Things to do in Highland Park Los Angeles

By Sarah Harris

Trips to Los Angeles don’t just have to be about being in Hollywood; after all, La La Land isn’t just about all of the glitz and glam. Highland Park, Los Angeles’ first actual suburb has a storied history and all of the art, architecture and culture to match. With fantastic museums, great dining and unique points of interest, it’s an area that’s well worth visiting in the city. The neighborhood is easily accessible and more residential, too making it the perfect place for those who want to get a true taste of authentic L.A. living. So, if you’re planning to make the visit but aren’t quite sure where to start, check out our list of the best attractions and hidden gems in Highland Park. Which ones will you try?

Check Out the Museums

Image of Floor, Flooring, House, Housing, Staircase, Shoe, Person, Walking, City, People,

Though Los Angeles is known for being home to the world entertainment industry, it’s often said that the city doesn’t have much to offer in the realm of culture. Still, perhaps this next item on our list will help to change your mind about things just a little. Situated on a quiet residential street in ​​Montecito Heights, the Heritage Square Museum serves as a great educational tool for those who are interested in discovering more about the development of the city. The building is actually comprised of a collection of historic structures, including a railroad station from Century City, a church from Pasadena and formerly private residences. Inside, visitors can learn more about the city from the Civil War right through to the early twentieth century. Step back in time and discover the unique background of Los Angeles through fascinating exhibits and personal stories. Great for those of all ages, this spot provides a fantastic look into social change.

Image of Art, Art Gallery, Painting,

Whilst the rest of Los Angeles is known for its beautiful beaches and popular tourist attractions, Highland Park is home to pretty unique museums. Standing out as one of our favorites, the Los Angeles Police Museum works to provide a comprehensive overview of the city’s law enforcement agency. Built into a police station which closed down in 1983, the institute is recognized as the oldest surviving station-house in the city. Upon entrance, visitors can learn more about the rich history of the LAPD through a collection of engaging and fascinating displays. Amongst its permanent repository, you’ll find photographs, uniforms, badges, squad cars and bulled-riddled vehicles. The original jail cells of the Highland Park Police Station can also be viewed alongside a recreation of the first woman’s police uniform in the nation once worn by LAPD officer Alice Stebbins Wells in 1910. A fantastic hidden treasure, this spot is great for anybody looking to incorporate some education into their travel experience.

Get into Nature

Image of Vegetation, Land, Nature, Outdoors, Tree, Woodland, Adventure, Hiking, Person, Bag, Jungle, Grove, Rainforest, Female, Girl, Teen, Backpack, Backpacking, Photography, Handbag,

If you’re a seasoned visitor to Los Angeles, you might just be familiar with Griffith Park and the Santa Monica Mountains. Still, the city presents countless opportunities for outdoorsy types to get in touch with nature. Nestled in the Montecito Hills neighborhood of central-northeast Los Angeles, the Audubon Center at Debs Park is a unique environmental and conservation institute for those who just can’t get enough of the Los Angeles landscape. The center is located on Ernest E. Debs Regional Park, a beautiful green space with rolling hills, gleaming lakes, and a wide array of California native flora. There are plenty of great walking trails here for both novices and experienced hikers alike. Keep your eyes peeled as you’re making your way through the area since it is home to some beautiful wildlife. In particular, this spot has become a popular visitor site for birdwatchers, as it is home to over 140 species. Here, you can expect to see American Kestrels, Great-horned Owls, Northern Flickers and more. There’s also a children’s woodland, with boulders, a cave, a creek bed and raised planters. With its distinguished natural beauty, this spot is a total must-see.

Try Something Different

Image of Baby, Person, Toy, Doll,

If you’re looking for a unique family activity to check out in the city, Bob Baker Marionette Theater just might be your best bet. Founded way back in 1963, this place is still pulling the strings in child entertainment to this day. Though the establishment moved from its original location in Westlake in 2019, it’s never lost its identity and creative integrity. This spot is actually the oldest children’s theater in Los Angeles and stays completely true to its art form by hosting engaging acts all throughout the week. These shows are charming, artistic and highly detailed, so really, there’s as much here for adults as there is for kids. A typical performance is also interactive, making for an exciting and memorable experience. A little kitschy and a whole lot of fun, this spot is not to be missed!

