Parks & Nature
A great place to hang out for free. You can visit during the day or at night. The views are great, the hiking is fun and the Observatory is educational.
Please expect traffic.
4366 locals recommend
Griffith Observatory
2800 E Observatory RdA great place to hang out for free. You can visit during the day or at night. The views are great, the hiking is fun and the Observatory is educational.
Please expect traffic.
Everybody in Hollywood goes "hiking" here. This is a famous hilly area in Hollywood where we used to hike when we were dating because Olga lived in Hollywood at the time.
2445 locals recommend
Runyon Canyon Park
2000 N Fuller AveEverybody in Hollywood goes "hiking" here. This is a famous hilly area in Hollywood where we used to hike when we were dating because Olga lived in Hollywood at the time.
Beautiful canyons and waterfalls. Short hikes in these areas and night views are beautiful.
167 locals recommend
Eaton Canyon
1801-1945 Veranada AveBeautiful canyons and waterfalls. Short hikes in these areas and night views are beautiful.
You can hike during the day or at night. This is an iconic trail that leads up to an old hotel that was destroyed by wind and fire and was eventually abandoned.
Lots of remnants still remain and expect lots of visitors.
We enjoyed hiking here at night when we lived in Pasadena.
33 locals recommend
Echo Mountain Trail
Mount Lowe RoadYou can hike during the day or at night. This is an iconic trail that leads up to an old hotel that was destroyed by wind and fire and was eventually abandoned.
Lots of remnants still remain and expect lots of visitors.
We enjoyed hiking here at night when we lived in Pasadena.
A beautiful villa and museum. This is a must visit location. Lots of beautiful decoration and scenery and landscape.
883 locals recommend
The Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast HwyA beautiful villa and museum. This is a must visit location. Lots of beautiful decoration and scenery and landscape.
Food Scene
This is personally one of my favs. Open 24/7, any time!!!!
http://www.yelp.com/biz/carnitas-michoacan-los-angeles-2
1901 N Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90031
I go here for the nachos with carne asada or papa fritas. It's so good I don't care about anything else.
There are NO restrooms and you eat outside in their patio.
I highly recommend eating there because the food will be soggy if you takeout.
13 locals recommend
The Original Carnitas Michoacan
1901 N BroadwayThis is personally one of my favs. Open 24/7, any time!!!!
http://www.yelp.com/biz/carnitas-michoacan-los-angeles-2
1901 N Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90031
I go here for the nachos with carne asada or papa fritas. It's so good I don't care about anything else.
There are NO restrooms and you eat outside in their patio.
I highly recommend eating there because the food will be soggy if you takeout.
If you want GOOD Vietnamese food, here's the place. San Gabriel Valley is famous for all the Asian eateries and you can start here.
Order literally everything and share family style so you can get a taste of everything. If not, then I don't judge and just order the typical Pho or you can see pictures from their yelp site.
This restaurant is famous and is on a few "top places to eat" lists. We ate here quite a few times.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/golden-deli-temple-city-3?osq=golden+deli
27 locals recommend
Golden Deli Restaurant
815 W Las Tunas DrIf you want GOOD Vietnamese food, here's the place. San Gabriel Valley is famous for all the Asian eateries and you can start here.
Order literally everything and share family style so you can get a taste of everything. If not, then I don't judge and just order the typical Pho or you can see pictures from their yelp site.
This restaurant is famous and is on a few "top places to eat" lists. We ate here quite a few times.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/golden-deli-temple-city-3?osq=golden+deli
There's everything from shopping to movies to night life to eateries and even museums.
We used to live just a mile away from Old Town Pasadena and would occasionally walk to all the restaurants and bars.
480 locals recommend
Old Pasadena
23 E Colorado BlvdThere's everything from shopping to movies to night life to eateries and even museums.
We used to live just a mile away from Old Town Pasadena and would occasionally walk to all the restaurants and bars.
Little Tokyo is a small and fun area. It has a few good eateries and is a "must visit" spot.
435 locals recommend
Little Tokyo
Little Tokyo is a small and fun area. It has a few good eateries and is a "must visit" spot.
Well known fancy eatery in Downtown LA. It's first come first serve and the food is great. Try the fried portebello mushrooms first.
We came here on a few dates before we got engaged.
The back area is "waiting list" and the front cafe area is first come first serve bar sitting style. Just grab a seat. Both areas serve the same thing but it's just faster if you ask someone for their table if they look like they're leaving. That's usually the best way unless you prefer to wait for a bigger table.
Be warned, it can get packed...
583 locals recommend
Bottega Louie
700 S Grand AveWell known fancy eatery in Downtown LA. It's first come first serve and the food is great. Try the fried portebello mushrooms first.
We came here on a few dates before we got engaged.
The back area is "waiting list" and the front cafe area is first come first serve bar sitting style. Just grab a seat. Both areas serve the same thing but it's just faster if you ask someone for their table if they look like they're leaving. That's usually the best way unless you prefer to wait for a bigger table.
