Living in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, renowned for its sun, sand, and celebrities, is also home to a vast array of museums, hiking trails, performance venues, and sports teams. A number of museums offer days of free admission, and the summer in particular is full of free concerts and other activities. Whether exploring the city and its environs on your own or looking for ways to entertain visitors, the lists below offer suggestions of places to go. Click here for a map of more places of interest in the area. For further information about the city, including recommendations on restaurants and nightlife, click here.

Museums

UCLA Fowler Museum 
UCLA Hammer Museum 
The Getty Center
The Getty Villa 
LACMA
California Science Center
Griffith Observatory
Annenberg Space for Photography
Skirball Cultural Center 
The Museum of Contemporary Art 
Museum of Tolerance
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
Sports Museum of L.A. 
Japanese American National Museum
The Huntington Library, Art Galleries, and Botanical Gardens 
Aquarium of the Pacific 

Outdoors

Hiking trails
Beaches
Will Rogers State Beach
El Matador State Beach
Santa Monica Beach
Manhattan Beach
Hermosa Beach
Griffith Park 
Santa Monica Pier ­
Point Mugu State Park 

Exploring L.A. County

Santa Monica
West Hollywood
Koreatown 
Olvera Street 
Culver City
Grauman’s Chinese Theater 
La Brea Tar Pits 
LA Farmers Market 
Brentwood Country Mart 
Annenberg Community Beach House
The Grove

E­ntertainment Industry

Universal Studios 
Disneyland
Grammy Museum 
The Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising

Performances

UCLA Live
Hollywood Bowl 
LA Philharmonic Orchestra
Greek Theater
Grand Performances at L.A. Plaza 
Kodak Theater 
L.A. Opera

Sports

UCLA Sports
LA Dodgers
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
LA Lakers
LA Clippers
Los Angeles Kings
Anaheim Ducks
LA Galaxy 
Hollywood Park Race Track 
Santa Anita Race Track

Within a 3 hour drive

San Diego Wild Animal Park
San Diego Zoo
Catalina Island
Channel Islands National Park 
Santa Barbara 
Joshua Tree National Park