Guidebook for Los Angeles
Food Scene
We always like to order these things off their secret menu:
Double-Double, Protein Style
Animal Fries, Well Done
Cheese Fries, Extra Well Done
The drive-thru lines can be long at dinner time. Instead of waiting in the car, we recommend you park and order at the window, then sit in their outdoor covered seating area.
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In-N-Out Burger
7220 Balboa BlvdWe always like to order these things off their secret menu:
Double-Double, Protein Style
Animal Fries, Well Done
Cheese Fries, Extra Well Done
The drive-thru lines can be long at dinner time. Instead of waiting in the car, we recommend you park and order at the window, then sit in their outdoor covered seating area.
Big breakfasts, chili dogs, burgers, deli sandwiches for very reasonable prices. Hole in the wall where the locals go for tasty, cheap lunch.
Flooky's
21034 Victory BlvdBig breakfasts, chili dogs, burgers, deli sandwiches for very reasonable prices. Hole in the wall where the locals go for tasty, cheap lunch.
Hearty bowls of ramen with pork or seafood. It's a small place only locals know about. Seating is a bit tight, but families often come for dinner.
Mon Ramen
20839 Ventura BlvdHearty bowls of ramen with pork or seafood. It's a small place only locals know about. Seating is a bit tight, but families often come for dinner.
El Tejano WH
21028 Ventura BoulevardGastropub with unique burgers, appetizers, and adult milkshakes. Family-friendly.
Very cozy high-end chain steakhouse with a great happy hour.
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Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar
6373 Topanga Canyon BoulevardVery cozy high-end chain steakhouse with a great happy hour.
High-quality, inventive, very fresh sushi at a popular place frequented by the stars. Nearby in the Westfield Village are fountains and a huge play structure for the kids.
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Sushi Katsu-ya
6220 CA-27High-quality, inventive, very fresh sushi at a popular place frequented by the stars. Nearby in the Westfield Village are fountains and a huge play structure for the kids.
Moist, buttery cakes, cupcakes, cookies, moonpies. Hands down our favorite cake bakery. Popular with local celebrities.
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SusieCakes
11708 San Vicente BlvdMoist, buttery cakes, cupcakes, cookies, moonpies. Hands down our favorite cake bakery. Popular with local celebrities.
Menchie's
19755 Vanowen StTasty frozen yogurt with a huge toppings bar.
Drinks & Nightlife
Has 2 separate bars, one for specialty beers and one for fancy cocktails. Inventive food, happy hour specials (on the pricey side), sports.
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HQ Gastropub - Woodland Hills
20969 Ventura BlvdHas 2 separate bars, one for specialty beers and one for fancy cocktails. Inventive food, happy hour specials (on the pricey side), sports.
Hole in the wall British pub with live bands, karaoke, trivia, great happy hour specials. Bruno Mars got his start playing here when he was 18.
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Pickwick Pub
21010 Ventura BlvdHole in the wall British pub with live bands, karaoke, trivia, great happy hour specials. Bruno Mars got his start playing here when he was 18.
British pub with modern dishes and creative cocktails.
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White Harte Public House
22456 Ventura BlvdBritish pub with modern dishes and creative cocktails.
Gastropub with fancy brunch and DIY bloody mary bar.
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The Local Peasant - Woodland Hills
22901 Ventura BlvdGastropub with fancy brunch and DIY bloody mary bar.
Shopping
2.1 million square-foot, two-level shopping center with both luxury and casual shops. We’ve heard it’s the largest mall west of the Mississippi, but we’re not sure if that’s still true. Hotspot for celebrity sightings.
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Westfield Topanga
6600 CA-272.1 million square-foot, two-level shopping center with both luxury and casual shops. We’ve heard it’s the largest mall west of the Mississippi, but we’re not sure if that’s still true. Hotspot for celebrity sightings.
New outdoor shopping center with several unique kids’ play areas and sitting areas.
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Westfield Topanga
6600 CA-27New outdoor shopping center with several unique kids’ play areas and sitting areas.
Sightseeing
Vast views of the San Fernando Valley and a small picnic area. Bring your camera. It’s the early vista point on Topanga Canyon Blvd. before you get deep into the mountains. (That drive is stunning, and in 15 more minutes if it’s not rush hour, you end up in Malibu which is a great place to hang out.)
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Top of Topanga Overlook
3400 N Topanga Canyon BlvdVast views of the San Fernando Valley and a small picnic area. Bring your camera. It’s the early vista point on Topanga Canyon Blvd. before you get deep into the mountains. (That drive is stunning, and in 15 more minutes if it’s not rush hour, you end up in Malibu which is a great place to hang out.)
