Worthwhile Attractions to Check Out in Los Angeles

A lot of people I meet that are visiting L.A. ask me what I think are the top attractions they should visit while here, so I decided to write an article to help all the others asking the same questions.

These are not in order, as they all have their own merits.

Universal Studios

A must see for any movie fan or just someone looking to have a good time. Although the tour seems more like an amusement park ride than anything else it does take you to the sets of classic such as Jaws and Psycho and so many more. Be careful for the Jurassic Park set as you will get wet. I found that a personal tour with a friend who was filming there was a lot nicer and you get to see stuff that the guided tour doesn't show you. The whole of Universal Studios is gigantic and you definitely won't be able to see it all in one day, but it is a great spot to bring the whole family. They also have some great Cafes and Restaurants at the top.

Beverly Hills

While there is actually not much do in Beverly Hills as it is largely a residential area, I still encourage people to check it out just for the sake of it being one of the most popular real estate in the world. I would also recommend that you go for a coffee at a Cafe or sit at one of the parks, you are bound to see someone famous walk by or even sit next to you (I sat right across from Adam Sandler at a nice little Cafe at the Beverly Glen). There are also some beautiful houses that are worth admiring, and some of the nicest cars driving around there. I would advise you to checks Beverly Hills if for nothing else just the beautiful trees.

Disney Land

While not technically in LA as there is about a 45 minute drive to get to Orange County, I just had to mention it and advise you to go down there especially if you have some young children, but even if not this is an amazing place to go and relax for the day and have some fun rides and thrills. One of the better amusement parks in California, this is a must if you've got kids.

Long Beach

While beaches aren't exactly my cup of tea I though I had to mention Long Beach as it really is an interesting place, prices for apartments are sky high but it is a great place to go with a couple friends and chill out. It's got great surf waves, but even if your not a surfer you'll have plenty of fun just swimming in the sea. There are also some really nice restaurants in the area that you should definitely visit.

Downtown

Downtown Los Angeles is a must for all those people that think LA and Hollywood are dream places, my advise though is that you drive around instead of walking as it is one of the most dangerous areas in America. When I first saw downtown LA it was nothing like what I expected, and after that day I decided that I would try to stay out of there as much as I could and I very rarely now make trips to the heart of downtown. Some people ask me why I recommend visiting downtown if I don't even like it, and my answer is; "You can only appreciate the good if you've seen the bad!"

The Valley

I love cruising down the valley, it has so many interesting and different shops and stores. There are great hang out spots in some of the coolest nightclubs and bars around. You can't visit LA without checking out the valley. Trust me you won't get bored.