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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).

Morning

Start at Exposition Park from Figueroa Street and make the Natural History Museum the first stop of the day. Admire its lovely façade, before delving into the exhibits inside. A landmark bronze sculpture of a Tyrannosaurus rex battling a Triceratops stands to the north outside. Crossing the street takes you to the University of Southern California campus, where you can join a free guided tour offered hourly from 10am to 3pm. Have lunch on campus or walk east on Exposition Boulevard to the Mercado La Paloma, a Latin-flavored community center with colorful crafts stalls and casual eating joints.

Afternoon

Backtrack to Exposition Park and start the afternoon with a look at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum , the main venue of the 1932 and 1984 Olympics. The two huge headless bronze figures outside the eastern entrance were designed by local sculptor Robert Graham. Just north of here is the California Science Center, with many interactive exhibits. Grab a cold drink from the downstairs cafeteria and head outside to the fragrant Rose Garden (see Exposition Park Rose Garden) to relax. If you still have the energy left, do check out the latest exhibits at the California African American Museum. Otherwise, wind down the day with a 3D visual adventure at the IMAX Theater (see California Science Center IMAX Theater) next to the Science Center.

Morning

A classic way to start the day in Pasadena is with an energizing breakfast at Marston’s . After your fill of pancakes, stroll east a couple of blocks on Walnut Street and have a look at the beautiful Beaux-Arts Main Library and the majestic City Hall a little to the south. Continue farther south to Colorado Boulevard, then head west to Old Pasadena, the city’s original downtown, a popular shopping and dining district. Check out the well-restored historic façades while browsing the stores, then pause briefly for a snack or perhaps a cold beer at the Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant .

Afternoon

In the afternoon, either drive or walk west along Colorado Boulevard, then turn right on Orange Grove Boulevard to catch the 1pm or 2pm tour of the Gamble House , the Craftsman-era magnum opus by Charles and Henry Greene. Fans of this architectural style could check out several more residences designed by the brothers along nearby Arroyo Terrace and Grand Avenue. Others can make their way back to Colorado Boulevard for a visit to the first-rate Norton Simon Museum. The gorgeous gardens are a nice place for a respite and refreshments. A perfect finale to your day is to treat yourself to a grand dinner at The Raymond , one of the city’s oldest and and most popular restaurants.