Overview
** LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA **
Read travel tips for Los Angeles, California from our amazing community of BLACK AND BROWN TRAVELERS that will help you find some of the best places to visit Los Angeles, California. Our variety of travel tips will definitely help you plan your next trip. Our tips range from best places to visit in Los Angeles, California, affordability, nightlife, local food, where to stay and even what it is like Traveling While Black. Lastly, we are working diligently to create a comprehensive city guide for Los Angeles. Stay tuned! But in the meantime, scroll down to read tips below!
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Black Owned Restaurants
Are used to live in Los Angeles as a traveling registered nurse. I have experience in the West Hollywood area where there are various places to eat. My favorite place to eat breakfast is Bruce Whiffle. I am an avid exercise personnel, and I enjoyed the various hikes.
If you’re in LA, you have to check out the Griffith Observatory to get an amazing view of the city. You can also explore the small exhibits inside and check out the planetarium while there. If you’re looking for some yummy food, I recommend Simply Wholesome a staple community restaurant or Chifa for Chinese Peruvian food
Don’t plan to spend all of your time in downtown LA! The only thing you may want to visit around there is Grand Central Market for all of the delicious food stalls, but other than that, it feels rather desolate and sad. A must do if you enjoy nature and serenity is Huntington Library and Botanical garden! If you really want to get a bang for your buck, I highly suggest this pass that allows you to see a lot of excursions for one set price. This is mostly for touristy activities, but it can still give you a good feel of LA if you want to get everything you can packed into a weekend trip! https://www.getyourguide.com/carlsbad-l514/12357-day-go-los-angeles-card-t5625/?partner_id=SVNU3W4¤cy=USD&travel_agent=1
I visited Los Angeles, California for one week in December 2021. This is what I considered a “last minute” trip because I didn’t actually plan on travelling anywhere in 2021, but the way the holidays lined up with my remaining vacation days was rare and made for great timing that I just couldn’t miss.
I decided to stay in West Hollywood aka Weho because I wasn’t planning on renting a car (because I hate driving in LA) and I wanted to be in walking distance from my hotel to restaurants, shopping and must-see hotspots. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to do much walking or go to a number of places that I had planned to visit because it rained. I’ve been to LA/Southern California many times and I was shocked! Tony! Toni! Toné! said, “It never rains in Southern California”! I’m here to tell you that they lied. It does rain and when it rains, it pours! December 2021 was the 3rd wettest December on record in 11 years! Unfortunately, LA was also experiencing peak COVID cases, so I was on a mission to stay dry and avoid getting sick. The struggle was real, but I was determined to make the best of my trip!
Things To Do:
La Brea Tar Pits and Museum – The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum is a registered National Natural Landmark located in Hancock Park. It’s an active paleontological research site and portal to the Ice Age in the heart of LA. I learned that 11,000 years ago mastodons, mammoths, saber-toothed cats, dire wolves and ground sloths roamed the very land I was standing on. I also learned about the tar pits where natural asphalt seeped up from the ground. The tar preserved the bones of trapped animals allowing scientists to study them today. If you enjoy history and science, I’d recommend visiting La Brea Tar Pits.
The Grove – The Grove is a retail and entertainment complex in LA. It features an animated music-fountain similar to the Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas, but much smaller. The highlight of my visit to the Grove was going to the AMC to watch the movie House of Gucci. I hadn’t been to a movie theatre in over 2 years, so it was treat! It was also cool because Gucci had a pop-up shop in front of the AMC where you could shop their fragrances. They were also giving out free samples which I took home as souvenirs!
Sunset Ranch Hollywood – I had the pleasure of going horseback riding at Sunset Ranch Hollywood. I booked the Mount Hollywood Day Tour which is 2 hours long. Fortunately, it was a beautiful afternoon with no rain. I rode to the top of Mount Hollywood for 360° views of LA, including the Hollywood Sign, the ocean and valleys. It was amazing! I love horses and riding has become of passion of mine. It truly feels therapeutic. I was actually inspired to go horseback riding after reading the book The Compton Cowboys which broadened my perception of cowboys and Compton’s young Black residents. While I was riding, I passed by a Black family walking on the trail. They gave me a friendly nod. I heard the kids ask their parents, “Can we go horseback riding?!” It was heartwarming to hear. Representation matters and I hope those kids get to go horseback riding one day.
