LA Tourist Spots, Rated by a Local (spoilers!)
The question comes frequently - “What should I do in Los Angeles?” “Where should I take my out of town guests?” “Should I stay in Hollywood?” “I definitely want to visit Hollywood, and see the stars!”
Sometimes, only honesty will suffice. I gotta burst your tourist, newbie, out-of-town bubble!
So below are my common tourist gripes! These are the places I hear tourists asking about time and time again. This is a love song: a resident’s REAL RATINGS of these tourist traps. I include my warnings / caveats so that y’all are empowered to make your best LA itinerary.
There’s nothing more I hate, than a tourist visiting LA, then leaving and talking bad about my city! Gosh darn, this post is to give LA a fighting chance. Thus so follows my “ratings” and recommendations of how tourist worthy these spots are (and what to do if you simply MUST visit them).
Credit: Pictures Colour Library - PCL
Hollywood Walk of Fame, Stars
⭐️Rating: 0 of 5 stars
Only go if you like the Stars but it’s more gritty, gross than glamorous
For the love of god, please don’t expect much on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Stars! This is the WORST tourist trap of the entire list. I used to work on the Walk of Fame Stars across the street from the Chinese Grauman Theater (now named the TCL Chinese Theater), and it is the most despicable side of LA colliding all at once. Capitalism, fakeness, money-grubbing, rudeness, and street hawkers crowding you, up in your face, and for some reason homelessness also colliding there too!
The people dressed a characters including Spider Man, Batman, Michael Jackson, etc - don’t take your photo with them unless you are willing to give them money or be harassed for money.
There are aspiring musicians who want to give you headphones or want to sell you their CD - don’t do it! Only listen to their music if you want to give them a few bucks to them off of you.
Street hawkers - these people are trying to sell you something. From the Star Maps (which many locations are wrong by the way!) to the Hop On, Hop Off Bus - they won’t stop talking or get out of your face until you walk away and/or are very blunt (sometimes bordering on rude). I used to walk by these people daily, and they never recognized me! This is just to say, you’re just one face in the crowd.
Oh and the parking and traffic which reaches a high at the Hollywood and Highland intersection and the Chinese Theater! There are often award shows, premieres, or a a star having their hands imprinted to mark their “new star” on the Walk of Fame, which then clogs up traffic. I definitely recommending taking public transportation/Lyft/Uber and avoiding the hassle of parking at all costs here! When there are events with famous people, the street is often closed down causing a grid lock from here until 1-2 miles away! There is a Red Line Metro stop so use that if you must go!
Why would one go? I’ve seen many a people kissing, lying down, and embracing the Stars! YUCK!! If you walked by it daily as me, I literally want to vomit because the sidewalks of Hollywood are gross. It is beyond me why anyone would want to lay down and kiss a star - but I guess anything for the ‘gram! So yes - if you are dying to see a celebrity’s Star and grab an essential photo - then that’s what the Hollywood Stars are good for. Sometimes I found the Beatles Star with roses in a Peace shape and that was cute - but that’s as good as it gets! Perhaps, if there’s a ceremony/opening/premiere - you might be able to spot a celebrity on the red carpet. That might be worth it if you are willing to put up with the congestion, street closures, and above mentioned hectic nature of the beast!
That being said, there is a mall there. I find it’s not unpleasant to wander the mall and go shopping for any capitalistic essentials. Hollywood is dense, so there are a lot of food options, bar options, and night life a short walk away. So if you value clubby, night life - Hollywood is the first hood that comes to mind.
The view from the Hollywood Sign Hike; Photo by Linh Da Tran
The Hollywood Sign
⭐️⭐️⭐️Rating: 3 of 5 stars
I only give this two stars because I’ve seen everyone’s reaction from taking a photo with the Hollywood Sign in the background. Their face lights up, they act like they’re living the time of their life. It’s like they’ve always dreamed of this moment!! Thus, I leave it at two stars. I feels like an essential activity even though it’s just a photo and not really an experience.
If you MUST take a photo with the Hollywood sign in the background - I leave the below tips.
My recommendations on where to snap a photo of the Hollywood Sign?
See the BoldTourist’s picks - Canyon Lake Drive is the best I’ve seen in all my years in LA (put 3000 Canyon Lake Drive into your nav). It’s not really close to anything but if you’re in Hollywood it’s a short drive. Nothing to do there but literally take a pic with the Hollywood sign in the back. Secondarily, if you’re already at the Walk of Fame, then Hollywood and Highland Mall has a bridge/walkway where you can see the sign in the background (great for convenience).
The Local’s Pick for Viewing the Hollywood Sign: HIKE IT!!! It does require hiking boots and proper attire. People have died hiking in some LA areas so you need to be cautious, aware, and not reckless! There is an elevation gain (b/c the sign is on a mountain d’uh) so it’s usually not an easy walk. Here’s a good Hike the Hollywood Sign Guide by the Hikespeak. I give the Hollywood Sign hikes 5 of 5 stars - but since many people aren’t hikers, I knocked off a few stars.
