Fun Facts About Los Angeles: Your Essential Trivia

By Katie Sagal
Published: July 18, 2024
Palm Trees

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.

Beverly Hills
  • 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.

Hollywood sign viewpoint
  • 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

Santa Monica pier
  • 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.

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Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

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Best Art Galleries in Los Angeles

The City of Angels: of course, the skies are blue and the beaches are picture-perfect. Still, Los Angeles is much more culturally-inclined than non-Angelenos are willing to admit. For those who can manage to tear themselves away from the city’s sun-kissed shorelines, there are countless cultural amenities well worth checking out. Whether you’re into fine art, sculpture, photography or contemporary works, Los Angeles has a gallery to satisfy your cultural cravings. Trust us when we say that L.A. is a total haven for creative types. So, if you’re planning to make the trip and still aren’t sure where would be the best places to visit, have a read through our list of some of the top art galleries in the area. However you choose to explore Los Angeles, we’re sure you’ll have a blast! Get Cultured Whilst New York has The Met, LA has the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Affectionately known as LAMCA by LA locals, this spot is one of the city’s most popular galleries - and with good reason. Spanning around 400, 000 square feet, it is the largest art museum in the western United States. Upon entrance, visitors can enjoy an impressive and expansive collection of over 150, 000 works going way back to ancient times. Walking around the museum, you’ll be able to enjoy a wide range of works, from intricate historic carvings and drawings to impressionist paintings and modern installation pieces. There’s a heck of a lot to see here, so we recommend putting aside a good few hours so that you’re able to take everything in. A great stop for history and art geeks alike, this place is a total must-see. If you’re looking for a gallery that has history and art all rolled into one, the Huntington Library would be the perfect choice. There are several sites making up the institute: the Main Library, which houses over 430,000 rare books and millions of manuscripts; the Art Gallery, with a fantastic collection of permanent and rotating exhibitions, and its sprawling Botanical Gardens. We suggest taking time to see it all; in the library, you’ll find everything from early prints to historic maps and medieval manuscripts. The gallery is known for its extensive art collection with a focus on 18th- and 19th-century European art and 17th- to mid-20th-century American art. And perhaps the institute’s most famous feature, the botanical garden, is known to contain over 150,000 plant varieties on 120 acres - so don’t skip it! A triple whammy, this place works to provide a fun and enthralling educational experience for those of all ages. Learn Something New Whilst Los Angeles is chock-a-block with modern and contemporary art galleries, that’s not all there is to see here. For photography enthusiasts and lovers of captured light, the Fahey/Klein Gallery is the place to be. Since opening to the public in 1986, the institute has grown to become one of the most popular institutes of its kind in the city. With an impressive collection of over 10,000 photographs spanning over the 19th and 20th centuries, there’s most certainly a lot to see here. If you’re a true photography buff, you might recognize some of the famous pieces wandering around this bright and sophisticated space. Even if you aren’t so well-versed in the realm of photography, this place is still a great stop, with each work more breathtaking than the last. Another museum that certainly doesn’t disappoint is The Broad, located just downtown. Though the gallery is young, it houses one of the city’s most popular collections of contemporary art. This spot in particular is known for its sleek and commanding facade, as well as its dimpled interior. The institute’s collection is friendly for a wide audience, housing big-name artists like Jeff Koons and Robert Therrien. Whilst the museum leans more pop than academic, there are still a lot of seminal pieces by influential modern artists. In addition, this spot is known for its Yayoi Kusama Infinity Room, a mirror room where visitors gather for selfies. Oh, and the best part? The institute offers free general admission to its permanent collection galleries, making it the perfect attraction for those travelling on a budget. Try Something New If you’re looking for something a little different, don’t worry - we’ve got you covered! Combining the wonderful natural attributes of California with the artistic vibe of the city, the Hollywood Sculpture Garden is a fantastic break away from the typical gallery experience. This spot brings together fantastic artists from all over the globe, with over 100 works all in one space. Walking through the garden, you’ll notice a lot of diversity throughout the collection, since this spot welcomes all types of sculpture and installation art. We love this space because the pieces here are totally one-of-a-kind. Whilst you walk, take time to appreciate the wild flourishing greenery and carefully-cultivated flower beds. Visitations are made by appointment only, so make sure to book before you go. With its beautiful location and breathtaking views, we couldn’t think of a better way to spend a sunny afternoon in Los Angeles. As the technological world has flourished, its approach has spilled over into all sectors of life - including but not limited to the art world. Whilst there are a number of digital art spaces in LA now, one of our favorites has got to be the Museum of Dream Space for its one-of-a-kind illusions. The institute is known for being the first museum mainly exhibiting computerized art in the United States. Inspired by the art of Yayoi Kusama (known for her Infinity Mirror Rooms), the space is filled with spectacular large-scale light art installations to blow visitors away. All of the exhibits are immersive, with the intention to blur the boundary between the artwork and the viewer. Whilst this spot is popular with the Instagram crowd, you don’t have to be an influencer to enjoy the splendid pieces on display here. Some of the best days on vacation are those spent inside of the walls of a gallery. Explore Los Angeles 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
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Los Angeles Neighborhoods Guide - Where to Go & What to Visit for Tourists

