If the only image that comes to mind when you think of Los Angeles involves smog, traffic, or Hollywood movie studios, think again. Did you know that Los Angeles has more than 80 theaters and 300 museums, more than any other city in the United States? A weekend getaway in Los Angeles can be culturally rewarding. Visit world-class museums, go to the theater, enjoy the best restaurants, and soak up the California sunshine along the way.
Why should you go? It will like you?
As long as you enjoy the arts, you will find something in Los Angeles to suit your particular taste, be it cutting edge or ultra traditional.
The best time to go
Weather is not such an important consideration if you go to a museum or an indoor concert. However, there are many outdoor performance venues whose seasons run in the summer.
Great things to do
- Free Concerts: In warmer months, you can enjoy a free concert on Friday nights at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. The UCLA Armand Hammer Museum also sponsors free concerts (days vary).
- The Getty Center Museum is the jewel of Los Angeles art museums, at least from an architectural standpoint. Expect to take a full day to visit it and if you like architecture, you can spend so much time admiring the buildings that you will never enter. Admission is free, but there is a parking fee. On a clear day, the sunsets can be spectacular from the Getty, and you may want to schedule your visit so it’s still there when the sun goes down. They are open late on Saturdays.
- Best Museums: Out of the hundreds in the city, this list features some of the best by type. If you’ve seen the most popular places, browse through a complete list.
- The Arts Downtown: The Performing Arts Center is home to the Ahmanson Theater, the Mark Taper Forum, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, and the Disney Concert Hall. The open-air atmosphere here elevates an arts night to a high and deserved level of glamor. If you are not staying downtown, avoid traffic and arrive on the Metro Rail Red Line, exiting at Civic Center / Tom Bradley Station, a short walk from the Arts Center.
- Music Arts: The Los Angeles Opera season runs from September to April. The Los Angeles Philharmonic performs from October to mid-June and in summer at the Hollywood Bowl.
- On Stage: With so many great actors living in the area, there is always a lot going on on the Los Angeles stage. Discover everything that is available.
- Small But Wonderful Theaters – A part of the Center Theater group but located in Culver City, the Kirk Douglas Theater is a 317-seat theater in a renovated historic movie theater, offering some of the best world-premiere avant-garde dramas. Another great option at extremely reasonable prices is the Fountain Theater, which the Los Angeles Times calls Broadway-caliber and the Wall Street Journal calls it “one of the best theater companies in California.” To top it off, its small and intimate theater has featured the last four American premieres of works by South African playwright Athol Fugard, and they are home to the acclaimed dance performance Forever Flamenco .
Annual Events You Should Know About
There is nothing we love more than seeing a great performance on a beautiful summer night. Try these favorites:
- Hollywood Bowl: Have a picnic to enjoy in the gardens or in your seat for the full experience. If funds permit, it is worth paying for a box seat with prepared food.
- Ford Amphitheater – A surprisingly affordable intimate venue set in a county park. His 2009 playing season is all premieres.
Advice
- If you are a fan of classical music, tune your car radio to FM stations KCSN 88.5 or KKGO 105.1
- Download useful apps to help you look like a pro. Take a look at this list of the best apps for your trip to Los Angeles.
Where to stay
The most convenient place to stay will depend on your itinerary. Downtown is convenient to the Center for the Performing Arts and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Beverly Hills and Hollywood for the great museums on Wilshire Blvd and the great theaters, and you can stay on the Westside to see the Getty Museums and activities at UCLA. Use the guide to where to stay in Los Angeles to find the best place for your trip.
