There are three hiking trails up to the Hollywood sign. — NATHAN DEFIESTA/Unsplash
Stars, stunts and a SoCal concert – Los Angeles stepped into its 2028 Olympic hosting role in true Hollywood style.
The flag handover ceremony at the Paris 2024 Olympics earlier this month was given a cinematic flair with action star Tom Cruise rappelling off the Stade de France roof, then zooming out of the stadium on a motorcycle after receiving the Olympic flag from LA mayor Karen Bass and celebrated US gymnast Simone Biles, and then jumping on a plane to “deliver” the flag to the United States.
Olympians Kate Courtney, Michael Johnson and Jagger Eaton later took turns carrying it until the flag arrived in Long Beach, culminating in an LA beachside concert featuring Red Hot Chili Peppers, Billie Eilish, and Snoop Dogg with Dr Dre.
It was flashy, it was extravagant, it was a showy sneak peek of what’s to come in the 2028 Summer Olympics or LA28.
Taking over from Paris, who will continue on to host the 2024 Summer Paralympics from Aug 28 until Sept 8, LA will play host to the Olympics for the third time from July 14 to July 30, 2028.
The Southern Californian city had previously hosted in 1932 and 1984, making it the US city with the most time hosting – while the US itself holds the record for the country that has held the Olympic Games the most. The first time was in St Louis in Missouri (1904), followed by LA twice and later Atlanta, Georgia (1996), making the 2028 event its fifth time.
If you’ve been wanting to be an on-site spectator of the Olympics or visit the City Of Angels, why not kill two birds with one stone? The metaphorical stone being: LA28.
The big picture
As demonstrated by the flag hand-off, LA’s identity is rooted in movie magic and Hollywood glamour. But zooming in for a closer look, you’ll find that the city also provides great historical and cultural explorations, as well as natural wonders perfect for both lively fun and winding down.
More on those later. For now, let’s backtrack to the silver screen. Home to Hollywood, the world’s largest film industry, it’s unsurprising that most of LA’s attractions revolve around showbiz.
Try at least one of the studio tours. Whether you choose Warner Bros, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures or Paramount Pictures is really up to your preference – eg Harry Potter for Warner Bros or Spider-Man for Sony Pictures.
Walt Disney Studios doesn’t do regular studio tours, so you’ll have to make do with visiting Disneyland Park in Anaheim, which is accessible via train or car (about half an hour without any traffic congestion).
You can opt to go to Universal Studios Hollywood if your interests lean more towards the likes of Minions and Harry Potter – rides based on the wizarding franchise are found in Universal theme parks, not Warner Bros.
Head early to the Hollywood Walk of Fame to avoid the crowd so you can have unobstructed views of your favourite stars’ ... well, stars. There are more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars bearing the name of Hollywood talents for you to peruse.
If you prefer these names have faces attached to them, visit the wax museum Madame Tussauds Hollywood to take photos with life-sized wax figurines of celebrities.
Other museums you can consider visiting include the Academy Museum Of Motion Pictures, Getty Centre and The Broad – the latter includes two infinity mirror rooms by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.
Enjoy another form of art, namely music, at venues like Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Frank Gehry-designed hall at the Los Angeles Music Centre that opened in 2003, and The Hollywood Bowl, the amphitheatre that has played host to various music legends since its opening in 1922.
The Griffith Observatory is a great place for science and space. — PEDRO MARROQUIN/Unsplash
Of course, a trip to LA wouldn’t be complete without photos of you posing with the city’s emblematic Hollywood sign. To take the best photos with the sign without hiking to the peak, head to the Griffith Observatory. Also, while you’re there, you might as well enter it and enrich your mind with space facts.
Fun fact: Tom Cruise was the first actor to “legally” touch the Hollywood sign when he was shooting his recent Olympic stunts there. Yes, in the 100 years (the sign’s centennial was last year) that it’s been up on Mount Lee, apparently no stars have been legally allowed to touch it.