Planning a trip to Los Angeles? We highlighted a handful of the top attractions, places to see, and which neighborhoods in Los Angeles to visit during your vacation. The Beach Communities Los Angeles County’s 60-mile beachfront boasts a myriad of distinct beach communities stretching from Malibu in the north to Palos Verdes in the south. No trip to L.A. is complete without some time spent exploring the beach communities, so be sure to check them out. Four of the area's most popular beaches are Santa Monica, Malibu, Long Beach, and Venice Beach. Santa Monica Head to Santa Monica to explore its bustling ocean pier, beautiful ocean-front hotels, artsy vibe, and abundant shopping. Things to Do in Santa Monica Santa Monica Pier: No trip to LA is complete without experiencing the Santa Monica beachfront. Enjoy some classic, ocean-side fun. Take a spin on the thrilling rides at Pacific Park, check out the spot where the iconic Route 66 meets the ocean, explore all things sea life at the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, try your hand at fishing, and more. Hop on a tour bus and get the inside scoop on a Malibu Celebrity Homes Tour for a breezy ride up the Pacific Coast Highway and a chance to spot a celebrity. Walk along the iconic Santa Monica State Beach and check out the unique architecture of its beachfront properties. Pick up a souvenir and get some shopping in at the Third Street Promenade downtown. Visit The Getty Center, L.A.’s visual arts mecca and a gorgeous sight in itself designed by Richard Meier with beautiful gardens, open spaces, and one of the best views of the city. Malibu Malibu is best known for its celebrity residents and their ocean-side mansions. The 27-mile coastline is considered the most beautiful rural landscape in L.A. Plus, surfers love the big waves. Head to Santa Monica Pier to pick up a guided tour of the celebrity homes and prime real estate. Long Beach Famed for a number of top attractions from museums to cruises and beyond, Long Beach is a great family destination. It's located south of Los Angeles and is easily reachable by car. Things to Do in Long Beach Visit the supposedly haunted and definitely historic vessel Queen Mary, which offers plenty of special seasonal events and tours. Explore the fascinating Aquarium of the Pacific, which focuses exclusively on the marine life of the world's largest ocean. Take a whale watch cruise or harbor cruise to explore the beautiful waters of the Pacific. Indulge your creative side with a visit to the Museum of Latin American Art or the Long Beach Museum of Art. Get your shop on at the Pike Outlets. Venice Beach Famous for its Ocean Front Walk, Venice Beach is home to some of the most bizarre and eclectic characters in L.A. Things to Do in Venice Beach There’s nothing like a little people-watching on Ocean Front Walk where you’ll find street musicians, fortunetellers, and hundreds of skateboarders. Visit the world-famous Venice Beach Skate Park and spend some time scoping out the talent. The Westside and Beverly Hills By Scott Catron (Sunset on HollywoodUploaded by zaui) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia CommonsThe area known as the Westside, located between the beach communities and Hollywood, contains some of the most well-known neighborhoods in Los Angeles such as Bel-Air, Beverly Hills, and the ever-trendy West Hollywood. Things to Do in Hollywood Below are few fun ideas, but check out our post on things to do in Hollywood for even more! Take a tour of the famous Dolby Theatre®, the home of the Academy Awards®, and get an insider’s look at this iconic Hollywood institution. Tour the famed TCL Chinese Theatre (home to the world's