California African American Museum – Speaking of representation, the California African American Museum (CAAM) holds it down! This museum is located in Exposition Park and focuses on the education, on the cultural heritage and history of African Americans, specifically in California and western United States. Admission is free to all visitors! During my visit, I got to view two beautiful exhibitions called Rights and Rituals: The Making of African American Debutante Culture and April Bey: Atlantica, The Gilda Region. If you enjoy art and history, the CAAM is a must-see!
The Last Book Store – The Last Bookstore is located in downtown LA and is California’s largest used and new book store. They also sell records for vinyl collectors and connoisseurs. I enjoyed perusing the shelves and the various creative displays. The only thing I didn’t like was how crowded it was. I’m not sure if it’s always like that or if it was just because of the weather. I’d love to visit again when it’s not so busy.
Los Angeles Lakers Game – I’ve always wanted to see the Lakers play at the Staples Center (now known as Crypto.com Arena) and I’ve always wanted to watch a game in an executive suite, so while I was in LA I decided to treat myself! I loved the executive suite experience! Suite guests have access to VIP entrances, so I didn’t have to wait in any lines. The suites are professionally cleaned and sealed. They’re also only accessible to guests by scanning a QR code from your phone. You can order food and drinks to the suite. It was so much fun and the Lakers won! This is an experience I’d definitely recommend and definitely do again!
Safety Tips:
Walking in LA – While walking in LA look left, right, left and then right again when crossing streets. I know this might sound redundant, but I’m sharing this for your own safety. I watch and follow KTLA and unfortunately, some drivers roll stop signs and run red lights resulting in hit-and-runs/pedestrian injuries and deaths.
Shoutout:
Shoutout to The Gardens of Taxco Mexican Restaurant! I recommend this restaurant for tasty Mexican food in West Hollywood. I decided to walk to this restaurant and almost missed it, but I saw a line-up in front of a storefront and immediately knew this was the place. It’s a hidden gem that has great reviews and they gave me free desert! Gracias!
I visited Los Angeles with my fiancé and a group of friends for the very first time back in August of 2020. We spent a week split between there and Vegas. Let me just say Cali is AMAZING!!! I can go back many times and it feel like the first time. Upon landing we picked up a rental from the airport which was smooth sailing. We then checked into our Air BnB which was about 15-20 min from the airport which was also nice!!!! Things we did while there was we took a jetski tour from
Long Island to Catalina Island. My first time on a jetski and I got flung off in the middle of the ocean by my fiancé. (Talk about scary. Thank God for life jackets LOL) we spent about 3 hrs traveling across the ocean to get there and took us 3 hours to jet ski back. The experience was dope. Will I jetski that way again NOPE. Give me the ferry LOL. The next day we are breakfast at The Coffee Company. They had AMAZING food so much so that we had to go back again the next day. We then spent the rest of the day day touring dispensaries, went to see the Nipsey Hussle Mural, and ate dinner at Flemings Steakouse near the Staples Center. The food there was also great. I had the Salmon and Lobster Mac n Cheese. We went to Hollywood the next day and walked the strip to view the Walk of Fame Stars. There is so so much more to do mind you some things were still shut down due to C19 being in its early stages. The remainder of our time was spent in Vegas.
I only spent 4 days in LA on my second solo trip and it was definitely not enough time to see everything. I recommend taking at least one day and purchasing a Hop On Hop Off Bus Pass. It is the best way to see a lot of the city if you are short on time. You get the most bang for your buck with an all-day pass. LA is not a budget-friendly city. Since I was solo, I saved money by staying in a hostel instead of a hotel. You can use Expedia to look up the ratings on some good ones for your stay.
i visited Los Angeles during Spring Break from university. The weather was absolutely amazing. Going from snow to sunshine was *deep sigh.* I visited lots of local restaurants, parks and beaches. It was a relaxation from school vacation so i rented a Jeep, let the top down, curated a playlist and drove down to the beach in Malibu. Malibu Seafood had a line down the street and i found out why. Some of the freshest, tastiest sea food I’ve ever had. I drove over to the Pier and enjoyed fruit and a bike ride along the beach. As the sun set, I got a blanket and sat on the side of the beach. Was extremely beautiful and relaxing. I had been LA a few times but this had to be the best trip.
