City Guide
Los Angeles, California
Six places earn their spot in a city that often hides its best work in plain sight. Start at the Bradbury Building, where the ironwork and light feel like a film set because they usually are.
At a glance: 12 place guides, vibes that skew historic and hidden gem.
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Our picks in Los Angeles
Ranked. Start at the top and work down as far as your weekend allows.
- 1
Bradbury Building: The Ghostly Origins of an LA Icon
A draftsman designed this sun-drenched lobby after a message from his late brother arrived via a planchette board. The open cage elevators and iron stairs are still in use.
- 2
Griffith Observatory Tesla Coil: A High-Voltage 1930s Spectacle
Indoor lightning bolts crackle inside this 1930s copper coil. It was once used for fringe medical experiments but now runs high-voltage shows for the public.
- 3
Old Zoo Picnic Area: Dine Inside Griffith Park's Abandoned Cages
Stone bear grottos and lion dens sit abandoned in the hills. You can walk right into the cages to eat lunch at a picnic table.
- 4
The Last Bookstore: A Literary Sanctuary in a Grand Bank Vault
Shelves are built into an old bank vault and the fiction section is a deliberate maze. You have to hunt for what you want among the book tunnels and sculptures.
- 5
Hollywood Forever Cemetery: A Star-Studded Sanctuary for Cinema Lovers
Movies are projected onto the sides of white marble mausoleums while you sit on the grass. You are watching cinema history in a place where the people who built it are buried.
- 6
Watts Towers: Simon Rodia’s Soaring Mosaic Spire Masterpiece
Seventeen spires made of steel, mortar, and broken sea shells. One man built this entire complex by hand over thirty years using nothing but discarded materials.
Know before you go
The Museum and Fossil Lab at the tar pits opens at 9 a.m. and closes at 5 p.m. To see the Old Zoo, turn west at the intersection where Griffith Park Drive meets Crystal Springs Drive. Many sites, like the Mosaic Tile House, are only open on Saturdays. Avoid the Sunken City entirely as the terrain is unstable and fines for trespassing start at $450.
Common questions about Los Angeles
Is it worth going to the Hollywood Sign?
You cannot touch the letters, so the best views are from the trails below. Go early in the morning for the best light and to avoid the midday heat on the exposed hillsides.
How do we see the Bradbury Building interior?
The building is a working office, but the lobby and central courtyard are generally open for viewing. You can see the historic elevators and the brickwork without an appointment.
Do we need to book the cemetery screenings ahead of time?
Buy your tickets online to avoid the gate lines, which get very long very fast. Parking is ten dollars for cars but free if you arrive on a motorcycle or a bike.
Can we see the Tesla Coil in action?
Demonstrations happen once an hour, usually right on the hour. It is free to watch inside the main observatory building during their regular opening hours.
