Imagine youself as an ant becoming aware of a human standing befor it. That's you becoming aware of these trees. Awsome!
Fiery red liquid tumbling down El Capitan - a breath taking spectacle! You can see this optical illusion only for 2 weeks in February. The setting sun is reflected by the granite behind the waterfall…
Beautiful national park. If camping during winter, time don't forget to bring thick blankets or you'll freeze! There's hiking, climbing, and even caves (headlamps required for these). Enjoy!
This national park is highly underrated. Volcanoes, geothermal activity and pristine lakes await you here! And you can avoid the crowds.
Built by oil tycoon as a museum to house his ancient collections, the building is the only recreation of a Roman patrician villa in the US and is modeled after the Villa of the Papyri at Herculaneum.
See a unique natural history museum for fossils excavated from the La Brea Tar Pits, which trapped animals here for the past 50,000 years (the period before the Ice Age), right in the middle of LA!
Fascinating ghost town. The surviving houses and shops are as they were left – some with the crockery and even newspapers still on the table, with just a few decades of dust.
See over 150 rare and classic cars in one of the world's largest automotive museums located in a city associated with driving, highways, and the ascension of 20th century car culture and suburbs.
Go behind the scenes with special exhibits sponsored by the Oscars!
A chance to stay in a real 1930s luxury ocean liner without worrying about food poisoning. Guests bunk in staterooms, and the boat & area are packed with things to do (including a ghost tour). Read more.
We have been coming to the Knotts Chicken Dinner Restaurant for 35 years in a row. As always the Boysenberry pie is superb!
One of America's most infamous Jewish delis, where hopeful rockers come to eat at all hours, or drink at the attached Kibitz Room.
Star Wars themed bar. Sometimes Boba Fett or Darth Vader will be roaming around. The drinks are all so nerdy but the absolute best one has got to be Moon Over Endor.
Awesome bit of the southwest only 90 minutes from LA. Nice desert hikes with beautiful scenery. Also where the shot “The Big Country”
PERFECT AMBIANCE. One of the last great places to see CLASSIC Disney Films. The VIP is only a few dollars more and WELL WORTH IT. Celebrity spotting is very common at the movie premiers here.
Since 1933, the Pageant features "living pictures" in which people look as though they are part of famous artworks using costumes, makeup, headdresses, lighting, props, and backdrops.
Located on Lincoln (right near Washington), Brennan's is an appropriately neon-signed dive bar that's been doing real, live turtle races for 38 years. Read more.
Pick a "carver" behind the counter and queue up in front of her until you get your french dip. Cole's also claims invention of french dip sandwiches in 1908, so compare their vastly different styles.
Sit in the red car room and order a Guinness float with your french dip and go easy on the mustard. Contrast this moody restaurant style to the deli style at Philippe's, french dip's other "inventor."
"A shoutout is in order for this Mission classic (since 1961), home of the very first Mission burrito. Were it not for El Faro, we might never have had what's arguably the iconic San Francisco food."
Opened in 1894. Claims to have invented Rocky Road, Toasted Almond, and Swiss Milk Chocolate flavors in the first decades of the 20th Century. Moved to current location in 1961.
Est. 1923 still as a native to Los Angeles one of my favorite Mexican restaurants. Bonus they have a Fiesta Hour serving up an awesome cheese quesadilla!
Musso's, if you look at it a certain way, is a living museum of 1920s American cuisine: avocado cocktails, crab Louie, jellied consommé, grilled lamb kidneys and Wednesday sauerbraten. Read more.
This was a favorite hangout of The Doors in the '60s. Bet you can find at least two references or pics of The Doors. Take a pic & upload them to our foursquare page. foursquare.com/thedoors.
The second branch of Santa Monica's venerable gourmet burgers & craft beer joint, the new Office is upping the ante in nearly every conceivable way. Read more.
The world's largest independent record store (even though the original of the 3 Amoebas is in Berkeley)! Shop their huge selection of used CDs, DVDs, and vinyl, which is half the 43,000 sq. ft. store!
An icon from the era of mid-century "programmatic" architecture and one of L.A.'s landmarks - featured in many shows and films. Enjoy a fried doughnut and appreciate the kitsch value.
