Things to see in Los Angeles that you might like, even if you think you’re not an LA person

I did not think I was an LA person. I don’t care about celebrity culture, amusement parks or sports. The first two times I visited for gigs, I absolutely hated it. I only went back because my girlfriend was working there, but… I didn’t want to leave. I was shocked, honestly. Being shown around by someone who knows what I like made a massive difference (even if she was reading the names off the theatre signs and frantically Googling them as we walked).

So, my fellow not-LA people, if you’re not sure what to see or do, here are some things I enjoyed that I think you’ll enjoy too. Some of them are touristy and might seem a bit Too LA™, but I’m including them because if I was pleasantly surprised, you might be too.

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The historic theatres of Broadway

I loved walking along Broadway and admiring all these old theatres. It’s so easy to get here, whether you’re using the bus or metro. If you visit in the evening, you can see the theatres lighting up for the night. You don’t need to care about what the theatres show to appreciate the architecture and history.

Start at the Belasco and walk a mile up to the Million Dollar Theater, or vice versa. You’ll see every notable theatre as you walk. You can grab some reasonably priced food at the Grand Central Market.

Chinatown

The original Chinatown of LA was swept away to make room for Union Station. The new one was completed in 1938 and was the first part of LA to be entirely owned by Chinese people. Today, it’s known for food, festivals and the colourful Central Plaza, inspired by Shanghai. Although it lights up and gets lively at night, it’s just as pretty and quieter in the day. You’ll see some tourists, but not hordes of them.

Here’s an example itinerary that can be completed in an hour:

Chinatown Gateway Monument (600 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
Guan Di Temple (651 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
Thien Hau Temple (756 Yale St, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
The Central Plaza (943 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012)
The West Gate (954 N Hill St, Los Angeles, CA 90012)

Combining Chinatown and the theatres on Broadway is a good call. The distance between the two is walkable but you can also easily drive or catch a bus.

The parks of Beverly Hills

You might not care about some celebrity’s house or the high-end shops on Rodeo Drive, but the parks of Beverly Hills are lovely. There are all kinds of cacti, tree tunnels, and a perfectly clear fountain. Even the area around the Beverly Hills sign is a nice place to stroll. Take your Kindle or a good book and sit on a bench in one of the quiet parks to take a relaxing break from the intensity of the city.

I wasn’t interested in Beverly Hills at all, but since it was on the way to where we were going that day, we decided to stop there. The morning we spent walking around the parks is actually my favourite memory of LA.

The Griffith Observatory

It’s famous and firmly on the tourist trail, but the views of the LA skyline really are incredible. It’s also a working observatory and hosts planetarium shows every day. The telescope is the most used in the world.

There’s some interesting history behind it, too. The observatory opened in 1935. It was commissioned by Griffith J. Griffith and donated, along with the rest of the park, to the city of Los Angeles under the condition that it would always be free to the public so astronomy was accessible to everyone.

To get here on public transport, take a bus to Griffith Park and then board a free shuttle up to the observatory. Come at sunset to admire the views in daylight, then watch the city lighting up for the night.

The minimal-effort way to see the Hollywood sign

I know, I know. It doesn’t get more LA™ than the Hollywood sign, but if you’re reading this post, you presumably won’t be doing a sign-spotting tour or hiking up to it. You’ll never know if you’ll think the sign’s crap if you don’t look at it at all, though, and viewing it from this mall is the easiest way to do so. I’m glad I saw it.

Neon lights and historic theatres on Hollywood Boulevard and Sunset Boulevard

The TCL Chinese Theatre in the centre as Hollywood Boulevard illuminates for the night.

If you like city lights, it’s worth braving the hordes of tourists to admire Hollywood Boulevard as it lights up for the night. Again, you don’t need to care about what’s on at the theatres, or who visits the bars to appreciate the vibrancy.

A neon red Arby's sign on the palm-lined Sunset Boulevard at sunset.

The Hollywood Palladium marquee lit up at night. It reads 'Green Day New Year's Revolution, sold out.'

Start at the TCL Chinese Theatre (right by the Ovation mall) and walk 1.2 miles to the Hollywood Palladium on Sunset Boulevard. You’ll be on the Walk of Fame so if you feel you ‘need’ to see that, you will.

Just so you know, a lot of visitors are surprised that the Walk of Fame isn’t as clean or safe as one might expect. Keep an eye on your belongings.

Santa Monica Pier

Crowded and touristy, yes, but not necessarily what you think of when you think of LA. The pier has a nostalgic seaside vibe. Wander around, check out the end of Route 66 sign, listen to the ocean, and admire the colours in Pacific Park (it’s free to enter) even if you don’t care for the rides.

The Pallisades Park

Spend a relaxing afternoon strolling down the palm-lined dirt paths of the coastal Pallisades Park in Santa Monica. I thought that sounded incredibly boring, but another one of my favourite memories of LA is the afternoon we spent walking through the park and showing each other memes on benches overlooking the sea. If you’re travelling alone, this park is another lovely place to sit and read a book.

Combine the park with a visit to the pier.

Sit somewhere nice and relax

When I visit places I’m actually interested in like Japan, I struggle to relax because there’s so much I want to see. Relaxing in LA was easy because my itinerary wasn’t too packed. If you’ve read this far, that will probably be the case for you too – and despite how hectic LA is, a few of the places I’ve mentioned are actually perfect spots to sit and relax.

I hope this post has given you some ideas! I’ve gone from insisting LA is a hellhole to saying I think it’s worth visiting just to see these things and sit around chilling. If you don’t feel remotely excited about any of it, I obviously wouldn’t recommend going out of your way to visit. However, even if you think everything about LA sounds unbearable but you have to visit for some reason, try checking out some of these things instead of hiding out in your hotel/hostel/whatever. You might change your mind. My friends were as shocked as I was when they could tell I didn’t want to leave.

If you have any questions, my girlfriend can probably answer them even if I can’t, so comment below and we’ll do our best to help.