Los Angeles

Made world-famous in the film Rebel Without a Cause, Griffith Observatory's bronze domes have been Hollywood Hills landmarks since 1935. — Frommer's

This is a nice escape from the big city if you have a day to spare while in Southern California. — Afar Magazine

LA’s premier art museum, LACMA is an Aladdin’s cave of paintings, sculpture and decorative arts stretching across ages and borders. — Lonely Planet

The Richard Meier-designed Getty Center has quickly assumed its place in the L.A. landscape (literally and figuratively) as the city's cultural acropolis and international mecca. — Frommer's

This mouthwatering gathering place is the city's largest and most active food market. — Fodor's

This gorgeous outdoor amphitheatre has been hosting concerts since the LA Philharmonic first played here in 1922. — Time Out

Eclectic and dramatic Victorian masterpiece that was featured in Blade Runner. — Not For Tourists

More than just a place to see weird animal bones and models of long-extinct Homo sapiens. — Afar Magazine

Art museum and cultural center that is free and open to the public! With over 300 programs a year, the Hammer Museum showcases a variety of happenings from lectures, screenings, to special exhibits. — On the Grid

A bas-relief around four sides depicts life in the Pleistocene era, and the museum has more than 3 million Ice Age fossils. — Fodor's

Visit industrialist Norton Simon’s huge collection of fine art, including works by Degas, Renoir, Gauguin, and Cézanne. — Travel + Leisure

A masterpiece of the Arts and Crafts movement, this house was the winter residence of David Gamble, heir of the Procter & Gamble soap company. — Michelin Guide

While most first-time Los Angeles visitors consider this to be a must-see stop, bear in mind there are many other attractions that define Hollywood that aren't a tourist trap with steep prices. — Fodor's

Something of a local powerhouse, the Skirball aims to look at connections between 4,000 years of Jewish heritage and different communities around LA. — Time Out

As the first universally accessible playground in the Western U.S. and the largest in the nation, this giant, jaw-dropping gem is the most popular playground in Los Angeles. — Time Out

This is one of L.A.'s early architectural achievements and the third-largest library in the United States. — Frommer's

Union Station, completed in 1939, is one of the finest examples of California mission-style architecture and one of the last of America's great rail stations. — Frommer's

The Los Angeles Zoo continues to be a popular attraction in L.A. for tourists, Angelenos and families alike. It’s an affordable hidden gem, a lush oasis tucked into the hills of Griffith Park. — Time Out

The collection has grown to about 500,000 objects, including 12,000 baskets and many sculptures and ceremonial garments, only about 2 percent were on view at one time at its current site. — Michelin Guide

Head to the wildly entertaining interactive Grammy Museum—a space that brings the music industry's history to life. — Fodor's