"Naïve art" towers decorated with found shards built by Italian immigrant Simon Rodia between 1921-54 BY HAND. Take the Metro Blue Line to 104th to see it and DO NOT WANDER! Watts is still the ghetto.
Enjoy the interior that is both wonderful and tacky in it's extremely themed decor, with the doors in onion shapes and the private rooms having tent interiors. Best Tunisian and Moroccan food in town!
You have to try their Latin fusion garlic chicken with a side of plantains…This Cuban Specialty will have you coming back for more!
For some reason, this one seems to be the most popular place in Little Ethiopia! But Tuesday nites = quiet!
Take the 704 bus so you can drink AND stay for all of encores at one of LA's famous venues that still does alternative. Buy tickets at the box office to save money and check the sign for secret shows.
A kitschy Hollywood cemetery. Cinespia's outdoor summer movie screenings and bands at the Masonic Lodge are a unique experience. Bring a picnic & wine for the movies and buy tickets well in advance!
Voted Best Of LA numerous times, the Observatory is the site of the famous James Dean knife fight scene in "Rebel Without A Cause". Aside from the heavenly view, the planetarium gift shop is awesome! Read more.
A small glimpse into Old Hollywood with produce stands and lots of really good food stalls. -Danielle Keene, Top Chef Just Desserts
Did you know this is LA's oldest open-air market, dating from 1917? Our checklist: affordable lunch, ripe produce, fresh pan dulce, and a 25¢ trip up Angels Flight across Hill St. Read more.
A black-tie, invitation-only clubhouse where magic shows and an invisible piano player accompany steak dinners. You can get the required invitation from a member through someone taking magic classes!
Chicken & Waffles is an urban spin on southern Soul Food, originating in Harlem. However, Roscoe's in LA is the most famous place for C&W, referenced in movies & songs. Use both syrup and hot sauce!
The pastrami is the best!! The hot mustard is a must. Sandwich and fries will feed two! Amazing place!
Angel City Brewing's French Sip beer contains a bevy of uncommon brewing ingredients — including rosemary, peppercorns & umami-rich seaweed — to capture the savory essence of the French dip sandwich. Read more.
You must try their hickory burger with hickory sauce. Finish it off with a banana cream pie and you're in heaven.
Famous filming location of Blade Runner (1982), the first movie with outstanding special effects depicting the future in LA in 2019. Follow the digital revolution with Zegna and live the first 3D shop Read more.
The original street that made up Cuidad de Los Angeles. Celebrate colorful Mexican-American holidays like Dia De Los Muertos on Nov. 1 and the Blessing of the Animals on the Saturday before Easter.
Offbeat L.A. tip: True Los Angeles classic. Opened in 1927 in an old redline street car. Humphrey Bogart and Frank Sinatra are just a few of the stars who drank here.
BEAUTIFULLY decorated train station. Like you just walked into a movie set in the '20s. Well-kept and clean...Not like the train stations I remember in Europe.
Good beer in an absolutely stunning location. Wish they had table service and would turn down the volume outside however.
Being here is like being transported to another time and place. The decor inside is amazing and feels so cool for hanging out and drinking. I didn’t try any of the food but will next time!
Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1921 masterpiece sits atop Olive Hill, dramatically integrating landscape & architecture. Built for heiress Aline Barnsdall, it incorporates the hollyhock flower throughout. View!
If its good enuff for Tony Stark its good enuff for me. Shown in fast and furious and Iron Man 3. Great place to grab a bite to eat and a drink and watch the water and sunset.
Features an surprising fusion of two widely separated food cultures, Mexican and Korean, in a format that is 'typical LA': a food truck. Track it at http://kogibbq.com/ and try a kimchi-quesadilla!
Indian Pizza? Have you tried INDIAN pizza? You will die for this. Trust me.
Tormented by the deaths of her husband and child, Sarah Winchester embarked on a building binge 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, until her death 38 years later. The result is 160 bizarre rooms. Read more.
William Randolph Hearst's masterpiece is a testament to over-the-top architecture and opulence. Saying the swimming pools are ornate, the gardens lavish, and the art priceless is an understatement. Read more.
