Jen's Los Angeles Bucket List
Because I live in Southern California, I am often asked for advice on interesting things to do and cool places to go in L.A. Below are the best experiences I've found in the Los Angeles area.
I hope this list inspires your future adventures!
Do you have suggestions? Find out how to contact me here.
Hike as close as legally possible to the Hollywood Sign Be part of the audience for a TV show filming Look through a telescope and check out the architecture and the views at Griffith Observatory Ride the rides and see the shows at Universal Studios Hollywood See a movie at TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly: Grauman's Chinese Theatre) See a movie at Disney's El Capitan Theatre Have dinner at Miceli's Restaurant in Universal City, where the servers sing Step onto the backlot of Warner Bros Studios on one of their VIP tours Watch celebrities arrive on the red carpet at a movie premiere Check out the celebrity hand and footprints in front of TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly: Grauman's) Look at the art, architecture, and views at J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center Take the short walk/hike to the "Batcave" See a musical at the beautiful Pantages Theater (for even more excitement, go on opening night) See the lake of tar and the statues outside the La Brea Tar Pits Play with interactive exhibits, watch an IMAX movie, and see Endeavour at the California Science Center Find the name of a star that you know and love (it won't be difficult) on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Take a horseback ride overlooking Hollywood with Sunset Stables Get a free bird's-eye view of downtown L.A. from the 27th floor observation deck at Los Angeles City Hall Walk across Mulholland Dam and around Lake Hollywood See possible future stars at an improv show at Groundling Theater Ride Los Angeles Live Steamers' 7 1/2" model trains in Griffith Park (Sundays) Stroll through historic Union Station Have lunch and browse the tiny shops on Olivera Street Shop in the little stores and dine on tasty Japanese foods in Little Tokyo Ride the merry-go-round that inspired Walt Disney in Griffith Park Try a hamburger, fresh-cut fries, and a shake at In-N-Out burger Check out the shiny, silver, funky exterior of Walt Disney Concert Hall Take a docent led tour of the underground art of the Metro Red Line subway stations Sample local produce at a Sunday morning farmer's market (multiple locations, including Hollywood) Take a ride on Angel's Flight, a very short funicular railway Try dim sum in Chinatown Look for baby animals at the Los Angeles Zoo Browse the high-end shops on Rodeo Drive (If you're an actor) Audition for Universal Studios Hollywood (If you or your kids love trains) Admire retired train cars at Travel Town Museum in Griffith Park |
SEASONAL EVENTS IN L.A. AND THE SURROUNDING AREA: See the Tournament of Roses Parade in person (usually held on January 1st; Pasadena, CA) Check out the Oscars red carpet the day before the Oscars (one day in February) Attend the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (one weekend in April) Attend YallWest (a young adult book festival) (one Saturday in April) Walk or bike through car-free streets of L.A. at CicLAvia (various dates) Go cherry picking (late May and/or early June; Leona Valley, CA) See a summer concert at the Hollywood Bowl (a huge outdoor amphitheater) (June through September) Experience Halloween Hollywood-style at Universal Studios Hollywood's Halloween Horror Nights (select nights in October) |
JUST A SHORT DRIVE AWAY FROM L.A.: Go to Disneyland (Anaheim, CA) Hike to the M*A*S*H filming site (Malibu, CA) Go to the beach and wade into the Pacific Ocean, and stay to watch the sun set over the water Stroll the canals in Venice (Venice, CA) Check out the sidewalk vendors' funky art and the street performers on the boardwalk at Venice Beach (Venice, CA) Ride the Ferris wheel on Santa Monica Pier (Santa Monica, CA) Scramble over the rock formations at Vasquez Rocks, a popular filming location (Agua Dulce, CA) Wander the gardens and check out the art at Huntington Library, Art Collections & Botantical Gardens (San Marino, CA) Pick your own fruits and veggies at Underwood Family Farms (Moorpark, CA) See the ocean glow during a night cruise with the Dana Point Ocean Institute (Dana Point, CA) Have a lakeside picnic at Lake Balboa (Encino, CA) |
DAY TRIPS: Kayak into sea caves around the Channel Islands (boat trips depart from Ventura, CA) Ride a golf cart on and snorkel the waters off Santa Catalina Island (Catalina, CA) Go whitewater rafting on the Kern River (Kernville, CA) |
ROAD TRIPS: Visit Hearst Castle (San Simeon, CA) Go to the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld San Diego (San Diego, CA) Go to Vegas (Las Vegas, Nevada) - and take a helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon Climb sand dunes and explore caves in the Mojave Desert (Mojave, CA) Drive up PCH from Morro Bay to Monterey (Morro Bay to Monterey, CA) |
L.A. EXPERIENCES THAT REQUIRE YOU TO "KNOW SOMEONE" OR "GET LUCKY": Attend a movie premiere: Finding Dory at Disney's El Capitan Theatre Divergent at Regency's Village Theatre and Regency's Bruin Theatre Planes at Disney's El Capitan Theatre The Lion King 3D at Disney's El Capitan Theatre Red Riding Hood at Grauman's Chinese Theatre (now TCL Chinese Theatre) Act in a movie scene Go to a TV show finale and afterparty (American Idol) See magicians perform at the Magic Castle Attend a celebrity hand and footprint ceremony at TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly Grauman's) |
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ABOUT JEN Jen is also known as J.W. Lynne, a best selling author of eleven novels. Click on any of the titles below to see the book on Amazon! THE UNKNOWN: Eight kids learn the shocking reason why they were kidnapped. ABOVE THE SKY: A girl lives in a world where touching her soulmate is forbidden. THE DARKNESS OUTSIDE: A teen is locked in a bunker to take a simulated trip to the moon. KID DOCS: An experimental program turns kids into doctors. WILD ANIMAL SCHOOL: A girl falls in love with a boy at an exotic animal ranch. WHAT HE DIDN'T TELL ME: A traumatized girl meets a boy with a horrible secret.** IF I TELL: A teen wonders if her father is a serial killer. Besides reading books and dreaming up stories to write, Jen's favorite activities are singing along to musical theater soundtracks and hiking in California's beautiful parks. *Jen's books are available on Kindle Unlimited.* **In the novel WHAT HE DIDN'T TELL ME, the characters hike to the Hollywood Sign and experience many other bucket-list-worthy L.A. adventures. |
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