Los Angeles Bucketlist

As an LA resident for more than ten years, I have to say our city has it all. We have mountains, gardens, and beaches. A lot of us like to joke that it is the only place where you can surf and ski on the same day. Since being here for quite some time, I thought I'd share some of my favorite places. Here are ten places worth exploring!

1. Huntington Library, Art and Gardens

Huntington Library is hands down my favorite place in Los Angeles. It has everything that you could ever want from book exhibits, art galleries, bonsai trees, zen gardens, botanical gardens, a massive array of succulents, and so much more. This gorgeous place was the former estate of Henry E. Huntington. Henry Huntington owned the Pacific Electric Railway and played a significant role in the development of Los Angeles. His estate has been open to the public since 1928. It is also the filming location for The Good Place, as well as the setting for Eagleton in Parks and Recreation.

You can find their website here for more info.

2. Explore Malibu Beaches

I still have yet to find beaches that compare to the beauty that is Malibu. There is a reason why every celebrity lives or wants to live in Malibu. There are so many wonderful hikes and beaches to relax in. Some of my favorites would be El Matador Beach (massive rock structures on the beach), Point Dume (a great place to see dolphins and rock climb), and the Solstice Canyon Loop (see ruins, a waterfall, and have a great view of the ocean). While you are in Malibu, make sure to check out Malibu Seafood!

3. Griffith Park & Observatory

Another place in Los Angeles that never ceases to amaze me is Griffith Park and the Griffith Observatory. This park is massive, with over 67 trails for hiking, an old abandoned zoo, the LA Zoo & Botanical Gardens, an amphitheater for live music (the Greek theater), an observatory (to see stars), and many, many places to have the greatest picnic ever. It is also well known as the place to see the Hollywood sign. While you are in the area, make sure to check out one of my favorite bookstores, Skylight Books, as well as the very popular French restaurant, Figaro Bistrot!

4. Visit the Miracle Mile Museums

In the Miracle Mile, you will find an array of museums, from modern art (LACMA) to the Academy of Modern Pictures to the Peterson Auto Museum to the LA Brea Tar Pits. My favorite is LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Modern Art). When I first moved to Los Angeles, my first tourist trip was to see the lights in LACMA. I was obsessed with the movie No Strings Attached and was star-struck to find that these lamps actually exist! Besides the outside of the LACMA museum, LACMA offers wonderful modern art galleries and art classes.

For more information about LACMA, check out their website here.

5. Explore Downtown Santa Monica

One of the classic things to do in Los Angeles is to roller skate and or ride a bike along the Santa Monica pier down to Venice. There are so many cool things to see from the classic Ferris wheel rides, gymnastics rings, tight ropes, and all of the makeshift stands of artists selling their work along the side. If you are hungry, I recommend Cha Cha Chicken near the end of the pier.

If you are in a shopping mood, you can head down to the 3rd Street promenade, where you can find almost any store you are looking for. In the summer, there are free summer concerts on the pier. You can find more info about those concerts here. Lastly, I do not recommend swimming in the ocean here. It can be quite crowded, and to be honest, this beach is not the cleanest. It is always better to head to Malibu or any beaches in Orange County for a swim day!

6. Explore Downtown Los Angeles

Another one of my favorite things about Los Angeles is not only the diversity in people but also the diversity in food. There are so many different kinds of cuisines to try. If you are exploring downtown and love Asian food, the best place to go is Little Tokyo. You can find great ramen, sushi, boba, breweries, and hot pots. You name it, they've got it. You can also find the Japanese American Museum, where you can learn about the dark side of our history and the internment camps that Japanese Americans endured during World War II. It is currently closed for renovations but will reopen in late 2026!

Another famous museum downtown is The Broad. The Broad is famous for the Infinity Room, where you can experience different souls from light-years away. You can find more info here. If you are looking for a fun night out, the Arts District is nearby, and there is a whole strip of bars and breweries to go to. Some of my favorites would be Bar 82 (an arcade bar), Far Bar, and Boomtown Brewery.

7. The Last Bookstore (Downtown)

Located in Downtown, the Last Bookstore is probably undeniably my favorite bookstore in Los Angeles. This bookstore has used books, new books, records, cassettes, art galleries, and great photo ops with some wonderful arrays of books and pages placed in unique fashions. You can also find a place on the 2nd floor where you can find bargain books for $5 and sometimes even less. The only thing that this place is missing is a coffee shop, which hopefully one day they will implement. There is also a sister shop located in North Hollywood!

8. Korean Bell of Friendship (San Pedro)

If you are looking for a bit of an excursion outside of the Los Angeles area, you will find a great day trip to San Pedro. One of the most stunning things to see is the Korean Bell of Friendship. The bell was a gift to Los Angeles from South Korea to celebrate the friendship between the two countries and honor the veterans of the Korean War.

9. Discover Korean Food in the Biggest K-Town in the Country

After visiting Korea, I can honestly say that what Los Angeles has in K-Town is more than comparable to the places in Korea. There are so many different Korean restaurants to try from Sundubu Jigae (Softbean Tofu Soup) at BCD Tofu House to Korean BBQ (Bud Namu or Quarters BBQ), to kimbap (Kimbap Paradise), to Bossam (steamed pork dish) at Hangari Kalguksu. You can also find the greatest karaoke places in Los Angeles in Koreatown (YD Karaoke Studio or The Venue). As a K-Town native for several years, I still dream about all the wonderful restaurants that Koreatown has to offer.

10. Watts Towers

Another hidden gem in Los Angeles is the Watts Towers. Although it is tucked outside of Los Angeles proper, the Watts Towers is a magnificent piece of work by an Italian immigrant named Sabato Rodia, who worked nonstop for 34 years to put it together. Although it is unclear for his reason for creating the towers, it has become culturally significant to the residents in Watts as a symbol of resistance. It was declared a national US landmark in 1990 and remained unharmed during the LA Riots.