Top Attractions in Los Angeles, Malibu, and the South Bay
LA is big enough to spend a week and still miss things. These are the places that hold up — the ones worth building a day around, from the hills above Hollywood to the water at Point Dume.
Top Attractions
Griffith Observatory
Free to enter, open most evenings, and the best view of the city from the hills. The planetarium shows book up fast on weekends. Go on a weeknight.
The Santa Monica Pier
The pier is the natural end of Route 66 and the start of the South Bay bike path. Ferris wheel, arcade, and a beach that stays busy year-round.
Point Dume and Zuma Beach
Point Dume is the headland that breaks Malibu in two. The trail to the top takes twenty minutes and looks out over the whole Santa Monica Bay.
The Hollywood Sign and Griffith Park
The sign is best seen from the Griffith Park trails, not from below. The park itself is 4,300 acres of chaparral with a dozen trailheads and no admission fee.
Venice Beach and the Boardwalk
The boardwalk is loud, colorful, and worth an hour on a Saturday. The canals two blocks east are quiet and almost nobody goes there.
The Getty Center
The architecture and the garden are worth the visit even before you get to the collection. Free admission, but parking costs $20. Take the tram up.
