traveldk.com

Morning

Start your day with a drive north along the Pacific Coast Highway for glorious ocean views. Travel to sheltered Paradise Cove for breakfast at the beachfront restaurant, followed by a couple of hours of frolicking in the surf here or a few miles north at Zuma Beach . Head back south, stopping at Malibu Adamson House to admire beautiful ceramic tiles before walking over to Surfrider Beach (see Malibu Lagoon State/Surfrider Beach) to watch the world’s finest surfers in action.

Then it’s off to Santa Monica. Stroll beneath the towering palms of the bluff-top Palisades Park with the ocean at your feet. For better views of city and sea, treat yourself to a ride on the Ferris wheel on Santa Monica Pier and perhaps a snack from one of the many vendors.

Afternoon

For the rest of the afternoon, rent a bicycle and become part of LA’s beach scene during an easy ride south to Venice along the paved beachfront bike trail. Park the bike or push it along the bizarre Venice Boardwalk (see Venice Boardwalk Attractions), perhaps stopping to get a tattoo (henna or ink), visit a fortune teller, stock up on unique souvenirs, or tank up on gourmet sausages from Jodi Maroni’s (see Jody Maroni’s Sausage Kingdom). If time permits, continue south to Marina del Rey, one of the world’s largest yacht harbors, before heading back to Santa Monica where myriad dinner options await.

Morning

Begin your day with the historic El Pueblo, which will take you back to the city’s vibrant Mexican and Spanish past. Browse colorful Olvera Street for authentic crafts and food, and then cross Alameda Street for a close-up of the grand Union Station.

Next, go west along Cesar Chavez Boulevard, before turning right on Broadway for a stroll through exotic Chinatown and a superb dim sum lunch at the Empress Pavilion .

Afternoon

Ride the DASH bus “B” from Broadway to Temple Street, dominated by the new Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels. After admiring Rafael Moneo’s Modernist masterpiece, head south along Grand Avenue, past the Music Center and the Walt Disney Concert Hall to check out the latest exhibits at the MOCA.

Stroll down Bunker Hill Steps , stopping to gaze at “Source Figure,” Robert Graham’s exquisite sculpture and the Central Library . Walk to Pershing Square , lorded over by the baronial Millennium Biltmore , a nice place for tea or coffee. Leave in time to make it to the Victorian Bradbury Building before 5pm. Browse for treasures in the bountiful aisles of the Grand Central Market.

To get back to El Pueblo, board DASH bus “D” on Spring Street, changing to “B” at Temple Street.

Morning

Start your day at Wilshire Boulevard’s “Museum Row” to catch the latest headline exhibit at LACMA or selections from its superb permanent collection. Don’t miss the beautiful Pavilion for Japanese Art. If you can muster the energy before lunch, head for the Petersen Automotive Museum or the Page Museum.

Leaving Museum Row, drive a few blocks north to the Farmers Market. Try the Cajun food at Gumbo Pot, the all-American menu at the retro Kokomo, or the Du-par’s diner fare.

Afternoon

For an afternoon of shopping, start with the Farmers Market itself, then wander over to The Grove, a new outdoor mall. Head north on Fairfax Avenue, turning right on Melrose Avenue. This quintessential LA shopping street is packed with fun and funky stores and offers great people-watching opportunities, especially on weekends.

Head for an early dinner at Campanile , where you’ll be treated to innovative California cuisine, then drive to Sunset Strip for an evening of laughs at the Comedy Store or The Laugh Factory . Make your reservations in advance. Showtime is usually 8pm. Round off your day with a drink at Bar Marmont or the lounge at the chic The Standard Hollywood .

Morning

Begin your day at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum in San Pedro where you’ll find interesting nuggets of information about the city’s nautical heritage. A short stroll north through the little park takes you to a modern fire station building at the bottom of 5th Street. It houses a still functional 1925 fire boat capable of pumping over 10,000 gallons (45,000 liters) of water a minute. Historic boat buffs could continue north another half mile (800 m) for a tour of the SS Lane Victory at Berth 94, an immaculately restored WWII cargo ship.

Backtrack on foot or take the electric trolley to Ports O’ Call Village to browse the souvenir shops and have lunch.

Afternoon

Once fortified, join a one-hour narrated cruise for close-ups of the amazing operations of the Los Angeles Harbor, the nation’s largest.

Head back to your car and drive south on Harbor Boulevard to Pacific Avenue, then left to get to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium for a look at aquatic life in California’s waters. For great sunset views, head west on Shepard Street, then north on South Gaffey Street to the bluff-top Angels Gate Park. A nice feature here is the Korean Friendship Bell, a replica of an 8th-century original built for a Korean king. Conclude the day with dinner in Pine Avenue in Long Beach.

Morning

Begin at La Brea Avenue and Hollywood Boulevard, heading east to the Hollywood Entertainment Museum for a high-tech look at movie-making, then step into the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (see Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel ">), home of the first Academy Awards. In Mann’s Chinese Theatre you can stand on the footprints of your favorite stars. An escalator will whisk you into the vast Hollywood & Highland complex with great shopping and views of the Hollywood Sign and the dazzling El Capitan (see El Capitan Theatre). A two-block detour south on Highland Avenue takes you to Hollywood High School, alma mater of Lawrence Fishburne. Lana Turner was discovered at the Top Hat Malt Shop which once stood at the corner of Sunset and Highland. Backtrack north on Highland Avenue for a delicious retro lunch at Mel’s Drive-in .

Afternoon

Back on Hollywood Boulevard, you’ll come across the exotic Egyptian Theatre (see The Egyptian Theatre, The Egyptian Theatre) and, at No. 6667, Musso & Frank’s (see Mel’s Drive-in), Hollywood’s oldest restaurant, once the haunt of Chaplin, Hemingway, and other famous people. At Frederick’s of Hollywood (see Frederick’s of Hollywood Lingerie Museum), take a peek at the stars’ underwear in a special exhibition. Wrap up the day with drinks and sunset views at Yamashiro ’s, followed by a grand gourmet meal at the popular Patina (see Places to Eat).