A City Guide To LA

Source: Unsplash | Sterling Davis

When it comes to visiting the States, one of the top places you want to check out has to be California. Not only is it amazing for wines, coastline and couture, but it also has some of the coolest places to check out locally. If you’re into cities, LA is the absolute best place to start. With so much history, culture and tons of celebrity status, Los Angeles is one of the top destinations that so many people want to experience at least once. Here’s an easy city guide to LA so you can start planning your celebrity spotting adventure when you score cheap flights to LA with Justfly.

Hollywood Walk Of Fame

One of the top spots for numerous tours around LA, the Hollywood Walk of Fame is probably the most iconic. Set below the famous Hollywood sign, the walk is just outside one of the main theatres where numerous Academy Awards shows are hosted. The walk is a great place to visit if you like Hollywood history or just want to get that photo with your favourite stars. Some of the most prominent stars on the walk include Frank Sinatra, Audrey Hepburn, David Bowie and Alice Cooper to name but a few. As of 2018, the walk has over 2,600 stars. You’re in for a treat.

Chateau Marmont

This prestigious hotel gained a bit of notoriety as Lindsay Lohan’s former abode, but visiting is a real treat. The beautiful decor, layout and incredible service really make the Chateau Marmont a special moment on any visit to LA. The real surprise is that it’s not actually that expensive considering it’s a common haunt for some of Hollywood’s finest. Most evening meals run under $60-70 with drinks like wine and beer being far cheaper than the mixed drinks. If you want a special night out in Hollywood, make it the Chateau Marmont.

Rodeo Drive

Adjacent to the famous Sunset Boulevard, Rodeo Drive is a prominent street in Beverly Hills known most for its luxury goods stores. If you’re looking for something from almost any designer, it’s likely you will find it on or around Rodeo Drive. Add it to a walk around Sunset Boulevard for a great tour of some of the more flashy areas of LA, even if you can’t afford to shop. 

Sunset Boulevard/Sunset Strip

Known probably best for being a hugely popular nightlife location, Sunset Boulevard (and more prolifically the section referred to as the Sunset Strip) is home to some of the city’s most infamous and famous clubs, bars and restaurants. A popular area since the 50s for all of Hollywood’s finest and elit. The Sunset Strip was a common place where up and coming bands could get noticed by some of the city’s major record labels. 

Whiskey A Go-Go

One of the most famous clubs in LA, the Whiskey a Go-Go was a massively popular spot where many of the 80s most prominent bands such as Alice Cooper, Motley Crue, Guns N Roses, KISS and Van Halen got their starts playing to small audiences. In 2006, the Whiskey a Go-Go (commonly called ‘The Whiskey’) was inducted into the Rock n’Roll Hall of Fame.

Viper Room

The Viper Room is a bar on the Sunset Strip that was enormously popular in the 90s with many of Hollywood’s finest. Many bands that have graced its stage have gone onto sign major record labels and numerous big name bands have additionally played there, even after becoming well known and popular. Big name movie and TV stars such as Leonardo Di’Caprio and Jennifer Aniston have made it a common hangout, but it’s most well known as the site where River Phoenix died of a drug overdose in 1993.

Santa Monica Pier

One of the most iconic symbols of LA, the Santa Monica pier is an impressive pier that is home to numerous amusements such as games and rides, but also hosts anglers who do both sport and recreational fishing. The area has a long history of piers, dating back to the late 1800s, but today’s Santa Monica Pier is actually two piers from the early part of the 1900s that had separate owners, one of which was a father and son team who were amusement pioneers. The pier’s amusements were enormously popular in the 1920s but during the Great Depression, the pier was closed and the amusements sold. Today it’s back to its former glory and is a great way to spend a couple of hours, even just walking around and noting some of the historical nuances and eating fair food.

So whether it’s your first or fiftieth time to LA, hopefully this city guide will help highlight some of the coolest places for you and your family to visit during any trip to the area. With so many things to see and do, and a rich Hollywood history to get stuck into, it’s no wonder so many people love LA. Come see what it’s all about for yourself – we’re sure you’ll love it too.