Discover Los Angeles: Parks, Culture and City History
Accommodation in Los Angeles
Los Angeles offers different ways to experience its landscapes, wildlife and culture. Griffith Park is characterized by expansive chaparral-covered areas, landscaped parkland and picnic areas, as well as hiking trails, a miniature railway and the historic Greek Theatre. Other highlights include guided theater tours, art collections and places that bring the city’s history to life. When looking for a vacation rental, it is worth first considering which of these experiences you want to shape your stay the most.
Griffith Park: Trails, Parkland and a Miniature Railway
Griffith Park covers more than 4,210 acres of natural, chaparral-covered terrain, landscaped parkland and picnic areas. Miles of hiking and horseback-riding trails give the park an active focus. The picnic areas offer another way to spend time outdoors. The options range from getting active on the trails to taking a break in a landscaped area.
The historic Greek Theatre is also located in Griffith Park. The Griffith Park Southern Railroad offers a ride on a miniature train along a route more than one mile long. The DASH Observatory/Los Feliz Shuttle is also useful for getting around: it serves Griffith Park daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., with shuttles running every 15 to 20 minutes. As schedules can change, check the latest times before your visit.
Wildlife at Different Scales
The Los Angeles Zoo is home to more than 1,700 mammals, birds, amphibians, fish and reptiles from more than 270 different species, including more than 60 endangered species. At the zoo, Rainforest of the Americas is an immersive 2.2-acre habitat featuring monkeys, jaguars and giant otters. The comparison moves from the scope of the entire collection to the character of a single habitat: visitors interested in wildlife will find both a broad range of species and a specifically named exhibition theme here.
Stages, Art and History
The Music Center offers two types of free tours of its theaters and campus year-round. They are led by volunteer Music Center guides. A 90-minute tour includes the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Ahmanson Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum, Walt Disney Concert Hall and Jerry Moss Plaza. Its duration provides a specific timeframe for planning; offerings, content and times may change. Check the latest tour information in advance.
For art enthusiasts, LACMA offers a different perspective: its collection comprises 155,000 objects that illustrate thousands of years of artistic expression from around the world. The El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument focuses on city history, offering insight into the early history of one of America’s largest cities. The America Tropical Interpretive Center presents the history and controversy surrounding the America Tropical mural. At El Pueblo, the Plaza Firehouse was the first building to be restored; it is designated California Historical Landmark No. 730.
Choose the Right Starting Point
The experiences described vary in content and format, from extensive parkland to a tour with a set duration, art collections and historical interpretation. If you are planning around different interests, you can spread these highlights across your stay rather than trying to fit them all into one day. When looking for a vacation rental, compare its address with the places you actually want to visit. This lets you choose a starting point based on your own itinerary, without assuming that one general location recommendation will suit every travel plan.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Sun Valley, Granada Hills, Sylmar, San Fernando Valley, North Hollywood, Venice, Westwood, San Pedro, Reseda, Harbor City, North Hills, Wilmington, Playa Del Rey, Tarzana, Brentwood, Studio City.
For the main travel overview: Los Angeles.