Griffith Observatory - This one is good because you can walk around the Observatory (which is a recommended spot in its own right), and the view is genuinely nice! The building, and drop offs are picaresque with a cafe, ramps, and viewing towards! Sometimes it’s windy up there so make sure you hold on to your belongings! I’d say the Hollywood sign/photo is kinda small in the background but it’s still nice!
The Grove Shopping Area and Farmer’s Market
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Rating: 4 of 5
If you like feeling like you’re at an adult, mall-shopping Disneyland and an old school genuine, permanent fixture farmer’s market with booths, food, and cafeteria style grab/go eateries - then The Grove is for you!!
The mall part is pretty - especially well decorated during the holidays for Christmas. They have a water fountain designed by the same people who choreographed/arranged the Bellagio Water Fountain in Vegas! Thus, people will wait around and get excited to see the Grove’s very own choreographed fountains!
There’ s center faux grass area where Brands/Stores are often holding activations/events - which can get really exciting! The mall is particularly crowded with tourists, international people and locals alike!
My favorite part is the Farmer’s Market side - DO NOT MISS THIS!! You have to cross the rail road tracks, walking towards the parking lot, then duck in between some stores and — viola — you’ll find yourself in narrow booths/stalls with lots of food vendors, and some knick-knack shops!! If you can’t find it, ask any vendor or person that works there and they can point you in the right direction. I had visited The Grove several times before seeing the Farmer’s Market - so it’s easy to miss!
According to the history timeline, in the 1890s, there used to be oil rigs there! By 1934, vendors and farmers started selling their wares there. This is pretty old by LA standards! It’s a perfect LA analogy. Nothing like the new and the old sandwiched amongst each other!
I give The Grove and the Farmer’s Market 4 of our 5 stars because us locals still go there and love it! I deduct 1 star because it gets a bit crowded, parking is not free, and the shopping part of the Grove is not that unique IMHO. But the atmosphere makes it worth it :)
Photo Credit: Love Beverly Hills
Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills
⭐️⭐️Rating: 2 of 5
Go if you want pictures of yourself looking wealthy, uppity and/or always wanted to know what the Beverly Hills allure is! Until you want to drop some serious $$$ and are a big baller - most average people can’t afford anything! So you can look at pretty things and prob just window shop! One can easily spend a leisurely 2 hours here, depending if you like shopping, want to sit a restaurant, and/or visit the Beverly Hills sign, Rodeo Drive and snap photos. If you took your time, you could prob spend 4-8 hours here!
I find the restaurants scene here to be a bit lacking and overpriced - more scene-y (see and be seen) rather than tasty. BUT, if you’re there why not!! If I must eat - my local go-to is the Honor Bar and its sister restaurant the Beverly Grill (they are connected to each other, same chef and owner). Downside is that it’s so good, there’s always a wait, and it’s super crowded. So call ahead to check!
I will admit that Beverly Hills has some great dessert places (expensive they may be, perhaps it's worth it for sweet tooth fanatics). I recommend Chaumont Bakery for your standard, elevate French dessert, and Sweet Lady Jane for a local’s cake pick.
Beverly Hills
Overall eateries for locals are actually found on Beverly Drive, between Wilshire and Olympic! So if you want to fee like a local and eat like a local wander over there and have your pick.
Depending what you value - I give Beverly Hills 2 stars since tourists seem to enjoy it. It’s not my first pick but the neighborhood is clean, pretty, and generally safe!
Santa Monica Beach, the Pier, and Third Street Promenade
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Rating: 5 of 5
If you are landlocked and don’t see the ocean much - then the Beach is for you!! However, if you come from a land of paradise and have miles and miles of pristine beaches and wild life - then Santa Monica will not blow you away.
I personally love the Beach, the crisp, fresh air, walking around, and feeling free and Californian — because how can you think of California and not visit the beach?? Santa Monica (historically) has been the cleaner, more upscale beach compared to its southern neighbor Venice (known for being more gritty). Santa Monica residents tend to be wealthier, cleaner, and come off more elevate and bougie! I like that - and I like the “clean” feeling. However, with recent years theres been spike in homelessness so be on guard since everyone loves sleeping on the beach!
The Pier is great just to walk out to, walk with kids and there are performers who try to get your attention but aren’t as annoying as the Hollywood Walk of Fame. There’s also a few activities like a “fun zone” arcade, roller coast, and aerial school there - so kids seem to have a blast! If you walk towards the bike path / beach board walk, you’ll discover a tiny Santa Monica Aquarium tucked beneath the walk way! Again - kids seem to love it!
Third Street Promenade is a heavily touristed outdoor downtown area - which can best be described as an outdoor mall. Mainly its filled with tourists but locals shop there too; however the sheer volume of tourists make it seem like there are no locals! On Saturday mornings, the Promenade’s Santa Monica Farmer’s Market is the biggest I’ve seen in LA! So if you want to feel like a local shopping hyper local produce, seeking out organic fare, the farmers market is where its at!
If you love the beach and want family friendly - Santa Monica, the Pier, and the Promenade hit all those marks! You can spend a whole day here - heck a long weekend if the beach is your think :)
Useful links
Santa Monica Place (bougie mall next to Downtown SM)