Established in 1896, Anchor is the only brewery to still use the term steam beer. The tours are great-lots of info, history, and plenty to drink. You won't be sorry!
The al pastor burrito is a slice of heaven. Can't say enough good things about it
Coit Tower is a monument to the firefighters of San Francisco. It was commissioned by Lillie Hitchcock Coit, a wealthy socialite who loved to chase fires. It took 5 years to construct.
Owned by filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola, this cozy cafe serves up simple, hearty Italian food. Many of the wines poured here come from Francis Cord Coppola's vineyward, and movie memorabilia abounds!
A long, sandy, California beach worthy of a leisurely stroll and a picnic (or a stop at Drake's Beach Cafe). The link gives info on other Pt Reyes beaches nearby. Read more.
Don't come here with a loud voice... Or chatter at all. This is a sacred land.
From the right side of the parking area, there is a great vantage of the Golden Gate Bridge. Get low and try to capture one of the rusty chains in the foreground with the bridge in the background.
This coffee is life changing. They brew each cup individually while you wait, and it is out of control good. It's also quite strong, so if you aren't into that - this probably isn't the spot for you. Read more.
We're fans of the salted carmel ice cream and Sam's Sundae--chocolate ice cream with bergamot olive oil, maldon sea salt and whipped cream.
The Hangtown Fry, an olden-day dish – oysters and eggs and bacon, too. I think if God has taught us anything, it's that he wants us to eat oysters and bacon together. – Anthony Bourdain Read more.
When it comes to authentic, best tasting & quality Chinese pastry, nothing can get better than what they sell here. I became an instant fan of their rice & moon cakes. I visit them often!
Don’t miss the classic black and white milkshake made with Mitchell's ice cream and homemade chocolate syrup.
Wonderful museum in the Presidio to see the untold story behind the Disney family. Parents may enjoy more than kids (but still kid friendly)
SF Weekly’s Best Of 2011 Winner – Editorial Pick – BEST OLD-SCHOOL BARThis comfy, classy rendezvous is even more welcoming since last year's careful, loving six-month restoration… Read more.
Step "down" into a bar that has more historical items than some museums, sit at the table Jack London wrote literary legend "Call of the Wild" and do it all while enjoying a cold beer or a cocktail.
Great collection of classic game history. Be sure to check out the case of games autographed by their creators.
It’s inexpensive, it’s good and it serves both the famous and not-so-famous; and it’s open nearly as late as area bars so it’s a great place for an after-midnight pig-out. Read more.
This train combines three of Napa's world-famous attributes: wine, food and scenery. The three-hour, 36-mile route attracts 100,000 passengers a year. Read more.
The place, where Madeleine (Kim Novak) falls from the tower in Alfred Hitchcock's thriller "Vertigo".
The California State Railroad Museum retells the history of the railroad, and has 21 restored locomotives and other railcars, including a Pullman-style sleeping car and a Railway Post Office.
A must see if you are visiting Sacramento. Within walking distance to most hotels in downtown. Ride the river cruise for a relaxing tour of the waterfront.
Very hot and very crowded... But well worth it! The bands at the main amphitheater stage are awesome, and the beer garden is right next door!
The blackberry bran muffin is the best muffin ever, and I get it every time. It's not like what you expect store-bought bran items to taste like—it's more like the most 'whole' sort of whole wheat.
The lemon chicken and sweet and sour pork are amazing and I've struggled to find any others that compare.
One does not simply walk into Disneyland. There is evil there that does not sleep.
The giant roadside dinosaurs who were featured in Pee Wee's Big Adventure and The Wizard were recently converted into a creationist museum for children. O-M-G. - IFC Staff
Remnants of Kinney's 1904 vision for a western Coney Island with canals modeled on Venice, Italy. The beach is now a bastion of LA kitsch and some canals remain. Walk or skate & enjoy the spectacle!
Enjoy the land that actor Will Rogers purchased for his family in 1922. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the equestrian activities, trail rides and hikes. Read more.
Get there before noon to claim a fire pit on the weekends. Skip the pay lot, you can usually find street parking.
581 feet tall ♦ named "El Morro" in 1542 by Portuguese explorer Juan Cabrillo. The Chumash people can climb Morro Rock for their annual solstice-ceremony, but it is illegal for anyone else to climb.