largest IMAX screen). Snap photos with your favorite celebs (or at least their life-like wax representations) at Madame Tussauds Hollywood and see memorabilia from your favorite movies at the Hollywood Museum. Go behind the scenes on a guided walking tour that hits all the highlights of Hollywood or hop on a bus and see the Movie Star Homes of Hollywood A-listers. Get a workout in with a hike up Runyon Canyon Park for some fresh air and breathtaking views of the city and surrounding area. Walk along Hollywood Boulevard and check out the star-studded tiles along the famous Walk of Fame. Things to Do in the Westside and Beverly Hills Check out the Museum of Tolerance, a fascinating institution dedicated to promoting tolerance and understanding. Travel back in time to the Ice Age and check out the world’s largest and most diverse collection of extinct Ice Age animals and plants at the La Brea Tar Pit and Museum. Don’t even think about leaving L.A. without a visit to a working studio. The 2-hour guided Sony Pictures Studio Tour lets visitors step inside the gates and explore the place where movie magic happens. Cruise along palm tree-lined Sunset Boulevard from downtown to the Pacific Coast Highway and make a stop at Rodeo Drive, the famous 2-mile strip of high-end shopping in Beverly Hills. Downtown Unlike most cities, Downtown is not the center of attention in Los Angeles but its many attractions make it worth a visit. Things to Do in Downtown L.A. Visit the GRAMMY Museum®, one of L.A.’s best pop culture museums. Get the best views of the city at OUE Skyspace, an open-air observation deck with a famous glass Skyslide. Shop, dine, and browse through the eclectic Grand Central Market. Participate in popular local events like the monthly art walk. See a show at the Disney Concert Hall, a site to see in itself, designed by world-famous architect Frank Gehry. Browse through exhibits at the Japanese American National Museum, located in the heart of downtown L.A.’s Little Tokyo historic district. See if your favorite band is in town or catch a local sports game at the Staples Center multi-purpose sports arena. The San Fernando Valley Nestled between the Santa Monica Mountains and the San Gabriel Mountains, the San Fernando Valley is home to lots of entertainment and prime shopping. Things to Do in San Fernando Valley Be sure to get in a day of theme park fun and thrills at Six Flags Magic Mountain. Visit the impressive historical Mission San Fernando, which was first opened in 1797! Scope out the murals on the Great Wall of Los Angeles. Glendale & Pasadena Just north of the city are Glendale and Pasadena, two large cities in Los Angeles County and home to some of L.A.’s top attractions. Things to Do in Glendale & Pasadena Go behind-the-scenes on a studio tour and enjoy thrilling rides, shows, and attractions at Universal Studios Hollywood (ticket included with 3, 5, and 7-Day Go Los Angeles Cards). Take the kids to the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, home to more than 1,100 mammals, birds, and reptiles from around the world. Rent a bike for the day and explore the scenic trails around Los Angeles’ best kept secret, Griffith Park. Save on Attraction Admission in Los Angeles Neighborhoods While you're out there exploring all that L.A. has to offer, we're sure you'll want to pop into an attraction or two or four. Consider picking up a Los Angeles attractions pass to help you save up to 50% on combined attraction admission versus paying at the gate.
Casey Makovich
Rainbow-colored lifeguard station on Venice Beach during LA Pride
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Things to do in Los Angeles for Pride Day

