Guide to: L. A.

By: L. Sitchin

Los Angeles is mostly known for being the television and film capital of the world, but along with that, the city offers a huge variety of things to do, ranging all the way from amusement parks, such as Disney and universal studios, to studio tours, touristing the Hollywood sign and relaxing on beaches such as Santa Monica and Malibu. Last summer I spent one month in the famous “La La Land” and the following are my top things to do in the city:


1.     If I were asked to pick my favourite place in LA, I would probably pick Manhattan Beach. Located in the South Bay community, it offers many things to do, such as shopping, de-stressing on the beach, surfing and, of course, eating in the many typical American-style restaurants. The beach itself is quite relaxing and has far less tourists than other beaches in the area, such as Santa Monica.  The beach has a bike path bordering the sand called “The Strand” which extends all the way to Hermosa Beach with dozens of modern mansions along the way. There are quite a few shops in the downtown area, such as Free People, many small restaurants, including my favorite called Lemonade, and many ice cream shops as it gets quite hot in the summer.

2.     Visiting The Getty Centre is definitely worth it. The Getty is located in Brentwood, right in the heart of the city, and stands on a hill that overlooks the entire city. The museum itself has a wide collection of European paintings, drawings, photographs and sculptures all from J. Paul Getty’s personal collection, including paintings by the renowned painter Van Gogh and other well-known artists. Moreover, the Centre itself has a very special and modern design for those interested in architecture.


3.     In my opinion, one of the best places to shop in LA is The Grove shopping mall. The Grove is a fairly new outdoor mall located in mid-Wilshire on the historical Farmers Market. The mall has popular stores such as Apple, Nordstrom, Zara, and Sephora, along with also providing restaurants offering cuisines all the way from Japanese to Italian and even Greek options for dining. Due to its amazing fountains and trolley rides, The Grove has become a popular ‘must-see’ in the City of  Angels.


4.     A definite must-go in Los Angeles is Santa Monica. Located in the coastal west downtown Los Angeles, it offers activities for all tastes and age groups: you can simply go to the beach, visit the famous pier, shop and/or dine. The Santa Monica pier is very famous for its ‘Pacific Park’, an amusement park overlooking the pacific ocean with a total of 12 rides and a roller coaster surrounding the entire park, known for its appearances in many movies and television programs. The Third Street Promenade is also a must go in the area, following the style of an outdoor mall with many shops, street artists and restaurants, including my favorite healthy restaurant in the area, True Foods.

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