The Complete Beginners Guide to LA from Steven Taylor

New in the City of Angels? Well, don’t fret. You can’t imagine how lucky you are, visiting the biggest city in the state of California and the second-largest city in the United States. You should already have a list of things that you’d want to do while visiting LA, right?  

Well, if your answer is no, then that is also not surprising. Los Angeles is quite the big city and with so many places to visit and activities to choose from, it can be intimidating and somewhat taxing to identify which places you’d want to visit first. For that reason, we compiled a list of the best places to visit for those who are enjoying their first time in Los Angeles. 

 

First of all, you’d want to know the basics: 

 

City: Los Angeles 

State: California 

 

City Nicknames: City of Angels, La-la Land, Tinseltown, L.A 

 

Population: 3.9 million

 

Locals are known as: Los Angelino, Angelino 

 

The nearest body of water: The Pacific Ocean 

 

The city is famous for: Hollywood, beaches, movie stars, sports, museums 

 

Annual number of tourists: 50 million tourists as of 2019 

Getting Around LA 

 

From the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), you can take a cab to take you wherever you need to go. After that, you can take your pick between taking the cab, going Uber, or simply renting a car so you can drive wherever you need to go. There is one thing you need to remember though; always be aware of traffic and parking signs when driving. LA is a city where they take parking tickets very seriously. And it’ll really show on the price too!  

 

When driving around LA, here are some very important facts to help you get from one place to the other: 

 

• LA is huge, so having your own car in the city is truly an advantage. Rent a car to save money or you can also go with Uber. 
• To get from San Diego to LA, take 1-5 North for 120 miles all the way up to Los Angeles. The drive should take about 2 hours, even without any incidents or the usual traffic. But be prepared for long travel hours because heavy traffic is always a thing in a huge city like L.A. 
• From LA to Hollywood, the drive is usually around 30 minutes to 1 hour. Of course, the driving experience is still dependent on how much car traffic is present. 
• From San Francisco to Los Angeles, driving takes around 5 hours and 30 minutes. Just take the 1-5 South road and you should be good to go. 

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What to Do while in LA? 

 

For first-time visitors, LA is overloaded with all sorts of activities and fun places to choose from. You have beaches, amusement parks, museums, sports centers, and especially Hollywood, the movie and entertainment capital of the world. 

For first-timers in LA, you need to add these things to your bucket list: 

 

• Hike a dusty trail to the Hollywood sign 
• Shop like there’s no tomorrow on Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills 
• Watch the amazing California sunsets at Santa Monica Pier 
• Take a walk and enjoy the culture and art of Venice Beach 
• Watch a live Talk show or Gameshow 
• Tour a movie studio 
• Explore Hollywood, from the TCL Chinese Theater to the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame 
• Cruise around Mulholland Drive 
• Explore the Griffith Observatory 
• Enjoy the sights and sounds of Downtown Los Angeles 
• Work on your tan at Santa Monica or in any of the popular Los Angeles Beaches 

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Where to Eat in LA? 

 

Los Angeles, being the modern city that it is, is full of people coming together from different cultures. Therefore, it’s a great melting pot of delicious food ready to be served to hungry patrons. 

For first time visitors in Los Angeles, some of the best restaurants to check out are the following: 

Hollywood 

• Salt’s Cure 

• Pizzeria Mozza 

• Musso & Frank Grill 

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Beverly Hills 

• Maude 

• The Grill on the Alley 

• The Cheesecake Factory 

• Spago 

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Downtown LA 

• Cole’s French Dip 

• Sonoratown 

• Wurstkuche 

• Nickel Diner 

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Where to Stay in LA? 

 

Since it is the biggest city in the state of California, first-time visitors can already expect a good number of hotels and motels in Los Angeles. For those who are traveling in style and have a good amount of money to spare for their accommodations, then you can head over to the Kimpton Everly Hotel for a comfortable stay in the city. 

 

For those who are traveling on just the right amount of budget, consider the Loews Hollywood Hotel. It’s not as fancy as the Kimpton Everly hotel, but it is near Hollywood and the price per room is just about right. 

 

Finally, for first-time visitors who are on a tight budget, your option would be to book a room at the Hotel Hollywood. For just $100 per night and with free complimentary breakfast, it’s the best hotel near Hollywood that’ll give you a bang for your buck. Steven Taylor, LA 

Steven Taylor’s LA Guide to Nature

When Steven Taylor becomes bored of the concrete pavements of Los Angeles, he knows it’s time to go back to Mother Nature for some one-on-one time. 

Yes, even if the proud and lovely city of Los Angeles is filled with concrete buildings, cemented pavements, and towering skyscrapers, it also has nature parks and reserves too. Steven Taylor also believes it is a good idea to visit these nature parks and reserves as a way of supporting the local government of Los Angeles with getting funds to protect the 63,000 acres of parks, lakes, hiking trails, and gardens. 

So without further ado, here is Steven Taylor’s recommendation for experiencing the greatness of Mother Nature while in Los Angeles. 

The Griffith Park 

First on Steven Taylor’s LA list is the beautiful Griffith Park.  

Located on top of the eastern end of the Santa Monica Mountains, Griffith Park is a favorite among families who are visiting or taking a tour among the many beautiful parks and nature reserves of LA. Compared to other parks, such as New York’s Central Park and San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, Griffith Park offers a lot of exciting outdoor activities not just for families, but for a group of friends as well. 

Griffith Park also offers an awesome view of the entire city of LA. Bird watchers will also appreciate the park because of its rugged nature. There have been many species of birds that were found living in the huge trees that surround the park.  

Runyon Canyon Park 

Another popular LA attraction, Runyon Canyon Park is the perfect place for dog lovers. They can take their canine companions and have fun for hours just running around the place. Just make sure to keep an eye out for that pooch or else, you’ll be wandering around the place because the dog chased a squirrel or a rabbit! 

Runyon Canyon Park is also a good place for hiking trips. The terrain will prove to be a challenge for most hikers, therefore they are going to enjoy their time there. 

Echo Park  

Another great place to visit while in LA is Echo Park. Located in East Los Angeles, Echo Park’s main attraction is the huge pond where visitors can take boat rides. Pedal boats and picnic tables are also available for families and friends to enjoy. Fishing is also allowed in the park. 

Topanga State Park 

Last but not least on Steven Taylor’s LA list of natural attractions in LA is the rugged Topanga State Park. A huge sprawling state park located near Topanga Canyon Boulevard and the Pacific Coast Highway, this park is considered a historical and cultural landmark as well. Visitors can take part in many activities, such as horseback riding, hiking, and overnight primitive camping.  

The area around the state park is also perfect for taking your favorite dog out for a walk together. However, take note as to which parts of the park you can freely and safely take your beloved dog out for a hiking trip together with you. 

Originally published at https://steventaylorlandlord.com on November 3, 2021.