While Rodeo Drive, Disneyland and studio tours beckon tourists every year, there's much more to the Los Angeles area than shopping and theme parks. This diverse and immense city and its suburbs offer a myriad of unique hidden gems. From the quirky to the delicious, there are wonderful spots to discover all over the place. Here are just a few of the best spots in L.A.
There's really no shortage of great food in the L.A. area, but if you are looking for something cool, fun and historic, drive over to Alameda Street in the city's downtown area to Philippe's. This restaurant has been a downtown staple since 1903, and is known as the spot where the French dip was invented. This sandwich happened by happy accident when a customer's bread was dropped into the meat juices. The customer loved the sandwich so much, he came back to Philippe's the following day with several friends in tow. It quickly became a favorite at the restaurant, and soon the sandwich was famous nationwide.
In Los Angeles, it seems like there is a coffee house on every corner, but all coffee houses are definitely not created equally. If you want to sample the best and freshest gourmet brew in the L.A. area, you cannot beat Island Monarch Coffee in Culver City. The proprietors use only the freshest beans and the finest purified water to create the many coffee drinks on their menu. Still-green beans are shipped in from Latin American and Hawaii and then roasted and blended. These beans are freshly ground for each order to ensure that every cup of coffee is perfect.
There are some truly odd and even somewhat spooky adventures to enjoy in the Los Angeles area. One option would be to head to Griffith Park and check out the remnants of the Old Zoo. The Los Angeles Zoo is open and thriving in Griffith Park, but what we're talking about is the remains of the original zoo. This "ghost" zoo still features abandoned cages and enclosures. The Old Zoo is located before you reach the new zoo, and there is a parking lot by the Old Zoo Picnic Area sign. A short, easy hike from the parking lot will take you to the zoo.
If you are a car enthusiast, you will want to visit the Petersen Automotive Museum which is located on Wilshire Boulevard along the Miracle Mile. However, outside of the city in the town of Sylmar, you will find the Nethercutt Museum. This museum houses a vast collection of pristine automobiles dating from about 1910 to the 1930s. In addition to the cars, there is also a restored 1937 Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson locomotive and a Pullman Private Car that dates back to 1912. In addition to the museum, you can schedule a guided tour of the Nethercutt Collection which includes automobile collectibles, historic musical instruments and music boxes, antique dolls and much more.
There are plenty of other great places to visit in the Los Angeles area, from the antique stores located in the City of Orange down in Orange County to the donut shops that are shaped like giant donuts. There are hikes that take you to waterfalls, historic missions, whale-watching adventures and many other exciting options. You could fill weeks with great food and activities and never once pay an entrance fee to a theme park.
There's really no shortage of great food in the L.A. area, but if you are looking for something cool, fun and historic, drive over to Alameda Street in the city's downtown area to Philippe's. This restaurant has been a downtown staple since 1903, and is known as the spot where the French dip was invented. This sandwich happened by happy accident when a customer's bread was dropped into the meat juices. The customer loved the sandwich so much, he came back to Philippe's the following day with several friends in tow. It quickly became a favorite at the restaurant, and soon the sandwich was famous nationwide.
In Los Angeles, it seems like there is a coffee house on every corner, but all coffee houses are definitely not created equally. If you want to sample the best and freshest gourmet brew in the L.A. area, you cannot beat Island Monarch Coffee in Culver City. The proprietors use only the freshest beans and the finest purified water to create the many coffee drinks on their menu. Still-green beans are shipped in from Latin American and Hawaii and then roasted and blended. These beans are freshly ground for each order to ensure that every cup of coffee is perfect.
There are some truly odd and even somewhat spooky adventures to enjoy in the Los Angeles area. One option would be to head to Griffith Park and check out the remnants of the Old Zoo. The Los Angeles Zoo is open and thriving in Griffith Park, but what we're talking about is the remains of the original zoo. This "ghost" zoo still features abandoned cages and enclosures. The Old Zoo is located before you reach the new zoo, and there is a parking lot by the Old Zoo Picnic Area sign. A short, easy hike from the parking lot will take you to the zoo.
If you are a car enthusiast, you will want to visit the Petersen Automotive Museum which is located on Wilshire Boulevard along the Miracle Mile. However, outside of the city in the town of Sylmar, you will find the Nethercutt Museum. This museum houses a vast collection of pristine automobiles dating from about 1910 to the 1930s. In addition to the cars, there is also a restored 1937 Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson locomotive and a Pullman Private Car that dates back to 1912. In addition to the museum, you can schedule a guided tour of the Nethercutt Collection which includes automobile collectibles, historic musical instruments and music boxes, antique dolls and much more.
There are plenty of other great places to visit in the Los Angeles area, from the antique stores located in the City of Orange down in Orange County to the donut shops that are shaped like giant donuts. There are hikes that take you to waterfalls, historic missions, whale-watching adventures and many other exciting options. You could fill weeks with great food and activities and never once pay an entrance fee to a theme park.
About the Author:
Debrah Elliot likes reading coffee blogs. For additional details about the best coffee Culver City or to know where to get Hawaiian coffee Culver City, please visit the Island Monarch Coffee website today.