Los Angeles
Things to Do in Los Angeles That Aren’t the Usual Tourist Stops: Part 1
I’ve visited Los Angeles more times than I can count, and now I’ve been living here for six years.
So when people ask me what to do in LA, I’m usually not sending them straight to Hollywood Boulevard.
There’s way more to this city than the Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, and taking a picture with the Hollywood sign.
Some of my favorite things to do here are the random experiences, creative workshops, art spaces, and day trips that make LA feel a little less obvious.
Here are a few I’d actually recommend.
I’ve visited Los Angeles more times than I can count, and now I’ve been living here for six years.
So when people ask me what to do in LA, I’m usually not sending them straight to Hollywood Boulevard.
There’s way more to this city than the Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, and taking a picture with the Hollywood sign.
Some of my favorite things to do here are the random experiences, creative workshops, art spaces, and day trips that make LA feel a little less obvious.
Here are a few I’d actually recommend.
Watch a Movie at Cosm
This is not your regular movie theater.
Cosm uses a massive immersive dome that makes the whole experience feel more like you’re inside the movie than just watching it.
I especially like this one because it turns something as normal as going to the movies into an actual experience.
If there’s a screening you care about, I think this is worth doing at least once.
Take a Day Trip to Catalina Island
Catalina is one of those trips that makes you forget you’re still in Los Angeles County.
You can take the ferry over, spend the day walking around Avalon, grab food, get on the water, or just slow down for a few hours.
This is one I would especially recommend if you’ve already done the standard LA attractions and want something that feels completely different without getting on a plane.
Explore Greystone Mansion
Greystone Mansion is one of those places that feels hidden even though it’s right in Beverly Hills.
The grounds are beautiful, the architecture is worth seeing, and it’s a great place to walk around or take photos without dealing with the crowds you get at some of LA’s more obvious landmarks.
It has that old Hollywood energy without feeling like a tourist attraction built around old Hollywood.
Make Your Own Art at Shot of Art
This is one of those experiences I like because you’re actually doing something instead of just looking at something.
You get to create your own artwork through different paint experiences, and you leave with something you actually made.
It’s fun for:
Date night
Friends
Birthdays
Something different to do on a weekend
And no, you do not need to be an artist.
Paint a Bear at BearDrips
This is another one that is just fun.
You choose the colors, pour the paint, and create your own custom bear.
It’s easy, creative, and one of those things where everybody’s final piece comes out completely different.
I like experiences like this because you leave with an actual memory from the day instead of just another photo in your camera roll.
Make Your Own Cologne
For something a little more unexpected, I’d add a fragrance-making experience.
Creating your own scent is one of those activities that feels very LA in the best way.
Creative
A little niche
And something you’re probably not doing in every city.
I especially like this for a date, birthday, or just something completely different from the usual dinner-and-drinks plan.
Visit the David Geffen Galleries at LACMA
If you like art, architecture, or design, I’d work the David Geffen Galleries at LACMA into the trip.
Even if you’ve been to LACMA before, the building gives you a reason to go back.
This is one of those places where the architecture itself is part of the experience, not just the art hanging inside.
I would give yourself enough time to actually walk through it instead of treating it like a quick museum stop.
Spend an Afternoon in the Arts District
The Arts District is one of those parts of LA where I would rather wander than overplan.
You can easily build an afternoon around:
Art
Coffee
Shopping
Galleries
Restaurants
Creative spaces
This also pairs really well with Shot of Art if you want to make a full day out of it.
Go Fragrance Shopping
If you don’t want to make your own fragrance, LA also has some really good niche perfume shops.
This sounds simple, but I actually think it’s the kind of small experience that makes a city feel more personal.
You can smell things you would probably never find at a department store, discover a new brand, and leave with something that reminds you of the trip.
💡 SHANE’S TIP
LA is one of those cities where the best stuff is not always sitting next to each other.
Do not try to do Beverly Hills, DTLA, Inglewood, and Catalina in one day just because the map makes it look possible.
Group things by area.
Your trip will be much better.
What I’d Prioritize
If I were picking the strongest experiences for Part 1, I’d keep:
Cosm
Catalina Island
Greystone Mansion
Shot of Art
BearDrips
Cologne-making class
David Geffen Galleries
Arts District
That gives you a really good mix of:
Art
Culture
Creative experiences
Architecture
Day trips
Immersive entertainment
Hands-on activities
The Bottom Line
Los Angeles gets a bad reputation because people come here, do three tourist attractions, sit in traffic, and decide they hate it.
That is not the LA I know.
The city gets much better when you stop trying to “see LA” and start doing things that actually fit your interests.
This is only Part 1.
Because six years in, I still have a list.
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