DK Travel : Los Angeles : Places of interest

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Anderton Court

One of Frank Lloyd Wright’s later buildings (1953), the zigzagging ramp cradling a well of light is reminiscent of the New York Guggenheim Museum.
Angelino Heights

In the 1880s, this was one of LA’s first suburbs and an elegant neighborhood with stately Victorian mansions along streets such as Carroll Avenue and Kellam Avenue. Many surviving buildings have been lovingly restored by their current owners. The 1300 block of Carroll Avenue has the finest, including the Haskin House at No. 1344 and the Foy House at No. 1325. They are open to the public only during tours run by the LA Conservancy (see LA Conservancy Tours).
Aquarium of the Pacific

One of Long Beach’s flagship attractions, this high-tech zoo teems with 12,000 fish, birds, and mammals that make their home in the Pacific Ocean. A full-scale model of a blue whale greets visitors in the Great Hall. You’ll come face to face with exotic giant spider crabs, playful sea otters, and even get to pet a shark. For a look at what it takes to keep the aquarium afloat, take a Behind-the-Scenes-Tour.
Avenues of Art & Design

The streets surrounding the PDC are flanked with design stores where you can actually buy – and not just look at (as in the PDC) – that chintz sofa or Eames chair. Best explored on foot, the district is filled with cutting-edge art galleries, trendy restaurants, and cafés where you can relax over latte.
Banning Residence Museum

The Greek Revival style home of Phineas Banning (1830–85), the “Father of Los Angeles Harbor,” offers a glimpse into the life of one of the most influential of the city’s pioneers. Tours take in the office, parlor, family and dining rooms, kitchen, and nursery, all filled with late 19th-century period furniture.
Bergamot Station Arts Center

This former historic trolley station has been imaginatively recycled into an industrial-flavored complex of nearly three dozen galleries, shops, artists’ studios, and a café. A highlight is the Santa Monica Art Museum, exhibiting cutting-edge artists, many of whom work in non-traditional media including video installations. It also organizes lectures, workshops, and other events designed to involve the community in the creative process.
Beverly Hills Civic Center

The wealth of a city is often reflected in its public buildings, so it should come as no surprise that Beverly Hills has the kind of civic center that’s the envy of other towns. Its centerpiece is the elegant City Hall, built in 1932 in Spanish Renaissance style and harmoniously incorporated into a contemporary Spanish-style complex with palm-lined walkways and curved colonnades. It houses a beautiful library as well as the local police and fire departments.
Beverly Hills Hotel

LA’s most famous hotel has been part of Hollywood history since its 1912 opening. Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Will Rogers got drunk in the bar, Howard Hughes rented Bungalow 3 for 30 years, and Marilyn Monroe reportedly romanced both JFK and RFK here. Political leaders, royals, and Hollywood headliners have all stayed, partied, and cavorted at the legendary Pink Palace. It’s been featured in movies and on the cover of the Eagles’ Hotel California album. And stars still come – Elton John celebrated his 55th birthday here in 2002.
Bijan

This boutique stocks quality menswear, said to be the world’s most expensive. Client names from Prince Charles to Steven Spielberg are etched into the window.
Bob Baker Marionette Theater

A show at this landmark theater, founded in 1963, is truly a treat. Seated on a fluffy carpet, children watch in wonder as the cast of marionettes and puppets sing and dance before their eyes, sometimes even interacting with them. All characters are made in the on-site workshop and many are for sale, so you can take some home with you.