How to Spend the Perfect Weekend in Los Angeles

The City of Angels is an undeniably amazing metropolis offering world-class attractions, endless dining and accommodation options and bars and beaches pulsating with energy and beautiful people. Regardless of what you’re seeking, you can probably find it here in this Southern California escape. Here's how to spend the perfect weekend in Los Angeles:

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Reserve at least a few hours for the fantastic Los Angeles County Museum of Art on Wilshire Boulevard, possibly the most impressive collection of art on the entire West Coast. Works by legendary European painters Rembrandt, Degas, Cézanne and Monet are just one highlight of this massive complex, which also includes superb showcases of African art, a Japanese Pavilion, decorative arts and photography.
2. Spend a night on the Sunset Strip, an infamous section of the renowned Sunset Boulevard that includes such legendary nightspots as the Viper Room and the Whiskey a Go Go. The Strip has something for every mood, from Dan Aykroyd’s House of Blues to The Comedy Store’s top-notch stand-up routines.
3. Enjoy an afternoon by the Santa Monica Pier, a quintessential California beach with long and lovely stretches of sand and a pier boasting seafood fare; a historic carousel and other rides; and some unforgettable views of Santa Monica Bay and Malibu in the distance. Nearby Venice Beach is a wonder of bohemian artists, inline skaters and street musicians, making it one of L.A.’s best sites for people watching.
4. Go star gazing at the Hollywood Walk of Fame along Vine Street and Hollywood Boulevard, where thousands of star-shaped bronze plaques paying tribute to famous actors and musicians are set into the sidewalk.
5. Catch a baseball game in one of major league’s most appealing sites, Dodger Stadium on Elysian Park Avenue, not far from Sunset Boulevard. Winter visitors can choose from two local NBA teams (the Lakers and the Clippers) that play their home games at Staples Center on Figueroa Street.
6. Enjoy an evening of exquisite dining in one of the city’s trendy new eateries or established old-L.A. restaurants. The Musso & Frank Grill on Hollywood Boulevard is an ideal "old school" choice serving seafood treats and grilled meats.
7. Go on an upscale shopping spree in Beverly Hills, the city’s most pristine neighborhood, chock-full of sophisticated retailers like Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Tiffany & Co. The pulse of this area is along Rodeo Drive, including the exquisite 2 Rodeo, a somewhat enclosed Italianate plaza just off Wilshire Boulevard.

Tips & Warnings

• There are several airports in the region, with most plane travelers arriving through Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), located just south of Santa Monica and served by essentially every major airline.