Looking for something exciting to do while in California? Take the leap and go SKY DIVING! I’ve always wanted to go sky diving, and felt as though while in California, it was the prefect opportunity to do so. I stayed in down town LA, with a friend, and traveled about 1 h 45m to Camarillo, California to skydive with Skydive Coastal California (this was the closest sky diving locations–as rarely can you skydive in a major city like Los Angeles). Of course, prior to the jump, you have to sign a bunch of documentation, however once you’re done with that they share some important information, suite you up, and escort you to the plane. Eventually you find yourself soaring several thousand feet into the air, being prepared and prompted to JUMP! (tandem). The experience is so invigorating, and unlike anything you’ve done before. I enjoyed my experience, and would certainly take the leap again!
Of all the things I got to do in Los Angeles, visiting Warner Bros studios for the tour was amongst the best! I had a blast seeing the Big Bang Theory set – getting to sit on Sheldon Cooper’s spot was my highlight!
Secondly, visiting the Hollywood sign is an absolute must! The short hike up there was an adventure and a half. The stunning views were worth every minute! Here’s a short video to assist in getting there! ?
https://youtu.be/rYOwV1CI9_g
The best beaches are hormosa and Venice.! For food I recommend going to Thai orchid
Los Angeles is as iconic as it can be cliché, but this doesn’t mean that it’s not worth a visit. While its highlights include visiting the Hollywood sign, Venice Beach the best beach I ever visit it’s literally full of live you can find all type of Art there and it’s so amazing seeing different culture working together to create amazing staff you also have the possibility of seeing Hollywood A-listers walking around town, there are many other ways to enjoy this trendy and very popular destination , like art of museum Venice beach , downtown , little Downtown .. universal studio Griffith park observatory when U can have an amazing view on Los angels it’s insane (I recommend you to do it after the sunset omg can’t describe it .. ) for me LA it’s the best city in the USA and if u haven’t u have to visit it Right Now it’s woth it enjoy and thanks me later
Visiting Los Angeles was a beautiful experience. There was always something to do from going on a TMZ tour to taking a pole dance class at BeSpun! Every day was a new adventure and there is never a dull moment if you choose to have an adventurous stay. If you’re looking to chill a bit more, LA is full so spas and salons. Beware that it is an extremely expensive area, but otherwise great!
Sheraton hotel
The customer service we received was amazing!
Anthony who checked us in/out was very accommodating and we were compensated for some noisy neighbors which was hugely appreciated.
There is soooooo much to do in los Angeles as a tourist. You will definitely want to rent a car for this visit. If you want to be close to the heart of L.A. its best to book your accommodations in Long Beach or downtown l.a. . You can take a rode trip to many of the out skirts of la like san Diego 2hr or less or Malibu Santa Barbara Santa Monica Hollywood Huntington beach. Night life happens in Hollywood for the most part. The best beaches are in Huntington beach long beach and san Diego. There’s also amusement parks like Knotts Disneyland and Sox flags that could be day trips. If you like hikes you can hike the Hollywood hills or go to Pasadena and see beautiful waterfalls. No matter what kinda trip u want to have los Angeles has everything including the best weather year round
I’ve been to LA multiple times but my last time in LA I finally made my way to universal studios and it was amazing ! The park was about 95 dollars to enter. Also, I would advise if you don’t want to buy a fast pass then get to the park early and ride the main attractions first because those lines become insane throughout the day . The main attraction is Harry Potter world and if you’re a Potter nerd like me then it was everything. Before you head to Harry Potter world I would say you should figure out what house you belong to. Pottermore.com helps you figure out what house you belong to. To make the most of your experience, might as well get a robe and a wand but buy those on amazon because buying at the park will be expensive ! The park created an exact copy of diagon alley and it will make you feel like you’re in the movie. There’s a wand shop, a robe shop shop and also a cafeteria where you can buy butter beer. On the top of the hill is HOGWARTS and when you enter you really feel like you’re in the movies. The paintings move and also the sorting hat is talking to you. This is where the ride is located and if you get to the park late, the line can be a 2-3 hour long wait.
Other attractions at universal that I enjoyed was the studio tour , the mummy ride and the transformers ride.
LA was amazing !!! I went during the winter time October (I’m from New Jersey) and the weather was beautiful! The nights do get very chilly though. When I went LA was hosting their first Sephoria event called “Sephoria”! If you’re into makeup I would definitely look into this event. There’s a huge celebrity presence there as well.
My friends and I also did a yacht tour while there. I would def recommend that as well as checking out the marijuana dispensaries. They are definitely interesting a sight to see even if you don’t smoke.
