Los Angeles is not one city so much as dozens of neighborhoods stitched together by freeways, beaches and mountains. Spend a morning on the sand in Santa Monica or Venice, an afternoon among the galleries and food halls of downtown, and a golden-hour evening at Griffith Observatory watching the lights come on across the basin.
Want a classic South Bay beach day? Our Hermosa Beach travel guide covers the pier, The Strand and the best sunset spots.
The food scene alone is worth the trip: taco trucks, Koreatown barbecue, Thai Town and some of the country's most exciting restaurants all sit within a few miles of each other.
