2 Days in Los Angeles

Vibrant and buzzing with life, Los Angeles is a total hive of excitement just waiting to be explored. No really - we mean it! With a great mix of cosmopolitan culture and nature attractions, the City of Angels has everything for everyone. From world-class museums and entertainment to delicious eats, you’re sure to be spoiled for choice. And whilst a two-day getaway might not seem like a lot of time to explore, with the right planning you’ll end up having more fun than you can even imagine! Still having trouble deciding between the city’s top attractions? Don’t fear! Glide through our list of the best things to do in Los Angeles, so that you don’t miss out on anything on your trip! We promise that you won’t be disappointed.

Day 1 - Check out Museum Row

Kick off your adventure in Los Angeles by heading over to the Museum Row, where you can check out many of the city’s top visitor attractions. If you’d like to grab breakfast first, we suggest stopping off at some of the area’s fantastic eateries. Some of our favorite places include Muffin Can Stop Us, Sycamore Kitchen, and Groundwork Coffee. This busy thoroughfare is home to a great number of L.A.’s best attractions, so you’ll have a lot to choose from here. Still, one of our favorite spots has got to be the Petersen Automotive Museum for its unique and impressive collection. Occupying an entire city block, this spot is well-recognized as one of the largest institutions of its kind in the world. The museum is split into three themed floors; history, artistry and technology, so there’s a little something for everybody here. Inside, visitors can view over 25 galleries with over 350 vehicles of all kinds. Amongst its permanent repository, you’ll find everything from classic cars to sleek high-tech automobiles and flashy Ferraris. A thoroughly remarkable cultural experience, this one is not to be skipped!

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There are a lot of great places to eat in Miracle Mile, but to make the most out of your experience, we recommend heading over to the Original Farmers’ Market. Since its establishment in 1934, this spot has grown to become a bonafide city landmark - and with good reason! This place boasts over 100 grocers and gourmet vendors to choose from - all you have to do is pick your favorite! Authentic braised chicken rice, hot empanadas fresh from the oven, and decadent ice cream to cool off....the long list of treats is endless!

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Another one of our favorite cultural institutions located on the Museum Row has got to be the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum. A fantastic stop for those of a curious mind, the institute works to educate its visitors about the development of the natural world. The site is a registered National Natural Landmark and is home to the wonderful La Brea Tar Pits right outside. Get up close to see this active fossil excavation site still bubbling away! Upon entrance, visitors can enjoy a terrific showcase of the best fossils, animals, plants and that have been discovered here. Expect to see everything from chipmunks and doves to saber-toothed cats and mammoths. In addition, the site serves as an active palentological research center where visitors can get a behind-the-scenes look and see scientists working on recently discovered fossils. Whether you’re a total history geek or just wanting to learn more about the prehistoric world, this spot is the place to be.

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Day 2 - Explore the City

Of course, a trip to L.A. just wouldn’t be the same without heading out to see the Hollywood Sign. Standing as an iconic symbol of glitz and glam for around a century now, this stop is a total must-see. We suggest getting up early to watch the sun rise over this emblematic landmark. Though the sign sits on restricted property, you can still catch some great views by making your way over to the Griffith Observatory. Here, you’ll find multiple hiking trails where you can see the evocative landmark and take some great snaps from a distance. We especially love this spot for its wonderful natural attributes. You might even catch a deer or a hawk on your way!

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Next, head out to Royal Palms/White Point Beach to soak up the true natural beauty of the West Coast. With its palm-fringed sands and crystalline waters, there’s no better place to hit the beach in Los Angeles. Whilst this spot presents a whole myriad of cool things to do, one of our favorite activities has got to be exploring the tide pools dotted along the shoreline. Great for nature lovers, this activity provides a sure-fire way to see fascinating sea creatures like hermit crabs, coral clusters, and sea cucumbers way up close. We suggest planning your visit for low tide - this way you won’t get wet! In addition, visitors can enjoy swimming, scuba diving, surfing and more here. And for those who are travelling with kids, there’s a children’s play area right near the bluff. We recommend staying until dusk, so that you can enjoy the spectacular views of the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean.

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Los Angeles is the home of the world entertainment industry - and in turn, a fantastic roster of comedy clubs. If you’re looking to end your trip in style, we suggest checking out some of the best that the city has to offer. For those who want to catch big-name comedians trying out their new material, the Sunset Strip would be the perfect choice. Some of the top clubs in the area include The Comedy Store, Laugh Factory, and Hollywood Improv. Or, if you want to check out some of the city’s newest emerging talent, head over to the trendy bars in Silver Lake. Some of our favorites include The Virgil and The Elysian Theater.