Be warned, it can get packed...
Korean BBQ! What else can we say?
We went here a few times and they have options on your food order. It's been a while but I think it's about $25 a person.
67 locals recommend
Genwa Korean BBQ
5115 Wilshire BlvdKorean BBQ! What else can we say?
We went here a few times and they have options on your food order. It's been a while but I think it's about $25 a person.
Russian food! It's so hard to find Russian cuisine in Socal but we luckily found a great spot. We highly recommend this place if you plan to try something new.
Old Village Restaurant
1100 South Central AvenueRussian food! It's so hard to find Russian cuisine in Socal but we luckily found a great spot. We highly recommend this place if you plan to try something new.
Trendy gastropub in Culver City. Great food and drinks. Get their oysters if available and try their $13 burger.
344 locals recommend
Father's Office
1018 Montana AveTrendy gastropub in Culver City. Great food and drinks. Get their oysters if available and try their $13 burger.
Arts & Culture
One of our first dates was at this museum. It's located in Old Town Pasadena and there's ample parking. Tickets are not too expensive and there are many galleries. It's a nice place to walk around in with a small and peaceful garden outside.
You can also visit Old Town Pasadena which is just down the street on Colorado Blvd.
485 locals recommend
Norton Simon Museum
411 W Colorado BlvdOne of our first dates was at this museum. It's located in Old Town Pasadena and there's ample parking. Tickets are not too expensive and there are many galleries. It's a nice place to walk around in with a small and peaceful garden outside.
You can also visit Old Town Pasadena which is just down the street on Colorado Blvd.
Famous art gallery. We've been here a few times.
3161 locals recommend
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
5905 Wilshire BlvdFamous art gallery. We've been here a few times.
This is a very new museum that just opened about a year ago. We haven't gone here yet but reviews are great and the line is long. Maybe you can visit first and let us know how it is.
1555 locals recommend
The Broad
221 S Grand AveThis is a very new museum that just opened about a year ago. We haven't gone here yet but reviews are great and the line is long. Maybe you can visit first and let us know how it is.
An iconic music hall by Disney. I've visited a few times to listen to the philharmonic and it's just a nice place. Pick a show and enjoy!
1063 locals recommend
Walt Disney Concert Hall
111 S Grand AveAn iconic music hall by Disney. I've visited a few times to listen to the philharmonic and it's just a nice place. Pick a show and enjoy!
Getting Around
Cal State L.A. Station
San Bernardino Brown Line
Indiana
210 S Indiana StMaravilla Station
Entertainment & Activities
There is a sky slide at Union Bank in Downtown. They built a glass slide outside of the building on the 70th floor and there are bars here.
We haven't gone here yet but plan to.
130 locals recommend
OUE Skyspace LA
633 W 5th StThere is a sky slide at Union Bank in Downtown. They built a glass slide outside of the building on the 70th floor and there are bars here.
We haven't gone here yet but plan to.
San Antonio Winery
737 Lamar StWinery just a few miles away.
Pacific Cinerama Dome
6360 Sunset BlvdFamous Hollywood Theatre.
Dodger Stadium
1000 Vin Scully AveBaseball!
Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City PlazaGreat zoo with many animals. Be careful because it can be very hot especially in summer.
220 locals recommend
LA Zoo station
Great zoo with many animals. Be careful because it can be very hot especially in summer.
Shopping
East Los Angeles Farmers Market
4801 E 3rd StFarmer's market.
A nice place to hang out. Lots of shopping and just fun to walk around.
642 locals recommend
The Americana at Brand
889 Americana WayA nice place to hang out. Lots of shopping and just fun to walk around.
This is a great LA mall in terms of sight seeing and hanging out. There's even a free trolly ride.
2580 locals recommend
The Grove
189 The Grove DrThis is a great LA mall in terms of sight seeing and hanging out. There's even a free trolly ride.
Sightseeing
This is a neat little neighborhood next to the ocean. They built the area to resemble Italy's Venice Canals.
This is a great place to hang out, eat out, walk around and sight see.
Be warned, traffic is bad and street parking is tough but FREE. There is paid parking if you want a faster spot.
947 locals recommend
Venice Canals
This is a neat little neighborhood next to the ocean. They built the area to resemble Italy's Venice Canals.
This is a great place to hang out, eat out, walk around and sight see.
Be warned, traffic is bad and street parking is tough but FREE. There is paid parking if you want a faster spot.
I've grown up visiting Chinatown throughout my life. It's just an interesting place to walk around. You can buy all kinds of gifts, trinkets, clothes, illegal products, and much more!
It's also great to see the culture there.
399 locals recommend
Chinatown
I've grown up visiting Chinatown throughout my life. It's just an interesting place to walk around. You can buy all kinds of gifts, trinkets, clothes, illegal products, and much more!
It's also great to see the culture there.