Image of Pub, Factory, Person, Alcohol, Bar, Bar Counter, Beverage,

If you’re looking to relax and spend some quality time with the family, we suggest checking out the Highland Park Bowl. True to the nature of the district, this spot is more than just your regular bowling alley - yes, it’s a historic landmark, too! Established in 1927, the Highland Park Bowl originated during the midst of the Prohibition era, and has been drawing in the crowds ever since. Retaining much of its golden era charm, this place feels much like a trip back in time with its time-worn Chesterfield sofas, gorgeous dark wooden bars and eye-catching chandeliers made out of repurposed pinsetters. In addition, the alley separates itself from the pack with its unique exposed mechanisms which reveal how the pins are placed throughout the game. An undoubtedly one-of-a-kind experience, this spot is perfect for grabbing a drink and relaxing after a long day of exploring.

Image of Cityscape, Urban, City, Metropolis, Nature, Outdoors, Sky, Tree, Landscape, Palm Tree, Sunset, Scenery, Car, Neighborhood, Downtown,

There are a lot of great places to visit in Los Angeles, each with something a little different to offer. For rich history and culture though, you couldn’t get anywhere better than Highland Park. Maximize your travel experience 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.

Continue reading

WB studio tour in Los Angeles
Blog

Best Hollywood Studio Tours in Los Angeles

One of the quintessential Hollywood attractions is visiting a working movie and TV show studio - here's our rundown of the main four. Grab your popcorn and clapperboard, we're rolling!
Casey Makovich
Christmas ferris wheel in Los Angeles
Blog