A short 2-day getaway offers the perfect chance to see the City of Angels in all its glory. Plan it just right, and you’ll be able to understand what makes this one of the most popular visitor destinations in the world - we know we do! Explore the area to its full potential with GoCity’s All-Inclusive Pass or Explorer Pass. If you’d like to know more, connect with us on Instagram and Facebook. With Go City, you can see more, for less.

Sarah Harris
Go City Travel Expert

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Palm Trees
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Fun Facts About Los Angeles: Your Essential Trivia

How much do you know about Los Angeles? Before you head to L.A. on vacation check out our guide to essential Los Angeles trivia.  Test your knowledge with these fun Los Angeles facts below... Top facts about L.A. 1. Universal Studios Hollywood combines a theme park and a real working studio. CityWalk, the attached shopping and dining area, is free to explore.   2. Out of American cities, Los Angeles is second only to NYC in terms of population.   3. Madame Tussauds Hollywood is the only American location of this famous wax franchise featuring an entire section devoted to MARVEL© characters.   4. The Hollywood Walk of Fame includes more than 2,600 stars.   5. Warner Bros. Studio features a replica of Central Perk Café from the Friends series that serves real coffee and treats.   6. The Pacific Wheel at Pacific Park is the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel.   7. The US Bank Tower is the third-tallest building in California and the 15th-tallest in the United States.   8. OUE Skyspace L.A. located in the US Bank Tower, provides views as far as the San Gabriel Mountains, Catalina Island, and the Pacific Ocean.   9. Downtown L.A. is home to the largest concentration of government buildings and institutions after Washington, DC.   10. In addition to hosting the Academy Awards®, the Dolby Theatre also plays host to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, the Daytime Emmys, and the American Idol finals. More fun facts about L.A. 11. The Hollywood Museum is home to the most expansive collection of Hollywood props, objects, and artifacts.   12. Griffith Park at the Hollywood Hills sign has one of the best vistas of Los Angeles and can be easily reached by hiking. Griffith Park is also the second-largest urban park in California.   13. The RMS Queen Mary is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of the official Historic Hotels of America.   14. Los Angeles is the only North American city to have hosted the Olympics twice.   15. The Los Angeles Zoo also encompasses a substantive botanical garden with a renowned collection of native plant species.   16. Los Angeles is home to the largest historic theatre district on the National Register of Historic Places.   17. The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles is the largest such institution in the Western United States and its collections cover 4.5 billion years of Earth’s history.   18. Approximately 50 million people visit Los Angeles County each year.   19. The Huntington Library — in addition to being one of the best research libraries in the world and boasting gorgeous rose gardens — has been used as a set for nearly 30 different film projects from television to the big screen. Even more interesting L.A facts 20. Los Angeles is home to the state’s only remaining wooden lighthouse, at San Pedro’s Fermin Park.   21. The La Brea Tar Pits is an excavation site with the largest number and most diverse selection of Ice Age fossils in the entire world.   22. The USS Iowa is now a floating museum known as Battleship IOWA and is made of 45,000 tons of steel.   23. The Autry Museum of the American West was founded by iconic actor Gene Autry and encompasses significant collections of artwork and cultural artifacts.   24. The Los Angeles area is home to more than 100 museums of varying sizes and purposes. Save on admission to L.A. attractions You'll save on admission vs gate price to many popular Los Angeles attractions with Go City® Check out passes from Go City and you could save yourself up to 50% on your must-sees – perfect! ☀️Compare Los Angeles passes☀️ – 🌏 Explore other destinations 🌏 – ✈️ Buy a pass ✈️ Share your trip with us – follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and share your adventure with us. Tag us at @GoCity on your travel photos to keep us up to date with your vacation!
Katie Sagal
Bis Bus tour in Los Angeles
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Best Hollywood bus tours in Los Angeles

