feautred travel

24 Hours In : Los Angeles

5/23/2016Jake Ryan


 Help; I've only got 24 hours in LA! 
 
  Los Angeles is a mecca for Art, culture and scenery. From Rodeo Drive to the Griffith Observatory, there is so much to see and do. But if time is against you, and, you only have 24 hours in LA; here is my perfect itinerary so you don't miss a thing. 
 
Taking you to the major landmarks, beautiful beaches, stunning vistas and tourist favourites, you'll see more in one day than most people see in a week!




MORNING



8AM || BREAKFAST

Begin your day in true American style with some great American fare from Figtree's CafeVoted the best restaurant on the Venice Beach boardwalk, you'll find some of the  tastiest breakfast food in all of LA. A favourite with the locals, it gets busy very quickly so head out early and snag yourself one of the tables outside that gives you spectacular sea views as you eat. My favourite is definitely the 'puffed' pancake souffle stuffed with fresh fruit and topped with powdered sugar. Delicious.  

9.00AM || VENICE BEACH

Walk off the fantastic food you have just eaten with a stroll around the weird and wonderful Venice Beach. From its world famous boardwalk and beautiful beach to the shopping heaven of Abbot Kinney Blvd; this amazing area offers an eclectic and vibrant range of activities to suit everyone. Starting off on the world famous Venice Ocean Front Walk, prepare to be entertained by the multitude of street performers before making your way over to the acclaimed golden sands of Venice Beach. Whenever, I'm here I love heading over to the'breakwater'. A firm favourite with local surfers it's the perfect spot to catch some waves with it being the only place in LA where they break on both sides. 

12.00PM || LUNCH

After spending the morning soaking up the LA rays, it's now time to head over to uber exclusive Rodeo Drive for a spot of lunch and celeb spotting. If you don't have a car, the easiest way to get there is to purchase a 24 hour pass on Starline's hop on hop off busesWith a stop only a block away, take the yellow route and enjoy your open-air view of the city as you cruise through Brentwood en route to Beverley Hills. There's an abundance of fantastic eateries in the area but I recommend the Cheesecake Factory; with its delicious food, great prices and even a chance to gawk at the famous faces that regularly frequent the restaurant.

AFTERNOON


2.00PM || RODEO DRIVE

Having eaten to your hearts content, now it's time to mingle with the rich and famous along the palm tree lined streets that make up Rodeo Drive. With row upon row of designer stores and up-scale boutiques, even if you're not opening your wallet, you can still ogle the vast array of luxury wares on show. 

3.30PM || HOLLYWOOD LANDMARKS

No trip to LA is complete without a trip to Hollywood. If you purchased a Starline pass, take the Red Route and cruise the sunset strip disembarking when you reach Hollywood Blvd. Make sure you have your camera ready to snap such sights as; the Viper Room; The Laugh Factory; Comedy Store; Chateau Marmont; and, the House of Blues. Alternatively you can reach the same destination via the less pricey number 4 bus, albeit without the scenic ride. 

|| WALK OF FAME ||
A quintessential part of Hollywood, first head to the illustrious Walk of Fame. Spanning Hollywood Blvd and Vine street, more than 2,400 names of the most famed stars in history are immortalised in the pink terrazzo stars. For the most notable, check out those that are between 6750-6900 Hollywood Blvd

|| HIGHLAND CENTER ||

For your first glimpse of the iconic Hollywood Sign, walk over to the Highland Center. With several viewing bridges, take the escalators up to the highest one and face towards the Blvd for some great selfies with the sign in the background. If you're feeling peckish, there's some great food places here for you to grab a bite. Try Beard Papa's Sweet Cafe on level 1 for some of the BEST fresh cream puffs you'll ever have. 

|| CHINESE THEATRE ||

After taking in the Walk of Fame and a peak at the Hollywood Sign, your next stop is the Chinese Theater. The lavish pagoda-style movie palace has seen many a famous face leave their mark in front of its striking facade. marvel at the concrete cast hand and footprints of some of the most iconic film stars of all time in the celebrity forecourt. See if you can spot the more unique additions such as Whoopi Goldberg's dreadlocksBob Hope's noseR2D2's wheel and Betty Grable's leg imprint. Make sure you book your ticket in advance as spots fill up very quickly.

5.00PM || GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY

Having explored LA from the ground it is now time to take in the sights from above from the fantastically positioned Griffith ObservatorySituated at the top of Mount Hollywood, the architectural wonder offers panoramic views of the sprawling city as well as  a range of interesting free astronomy exhibitions within its hallowed walls. A free shuttle bus runs from the Sunset Metro Red Line until 10pm. Make sure you get there by 6pm to see the sun set over the Hollywood sign. A truly spectacular sight to behold and one I will never forget. There's also some great hiking trails that take you right past the sign. My favourite is the 3 mile loop from Vermont Canyon Road.

EVENING


8PM || COMEDY SHOW

Prepare for a night full of laughs at one of LA's top comedy clubs. The Sunset Strip offers some of the best comedy venues on the planet and nowhere is this more the case than at the Comedy Store. With comic legends such as David Letterman, Steve Martin, Billy Crystal, Jerry Seinfeld and Eddie Murphy all featuring on its stage, you are guaranteed to have a fun filled night. As with all comedy shows in LA, there's a two drink minimum, but as it's well worth it with it not being uncommon to find that you are treated to an A-list comedian trying out new material. 

11PM || AFTER HOURS

With a post-show buzz to keep you going, take a walk through the vibrant and buzzing strip. The LA night scene is legendary, and there are tons of bars and clubs lining Sunset Boulevard. My favourites are the Sky Bar and Whiskey a Go Go. If you're feeling hungry, get in on the latest craze to hit the city; gourmet food trucks. From the creme brûlée cart to Kogi boxes of BBQ noodles, there's something to satisfy any kind of craving. With them being available on the street, and cooked in minutes, you're free to spend your remaining hours partying the night away.

What would you do if you had 24 hours in LA? 
Drop me a comment below.

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