront amusement park to a massive battleship-turned museum, navigate your way through the Beach Cities.
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The Banning Museum
Battleship USS Iowa Museum
Santa Monica Pier
Manhattan Beach Pier/Roundhouse Aquarium
Venice Beach Skate Park
South Coast Botanic Garden
Santa Monica Pier
For over a century, Santa Monica Pier has provided Angelenos with thrills. Ride the solar-powered Pacific Wheel for a bird’s-eye view of surfers in Santa Monica Bay or take a spin on the historic merry-go-round. Don’t skip the sunset.
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Venice Beach Skate Park
Stop by Venice Beach Skate Park to watch today’s skateboarders perfect their drop-ins and handplants at this sixteen-thousand-square-foot concrete playground where palms sway in the ocean breeze. It’s been a destination for both skaters and onlookers since it opened in 2009.
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Manhattan Beach Pier/Roundhouse Aquarium
Built in 1920, Manhattan Beach Pier is the West Coast’s oldest concrete pier. At its end, you’ll find Roundhouse Aquarium. Ogle at eels, octopuses, moon jellies and more and get up close with the critters in its touch tanks. The best part? Admission is free.
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South Coast Botanic Garden
At South Coast Botanic Garden, wander along the mile-long Tram Road and into a variety of themed plant collections, including a cactus garden and a banyan forest. For a luxe experience, look into their Bespoke Picnic program.
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The Banning Museum
Wilmington’s Banning Museum is a meticulously preserved Greek Revival mansion built in 1864. Eighteen of its twenty-three rooms are open to the public, but call in advance to schedule a guided tour of the grounds, which include a schoolhouse, a stagecoach barn, and a lush rose garden.
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Battleship USS Iowa Museum
At Battleship USS Iowa Museum, you can go behind-the-scenes of this massive Navy vessel that served in World War II and the Korean War. Be forewarned: You might fall in love with Vicky, a mixed breed pup who logged 205 thousand miles on the boat during WWII.
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beach cities Itineraries
Journey from Santa Monica down to San Pedro to see a classic movie theater with a killer repertory lineup, a pier with seafood and cocktails, and an oceanfront park with a beloved gift from South Korea.
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MUSSO & FRANK GRILL
Have a plate of pancake-adjacent flannel cakes or something meaty from the grill at a Hollywood institution that's been hosting A-listers in its wood-paneled dining room since 1919. The perennial star-gazing spot is famous for its martini, which is made with house-brined olives and is stirred rather than shaken.
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THE GREEK THEATRE
Nestled amid the trees in Griffith Park, this outdoor amphitheater has wonderful shows under the stars. Have your rideshare driver drop you off for dinner in Los Feliz before the show, then make your way into the park on foot for easy entry.
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MICHELTORENA STAIRS
Hilly LA neighborhoods like Silver Lake and Echo Park are scattered with hidden stairways that offer great views—and a good workout too. Located just steps off Sunset Boulevard, this staircase is one of the city’s most celebrated for its concrete steps emblazoned with candy-colored hearts.
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At this park and museum you can view the Treaty of Cahuenga, a document signed in 1847 that ended the conquest of California. Stop by for an open house the first and third Saturday of each month to tour the museum, or enjoy this history-making site—now a public park—anytime.
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Have a beer inside a big ol’ barrel at this piece of programmatic architecture (buildings designed to look like what they’re named after or sell) on Vineland Avenue. On the patio, you can pose for a photo with a re-creation of Bulldog Cafe, a circa-1920s tamale stand shaped like a pipe-smoking dog.
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Order up a Painkiller at LA’s oldest Tiki bar, open since 1958. You might even run into a member of the Loyal Order of the Drooling Bastard, a club that consists of regulars who’ve ordered one of each of the seventy-eight drinks on the bar’s menu in a twelve-month period.
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Get an eyeful of works by underrepresented artists at this museum that celebrates crafts and folk art and their place in the world of fine art. Before you leave, be sure to browse the gift shop, a treasure trove of functional handmade art like bowls, planters, and jewelry.
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Corned beef on rye just hits different in this legendary 24-hour deli on Fairfax Avenue. Guns N' Roses had their first publicity photos taken here, and its attached bar, the Kibitz Room, is still a destination for rock shows and comedy nights.
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The stretch of Melrose Avenue between Fairfax and La Cienega has been a counterculture shopping hub since the eighties. Nowadays, you can’t visit the area without stopping by the pink Paul Smith wall, a hot spot for Instagrammers—and a really good place to people-watch.
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This Streamline Moderne theater is a go-to for repertory cinema programmed by the cinephiles at American Cinematheque, a nonprofit founded by director Sydney Pollack. When you sit down for a screening, check the plaque on the seat in front of you to see if it was donated by a celebrity supporter.
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Redondo Beach Pier, a South Bay landmark, has major charm. Feast on paper boats of lobster, mussels, and clams from Quality Seafood or toss back a mai tai while you enjoy panoramic views of the Pacific at Tony's on the Pier.
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In the center of beautiful Angels Gate Park in San Pedro, you’ll find the intricately decorated pavilion that houses the Korean Bell of Friendship, a gift from South Korea for America’s bicentennial. You can hear the bell’s thunderous ring on the first Saturday of every month.
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This Exposition Park institution has been celebrating Black artists since 1977. If
you happen to be in town when an exhibit is opening, catch one of their “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop” dance parties with DJs, food trucks, and good vibes.
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Unwind amid dense greenery and water fountains at this urban hideaway, a meditation garden set on the grounds of a 1910 villa. Book in advance to check out its koi pond and circular stone labyrinth.
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Both Barack Obama and Maya Angelou have held signings at this beloved bookstore, where locals have been browsing Black literature since 1990. Stop in, shop, and find out why the shop was a finalist for Publishers Weekly’s Bookstore of the Year.
Take a trip on the historic Angels Flight, the short funicular railway that opened in 1901. Originally built to transfer busy Angelenos up and down Downtown’s steep hills, this
Beaux Arts-style train car is a fun way to experience the city's history for just a buck each way.
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Housed in a former bank, the Last Bookstore has mazes of shelves, rooms situated inside old vaults, and even a ghost. Check out the book tunnel, a gravity-defying arch built from vintage hardbacks that’s always a hit on social media.
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Make time to explore the permanent exhibit Common Ground at this Little Tokyo-set museum, the first in the US to focus solely on the Japanese-American experience. On the campus you'll also find a former Buddhist temple building, a Pavilion designed by famed architect Gyo Obata, and a 200-seat theater.
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Hiding in a storefront on busy Venice Boulevard, this cabinet of curiosities is one of LA’s weirdest museums. Meander through the dimly lit labyrinth of artifacts to find an ethereal portrait of Soviet space dog Laika and a statue of Pope John Paul II in the tiny eye of a needle.
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Hashimoto Nursery is the oldest and biggest nursery in a neighborhood that’s been a destination for plant lovers for generations. On a sunny day, strolling through the outdoor showroom is as good as being at a botanical garden. Also check out Yamaguchi Bonsai Nursery, home to a veritable forest of carefully crafted miniature trees.
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This Brentwood museum beautifully illuminates Jewish culture, heritage, and ideals. It has one of the largest collections of Judaica in the world, and frequently hosts fascinating touring exhibits (recent highlights include Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Paul Simon: Words & Music.)
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