Ah Los Angeles, the place I am so blessed to be able to call home! I grew up in Upstate New York, then came out to LA for college, where I have stayed ever since. My parents even followed me out here and moved out to Southern California in the summer of 2019. I like to joke that is how I know I am their favorite child 😉 So definitely have a lot of SoCal content coming your way! 

As for all spots on my list, I still visit these places, regardless of how many times I have been. I can’t lie, LA is a pretty great place to live. I sometimes have to pinch myself when I think about how my younger self always dreamed of this. There’s a mix of museums, restaurants, outdoor parks, and more – there is truly so much to do in Los Angeles! Check out my Travel Guides to add all these spots and more to your google maps to check out!

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1. Santa Monica Beach Walk

This is an official part of my workout routine! My gym is right across from Santa Monica beach, and the sunrise and sunset views cannot be beat. I truly feel so lucky every single time I go for a walk before work along the path. You can also rent bikes, scooters, or rollerblades and enjoy the beach path that way! I recently bought a pair of rollerblades to teach myself something new and blade off into the sunset.

2. Hollywood Sign

You know this had to be on the list…this is a very popular hike that will be full of tourists. However, I think everyone should do it at least once. It is pretty easy, and you can get great views of the city. Not to mention, views of the sign itself!

3.Griffith Observatory

girl in pink sports bra smiling at the camera with the sun shining at griffith observatory. view of downtown los angeles skyline in the background.

The Observatory is fun because 1) it has an unreal view of downtown Los Angeles, and 2) inside there is a Planetarium! You can also hike to the Hollywood Sign from here. Although it is a much longer hike than if you park directly at the base of the sign. I would definitely try to go here on a sunny day, when there are no clouds in the sky – you should be able to see all of Los Angeles. Pretty sweet!

4. Shangri-La

The Shangri-La is a hotel with the ONYX Rooftop Bar with an incredible view of Santa Monica! Another great place to watch the sunset and enjoy a drink. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to go up in the vintage elevator. You don’t need a reservation to come here, in fact they don’t even take them. Therefore, I recommend coming here about an hour before the sunset, or even a bit earlier if you are coming in the summer. It can get pretty busy and is a popular spot for locals and tourists!

5. Venice Canals

An iconic classic. Somewhat similar to the canals in Venice, Italy, you can walk along the paths and little bridges, and also enjoy a great view of the sunset here. This is the perfect spot for a little date night, or pre dinner walk.

6. Dodger Stadium

If you are here during baseball season (April – October), I highly recommend going to a Dodgers game! The tickets are pretty cheap, especially during the week. The food is actually very good as well – not just your typical hot dogs & fries (though they have that too)! 

7. Catch LA

As the only restaurant on this list, this spot is definitely the priciest. It is a well-known, delicious seafood restaurant where you can often spot a celebrity out to dinner! I would highly recommend the Crunchy Rice Cakes, Wagyu Gyoza, and MRC Roll. You can also go here for just a drink. Definitely make a reservation in advance – this place is super popular!

8. Elysian Park

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Hidden away above Downtown Los Angeles, Elysian Park rounds out my list as another great sunset spot. This hidden gem has so many palm trees lining the streets, it makes for the perfect photo opportunity. It is also just such a peaceful place to come visit, and you get a great view of Downtown Los Angeles and Dodger Stadium.

Regardless of where you go, Los Angeles has so much to do and see. It is impossible to fit into just one trip. There are so many different neighborhoods that have a wide variety of things to offer, you really can’t go wrong!

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💙mariss