Locals like to avoid the beach between Memorial day and Labor day! Real touristy!
Splash Cafe is best known for its made-from-scratch clam chowder served in a bread bowl. If you love it, they'll ship it frozen to you, too. Also: try the fish tacos. Read more.
Rent a bike @ Blazing Saddles on Hyde St. Bike across Golden Gate Bridge, stop in Sausalito, drink a beer and eat and some ice cream. Cruise back to SF on ferry.
Iconic SF landmark across from a beautiful public park. Sit in the grass, warm up in the sun and admire the view.
Where else will you get to see bison up close? And while just strolling through Golden Gate Park?
The Cetacean Institute scenes of Star Trek IV were filmed at the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Kirk and Spock meet Dr Gillian Taylor and humpback whales George & Gracie at the Cetacean Institute. Read more.
You can never get tired of this shopping experience. The atmosphere is tremendously chill and laid back. There's something here for everyone.
Starting to fall in love with this 'hood. Esp early on the weekend mornings.. it has that big city feeling full of life I've felt in NYC and Paris, among others. It's gritty and lovely.
On a sunny day, there are tons of outdoor activities that include kayaking, renting a surrey, whale watching, etc. If it's overcast, head to Firestone brewery & Ecluse winery a 30-minute drive away
Stop at McWay Falls and Pfeiffer Beach. There's no cell service and the road is hidden so look at a map before you go!
The Morrison Reading Room, an architecturally beautiful space filled with stuffed chairs and entertaining titles, is open to the public. At the entrance to Doe Library. Read more.
This architectural landmark and symbol of the campus is one of the first four buildings on the Westwood campus. Constructed in 1929, Royce Hall was modeled in the style of Romanesque Northern Italy.
As if the fact that Frank Gehry designed this architectural wonder wasn’t enough, Disney Hall also enjoys musical direction by one of the most compelling conductors in the world: Gustavo Dudamel.
Located just across the street from Medieval Times, this mammoth amphitheater-style restaurant features a life-size pirate ship with full rigging surrounded by a moat of water. Read more.
Various locations throughout Los Angeles, but this is the main one... featured in the motion picture "Grandma's Boy" - John, QA Tester
World famous zoo. DEFINITELY take the free bus tour, it's included in your ticket. Then back track to your favorite exhibits.
If you're in San Diego, you MUST visit the wild animal park. Animals are in huge open-range exhibits, which you can visit via 'safari.' Amazing animals, fantastic design & much more fun that a zoo! Read more.
Nice small town I've enjoyed every time I visited there if you're going up to the Sierras or just want to hang out the river it's a good place to be.
When a highly-decorated squad of marines held San Francisco for ransom in Michael Bay's most morally complex film, THE ROCK, they chose this "escape-proof" prison as their impenetrable fortress. Read more.
This is where Gold was first discovered. Cool spot right on the river. Great place to swim and go tubing. Picnic or swim, fun little adventure.
The Sawdust Art Festival features the fine art and craft of more than 200 Laguna Beach artists. I love wandering among the rows of stands bedecked with jewelry, paintings, glasswork, and photography. Read more.
Palm Springs is cool. Love the scenery and the quite vibe. You might want to stay in when you're heading to Coachella. Mind you that it's a desert area, don't come here and complain about the weather
A true surf beach. Soft, rolling waves that offer long rides. The Point, Old Man's and Trails surf breaks are all located here. Make a day of it... what I call a San O day!
Downtown is great for fun dates, shopping & spending good times with friends. But if your out & about at night, please keep an extra eye out for shady people. And always stay in well lit areas.
Santa Cruz is known for its gumbo, swing dancing bars, and general lack of care for rules. Indulge in this cities finest establishments and see what you have been missing!
Every second Sunday of the month this is the place to be to find everything from vintage boots to the most obscure pieces of furniture to add flare to your wardrobe or abode. - Whitney
Essentially runners' Mardi Gras, which happens annually in May. Expect public drinking, nudity, costumes, flying tortillas, and the salmon group running 'up-stream.'
Its most famous appearances include TV's Star Trek, Blazing Saddles, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Adventure, Short Circuit and as the modern Stone Age family community of Bedrock in 1994's The Flintstones.