It’s almost impossible to think of Los Angeles without an image of Hollywood coming to mind – the city is intrinsically linked with glitz, glamor and celebrity. Almost every visit starts with a stroll up the Walk of Fame, a visit to the TCL Chinese Theater and a hike to the Hollywood sign – followed, of course, by some very awesome pics on your Instagram reel. What many people don’t realize, though, is that all these places are actually quite far apart, and while you can walk from one to another, it will take up a lot of your precious time. Instead, one of the best ways to get around is on a Hollywood bus tour – you can travel from one spot to another in comfort while a guide directs your attention to the city’s best historical and secret spots, leaving your hands free for snapping photos (and bragging to your friends). This handy guide will compare three of the best Hollywood Bus tours, and cover: Price Locations Tour language Timing Must-see locations Bus tour #1: Hop-on Hop-Off Hollywood and Los Angeles The Hollywood and Los Angeles Hop-On Hop-Off Hollywood route covers 15 stops, including all the essentials like The Guitar Center, the Comedy Store and Santa Monica Boulevard. The tour operates every day except Christmas and Thanksgiving, and runs from 10am to 4:30pm, departing every 45 minutes. You can hop on and off as many times as you like for as long as your ticket is valid, and the whole circuit takes about two hours. Tickets start from $49/£47 for an adult or $35/£33 for a child, and the tour is available in nine languages including English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Portuguese. Must-see stop: Pink’s Hotdogs If you’ve ever seen a film or tv character eating a hot dog in L.A, chances are they got it from Pink’s Hot Dogs on N. La Brea in Hollywood. They’ve been there since 1939 when Paul and Betty Pink started with a pushcart and some money borrowed from Betty’s mother. There are now several branches but this one is the original, serving around 2,000 hot dogs and burgers a day. Adding to their appeal are the unique and celebrity-inspired names, like the Lord of the Rings Dog (with onion rings), the Ozzy Spicy Dog, the Brando Dog, the Philly Cheesesteak Dog and the Martha Stewart Dog. Bus tour #2: Hop-On Hop-Off City Sightseeing Tour – One Day Our second option is the Hop-On Hop-Off City Sightseeing Tour. Its Hollywood route covers all the essentials on its 16-stop route, including the Dolby Theater, La Brea Tar Pits, Vine Street and Paramount Pictures. This tour also departs every 45 minutes between 10am and 4:30pm, and the full loop takes around two hours. Languages include English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, German, French and Italian, and tickets start from $39/£34 for an adult and $28/£25 for a child. You can purchase a ticket online, from the kiosk at the Dolby Theater, at any bus stop or on the bus itself, and it’s valid from when you first get on the bus. Must-see stop: Petersen Automotive Museum This is the ultimate destination for movie buffs and petrol heads. First, have your mind boggled by the James Bond Vehicle Collection, which includes the 2002 Aston Martin V12 Vanquish driven by Pierce Brosnan in Die Another Day, the 1997 Lotus Esprit S1 ‘Wet Nellie’ that Roger Moore drove off a pier in The Spy Who Loved Me, and the 1964 Aston Martin DB5, which has appeared in five Bond films including Goldeneye, Skyfall and No Time To Die. Then there’s the Omaze Hollywood Gallery, where you can inspect the 1981 DeLorean from Back to the Future. If you fancy putting yourself in the hot seat, you can try your skills in one of the Forza Motorsport racing simulators. Bus tour #3: Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus 1-Day Classic Tour The Hop-On Hop-Off Big Bus Classic Tour is a great option because the 12 stops on the Hollywood route include the TCL Chinese Theater, Rodeo Drive, the Dolby Theater and the Hollywood Sign. It runs between 10am and 3pm every day and departs every 30-45 minutes. Commentary is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Mandarin, Korean, Japanese and Hindi, and the whole tour lasts around two hours. If you buy a ticket on its own it’ll start from $39/£34 for an adult or $31/£28 for a child – however if you have a Go City Explorer or All-Inclusive Pass, the Big Bus Tour is included and won’t cost you a thing. Must-see stop: Los Angeles Celebrity Bike Tour With a Go City attraction pass, the Los Angeles Celebrity Bike Tour is included with your Big Bus Ticket. It’s a self-guided audio tour which includes helmet, vest, GPS audio directions and bike rental for four hours. Go at your own pace as you get to know some iconic locations from films and TV shows, the best celebrity-spotting hangouts around Bel-Air and Beverly Hills and where some of the Hollywood A-list like to call home. Highlights include Marilyn Monroe’s former apartment, the last house owned by Michael Jackson, Rodeo Drive, the Sunset Strip and Greystone Mansion, which you’ll recognise from many shows and movies including Batman & Robin, The Bodyguard, The Big Lebowski and X-Men. Never miss a thing with Go City Whether you travel by bus, bike or foot, you’ll be able to spot all the favorite’s in Los Angeles with Go City. Get your All-Inclusive or Explorer Pass today and start saving on dozens of attractions all over the city.
Karleen Stevens

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