Christmas in Los Angeles - lights and sights

It might not fit the stereotype for a White Christmas, but if you’re heading west in December you'll find plenty of holiday spirit in Los Angeles. You’ll find festivals, parades, ice rinks and theme parks going all out on Christmas rides and costumes. Hotel lobbies get decked out in festive decorations, making them worth a trip on their own, and when the sun sets at around 5pm the city comes to light, with shows and displays twinkling from house to harbor. And if you’re the kind of person who likes to keep your fingers and toes warm, then an LA Christmas could be the perfect escape for you, with the mercury in December rarely dipping below 60 degrees. Most of the festivities are hard to miss, but to truly make the most of your time, here are our top tips for the best lights and sights to experience at Christmas in Los Angeles: Knott’s Berry Farm Six Flags Magic Mountain Universal Studios Disneyland Snow hunting Self-drive lights tour Solvang Knott’s Berry Farm For nine months of the year Knott’s Berry Farm is an exciting, bustling theme park filled with thrill rides, roller coasters, water rides and visitors tucking into home made preserves and boysenberry pie – but from November through January it transforms into Knott’s ‘Merry’ Farm winter wonderland of holiday sights, sounds and scents. There are holiday ice shows with world-class figure skaters, carolers singing songs old and new and a Christmas craft village. Children will love looking for Santa’s Christmas Cabin, and the whole family can watch the spectacle of the nightly Snow and Glow Show and tree lighting ceremony. Six Flags Magic Mountain Thrill seekers flock to Six Flags Magic Mountain at any time of year, as this theme park is where they'll find the world’s tallest looping roller coaster, the fastest and longest flying coaster and the only 5th-dimensional coaster. But it’s even better during the holidays when millions of twinkling lights add even more dazzle to this dare-devil’s wonderland. Of course, there’s plenty for the less-adventurous too, with the nightly tree-lighting ceremony and choreographed sound and light show. Romantics will love the Victorian Christmas Village, where young and old alike will be transported to the time of Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol with themed costumes, handcrafts and décor. Universal Studios A must-see for movie-lovers any time of year, Universal Studios in LA really turns it on in the holiday season – especially if you’re a Harry Potter fan. Immerse yourself in the magical Wizarding World with the Harry Potter Studio Tour, then stroll through HogsmeadeTM – transformed for the season with lights, garlands and wreaths – and watch the dazzling music and light show featuring the Hogwarts Frog Choir and the majestic HogwartsTM Castle as its background. Elsewhere around the park you’ll find festive food and plenty of holiday gift shopping ideas – but watch out for the Grinch! If you’re there for New Year’s, hang around at a themed party for the midnight fireworks display. Disneyland Los Angeles There’s just something about the fairy-tale charm of Disney that makes everything here seem more magical at Christmas. Is it the twinkling luminescence of Cinderella’s Castle? The twice-daily Christmas parade bringing back memories of childhood Christmases and favorite gifts? Or perhaps it only happens when the sun goes down and streets and rides light up like the set of our favorite holiday movie. Whatever it is, a visit to Disneyland at Christmas will have your inner child bursting with happiness. Be sure to see the massive Christmas tree all lit up, catch the Small World light display and if you’re a fan of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas then don’t miss the haunted mansion, where you may just bump into your favorite characters from Halloween Town. Snow hunting Ok, so you won’t be able to recreate your favorite holiday rom-com scene in this city (you know, the one where boy and girl go ice-skating and it just happens to start snowing), but because LA is surrounded by mountains you can still escape to cooler climes where you can get your annual snow angel making fix. A couple hours inland, in the San Bernardino Mountains, is Lake Arrowhead, known as ‘The Alps of Southern California’, where visitors can go ice skating at Santa’s Village and drop off a letter at Santa’s Workshop Museum. Or at Big Bear Lake ski enthusiasts will find 400 acres of slopes to explore and night time glow tubing on the weekends. A self-drive lights tour As well as in theme parks and in shopping centers, plenty of the LA locals get into the festive spirit, decorating their homes and gardens for the season. Dana Point Harbor lights up with illuminated palm-trees, light sculptures and its famous ‘Merry Kiss Me’ arch, and it’s worth the drive to Palm Springs for some of the magnificently astonishing displays on offer there. But for local, personality-filled displays closer to home try Christmas Tree Lane in Altadena, the eight square-block area of Candy Cane Lane in Woodland Hills – where residents regularly try to out-do each other with ever-increasingly extravagant displays – or Harbeck Lights in Pasadena, where light-show themes in recent years have included Space Invaders, Hello Kitty and Star Wars. Solvang Danish village There’s no denying that Europeans know how to do Christmas, and it doesn’t get more fairy-tale-like than the Danish village of Solvang. Scandinavian architecture and wooden windmills are the backdrop for the annual holiday of Julefest, decorated for the season with lights and Christmas trees. Warm up with local wines and Danish pastries and, depending on when you’re there, you can witness the tree-lighting ceremony, watch a parade or live nativity, join a candlelight tour, visit Santa’s Grotto or go on a gnome hunt. And if you’re still around in January, you can attend the annual tree-burning festival which officially closes the holiday season. Experience the joy of the season with Go City With a Go City Explorer or All-Inclusive Pass you’ll save money on attractions all around Los Angeles – leaving you with more to spend on Christmas treats!
Karleen Stevens
Seal underwater in the Californian Channel Islands
Blog

