A Little Misunderstood…Fall in Love (or at Least Like) with Los Angeles

Last updated on October 3, 2023 by Shannon

Sometimes I hate Los Angeles. It’s a sprawling urban tapestry, a maze of concrete and palm trees extending as far as the eye can see. It’s a city (rightfully) maligned for its traffic snarls, and the constant sun can sometimes seem as relentless as the pursuit of fame that drives many to its glittering streets.

But to understand why so many fall head over heels for LA, you have to delve beneath the surface—even if that’s through a thick, hazy layer of orange smog. Yes, it has its glaring problems, including homelessness, but it also has a magnetic allure that’s hard to resist.

The many flaws in LA add texture to a city that is anything but one-dimensional, turning Los Angeles into a place that’s as complex as it is captivating.

And that’s why I also love Los Angeles.

Why I Moved to LA and Loved It

Many travelers passing through can easily visit LA and primarily see the bad—if you haven’t rented a car, then you’ll be stuck for hours making terrible public transit connections to get where you need to go. That’s not a great first impression.

The fact is, LA is not a city built for tourism. Tourism exists, and some tourists leave having soaked in art and culture at the Getty, and sun and fun on the beaches, and food in downtown LA. But many leave most remembering the gridlock traffic and smog that accompanied their every moment in LA.

But with the eye of a local—like many, I moved to LA post college graduation in pursuit of the glittery entertainment industry—you can see beneath the layer of grit to a city city with awesome spots you won’t find in any guidebook.

While I did eventually leave LA to travel the world and then settle in Barcelona, Spain, I share this as a defense of Los Angeles. Since LA is a hard city to love as a tourist, I’d like to outline my perfect day in Los Angeles—and yes, it probably requires hiring a car to get it all done! :-)

How to Fall in Love with Los Angeles

Now that I no longer live in LA full time, these handful of spots are my “must-visits” every time I return to see friends and soak in the vibes. This will take you from breakfast until dinner and all of the snacks and fun you need in between—and if you visit just one of these places, make it lunch at Aroma. It’s truly my favorite LA restaurant.

Breakfast at an LA Institution, The Griddle Café

Start the day out right with a jaunt into West Hollywood for pancakes at The Griddle Café. The line can be absolutely ridiculous (just skip this recommendation if you’re visiting on a weekend, you’ll perish of hunger before you’ll be seated).

On a weekday though, the experience is worth the small wait—they’re known for their enormous pancakes, but the French Toast is also worth a try. This place makes my list of top ten breakfasting experiences, and they were making these breakfasts way back in 2006 when I lived there—long before TikTok, Instagram and the such made it trendy.

Note that the Griddle Cafe is open Wednesday-Sunday from 8am-3pm (closed Mondays and Tuesdays).

Hike Runyon Canyon for a Look at the Hollywood Sign

Hopefully you’ve let your food settle after the Griddle and maybe even walked over the the Chinese Grauman Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame for a bit of touristy time.

Now it’s time for some exercise, LA style. Runyon Canyon is located right at the base of the Hollywood Hills and is walking distance from the main touristy sites on Hollywood Boulevard.

Runyon Canyon offers two main hikes—don’t go left at the start unless you want to partake in what my friend Jenn and I jokingly dubbed the Suicide Trail. Veering left is a harder trail that you want for a casual morning hike.

Take the path straight ahead and then veer to the right—this one is enough to get your blood pumping and also offers three awesome views:

• A fantastic vantage point for the the Hollywood sign and all of the mansions in the Hollywood hills.
• Clear views over Downtown LA, Hollywood, and straight out to the Pacific, unless it’s an especially smoggy day.
• Full opportunity to people-watch and hunt down some of the “plastic fantastic” people you’ll find throughout LA. You’ll see the whole gamut of locals—including the opportunity to see that LA really does have normal people too. They’re up there sweating and puffing just like you. :-)

Oh, and there’s never a dull moment in Los Angeles; in February 2010 the Hollywood sign was hijacked in an effort to stop plans to develop houses on the hill around the famous sign. People changed the Hollywood sign to say: “Save the Peak”.

Then, over the subsequent days after the hijacking it morphed into… nonsense.

I can’t promise you’ll get such an entertaining version of the Hollywood sign to look at, but you will get some great pictures.

Head back to your hotel after the hike for a shower, or if you’ve managed to stay presentable, drive right over the valley for lunch.

A Trendy LA Lunch at Aroma Café

Located in Studio City (in the Valley) the Aroma Coffee & Tea Company was walking distance from my house while I lived in LA. It has some of the best food in the city. It’s healthy, it’s quirky, and even the fact it’s unbelievably trendy can’t erode my love for this café.

Even during the very busy lunch rush, you can usually snag one of the mismatched tables; then order up the Goat Cheese + Walnut Salad. This is my personal favorite—the dressing is killer, the herb encrusted goat cheese is generous and comes out pleasantly warm, and candied walnuts hide underneath the layers of spinach.

Either spend your lunch people watching (always fun in LA, especially in this area of the Valley, where several celebs call home) or read a book.

Parking in this area is a real headache, but if you circle the neighborhoods nearby for long enough, you can nearly always find a spot within 10 minutes to parallel park.

Wander the La Brea Tar Pits

If you have kids in tow or are just a science aficionado, then here’s one thing to do that you don’t find on most lists: the La Brea Tar Pits. I have no idea why they so often fly under the radar.

