How to See Los Angeles in One Day
Have you ever wondered if it was possible to see Los Angeles in one day? Well let me tell you, it is! Here I have listed six of my favorite LA spots that you can see in one day. And while this list is not an exhaustive list of LA sites, you will still get a feel of the culture and beauty of Los Angeles.
We started at LAX when our plane landed at 7am on Saturday. After picking up our rental car, we drove to Venice to snap a few pictures of the Venice Canals. Oh my goodness, these houses were some of the cutest I have ever seen. We spent about an hour here, but I could have spent all day taking pictures here.
After the canals, we were ready to eat! We had eaten at the airport earlier that morning, but were ready for food again. After pulling out the Yelp app on my phone, I stumbled upon Flake (513 Rose Ave., Venice, CA. 90291) and ordered a Breakwater Bagel. Delicious bagel filled with egg, cheese, ham and “secret sauce”. Prices were reasonable but seating is very limited.
No longer hungry, we headed to the Santa Monica Beach. Despite the cold, the water was full of surfers. We spend about a half hour walking on the beach, watching the surfers, and heading to the Santa Monica Pier. Ok, can you say “tourist trap”? We snapped a photo or two but did not stay here for long.
Next, head towards downtown LA for Grand Central Market. This market is full of local venders selling fresh produce, gourmet eats, and delicious street foods. We spent about two hours here, eating our way around the market. This was hands down, our favorite part of Los Angeles. You have to check it out, too!
For lunch, we decided on Olio GCM Wood Fired Pizzeria. So good.
For lunch, we decided on Olio GCM Wood Fired Pizzeria – so good
Sea Salt Cream & Cookies – McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams
After we were too full to eat anymore, we headed across the street to the Bradbury Building. This historical landmark is the oldest commercial building in central LA and houses a magical Victorian court with open air elevators. Tourists are allowed in the lobby of the building, but are not allowed to go further up the stairs. We spent about 15 minutes here.
Two blocks southwest, is the photogenic The Last Bookstore. This one is truly an Instagram favorite. Make sure you check out the upstairs for local art and vendors. If it wasn’t for my already full backpack (*sigh* Spirit Airlines), I would have bought a stack of books! The Last Bookstore has a great selection of old records, collector and rare books, and basically any genre!
After leaving downtown, head to the iconic Hollywood sign. We viewed the sign from Lake Hollywood Park (3160 Canyon Lake Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068). From there, you can walk further up Mulholland Hwy to get a closer view of the sign. Side note: Our GPS took us through residential areas to get to the park, there were “No Hollywood Sign access” signs posted, but we continued past these signs and were able to make it to the park without any trouble. Just be respectful of the residents that live in the area and you will be fine.
If you have more time, try checking out the views from the Griffith Observatory, only a few miles from the Hollywood sign. We were able to drive up to the observatory, but there was a significant amount of fog when we were there that it was not worth it for us to pay for parking. You could even time it to be there at sunset if you wish!
And there you have it! A great day in Los Angeles, just need to sum it up with some good Mexican food. Comment below if you know of any good Mexican restaurants in SoCal!