Best things to do near Los Angeles

With long, golden beaches, stylish promenades and an average temperature that rarely dips below 60 degrees, Los Angeles is a dream vacation spot for anyone who loves chasing the sun or life in the chilled lane. And with nearby mountain ranges circling the city to the east, and the pacific ocean brimming with explorable islands to the west, the city of angels really is the ultimate outdoor destination. Whether you prefer island hopping, walking trails or snooping on the rich and famous, these things to do outside Los Angeles will give you plenty of reasons to be ga-ga about la-la-land: Santa Catalina Island Laguna Beach Whale and dolphin watching Ojai Valley Palm Springs Big Bear Lake San Diego ‘Fly’ over to Catalina Nestled in the California channel islands south of LA is the small Island of Catalina, where the adventurous can get their adrenalin going with scuba diving, kayaking, parasailing or even jet ski rental. If you’re more of an introvert, you can indulge in a spa day or explore the island’s numerous museums and galleries. Catalina is small enough to walk everywhere, and visitors with families can enjoy glass-bottomed boat rides, mini-golf and walking trails around the island. The best way to get there is on the Catalina Flyer, which docks in the historic port of Avalon. Let the sea breezes wake you up on the trip over in the morning, then relax on the open deck on the way back, sipping a cool beverage as you enjoy views of the glittering LA coastline. Lounge around on Laguna Beach About one hour from the city is Laguna Beach, making it one of the best day trips from Los Angeles if you feel the need for sand at your feet. Beach lovers will be in their element here, with seven miles of coves, caves, tide pools and bluffs to explore. It’s a popular spot for surfers, and animal lovers will relish a visit to the Pacific Marine Mammal Center, which rehabilitates seals and sea lions that have been stranded along the shores of the OC. If you prefer to keep your feet dry you can explore the Laguna Coast Wilderness Park or take a self-guided walking tour along the beach past public art spaces, architectural landmarks, coastal wildernesses and several bars. When you need to rest your legs, jump on the iconic blue and gold Laguna Beach Trolley for a free ride along the scenic Laguna Canyon Road. Go Whale watching from Newport Beach Okay, so technically Newport Beach is still in Los Angeles, but once you’re on the boat and out in one of the largest marine sanctuaries in California you’ll feel like you’ve left the city far behind. A two-and-a-half-hour whale and dolphin spotting tour includes a drink and binoculars, as well as commentary from the crew to help you spot any marine life that may be gamboling around in the waters around you. Depending on the time of year you might spot dolphins, orcas, minke, humpback, California gray or even the elusive giant blue whale. Later in the afternoon, swap whale watching for people watching with a stroll along Newport’s historic pier, try a surfing lesson at Newport Beach, or sample some local brews at one of the town’s atmospheric beach breweries. Sample sauvingnon and sunsets at Ojai A slightly more grown-up option for an LA day trip, Ojai is a small, picturesque city nestled in a valley of the Topatopa Mountains. About 90 minutes up the coast from Los Angeles, it’s known for its New Age and ecologically friendly galleries, shops and farmer’s market. It’s bordered by Lake Casitas and the Los Padres National Forest, both excellent for hiking and horseback riding, and the surrounding country is dotted with olive groves and wineries, perfect for sampling! And if you’re still there at sunset you might witness a magical ‘pink moment’, when the entire Ojai Valley glows with stunning peach, pink and lavender hues. Be sure to have your camera and tripod handy! Spot celebs at Palm Springs As the name suggests, this stylish city is dotted with hot springs and spas and is a modern-day lair of luxury with lavish hotels, immaculate golf courses and magnificent mid-century architecture. It’s been a magnet for the rich and famous since the 1930’s, when Hollywood stars needed a place to escape within a couple hours of the city. Shopaholics will love the vintage boutiques and interior design shops on Palm Canyon Drive, while movie fans can get the goss on famous inhabitants of the past on a Celebrity Tour. Before the drive home, take a ride on the Aerial Tramway over the Chino Canyon to Mount San Jacinto State Park, where there are restaurants, theaters, observation decks and a museum. Survey the seasons at Big Bear Lake If the blinding lights of the city are getting you down, escape into the mountains at Big Bear Lake, a small settlement a couple of hours away in the San Bernardino Mountains. Depending on what time of the year you’re visiting you’ll find plenty of activities on offer, from water sports in summer to skiing and snowshoeing in winter. Mountain trails around the lake are particularly stunning in the fall, and anglers can hope for a catch of salmon, trout and carp from spring through summer. The scenic Sky Chair runs year-round, so you can dangle your legs all the way to the top, while the young – and young-at-heart – will love the Big Bear Alpine Zoo, which provides sanctuary for animals that can’t be released into the wild. Have a close encounter at San Diego If you’re not planning a separate stay in ‘America’s finest city’ then it’s worth an early start and a trip down for the day, especially if you’re an animal lover, as the 100-acre San Diego Zoo is famous all over the world. Its rich botanical collection of over 700,000 plants provides lush, natural habitats for more than 4,000 rare and endangered animals, and you can experience unique animal encounters – such as early morning cheetah watching or the Skyfari Aerial Tram – that you won’t find anywhere else. If zoos aren’t your thing, there’s SeaWorld San Diego, Legoland California and of course the city’s picture-perfect 70 mile coastline to explore. Explore Los Angeles with Go City From crags to coast, zoos to ziplines, there’s a day trip from Los Angeles for every kind of adventurer. Get the most out of your stay in the city of angels and save money on popular attractions with a Go City Explorer or All-Inclusive Pass.
Karleen Stevens

Have a 5% discount, on us!

Sign up to our newsletter and receive exclusive discounts, trip inspiration and attraction updates straight to your inbox.

  • Thick check Icon