LA was my third time traveling solo, I met couple people from Europe at the Hostel in the near of Hollywood Boulevard where I stayed, and the atmosphere was great and the people as well. The hostel was very affordable, I was in the 4 bed-rooms and we share 2 different bathrooms.If I remember correctly, the hostel I stayed in was SameSun (Venice Beach) and Banana Bungalow (Hollywood). Great way to make new friend coming from different places of the world. Looking forward to go back to California again, but next time, I am hoping to visit SF!
When you think of LA you may think of “Hollywood blvd” but there is much more! There are amazing restaurants and activities to do within the city. You can hit up the museum of ice cream, hike up Runyon Canyon or have thee best beef stew at the commissary restaurant in the Line Hotel. I added the Dunes apartment complex in Inglewood to my list. My favorite show was filmed there and I had to take a quick flick! I’ve been to LA countless times and every time I go I found a new treasure/ countless things to do. Did I mention the day parties? Make sure you check it all out!
I just visited Los Angeles for a month and I absolutely love the city. Want to live there so bad.
1. Weather
70 degrees average all year. Enough said. Year round weather perfection and the best beaches. Outdoor shopping and concerts all year. The weather just makes everything easier and more enjoyable to live.
2. Cultural Diversity
When people of all ethnicities mix, you have awesome food (look below), festivals, lifestyles, and the possibility to open up your mind to new things!
3. Food
Animal, In-n-Out and Roscoes. Plus the thousands of other amazing restaurants we did not get to try. It’s endless variety are there’s always new things to try, from the really cheap to world renowned.
4. Active, healthy lifestyle
So many ways to eat and exercise here, from Runyon to local parks. Even though LA is a driving city, people take the time to take care of themselves and their health. Most restaurants also have vegan and vegetarian meal options.
5. People are actually nice
You are going to get your inconsiderate, mean people in every city, and since LA has almost 5 million people, you see them from time to time. But the major majority are nice , greet you with a smile and don’t blow you off. Maybe it’s the weather, I was smiling the entire time as well!
6. Opportunity (I know that’s six, I love LA)
As the central hub of music, movies, TV and more, Los Angeles provides much opportunity to pursue almost any field and be very successful. People flock here for jobs and to become famous. It is a vicious competition, but with enough will power and perseverance, you could be shopping on Rodeo, driving that fancy car, and living in a house in Bel Air (if that’s your thing, of course). There’s no limits in LA, it just matters how hard you pushLos Angeles have been the best trip of my life cause In Los Angeles,?? you can have the city life ?and feel like you’re on holiday at the same time.. ?
Los angeles est juste magnifique. C’était mon rêve d’aller voir les lettres HOLLYWOOD. Cette ville remplie de musées gratuits afin de découvrir son histoire.
Notre hotel était situé à 2min de l’aéroport, la location de la voiture aussi…, nous étions situé à 30 minutes de toute les activités que nous voulions faire.
Nous avons été découvrir la montagne sentir l’air frais.. l’arbre à pin ce que je n’ai pas sur mon île guadeloupe.
Je conseille vivement d’aller visiter la CALIFORNIE.
Los Angeles is just beautiful. It was my dream to see the letters HOLLYWOOD. This city filled with free museums to discover its history.
Our hotel was located 2min from the airport, the rental of the car too … we were located 30 minutes from all the activities we wanted to do.
We were discovering the mountain feel the fresh air .. the pine tree what I do not have on my island Guadeloupe.
I highly recommend visiting CALIFORNIA.
Los Angeles is a wonderful city to visit ! There is so much to do that I’m still exploring this wonderful city! If you’re a big fan of Issa Raye’s popular show “ Insecure “ you must visit “ The Dunes” apartment located in Inglewood ,CA . It’s nice for IG pics! The museums in California are amazing as well ! You have to visit the Broad museum and the Maurice and Paul Marciano Art Foundation which has the famous artist YAYOI KUSAMA display “WITH ALL MY LOVE FOR THE TULIPS, I PRAY FOREVER.”Amazing ? art! This list can go on and on ! A great page to follow on IG is @whatshouldwedola it keeps locals and tourists in the know for LA and California state.
My traveling experience to Los Angeles, California was nothing short but amazing.I stayed at The L.A. Grand Hotel Downtown and the hotel was 4 stars.The distance from the airport was far but completely worth it.LA has so much to offer from food to nightlife.I tried In and Out Burger for the first time and I was disappointed the food looks good in pictures but not the best in person.Roscoe’s House of Chicken & Waffles was everything and more.The service was fast and the chicken & waffles with a side of grits were really good.Some activities I did while LA was attend Soulquarius (Concert) with a lot musical guest from Monica to the Yang Yang Twins.I went to Griffith Observatory and went to Runyon Canyon for an amazing view and quick workout.For night life go to 1OAK they play good music and have drinks.Be prepared to spend some money.LA is super expensive but worth every penny.
