Things to do in LA
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Things to do in LA 〜
We hope you make time to explore some of the incredible stuff LA has to offer!
Restaurants
Restaurants in Pasadena
Lucky Boy
Breakfast burritos the size of infants. This is a Pasadena staple - you gotta go!
Bone Kettle
Southeast Asian (Indonesian) food. Make sure to try the bone broth & noodles.
Urth Caffé
Casual, easy spot for a healthy breakfast or lunch! Good coffee & tea options.
Guisados
Tacos with spicy options for those that dabble. Plus, fresh handmade tortillas!
Restaurants around LA
Cacao Mexicatessen
Our favorite restaurant in all of LA, hands down. Close to Occidental College in Eagle Rock.
Sonoratown
In our opinion, best tacos in LA. Tortillas can’t be beat. Cheap, fast. What more can you ask for.
Donut Man
Good opportunity to check out Grand Central Market downtown! Get the strawberry donut.
Father’s Office
Incredible burgers plus a ton of craft beer options if that’s your thing.
Checker Hall
Super cool Mediterranean spot in Highland Park (also close to Occidental College).
Clark Street Diner
Classic LA diner ~ vibes ~. Great spot for breakfast or brunch in Hollywood.
Porto’s
Cuban bakery & café. Can’t beat their prices. Try a plato for lunch or the guava strudel!
Coffee
Hikes
Griffith Park
Park on Fern Dell Drive and walk up to the trails. The most straightforward one is the hike up to the Observatory.
Elysian Park
Try to find parking on Stadium Way or Scott Ave. From there, follow the Elysian Park Trail (it’s a loop).
Cherry Canyon Park
Park anywhere on Descanso Dr. This hike is on the more strenuous side—aka pretty hilly—but it’s solid!
Beaches
We’re partial to the South Bay 😉
Manhattan Beach
IYKYK 🤙
Dockweiler
Bonfire pits! If you get there early enough.
Hermosa Beach
Chill around the pier, it’s a good time!
Shopping
Old Town PAsadena
Tons of shops down Colorado Blvd! Close to the Westin Pasadena.
The Grove
Also a quintessential LA mall. Make sure to check out the food at the Farmers Market too!
Vroman’s Bookstore
This is SoCal’s oldest indie bookstore, right in Pasadena. One of our favorite places.
The Americana
If you’re looking for a good LA shopping experience, this is the place to go.
Sightseeing
Rose Bowl
Fun place to spend an afternoon. Hang out in the park, check out the pool, go for a walk around the Rose Bowl, or follow one of the trails down by the Arroyo!
The Huntington Library
Walk around the gardens full of gorgeous flowers (which will be in full bloom around our wedding). Just note you’ll need to buy tickets in advance.
Pasadena City Hall
Just a short walk from the Westin Pasadena. There isn’t much to do once you’re there, but it’s generally just a really cool building. Also where they filmed Parks & Rec.
Descanso Gardens
Worth the short drive over to La Cañada. Beautiful place to walk around and spend an afternoon in early summer in LA. There’s also a solid cafe and outdoor seating area.
Silverlake Reservoir
Bit a drive out from Pasadena but the walk around the reservoir is a solid hike. There are also some nice cafes and shops right down the street on Silver Lake Blvd.