Located right in the heart of the city, these bubbling pits of ancient asphalt transport you back to the Ice Age, providing a fascinating window into the Earth’s geological and biological history. As you walk around the grounds, you encounter life-sized replicas of prehistoric creatures like mammoths and saber-toothed cats.

My toddler nephews, age two and three, could not get enough of the tar pits. My nephew Eric is super into dinosaurs and that sort of thing in general, so he hilariously prowled the grounds like a prehistoric saber-toothed cat.

Inside the George C. Page Museum, paleontologists work diligently on fossils recovered from the tar pits, allowing you a behind-the-scenes look at the scientific process. Interactive exhibits further delve into the intricacies of fossil formation and the Earth’s evolutionary timeline.

In a city renowned for its focus on the future and the superficial, this geological marvel is one reason you learn to love LA once you get to know how much it offers under the surface.

Feast on LA’s Best Indian Food at Electric Karma

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Electric Karma offers a really wonderful ambiance, especially if you dine on the covered back patio at the low tables with cushy pillows. You can make a reservation to ensure you get a spot without a wait.

Although there is no shortage of Indian food in LA, Electric Karma was among the most consistently good. The food is always handmade and fresh, the servers are always nice, and my friends and I always have a good night out when we eat there.

Their palak paneer (one of my favorite Indian dishes) is among the best I’ve had outside of India, and with a garlic naan, my meal is always is spot on. My friends are meat eaters and consistently order and love the butter chicken. And we all share samosas because they’re a must-try.

If you like heavy spices and heat, you do have to tell them, otherwise the food comes out quite mild.

Head over to Venice Beach or the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica

After dinner, head to Venice Beach or Santa Monica—both of these make a fun date night if you’re a couple. And they’re even fun for kids and families—my nephews lived with me while I was in LA and we loved doing this in the evenings.

Stroll the along the boardwalk on Venice Beach and you’ll pass the paddle courts bursting with energy, lively games of volleyball, and tons of street artists. Don’t forget to dodge the rollerbladers though! There are a lot of bikes, skateboards, and rollerbladers sharing the boardwalk.

Santa Monica is the more kid-friendly option. The Santa Monica pier is walking distance from the promenade and has a carnival like atmosphere and tons of sand and beach for frolicking.

Once you’ve digested all of your amazing Indian food, wander down the Third Street Promenade and get a sweet treat. While I’m partial to Pinkberry as my tried-and-true frozen yogurt spot, Mad Scientist Ice Cream is super memorable and a lot of fun—it’s one of those spots you hit for the photo opportunity.

Have You Fallen in Love with LA Yet?

At this point, you’re either ready to head home, or you might be ready to find the current hot-spot club in LA. And honestly, they change every couple of months, so it’s best to Google it.

That said, you could easily entertain yourself for the whole evening in Venice or Santa Monica if you’re not seeking out the “scene” in Los Angeles.

And I love the Getty Center, which has beautiful views over the valley, the city, and the ocean, so if you’re more into museums than beaches, check out my review of the Getty Center.

So that’s it! That’s my perfect day. I’ll be honest though, there’s no regard for budget here, just my favorite spots so doing all of them in one actual day could be pricey.

Oh, and cheers and thanks to my LA friends who cart me around to these spots now when I come to visit—I would cry if I had to skip meals at my favorite spots. 

Quick Tips for Visiting Los Angeles

When you’re visiting LA yourself, look beyond the first impressions and go where you find the locals. Sure, do the tourist things too, but to love LA, you have to find what sets the city apart.

You’ll find the allure in the sunsets over the Santa Monica Pier, where the sinking sun paints the sky in hues of purple and gold, and the air is filled with laughter and the scent of funnel cakes.

You’ll find it in the diverse neighborhoods, where ethnic enclaves like Koreatown, Little Armenia, and Boyle Heights offer glimpses into worlds far removed from the Hollywood glitz. And you’ll find it in the dedication to sustainability that manifests in farmers’ markets, vegan eateries, and eco-conscious boutiques.

Here are some tips for your time in LA.

Transportation in Los Angeles

I recommend renting a car if you’re comfortable with U.S. city driving and have a lot you want to see outside of the downtown/Hollywood area. I’ve used RentalCars.com around the world, usually while roadtripping somewhere with my dad, and usually find the best rental car deals there.

That there is also great public transportation for the major tourist sites in Hollywood. If you’re road-tripping California, you’ll definitely be driving, in which case—get ready for parallel parking as that’s the norm in L.A.!

Flights

Flying into Los Angeles can sometimes feel like a descent into chaos, especially if you’re landing at the sprawling LAX, which teems with a relentless flurry of activity. However, if you’re taking internal U.S. flights, consider an alternative: Burbank Airport in the San Fernando Valley.

Not only is it easier to navigate due to its much smaller size, but it also often provides a quicker exit strategy, sparing you from the notorious LA traffic jams that frequently plague the areas surrounding LAX.

The Burbank Airport offers a more relaxed atmosphere, and its convenient location makes it a practical gateway to Hollywood, Downtown LA, and other must-see destinations.

This lesser-known gem was a five-minute drive from my LA apartment and I consider this one of my best LA tips! It offers you a more personal and less stressful arrival experience, giving you a head start on falling in love with Los Angeles.

Sightseeing

Consider being a movie extra, or studio audience! There are also some great City Passes that save money if you plan to visit many of the tourist spots: Hollywood, Southern California, and other great ones.