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Los Angeles
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Things to do in Los Angeles
Beverly Hills Trolley Tours
See block after block of celebrity mansions on this 40-minute drive, including the late Lucille Ball's ranch house that starred in an episode of I Love Lucy. Tours depart on the hour, every hour, from 11am-4pm. Every Sat and Sun; Summer (July 5-Sept 1) Tues-Sun; Winter (Nov 23-Dec 30) Tues-Sun.
Chinatown
Adjacent to downtown, L.A.'s bustling Chinatown is packed with great dim sum restaurants, markets, curio shops, and a new spate of innovative art galleries (most situated on Chung King Road).
Fashion District
Though much of this district is wholesale-only, over 1,000 stores do sell discounted togs to the general public; Santee Alley is your best bet for famous-brand knock-offs.
Formosa Café
Opened in 1934, this storied West Hollywood watering hole, festooned with classic black-and-white Hollywood headshots, has had numerous celluloid moments, including the famous Lana Turner scene in L.A. Confidential. We recommend comandeering one of their dark booths for happy hour ($4 well drinks, Mon-Fri 4-7pm).
Getty Center
L.A. owes much of its reinvention as a high-brow culture capital to starchitect Richard Meier's travertine marble art institution, perched in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains. A tram ride up the hill followed by a stroll through the museum's gorgeous gardens makes one forget all about the traffic snarls below. Tues-Fri 10am-5:30pm; Sat 10am-9pm; Sun 10am-5:30pm.
Griffith Observatory
Positioned near the Hollywood Sign, this recently renovated Art Deco-era marvel offers great views of the heavens (on a clear night) and astronomy shows narrated by the likes of Leonard Nimoy. Tues-Fri noon-10pm; Sat-Sun 10am-10pm.
Hollywood Boulevard
Tour the Kodak Theater, home of the Academy Awards show (stop at the attached Hollywood & Highland retail complex, a tourist trap akin to Time's Square and Fisherman's Wharf, only long enough to snap a photo of the iconic Hollywood sign); see where the stars left their mark at the Grauman's Chinese Theater; then hop across the street for a show at the glittering El Capitan Theatre. For more suggestions on what to do on Hollywood Boulevard, check out our Top 10 Tourist Trap Tips.
Hollywood Hills
Hiking trails in Runyon Canyon, a 130-acre public park and former '20s housing development, afford awesome views of the Hollywood sign, downtown L.A., and iconic Hollywood architecture like the Capitol Records building, not to mention the occasional celebrity sighting. You can even look down into the yards and pools of several large estates tucked into the hills.
Rodeo Drive
Shopping is a serious sport in Beverly Hills. Pop into the Dutch-architect-designed Prada "Epicenter," jeweler-to-the-stars Harry Winston, Tiffany & Co., Cartier, Valentino, and Christian Dior in this three-block stretch.
Santa Monica Beach
Groove to the vibe of SoCal beach culture on this 3.5-mile-long stretch of sand. Kids will love the Santa Monica Pier, which is topped with snack bars, carnival games, and amusement park rides, including a vintage carousel.
Sunset Plaza
Don your shades and hit this strip of hip designer boutiques like Tracey Ross, Nicole Miller, Armani A/X, and Anna Sui. Recover at one of many nearby sidewalk cafes.
The Grove
Ersatz main street of Anytown U.S.A. offering everything from iPod accessories (at the Apple Store) to fresh vegetables (at the adjoining historical Farmer's Market), a dancing fountain, a double-decker trolley, and a supersized outpost of the American Girl doll store.
Universal Studios
See the actual sets of some of Hollywood's biggest movies, including the ominous Bates house from Psycho, on the studio backlot tour. Thrill rides include Revenge of the Mummy, Jurassic Park, and, new in 2008, The Simpsons Ride.
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