We want to share this great city with you! Unfortunately the Dodgers are out of town this weekend, but there is plenty more to do–here are a few of our favorite places:

Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park–one of the largest urban parks in the country, complete with its own zoo, concert venue, golf park, wild west museum, and observatory with spectacular views of the city. On a clear day you can see to the ocean, and there are miles and miles of hikes and cool views of the city and the Hollywood sign, which is nearby. Plus its a super cool museum–don’t miss the lower level with star shows and planet exhibits. The telescopes on the roof open around 7pm.

Santa Monica Pier and Muscle Beach

   

While most of the pier is probably a tourist trap, take a ride on the Ferris wheel (for a couple dollars) which takes you out over the ocean! Then visit the aquarium (open most afternoons) hidden below the carousel. You can also take a walk along the boardwalk south toward Venice, where you’ll pass Muscle Beach, circus performers, artists– lots of people watching.

You can rent bikes from a few places near Venice like this one ($6 per hour, $20 per day) and travel the boardwalk, which extends north to Malibu and south along the bay for miles.

Malibu and Temescal Canyon

(above: view from Temescal hike; below: Matador, Point Dume)

One of our favorite hikes is off the Pacific Coast Highway, on the drive to Malibu. Temescal Canyon (details here) has a few mile loop trail (slightly strenuous and uphill) with rewards of great views of the ocean and the mountains. Make sure to bring water and hats and suncreen! Here is a link to the trail map.

There are tons of great hikes in the LA area. Here’s a great list with more: www.discoverlosangeles.com/blog/hiking-los-angeles-las-best-trails

   

Our favorite beaches are nearby on PCH–Santa Monica and Venice are beautiful, but if you want to swim, we recommend heading north away from the city. Our faves are more rugged–El Matador and Point Dume, where you can find lots of star fish and other creatures hanging around. Nearby Zuma beach (north of Dume along PCH Highway) is famous for Baywatch and other films, if you’re looking for sand and swimming.

LA walking tours

    

The LA Conservancy provides free or nearly free walking tours of downtown LA and other cool parts of town, from the Central Market to the amazing downtown library, art deco buildings and Gehry’s music hall. Check out their website for tour info–they also have a number of self guided walking tours.

For other do it yourself tours: check out the fashion district and Little Tokyo just east of downtown; Little Ethiopia; Vermont and Franklin in Los Feliz (our favorite bookstore lives here, Skylight Books), LaBrea furniture district (lots of funky stores and murals), or climb the Echo Park stairs.

La Placita Olvera, the founding neighborhood of Los Angeles, is a cool spot to check out as well, and not far from Little Tokyo, Union Station. MOCA and downtown. There will be a Mexican Independence Day celebration our wedding weekend!

   

   

Museums and Public Art

  

LACMA and the La Brea Tar Pits are side by side along Wilshire Blvd. There are always a row of food trucks around lunch time, and right across the street you can find pieces of the Berlin Wall, including a newly unveiled mural of Nelson Mandela.

The Getty is Steph’s favorite museum in LA. Incredible architecture and gardens, beautiful views of the city, and a vast collection. A number of awesome photography exhibits. The museum is free, parking is $15. Make sure to add in extra travel time to get there.

Speaking of photography, head to Century City to see the Annenberg Space for Photography. It’s a small museum, tucked in among skyscrapers but worth a visit. It’s free. Their current exhibit is a series of portraits of country musicians, including Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Hank Williams.

The Museum of Jurassic Technology is a bizarre private collection: see more about it here.

California Science Center has one of the Space Shuttles on display, moved through the city streets to get from the airport to the museum south of downtown.

    

Watts Towers: an incredible monument made out of scraps of rebar, concrete, porcelain, tile and glass, built by an Italian Immigrant construction worker from 1920-the 1950s. $7 admission, open Thursday through Sunday, late morning to early afternoon. Check website for hours before going.

LA Murals: Check out the LA Mural Conservancy for a list of murals–they are everywhere!

  

A few fave food/drink recommendations:

Near Downtown, grab a drink and a view downtown at Perch, or enjoy awesome Italian and bizzare tasty cocktails at Cafe Louie (a little pricey and loud, but great food). The Edison is a steampunk themed bar (some formal dress required) with a cool atmosphere, or try La Cita, a fave for Mexican music and dancing (our after party location, perhaps?) We also like Las Perlas, a tequila and mezcal bar, across the street from Cole’s, one of the original French Dip restaurants in LA.

Guisados in Echo Park has some of the best tacos in town (no  joke!), or if you’re in the mood for mole, head to Koreatown to La Guelaguetza. We love Awash Restaurant off the main drag in Little Ethiopia, or if you’re in the mood for burgers, try Umami. There’s also WerstKuche, which has handmade sausages of all types and beer on tap, just down the street from one of our favorite watering holes, Angel City Brewery.

And we can’t forget dessert! Also right nearby, Pie Hole is really the best pie in town. They have an earl grey tea infused cream pie, chocolate and fruit pies, savory pies. Visit Pie Hole.

There are also food trucks galore: find the Kogi Truck, or coolhaus (ice cream sandwiches) @coolhausLA or the Grilled Cheese Truck @GCTLosAngeles. Check twitter. Find a map of trucks here: roaminghunger.com/la

If you need Intelligentsia coffee like Steph does, you can find them near Sunset Junction in hipster Silver Lake, or along Abbott Kinney Blvd in Venice. Check out local coffee companies Groundworks and Portland transplant Stumptown.

Lastly, try brunch at HomeGirl Cafe. HomeBoy Industries and HomeGirl Cafe support men and women who are out of jail and out of gangs, looking to turn their lives around. They have great food! Try Shamika’s special Americano, or one of their other tasty drinks.