The beautiful nature
A sunny skyline lined with palm trees, crowded sandy beaches – these are probably the extent of tourists’ perception of “nature” in association with LA.
While true to a degree, you have to admit there’s plenty of fun in the sun to be had on its beaches. Venice Beach, for instance, is great for capturing the essence of LA.
Stroll down Venice Boardwalk and be greeted by a dynamic medley of street performers, craftsmen, vendors, skateboarders and even bodybuilders!
The latter is found on Muscle Beach Venice, not to be confused with the Original Muscle Beach in Santa Monica which, as per its name, was the first beach park to incorporate gym equipment, attracting athletes, gymnasts and eventually tourists.
Speaking of Santa Monica Beach, visit the Santa Monica Pier to enjoy a day out at Pacific Park, a small amusement park with thrilling rides that include the 17m-tall roller coaster, West Coaster, and the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel, the Pacific Wheel.
Don’t forget to try classic amusement park snacks on the pier, like funnel cake, or head to one of the restaurants nearby for some seafood chow.
Those looking for adventure might find Playa del Rey Beach a little too quiet for its lack of activities, but that’s what makes it a good option if you want to experience an LA beach minus the crowd.
Moving further inland to more verdant landscapes, take the chance to hike through one of LA’s many trails, such as the Runyon Canyon (a favourite among celebrities) and Backbone Trail (the longest trail at 108km long).
You can even hike to the Hollywood sign via either of the easier Mt Hollywood Trail or Brush Canyon Trail, or via the more challenging Cahuenga Peak Trail. Just don’t expect the hike to lead you close enough to the sign to be touching it like you’re Tom Cruise.
Diverse neighbourhoods
The Discover Los Angeles website states the city’s population currently numbers at 3.9 million. The LA County, where the LA city is of course set in, has 10 million residents.
Founded in 1781 and later absorbed into the US in 1847, the city welcomed people from over 140 countries to its 1,210sq km of land over the centuries. Today, it is one of the US’ most culturally diverse cities.
LA's Koreatown is the largest Koreatown in the US. — DOWTOWNGAL/Wikimedia Commons
The Koreatown in LA is the largest in the US (also the country with the largest Korean diaspora).
The 7.7sq km neighbourhood started in 1971 with the opening of the Olympic Market by businessman Hi Duk Lee, who added more buildings until it was officially designated as Koreatown in 1980.
Today, you can visit Koreatown for places like the women-only Olympic Spa, the Art Deco landmark The Wiltern Theatre and tons of cute cafes, and of course, Korean restaurants and bars.
Similarly dotted with Instagrammable eateries is Japantown or Little Tokyo, the Koreatown equivalent for Japanese Americans that have been around since the 1880s. It houses The Japanese American Cultural & Community Centre, which is among the largest Asian American cultural centres in the US.
There are only three officially designated Japantowns left in the country; the others are located in neighbouring Californian cities, San Jose and San Francisco (the largest).
As for Chinatown, the one you’ll see standing in Downtown LA today is not the same one built in the 1860s. The old Chinatown was demolished in 1933, but engineer Peter Soo Hoo started New Chinatown, which opened in 1938 with its first mall, Central Plaza.
You can still visit the mall today, along with other interesting spots like Thien Hau Temple (which once served as a church) and Chung King Road (for art galleries and exhibitions).
Another significant “immigrant town” is Little Armenia. If America’s arguably most famous Armenian-American reality TV family popped into your mind, no, this is not where the Kardashians live. But they do love frequenting the town’s premiere Middle Eastern restaurant, Carousel.
Places you can visit include St Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church that’s renowned for its breathtaking stained-glass windows, the “We Are Still Here” mural by Armenian street artist, Artoon, and Papillon Bakery for ponchiks (Armenian doughnut)!
