Arts District
Old warehouses, street murals and free galleries on the east edge of downtown. Where to walk in the Arts District, what to see, and how to get there.
UnboxLA
Places in and around Los Angeles we've actually been to, with our own photos and a plain write-up. Some are close, and some are worth the drive.
In the LA Area
Within 50 miles of downtown Los Angeles.
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Chino Hills
A hand-carved stone Hindu temple in Chino Hills, open to visitors. What to wear, where photos are allowed, and how to visit a working mandir with respect.
Chinatown Central Plaza: A Hidden LA Gem
Discover Chinatown Central Plaza, a hidden gem in Los Angeles packed with history, the Bruce Lee statue, and old-school charm most Angelenos drive right past.
Discovery Cube Los Angeles
The LA science center at Hansen Dam, not the Orange County one. Which exhibits are here, which days it closes, and how to find the parking lot off Osborne.
Disneyland Park
A ticket alone won't get you into Disneyland. How reservations and parking work from LA, plus the castle walkthrough, railroad dioramas and Walt's apartment.
East Hollywood
A Frank Lloyd Wright house on a hilltop park, plus Thai Town and Little Armenia along Hollywood Boulevard. What to see in East Hollywood and how to get there.
FunBox Arcadia
An indoor bounce park in the food court at The Shops at Santa Anita in Arcadia. The ticket, sock and adult rules to know before you take the kids.
Funko Hollywood
Funko's 40,000-square-foot flagship on the Walk of Fame, with oversized figures and photo sets. Free to walk in. Where to park and what else is close.
Getty Center
Free art, Robert Irwin's Central Garden and city views on a hilltop above the 405. What is open now, and what to know before the 2027 closure.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
More than 2,860 stars on a working sidewalk. How to find a name, where Muhammad Ali's star sits on a wall, and the Moon markers at Hollywood and Vine.
Knott's Berry Farm
Some of Knott's history is free, outside the gates: Independence Hall and the Marketplace. Plus Ghost Town, the old railroad and how the parking lots work.
La Brea Tar Pits
The museum is closed for a two-year renovation, but parts of Hancock Park and the bubbling pits stay open. What you can still see, and where to park now.
LA City Hall's Free Observation Deck: A Hidden Gem
LA City Hall hides a free 360-degree observation deck on the 27th floor, one of the best views in the city and one of downtown's most overlooked hidden gems.
LACMA
LACMA's David Geffen Galleries opened in 2026. What is inside, the outdoor art you can see with no ticket, and how to get there on the new D Line stop.
Mount Wilson Observatory: Skywatching Hidden Gem
Mount Wilson Observatory offers free public access and docent tours of its historic 100-inch telescope above Pasadena, a genuine hidden gem in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Ovation Hollywood
The center once called Hollywood and Highland, rebuilt without its Babylon elephants. The Dolby Theatre, a Metro stop and the Bowl shuttle are all here.
Redondo Beach: The Pier and Knob Hill
Redondo Beach beyond the pier: walk Knob Hill Avenue from Hopkins Wilderness Park to the sand, then see the pier and harbor. Parking and beach access notes.
Six Flags Magic Mountain
The ride list at Magic Mountain has changed a lot lately. What's gone, what's new, when to ride the popular coasters and how to get to Valencia from LA.
The Queen Mary: Long Beach's Art Deco Hidden Gem
The Queen Mary in Long Beach is a retired ocean liner turned floating hotel, packed with Art Deco history, ghost stories, and one of LA's most unique hidden gems.
Topgolf Montebello
Topgolf's Montebello venue sits off the 60 Freeway beside a rebuilt golf course. How the bays and games work, and the supervision rules for kids.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is two levels joined by escalators. What's on each lot, why the Studio Tour matters, and how to get there on the Metro B Line.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood
A working studio lot in Burbank, so the route changes daily. Ages, ID rules, photo limits, which tour to book, and what to see at Stage 48 and Central Perk.
Worth the Drive
More than 50 miles from downtown Los Angeles, in a straight line. Plan for the drive.
First McDonald's Museum
An unofficial museum on the San Bernardino corner where the McDonald brothers started out. What's in it, who built it and how to find it.
Julian
A San Diego County mountain town started by a gold rush and kept going by apples. Mine tours, a history walk, pie and how to get there.
Oak Glen
Apple farms on a winding road in the San Bernardino Mountain foothills. What's there during and after apple season, and how to drive the loop.
Santa Paula Coffee Farm Tour
Coffee grown on a Ventura County citrus and avocado ranch. How farm tours and tastings at Rancho Filoso work, when they run and how to book.
Seven Magic Mountains
Painted boulder towers by Ugo Rondinone in the Nevada desert, a short detour off I-15 on the drive from LA to Vegas. Directions, rules and how long it may stay.
Solvang
A small Danish town in the Santa Ynez Valley, with windmills, bakeries and free parking. What to see, how to get there, and the ostrich farm outside town.
These are places I have actually been to, not scraped listings. Each one has my own photos and a plain write-up, and I leave out anything I wouldn't send a friend to. Some are around the corner, some are worth the drive, and a few you already know, so I stick to what makes them worth your time. Want a walk? Try the outdoor picks. Want a meal? Look at food and drink. The full list of events is on the events page.