A common question many Angelenos are asked revolves around what L.A. is really like. Does it match the star-studded glamor from the movies or the superficiality represented in modern reality TV? Is the traffic bad and do restaurants only sell green smoothies?
It certainly doesn’t help that Google sends tourists to the exact same locations, continuing to build a collective notoriety of L.A. in people’s minds. And we’re talking about a lot of people. Los Angeles welcomes over 50 million visitors each year, according to the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation.
In a city that often feels overrun by tourists, locals start to build a stigma associated with the internet’s idea of the best L.A. has to offer, contributing to this you’re-clearly-not-from-here mentality that any true Angeleno would not be caught fawning over the Hollywood Walk of Fame or enjoying cotton candy at the pier.
But it’s important to remember that there is some reason why these locations remain so popular.
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Plus, considering that many current residents are transplants, weren’t most of us tourists at some point?
Larry's go-to
Our AirTalk host Larry Mantle asked his morning listeners to share their favorite tourist attractions, despite the clichés, long lines and often unnecessarily high prices.
Mantle, a native Angeleno who grew up near Hollywood, painted the picture of his perfect family outing. It begins at the start of the 50-mile-long Mulholland Freeway near Calabasas. With the top of his convertible down, Mantle starts to cruise through the scenic Santa Monica mountains before nearing the Pacific Coast Highway boasting expansive views of the Pacific Ocean.
Then, it’s a quick detour north to eat at Neptune’s Net, the seafood restaurant that’s been a staple since 1956 and the site of many Hollywood productions (The Fast and the Furious, Point Break, Losin’ It...).
He then hops back onto the Pacific Coast Highway to find a spot to decompress and watch surfers in the afternoon sun.
Listener favorites
Multiple callers shared a love for the Venice Canals. These man-made canals were built to resemble Venice, Italy, on a much smaller scale and are suitable for all ages. They’re perfect for leisurely strolls and offer opportunities for people-watching and funky architecture.
Drive a few miles north, and you land at the Santa Monica Pier, another notorious tourist attraction. The pier has classic carnival rides and arcade games and a variety of places to eat. For many, it brings up feelings of nostalgia from childhood county fairs, funnel cake and all. (I had my third birthday at the pier and from what I’m told, it was fun.)
Keeping with L.A.’s coastal treasures, the Getty Villa in the Pacific Palisades is a favorite for many. The Villa, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, is free for guests and houses a collection of Greek and Roman art in a variety of mediums. The exhibits surround a central garden with a picturesque reflecting pool.
To return to L.A.’s roots as an entertainment epicenter, listeners confessed they visited the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which spans Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street with over 2,700 stars’ names engraved beneath our footsteps.
It’s impossible to talk about L.A. tourist attractions without mentioning Disneyland in nearby Anaheim. It’s the site of Walt Disney’s first theme park and has expanded to include California Adventure, a Downtown Disney shopping district and three hotels. The park draws consistently large crowds and pays homage to tens of cult classic Disney characters, with the rides becoming iconic in and of themselves.