The good (and fast) foods
Despite the premise of 2004 documentary film Super Size Me, fast food is so deeply ingrained in the US food culture that to this day it has not relinquished its grip on the masses.
Look up iconic foods to eat in LA and you’ll find plenty of fast food joints peppered in the list. There’s a reason for that.
In the 1940s, such eateries mushroomed in post-World War II Southern California due to growing demands for quick meals that could be eaten on the go. Some eight decades later, the region has become the world’s fast food epicentre – LA Times and LAist have done in-depth coverage on this – and it’s even disseminated most of its homegrown brands to other parts of the world.
In-N-Out Burger is one of LA’s most popular fast food chains. — EDDIE MALONEY/Wikimedia Commons
Chances are you’ll be looking for fast food chains that have yet to enter the Malaysian market. In-N-Out Burger, Pink’s Hot Dogs, Pioneer Chicken, Wahoo’s Fish Tacos and Langer’s Delicatessen-Restaurant, for example. These pretty much encompass the city’s popular offerings: cheeseburgers, hot dogs, fried chicken, tacos and pastrami sandwiches.
Other LA staples to try include the French Dip sandwich from Philippe The Original or Cole’s (both claim to be its originator), chicken and waffles from Roscoe’s, fresh strawberry doughnut from The Donut Man (famous for its large doughnuts stuffed with fresh fruits) and The Dodger Dog (must-eat hot dog at the Dodger Stadium).
While New York City – and its dollar pizza – has arguably the largest slice in the pizza scene, LA’s own has been flourishing since 2018. This was boosted by the pandemic, which necessitated the pivoting of businesses to making products that required low overhead costs.
Now pandemic-born pizzerias like Quarter Sheets, Pizzeria Sei and Quarantine Pizza Co are just as sought after as the earlier established ones like the upscale Pizzeria Mozza, the New York-style Prime Pizza and the standing only Apollonia’s Pizzeria.
Foodies looking for viral eats will love LA offerings like Fluffy McCloud’s (with Instagram-worthy decor), JellyMan (Donald Glover-owned bubble tea store) and Coco Man (a vendor who sells coconuts filled with Mexican candy ... and seafood too).
Get fresh produce at the Original Farmers’ Market. — CLOTEE PRIDGEN ALLOCHUKU/Wikimedia Commons
Must-visit markets
Another good way to sample LA cuisine is to visit the markets. Originally a local market when it opened in 1917, the Grand Central Market in downtown has since evolved into a lively eatery-packed tourist attraction.
The Original Farmers’ Market that opened in 1934 offers plenty of variety too, plus a wide array of artisanal food and more than 100 gourmet grocers.
On Sundays, you’ll want to head out early to the Hollywood Farmers’ Market. Seasonal fruits at the outdoor market tend to sell out fast. If you miss this, LA has plenty of other weekly farmers’ markets you can explore. Note that not all open on Sundays; check their official websites and socials for the latest schedules.
Among them are Mar Vista Farmers’ Market (try the coconut milk!), Malibu Farmers Market (breakfast crepes are the draw here) and Beverly Hills Farmers Market (this even has a petting zoo).
Aside from the fresh produce and artisanal goods, a great thing about LA markets is that there are usually live events, like cooking demos and book signings, or live music performances (probably a given in a city filled with creative talents), further adding to the experience.
Santa Monica Pier has the small but fun Pacific Park. — VITALY SACRED/Unsplash
There is another type of market you should visit when in LA, especially if you’re looking for vintage souvenirs to bring home: Flea markets.
Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Flea Market, Melrose Trading Post, Santa Monica Airport Antique Market, Topanga Vintage Market and Long Beach Antique Flea Market are some of the places you can go to for pre-loved fashion finds, furniture, collectibles and more.
Whichever flea or farmers’ market you choose to stroll through in the end, make sure to keep your eyes peeled for one more thing that adds another layer of excitement to this whole experience: Celebrity sighting. You are in LA after all.