Los Angeles is an integral part of the Pride origin story. For it was here in 1970, around a year after the riots at New York’s Stonewall Inn (and three after police raids at LA gay bars the Black Cat Tavern and New Faces) that one of the world’s very first Pride marches took place, alongside similar events in Chicago, San Francisco and the Big Apple itself. More than half a century later, LA Pride is a much-loved feature of the festival calendar: a vibrant, love-soaked celebration of diversity and inclusion that has the whole city partying for weeks on end. Better still, LA now has not one but TWO inclusive festivals running every June, since the welcome addition of WeHo Pride in 2022. WeHo is based out of LA Pride’s former location in and around West Hollywood Park, while LA Pride has moved back to the OG 1970s location in Hollywood proper. Still with us? If not, all you need remember is that it’s twice the fun it was previously! Rea don as we break down the deets (as chronologically as possible!) with all the essential events from LA's Pride festival season... Harvey Milk Day WeHo traditionally kicks off proceedings with an all-singing, all-dancing drag extravaganza on Harvey Milk Day, May 22. The annual José Sarria Drag Pageant is named after the first openly gay person to run for office in the United States, aka the drag performer Widow Norton. Expect dizzyingly high camp and a celebratory atmosphere. In a nod to Harvey, who later became the first openly gay elected official in California, milk and cookies are provided. The event is free, but you’d be well advised to reserve your spot online.  Date: May 22. More info here. Venice Pride Block Party The annual Venice Pride Block Party promises live DJs, a queer market, drag performers (of course), a whole host of enticing food trucks, and a few surprises to boot! And all this just inches from the beach. Way to get the party started.  Date: usually the Friday of WeHo weekend. More info here.  Outloud One of the major success stories of the breakout WeHo Pride celebration, Outloud is a three-day extravaganza of live music at West Hollywood Park. The Friday night opening party is free (but spots must be booked), while Saturday and Sunday are ticketed, with passes available for one or both days. We’re talking some major names, too: acts to appear in the first few years alone include Kylie, Kesha, Janelle Monáe, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Grace Jones. Date: first weekend of June. More info and tickets here. WeHo Pride Street Fair  WeHo Pride’s free street party is quite the amuse bouche ahead of the following weekend’s main event, featuring two days of performances – DJ’s, drag acts, fashion parades, mariachi and country bands, and more – across its Rainbow and Celebration stages at Santa Monica Boulevard. The annual Dyke March also kicks off from here on the Saturday afternoon. Date: first weekend of June. More info here. WeHo Pride March The WeHo Pride celebrations culminate with a march through West Hollywood, a river of flamboyant floats and colorful costumes that flows from N. Crescent Heights Boulevard, west along Santa Monica Boulevard to N. San Vicente Boulevard in Hollywood’s iconic Rainbow District. The parade kicks off around noon, and crowns a ‘Parade lifetime ally icon’ each year, with Cyndi Lauper becoming the inaugural holder of the title in 2024. Date: first Sunday of June. More info here. An Evening Among The Roses Soirees don’t come much swankier than The Huntington’s annual garden party celebrating the LGBTQ+ community and its stellar contribution to the museum and its work. Expect string quartets, specialty cocktails, decadent hors d’oeuvres, and slow-dancing in the beautiful rose garden. Tickets start at upwards of $100 for general admission with VIP entry and other increasingly pricey ticket bundles also available. Dress to impress! Date: first or second Friday in June. More info and tickets here. LA Pride in the Park Since returning to its Hollywood Boulevard roots in 2022, the original LA Pride has held its accompanying music festival further east still, in the LA State Historic Park. It’s a big ‘un, too: previous headliners to have filled the 80-foot stage include Megan Thee Stallion, Ricky Martin and Miss Mariah Carey herself! Add some 20 acres of activities, bars, food vendors, a ‘sober garden’ for natural highs, and an X-rated ‘erotic city’ and a good time is more or less guaranteed. Date: second Saturday of June. More info and tickets here. LA Pride Parade No shrinking violet, the epic LA Pride Parade kicks off on Highland Avenue at 11AM, painting a rainbow right across Hollywood Boulevard and down Cahuenga Boulevard. The pot of gold at the end? The LA Pride Block Party, a free all-day street party with live entertainment, drag acts galore, and more food trucks and beer gardens than you can shake a very large stick at. The best spots for ogling the parade’s fantastical floats and outlandish costumes are along the middle of Hollywood Blvd, or opposite the ABC7 broadcast area on Highland. Keep your peepers peeled for the grand marshals; previous incumbents include Harvey Milk, Paris Hilton, Demi Lovato and George Takei.  Date: second Sunday of June. More info here. Pride is Universal Ever wanted to experience LA’s Universal Studios after hours? Now’s your chance! The annual Pride is Universal event sees doors open to ticket holders as early as 2PM (VIPs) and 4PM (general admission). So far so normal. But when doors close to the general public at 9PM, you get to stick around! Pride gets the party started with multiple DJ sets and dance zones across the park, with the music continuing until 2AM. Better yet, most of the rides, attractions and restaurants stay open too, but without the long lines! Magical. Date: varies, but usually the weekend after LA Pride. More info and tickets here. Save on LA’s Most Popular Attractions Hey, you could always check out some of LA’s best tours, activities and attractions while you’re in town. Buy an attraction pass from Go City and you could save up to 50% on regular prices at nearly 50 attractions, including: Universal Studios Hollywood Big Bus hop-on hop-off tour Madame Tussauds Hollywood La Brea Tar Pits The Natural History Museum … and more! Find out more and bag your Los Angeles attraction pass here.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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