Look up online the locations of your favorite stars before you go. When you arrive, look around in the hills for the Hollywood sign. Walk to Grauman’s Chinese Theater (where the stars’ handprints, footprints, and signatures are in concrete). We like to eat at Shake Shack in Hollywood.
There are parking lots in the area which you can find by driving around the area near the Walk of Fame. It costs maybe $6-10 typically (if we recall correctly).
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Hollywood Walk Of Fame HQ
6255 Sunset BlvdLook up online the locations of your favorite stars before you go. When you arrive, look around in the hills for the Hollywood sign. Walk to Grauman’s Chinese Theater (where the stars’ handprints, footprints, and signatures are in concrete). We like to eat at Shake Shack in Hollywood.
There are parking lots in the area which you can find by driving around the area near the Walk of Fame. It costs maybe $6-10 typically (if we recall correctly).
Go to the Santa Monica Beach and relax on the sand for a few hours with a picnic. Carnival rides on the Santa Monica Pier are fun. The pier lights up at night. The Mexican restaurant at the end of the pier has good food and nice views. The Venice Boardwalk has souvenir vendors and Muscle Beach (muscle men/women swinging from rings and lifting weights). Don’t stay on the Venice Boardwalk/Beach after dark.
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Santa Monica Pier
200 Santa Monica PierGo to the Santa Monica Beach and relax on the sand for a few hours with a picnic. Carnival rides on the Santa Monica Pier are fun. The pier lights up at night. The Mexican restaurant at the end of the pier has good food and nice views. The Venice Boardwalk has souvenir vendors and Muscle Beach (muscle men/women swinging from rings and lifting weights). Don’t stay on the Venice Boardwalk/Beach after dark.
Entertainment & Activities
Go to Universal Studios early, right when they open. Go on the rides first before the lines get long. Then go on the tour tram, and see the shows.
Right outside the Universal Studios entrance, Universal Citywalk is full of fun shops, restaurants, and more.
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Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City PlazaGo to Universal Studios early, right when they open. Go on the rides first before the lines get long. Then go on the tour tram, and see the shows.
Right outside the Universal Studios entrance, Universal Citywalk is full of fun shops, restaurants, and more.
Arts & Culture
If you like art, the Getty Center is amazing. All their free tours are great. They have kid- and adult-friendly activities on their schedule. We recommend bringing sandwiches and having a picnic in the Getty Gardens. There is a hedge maze and all sorts of plant oddities. Parking costs money ($15? Not sure), but admission is free. Also, take photos of the view of LA on the tram ride.
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Getty Center
1200 Getty Center DrIf you like art, the Getty Center is amazing. All their free tours are great. They have kid- and adult-friendly activities on their schedule. We recommend bringing sandwiches and having a picnic in the Getty Gardens. There is a hedge maze and all sorts of plant oddities. Parking costs money ($15? Not sure), but admission is free. Also, take photos of the view of LA on the tram ride.
Famous library and museum with fascinating exhibits about Reagan's life and a former Air Force One plane. Eat at the cafe and enjoy the picturesque 360 degree views.
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Ronald Reagan Presidential Library
40 Presidential DrFamous library and museum with fascinating exhibits about Reagan's life and a former Air Force One plane. Eat at the cafe and enjoy the picturesque 360 degree views.
This place looks like a villa in Rome. Incredible architecture, statues, mosaics, and fountains with perfectly sculpted trees and gardens. A huge collection of antiquities. Breathtaking views.
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Getty Villa
17985 Pacific Coast HwyThis place looks like a villa in Rome. Incredible architecture, statues, mosaics, and fountains with perfectly sculpted trees and gardens. A huge collection of antiquities. Breathtaking views.
Parks & Nature
One of our favorite hikes, with easy parking by the trailhead and stunning views from the mountains.
Caballero Canyon - Santa Monica Mountains Trail
One of our favorite hikes, with easy parking by the trailhead and stunning views from the mountains.
Hop from boulder to boulder up the giant pile of rocks until you get to the top. More of a fun rock climb than a hike. Go early in the morning.
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Stoney Point Park
California 118Hop from boulder to boulder up the giant pile of rocks until you get to the top. More of a fun rock climb than a hike. Go early in the morning.
One of our favorite beaches for picnics because it's not too crowded. Free parking along Pacific Coast Highway. Lots of surfers. A bit rocky. Halfway between Malibu and Santa Monica.
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Topanga Beach
One of our favorite beaches for picnics because it's not too crowded. Free parking along Pacific Coast Highway. Lots of surfers. A bit rocky. Halfway between Malibu and Santa Monica.
Several incredible beaches in this area. Beautiful and quiet. Try to catch the sunrise or sunset.
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Malibu
Several incredible beaches in this area. Beautiful and quiet. Try to catch the sunrise or sunset.