Explore Los Angeles and its surroundings by area
Seven ways to build a Los Angeles trip, from Hollywood and the beach cities to the big theme parks, Orange County, the desert, the Central Coast and the longer day trips beyond.
Must-visit areas
The essentials every first-time visitor builds a trip around — Los Angeles itself, spread from Downtown to Hollywood and Beverly Hills, the LA beaches from Santa Monica to Malibu, and the region's big theme parks.
Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills travel guide: the luxury residential city near Los Angeles, its car-first layout, its manicured streets and how to visit respectfully.
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Culver City
Culver City is a former studio town turned practical base — close to Los Angeles's core, with none of Hollywood's crowds and easy reach of day trips.
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Disneyland & Anaheim
Disneyland sits in Anaheim, Orange County, not Los Angeles. Plan tickets, driving time, and things to do beyond the parks.
Downtown LA
Downtown LA is the region's vertical, office and cultural core, and one of the few areas where the Metro genuinely works.
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Griffith Observatory & Griffith Park
Griffith Observatory and Griffith Park: the hiking trails, viewpoints and sunset timing for LA's best panorama and Hollywood Sign views.
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Hollywood: Inside the Myth of the Movies
A guide to Hollywood's film history, its studios and boulevard, and why the Hollywood Sign is best seen, not approached.
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Knott's Berry Farm: Buena Park's Homegrown Theme Park
Plan a visit to Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park: tickets, thrill rides, boysenberry roots, and how it differs from nearby Disneyland.
Koreatown, Los Angeles: A Local Guide to LA's Korean Quarter
Koreatown is LA's dense, walkable Korean quarter — Metro-accessible, packed with restaurants, cafes and spas, and unlike the city's film-focused sights.
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Legoland California: The Best Theme Park for Young Kids
Why Legoland California suits young kids best among LA's theme parks, plus travel time from LA, tickets, and planning tips for 2026.
Long Beach
Long Beach travel guide: the LA area's working port city, reachable by Metro, with an aquarium, waterfront and Catalina Island ferry.
Los Angeles Travel Guide: How to Plan Your Visit
A first-time guide to Los Angeles: how the region fits together, getting around, when to go, and what to book ahead.
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Malibu
Malibu guide: Zuma, El Matador and the Pacific Coast Highway beaches north of Santa Monica, how to get there, and what to actually expect.
Manhattan Beach
Manhattan Beach guide: the pier, beach volleyball culture, getting there without the Metro, parking tips and how it differs from Venice or Long Beach.
Marina del Rey
Marina del Rey guide: the boat-filled harbor minutes from LAX, between Venice and Long Beach, with boat tours, paddle sports and waterfront brunch.
Pasadena
A practical guide to Pasadena, a distinct city near LA known for historic architecture and culture, not film or beaches.
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Santa Monica
Santa Monica travel guide: the pier, beach and promenade, Metro E line access, when the morning fog clears, and how it differs from Venice and Malibu.
Six Flags Magic Mountain: Thrill Rides North of LA
Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia is LA's roller coaster capital, 45-60 min north of Downtown by car. Tickets, timing and what to expect.
Torrance & the South Bay
Torrance and the South Bay offer a calm, car-dependent base for indoor activities, cooking classes and escape rooms beyond LA's beach towns.
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood in Universal City: the studio tram tour, thrill rides, tickets and timing, and how it differs from Disneyland.
Venice Beach
Venice Beach travel guide: boardwalk, street art, Venice Canals, parking, getting there from Santa Monica, and what to actually expect.
West Hollywood
West Hollywood travel guide: nightlife, design shops and LA's LGBTQ+ scene, plus how to plan an evening-first visit between Beverly Hills and Hollywood.
35 guides →More to explore
Areas for a longer stay or a second trip — Orange County and Catalina Island along the coast south of LA, the desert towns of Palm Springs and Joshua Tree, and the Central Coast around Santa Barbara.
Anza & the San Jacinto Mountains
A rugged off-road mountain sector near Palm Springs, best explored by guided 4x4 - practical notes on terrain, temperature swings and access.
Big Bear Lake
Big Bear Lake is LA's mountain escape: pine forests, a real lake, and snow in winter — a few hours of mountain driving away.
Catalina Island & Avalon
Plan a Catalina Island day trip or overnight stay in Avalon: ferry times, no-car logistics, seasonal tips and things to do on the island.
Dana Point Travel Guide: Whale Watching and Harbor Life
Plan a Dana Point visit from Los Angeles: whale and dolphin watching, the harbor, driving times and when to go, without the Newport or Laguna crowds.
Death Valley
Death Valley from LA: a long desert excursion, not a half-day trip. Timing, heat, fuel, and when to actually go.
Huntington Beach
Huntington Beach travel guide: Surf City USA's pier, beaches and water sports, how it differs from Newport and Laguna, and how to get there from LA.
Irvine
Irvine is Orange County's inland, family-friendly city, built around indoor entertainment rather than the coast. Here's how to plan a visit.
Joshua Tree: Where to Stay and What to Do in Town
A guide to the town of Joshua Tree: lodging, dining, stargazing and workshops outside the national park boundaries.
Joshua Tree National Park: Entrances, Roads and Guided Activities
How to enter Joshua Tree National Park, drive its roads and book guided climbing, rappelling and backcountry tours safely and legally.
Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach travel guide: coves, cliffs and art galleries in Orange County, how to get there from LA, and what to plan ahead.
Newport Beach: Harbor, Coastline and Boating Guide
Newport Beach travel guide: the harbor, beaches and boating, how it differs from Laguna and Huntington Beach, and getting there from LA.
Ojai
Ojai is an inland Central Coast town built around hiking, nature and wellness, reached by mountain road, not by the sea.
Orange County
Orange County's beach cities, from Huntington to Laguna and Dana Point, plus the Catalina Island ferry — how to pick where to go.
Palm Springs: Desert Resort Gateway Near LA
Palm Springs travel guide: desert resort architecture, hot springs heritage, when to go, and how it differs from Joshua Tree and Death Valley.
Riverside
Riverside is a historic Inland Empire city east of LA — a freeway day trip, not a beach or desert park. Plan the drive, downtown sights and ghost tours.
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo travel guide: walkable downtown, Edna Valley wine country and brunch culture, as a Central Coast road trip stop north of LA.
Santa Ana
Santa Ana is Orange County's administrative seat and the access point for John Wayne Airport, better known for aerial views than beaches.
Santa Barbara: A Coastal Escape from Los Angeles
Santa Barbara from Los Angeles: a two-hour coastal drive, Spanish colonial streets, harbor cruises and in-town wine tasting rooms.
Santa Ynez Valley
Santa Ynez Valley: inland wine country over the hills from Santa Barbara, reached by a mountain road, best explored by car with reserved tastings.
Solvang: A Danish-Style Village in the Santa Ynez Valley
Solvang is a Danish-themed village in California's Santa Ynez Valley, reached from LA via the coast and a mountain road. Plan your visit.
Off the beaten path
Carlsbad
Carlsbad travel guide: Legoland California, the Village for food and walking, and airport shuttle options between LA and San Diego.
The Grand Canyon from Los Angeles
How to reach the Grand Canyon from Los Angeles: drive time, flying, combining it with Las Vegas, and when the rims close for winter.
Las Vegas from Los Angeles
How to get from Los Angeles to Las Vegas: driving times, transfers, one-way desert routes and multi-day Grand Canyon combinations.
San Diego from Los Angeles: A Day Trip Worth Taking
San Diego is close enough for a real day trip from LA, with the USS Midway and Old Town anchoring a full day near the border.
Temecula Wine Country
Temecula wine country: inland vineyards between LA and San Diego, sunrise balloon rides, and Old Town's ghost-hunt scene.
Yosemite from Los Angeles
Yosemite from Los Angeles is a 5-6 hour drive best done as a 2-day trip with Giant Sequoias, not a day trip.
Good to know about destinations around Los Angeles and Southern California
Los Angeles Trip splits its coverage into seven regions, because there is no single center to visit: Los Angeles is a sprawling coastal metropolis ringed by mountains, and the practical reality of a visit is choosing among several distinct zones spread across a wide stretch of Southern California. Los Angeles covers Downtown LA, Hollywood and Hollywood Boulevard, the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park, Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, West Hollywood, Koreatown, Pasadena, and Culver City, along with the major museums, the Getty Center, LACMA, and The Broad.
The LA beaches take in Santa Monica and its pier, Venice Beach and the Venice Canals, Malibu along the Pacific Coast Highway and the Getty Villa, Long Beach and the Queen Mary, Marina del Rey, and Manhattan Beach and the South Bay. The theme parks gather Universal Studios Hollywood, the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Knott's Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, and Legoland California. Orange County and Catalina Island cover Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Dana Point, Irvine, and Santa Ana, plus Catalina Island and Avalon, reachable only by ferry.
The desert spans Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley, Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley, Big Bear Lake, Riverside and the Inland Empire, and the Anza-Borrego and San Jacinto mountains. The Central Coast covers Santa Barbara, the Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang, Ojai, and San Luis Obispo. And day trips further afield reach Las Vegas, San Diego, Temecula wine country, Carlsbad, Yosemite, and the Grand Canyon. LAX is the main airport, with Burbank, Long Beach, John Wayne, and Ontario as smaller alternatives, and a rental car is the practical default as soon as a visit covers more than one of these zones.
Each destination page details what is actually there, rather than a generic description of Los Angeles.
Frequently asked questions about destinations around Los Angeles and Southern California
What are the seven regions on this hub?
Los Angeles Trip covers seven regions: Los Angeles; the LA beaches; the theme parks; Orange County and Catalina Island; the desert; the Central Coast; and day trips further afield.
Is Los Angeles one compact city?
No — the metro area covers a sprawling basin with no single walkable centre, and neighbourhoods that look close on a map can be 30 to 60 minutes or more apart by car.
Is Orange County part of the city of Los Angeles?
No — Anaheim, Huntington Beach and Newport Beach sit in Orange County, a separate county with its own cities, even though it's commonly grouped into an "LA trip."
Do I need a car to reach the beaches or Orange County?
A rental car is the practical default — LA Metro rail covers parts of the basin including Santa Monica and Long Beach, but Malibu, Orange County and the desert are not realistically reachable without one.
How far is Catalina Island from Los Angeles?
About an hour by ferry from the mainland — there is no bridge or causeway, so a boat crossing is the only way to get there.
Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory
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