The Provenance Guide to Los Angeles

The sprawling, sunny city of Los Angeles offers travelers so much to do and see that it can be hard for first-time visitors to know where to start. If you have a few days to explore the city, try to check off the top 10 highlights of LA listed below to explore different corners of this beautiful West Coast metropolis!

Bike from Venice to Santa Monica

Angelenos love to get active, so take part in the fit, healthy lifestyle by renting a bike and spending the day cycling between the skater and surfer paradise of Venice Beach and the scenic tourist haven of Santa Monica. There’s no better way to enjoy the famously warm Southern California weather and beaches.

Take a Walk Down Hollywood Boulevard

Find your favorite actor or singer on the world-famous Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard, and then take a tour of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre to learn a little more about Tinseltown in its beginnings.

See a Concert at the Hollywood Bowl

If you’re in LA in the summer, nothing can compare to seeing an outdoor concert with some wine and snacks in the acoustically perfect Hollywood bowl. Performances here range from classical symphonies to modern rock stars, so you’ll be sure to find a concert you like.

Drinks at the Standard Rooftop Downtown

See LA’s urban side with a trip downtown, where the tightly-knit skyscrapers give off that real “city” vibe. The best way to admire it all is at the Rooftop Bar of the Standard Downtown, looking out at the high-rises above and city streets below.

Hike Up Temescal Canyon

Runyon Canyon has become so well-known that any hike there will have you hustling through crowds to get to the top; try Temescal Canyon instead, a slightly longer but more peaceful hike through the stunning hills of the West Side, with panoramic views of Malibu to reward you when you reach the top.

Explore the Getty Villa

Not only is the Getty Villa one of the most beautiful museums in the country, showcasing art and artifacts from the classical worlds of Greece and Rome, it is also a beautifully designed museum in its own right, due to its former status as the residence of the Getty oil tycoon family.

Korean BBQ in LA’s Enormous Koreatown

Easily the largest migrant community in LA, Koreatown has carved out its own fun niche in the City of Angels. Taste some authentic Korean BBQ – prepared right in front of you – and wash it down with soju in one of the delicious and casual BBQ restaurants like Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong.

Stroll Through the Grove

Take a walk through this outdoor shopping center designed to resemble a small, charming European village, and stop by the adjacent Farmer’s Market for fresh food and sweets. At the Grove, you have your pick of shops, restaurants, bars, and an enormous movie theater to spend your whole day exploring.

Visit LACMA at Day and at Night

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art has some of the best exhibits, mostly revolving around modern art, film and photography, in the entire city. Come back at night to take pictures in front of the unique giant lamp exhibit that has stood in front of the museum for years.

Go on a Studio Tour

This is the town that the movie industry built, so where better to get a behind the scenes look at the process of filmmaking? Check out the Warner Brothers Studio Tour to take a peek at indoor and outdoor sets and learn some cool history about the shows and movies you loved (“Friends”, anyone?). If you want to combine your studio tour with a day at the theme park, head to Universal Studios instead.