Contents

• 10
• 10. OUE Skyspace LA: The Skyslide
• 9.Getty Center: View Van Gogh’s Famous “Irises”
• 8.The Walt Disney Concert Hall: Hear The Famous LA Philharmonic
• 7.Santa Monica Pier: Ride The Famous Ferris Wheel
• 6.Visit The Venice Beach Boardwalk
• 5.Enjoy Runyon Canyon Park
• 4.Cruise The Sunset Strip: The Whisky A Go Go
• 3.Enjoy The Famous Hollywood Bowl
• 2.Visit Famous Griffith Park
• 1. Go Shopping: Rodeo Drive

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Are you heading to Los Angeles, California this summer?  With all the choices, are you wondering what to include on your itinerary?  If so, check out our top ten list of iconic activities.

10. OUE Skyspace LA: The Skyslide

Enjoy a 360-degree view of the city from California’s highest open-air observation deck.  Almost 1,000 feet above L.A. at the U.S. Bank Tower, the OUE Skyspace opened in 2016. Dedicated to the community, and culture of the city, its highlight is the Skyslide.

The Skyslide is almost four feet wide and 45 feet long.  Constructed of 1.25-inch glass, you can slide from the 70th floor to the 69th floor on this one-of-a-kind ride the outside of the tower.  See the “City of Angels” in a way few ever do.

This is but one of the museums in Los Angeles where you can see some of the most world-famous art collections.  The Getty Center is home to one of history’s most expensive paintings–namely Vincent van Gogh’s “Irises.” Located in the Brentwood section if the city, the Getty contains both American and European artwork from the Middle Ages to today.

The Getty also includes two cafes, a restaurant, and a research library.  Free tours are offered daily. Stop in and take in the art, the architecture, and the gardens too.

A vacation in L.A. is not complete without seeing the Walt Disney Concert Hall.  Found on Grand Avenue, this is the home of both the famous Los Angeles Philharmonic and the popular Los Angeles Master Chorale.

This noteworthy music venue has garnered critical claim from around the world for its stunning sound and extraordinary architecture.  Designed by the award-winning architect Frank Gehry, the 2,265-seat Music Center features unrivaled acoustics by Yasuhisa Toyota. Here you can hear classical music as it truly was meant to be heard.

Seeing a Cali beach is another “must do” experience.  Experts say that from the South Bay to Malibu, L.A. has some of the best beaches in the state.  Walk along the two-mile stretch of Santa Monica Beach.

Here you can visit historic Santa Monica Pier.  Opened in 1909, this family-friendly spot includes the Heal the Bay Aquarium and the Pacific Park amusement park.  Here you will also see the famous 1922 carousel featured in the film “The Sting.” More importantly, ride the only solar-powered Ferris Wheel on earth.

Speaking of experiencing an “endless summer,” don’t forget to visit the Venice Beach Boardwalk too.  Venice Beach is all about people-watching. See the gym-obsessed weightlifters, the magicians, the fortune-tellers, and the as yet unknown artists selling their paintings.  Get into the flow of the action if you’re feeling energetic.

Go for a stroll, go biking or skating.  Play basketball or volleyball. If you’re a surfer you should know that the water here is not exactly pristine and the waves are ever-changing.  Finally, visit the Venice Canals around Dell Avenue and Venice Boulevard.

Runyon Canyon Park is not only one of the best and most popular places to go hiking in Los Angeles, but it offers a different view of the place as well.  (If you’re traveling with your dog this place has a great 90-acre dog park where your dog can run leash-free.) It is also located a mere two blocks from famous Hollywood Boulevard and has become well-known for frequent celebrity sightings.  Down the hill, you will see such iconic attractions as Hollywood and Highland, the Hollywood Museum and the popular TCL Chinese Theatre.

People in the City of Angels really love cars.  They enjoy a good scenic drive or a welcoming and exceedingly rare stretch of empty highway.  They also appreciate taking in an assortment of impressive automobiles in the popular Petersen Automobile Museum.  Sightseeing from a car, be it along the California coast or the various canyons above Los Angeles, can be exceptional.

Cruise West Hollywood’s legendary Sunset Strip.  Dine at the popular Eveleigh restaurant. Enjoy some live music at the historic Whisky A Go Go too.

You’ve probably seen it in movies and on TV.  So visit the Hollywood Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles and stop in at the famous Hollywood Bowl.  Rolling Stone magazine recently deigned it to be one of the top 10 venues for live music in the country.  It is perhaps best known for its band shell which is comprised of a group of concentric arches and completed in 1929.  If tickets aren’t in your budget, just pack some food and a bottle of wine and take in a concert outside under the stars.

Some have called it the Central Park of Los Angeles.  The fact is that this municipal park is actually significantly larger and more rugged than its counterpart in New York City.  It is ensconced in the Los Feliz section of the city in the eastern end of the popular Santa Monica Mountains.

This park spans an area of 4,310 acres.  It’s one of North America’s largest urban parks and California’s official second-largest city park.  Take a hike to Mount Hollywood and experience the panoramic views of the Griffith Observatory and the iconic Hollywood Sign.

Before you get on the plane to California, be sure to leave some room in your luggage.  Shopaholics just love Los Angeles! Buy some souvenirs at such popular shopping centers as The Grove, the Citadel Outlets or Santa Monica Place.

Enjoy the unique and unusual?  Check out the highly hip one-of-a-kind shops in the Highland Park area.  If you max out your credit cards early don’t stress it! World-famous, stylish Rodeo Drive, in Beverly Hills is one of the most glamorous places to engage in some luxurious window shopping.