Viator Los Angeles

Smile a lot, laugh a lot, learn a lot, cry a lot. That’s a bit what it’s like inside the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust. It’s true that the horrors this museum immortalizes are striking, but so are the stories of survival, of humanity, and of triumph in the face of speechless evil. Built with architectural mastery and flair, the Los Angeles Museum of the Holocaust is a modern-day museum utilizing the latest in audio-tour technology to give visitors a personalized experience through hours of telling commentary.

Hiking in L.A.’s Griffith Park offers an unusual mix of cool sights: the iconic Hollywood sign, alternating patches of forest and desert terrain, wildlife such as coyotes and deer, occasional glimpses of celebrities walking their dogs, and several landmarks from famous movies and tv shows. And it’s the place to find some of the best views of Los Angeles, from the downtown skyline all the way to the Pacific Ocean.

There’s no doubt about it – Hollywood’s got its own mystique and charm, part of which is trying to spot some celebrities. Strolling the Hollywood “Walk of Fame” puts you in a unique “behind the scenes” frame of mind, but it definitely does strike you that you’re not likely to see Bradley Cooper just strolling down the street. There’s a certain knack for finding the star’s favorite hideouts. Luckily, you’ve got Viator on your side.

Sometimes while visiting the expanse that is the greater Los Angeles area, it’s easy to forget that this impressive city also, at one point in time, had humble origins. It took many an interesting story to create what is modern day LA, and one of those stories, one of those lives, is preserved in the Banning Residence Museum. Not too far from the heart of LA lies the city of Wilmington where Phineas Banning, founder of the city and “father of the port of Los Angeles” built the 23 room residence that is today the Banning Museum. Located on 20 acres of sprawling parkland, this Greek revival mansion tells the story of the history of the area, from the late 1800s to today and is one of the preeminent Los Angeles area attractions.

“Something is always blooming at Huntington Gardens. “

Every time of the year is a special time of year in the Huntington Gardens. The old saying goes something like, “California doesn’t have seasons,” but that’s not true – and proof of it can be seen in a visit to the Huntington Gardens in Los Angeles. With over 14,000 different varieties of plant on display in 14 principal garden areas, you can find a delightful display of beautiful blooming flowers in the Huntington Gardens any time of the year.

One of the most oft-given pieces of advice when first touching down in a new city is to get thy bearings. In a city the size and scope of Los Angeles, this can be a bit tricky. Luckily, one of the best activities in Los Angeles does just that for you – gives you your bearings. A scenic tour along Mulholland Drive is far and away one of the best ways to first experience Los Angeles.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens (or simply “The Huntington” for short) is one of the best existing examples of philanthropy and, lucky you, it’s nestled snugly in Los Angeles. Originally the private residence of Henry E. Huntington, the Huntington estate was built on railroad tycoon money and, upon Mr. Huntington’s passing in 1927, became the library, art collection and botanical gardens it’s known as today. The 120-acre estate is a special escape in the heart of Los Angeles, and its specialized gardens, its fabulous art collection, and its superlative collection of rare books are a treat separately or as a whole day excursion.

Head to the Palms District of Los Angeles (9341 Venice Blvd., Culver City, to be exact) and find this fun and bizarre collection of relics, sculptures and other-worldly displays. With no clearly discernible museum ethos, nor any particular epoch or art form to focus on, the Museum of Jurassic Technology proves to be a wonderfully refreshing look into the odd, the interesting, the oft-passed-over aspects of history and artistic world.

We can all admit that Los Angeles has its fair share of things to do. From Griffith Park to Santa Monica Beach & Pier, to Hollywood, the most populous city in California has got a lot to do. With that in mind, what is one to do should they find themselves desiring to play out the lifestyle of the most famous of California landscapes? That is to say, what if you just want to kick your shoes off and hit the beach? I mean, this is California, for crying out loud!

Everyone knows Los Angeles and Hollywood as Tinseltown, better yet as home of the stars. People come from far and wide to get a glimpse of Hollywood Boulevard and maybe walk the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Still, Los Angeles is much more than this, and an underrated facet of the nightlife and cultural scene here is the theater scene, which is alive, active and healthy. Where do actors cut their teeth? How do they learn the essence of acting for the big screen? On the small stage, of course.