Have been to California three times (5 weeks total) and still haven’t see every thing i want to see. Shopping is amazing, beaches are nice. I love Venice Beach and Santa Monica Beach. Food is also great. I recommend Mr. Fries Man, where you can get some amazingly unique toppings, Gelato and Dangles, In&Out Burger, Boos Philly, Afters Ice Cream (the most interesting toppings and ice cream pies you will ever see), and Howlin Rays (Nashville fried chicken).. Love the diversity and culture in Los Angeles.
Going to LA was an exciting experience. I took a hike through Griffith Park to see the Hollywood Sign, walked thru Beverly Hills, checked out the (LACMA) los angeles county museum of art, going to Inglewood to see “The Dunes” apartments where they shot “Insecure,” chilled at The Santa Monica Pier, strouded through Venice Beach Bordwalk and chilled in Downtown LA. The food in LA was amazing. The overall experience was 10/10. I highly recommend ppl to visit LA.
Being a New Yorker, part of me didn’t want to like Los Angeles because I feel like we’re supposed to be rivals or something, but i will definitely say I had such a good time there. I walk all the time when I’m in NY to get from point A to point B, but it’s different in LA when you basically drive to a place to make walking an activity, like walking on the beach, or going on a hike at runyon canyon, or the Hollywood sign. I went with a friend of mine and her dog and we were just playing music and looking at the cool views on each hike that has varying levels of difficulty. We also checked out universal studios which was a good time. I had been to Universal in florida, but that was my first time in California. I personally enjoyed the florida one more, but there’s more filming history in California…obviously.
Everyone loves to talk about LA traffic, but I was there for 6 days and didn’t get caught in it once… wanna know why? just don’t leave at rush hour…its that simple. Plan your days so that if youre at a location at 3pm, you know your not leaving until after 4…so just enjoy the time.
Be prepared to spend a full day at the grove if you’re a shopaholic like me! I definitely bought all the things… so yeah I’m broke now.
Any way pricing wise i got a little lucky to stay with a friend each day, but I did see some airbnbs in the valley area that weren’t TOO bad. Flying out of NY is direct and affordable if you plan ahead. Got roundtrip for around $250
Love love love my hometown! LA! best food, scenery, and shopping!!
Los Angeles is the city of dreams. There is ALWAYS something to do in Los Angeles. You can go to several beaches. My favorite beach is Venice beach because of the vibe. I love playing tennis there and biking riding. It always fun to people watch and watch others surf. Venice gives me the hippie vibe whenever I visit.
The Tmz tour is very peopular and they will show you where the celebrities eat and party if you are into that scene.
Runyon Canyon is a great place to hike and see the entire city and the hollywood sign.
I would recommend if you re visiting to use the hop on and hop off bus as they will show you the entire city and you can figure out what you are most interetsting in seeing.
L.A. Is definitely on top of the list as one of my favorite cities to visit. I’ve been 3 time over a year and a half! I’ve stayed in Beverly Hills, LA downtown, and West Hollywood to get the feels of the marvelous city. I’m a health nut, so the food was very tasty to me and clean to me. SUR was definitely one of my faves! Mr. Chows was great, and I had to have a cheat meal and work my way to Roscoes Chicken(OMG) What’s great about LA is you do have the option to relax(Beach) or you can play around in West Hollywood. Nightlife was great, beautiful people, awesome music, great vibes everywhere! As I’m typing this I’m considering on looking up a plane ticket asap to visit once more! Lol
I liked LA for the history. I went to the famous Florence and Normandie intersection and I got chills. To think that’s where LA riots all started. Of course I also went to Roscoe’s Chicken and waffles, the Hollywood stars, and also the famous Randy’s Donuts. There were so many iconic sites that I seen in movies and in television also.
The Griddle Cafe on Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood California is an absolute must!! I had “The Golden Ticket” pancakes!!! These were thee best pancakes I have ever had in my entire life!! So huge, I ate on them for three days!!! You may see some celebrities. If you have a large group and want privacy, there’s a room in the back you can be seated at. It’s was pretty cozy!