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Monday, October 14, 2013

One Day In L.A.? Here's What To Do

By Marquerite Velasquez


Los Angeles and its surrounding environs are a vast and colorful landscape filled with a myriad of attractions. If you are in town, but just for a single day, you certainly can't expect to see all that the area has to offer. However, you can plan out a day of adventure. Here are some suggestions for those who can spend just one day in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles County, which houses both the vast City of Los Angeles, as well as dozens of other cities, is the most populous county in the United States. The county encompasses a vast array of geography and climate types, from the cool, coastal areas to the edge of the Mojave desert as well as mountains and huge valleys. For many travelers, a visit to Los Angeles wouldn't be complete without a trip to the ocean.

Santa Monica has long been a Mecca for tourists, and this bustling city by the sea offers plenty to do and see. Start off with breakfast at a local cafe and head to the pier and Pacific Park. You'll recognize the site as the locations for dozens of movies and TV shows. Spend the morning checking out boutiques, playing in the arcade, riding the roller coaster or enjoying the country's only solar-powered Ferris wheel. The carousel is fun for little kids, and is one of the most historic in the country.

When you think of history, Los Angeles doesn't immediately spring to mind. However, there are many historic sites in the area and some are older than the United States. In the 18th Century, Spaniards sent Franciscan priests to California to establish a series of missions from San Diego up to Northern California. Two of these missions are located in Los Angeles County and both offer tours. The Mission San Gabriel Arcangel is the older of the two, built in 1771. Mission San Fernando Rey is the other option, and this mission dates back to 1797.

New York might have Central Park, but here in L.A., we have Griffith Park which is just as big and impressive. In fact, it's actually bigger and the second largest park in the United States with more than 4,300 acres. In addition to a planetarium complete with the Griffith Observatory, there is the Los Angeles Zoo to enjoy and Travel Town, a railroad museum. You can also grab a picnic lunch and enjoy the beautiful scenery.

At this point, you will definitely be need of some refreshment, so drive to Culver City and enjoy the confections at YoKuMon. This popular eatery sells a variety of sweet treats, including shaved ice, ice cream, freshly baked cookies and their most popular treat, the $2 ice cream sandwich. This isn't just a plain old ice cream sandwich either; this is a scoop of gourmet ice cream placed between two large and freshly made cookies. You can choose any combination of ice cream and cookies, and there is more than a dozen of each option.

After this, the best way to cap off your evening is to spend it at the Hollywood Bowl. This outdoor theater, home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic, is not only an amazing bit of L.A. architecture, the view of the Hollywood Sign and Hollywood Hills make it a perfect L.A. venue. Artists vary from classical to jazz to even modern stars such as Pearl Jam. There are dozens of events to consider, so before you arrive in town, see if you can score tickets to something special on your one day in L.A.




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