If you love tiki bars, this tiny spot is considered one of the best in the country, according to tiki bar review community Critiki. Deceptively strong drinks, kitschy decor, and a rich history.
Seasonal massive display of poppies and other wild flowers. Go in early to mid April
$10/vehicle, get screened for White Nose Bat Disease at visitor's center first. Bring flashlights or headlamps and sturdy shoes. Add a hard hat and gloves for serious caving.
You have to make a reservation to get into this 1920's bar AND know the right password to get in! The old-time bar has no sign outside so you better pay attention or you'll miss it.
I'll raise a glass for refurbishing a Los Angeles landmark! Nice selection of beers on tap and friendly / helpful hostesses
Architect Lloyd Wright designed this Chapel out of glass, wood and stone to serve as the National Memorial to Emanuel Swedenborg and the Swedenborgian Church.
Great place for photos. Unfortunately you cannot soak here any longer due to the water being too hot. The colors are amazing, blues, greens, yellows from the minerals stuck to the rocks.
Gorgeous castle and winery in one! Sign up for a tour and tasting that will take you from the vineyards to the torture chamber to the tasting room.
Camera Obscura was built by Floyd Jennings in 1946 as an attraction for nearby Playland-at-the-Beach. About 10 years later, the building was modified to look like a camera that a tourist left behind.
Look around at the different eras. Whether you're interested in art, mechanisms, gameplay, or even history, there is much to learn and observe. Also, you need to check out Hercules. So fun.
Try the Surfin' California Burrito -- a steak, shrimp and french-fry-filled concoction that puts the smackdown on standard taqueria fare. As seen on Man v Food.
Interesting park, mostly rebuilt and some new buildings. Good facilities and r.v. and camping facilities. Well worth a visit.
Girls and guys on a student budget will love consignment shopping at Hidden Treasures in Topanga Canyon for their eclectic collection. -Patti Stanger, Millionaire Matchmaker
This is a great stop through the desert. Beautiful imagination of this artist. Stop in and just walk around. It is free, but there is a tip box. You might even be lucky enough to meet Elmer like us!
Home to a comprehensive collection of Beat memorabilia including Allen Ginsberg’s typewriter, Jack Kerouac’s plaid wool shirt, and a myriad of vintage copies of Beat literature.
One of downtown's newest literary landmarks, the Last Bookstore is a cavernous space housed in an old bank building. It houses a wide variety of books plus vinyl records and a coffee shop. Read more.
This is a classic old-style tiki bar with crazy colorful drinks and awesome atmosphere. Check out the $1 PBRs on Mondays! Read more.
$15 to roller skate in a church that is converted into a rink is not bad. Sign your life away and get going!
Tio's has a gigantic garden with huge folk-art statues made from bottles, shells, electrical trash and other objects. Its a massive complex with fountains, clowns, patios and surprises everywhere.
Did you know that San Francisco has last permanently operating, manually operated cable car system in the world? Check out our Science in the City video to learn more about SF's cable cars! Read more.
Lovers of all things Japanese will have to make Little Tokyo a stop. Take a self-guided tour of the National Historic Landmark District’s cultural sights.
This historical landmark and bowling alley that dates back to Prohibition times is revitalized and reopened. The glamorous space will only be open to bowlers Monday thru Friday. Read more.
Thai food stalls on every Weekend are second to none. Various kinds of Thai food, from famous Pat Thai and all sorts of Thai noodles to Thai desserts. And most important of all, at a bargain price.
The most famous jazz club left in Los Angeles, with incredible live music every night. Amusing menu consisting of variations on baked potatoes. Pretty expensive, though… John - Dev Ops Director
At this offbeat museum, see bizarre relics "evoking the more obscure and poetic aspects of natural history, the history of technology and science, and their entwined realizations in human artistry."
Moe's is certainly one of the top five best used bookstores in the United States. Impeccable selection. Always fair prices. A marvel.
Quite the place to catch the sun setting in Big Sur. Was a treat to catch the last one of 2018.
Coolest little bar in Chinatown, where tired regulars, hip locals & confused tourists meet. Tip: Get a shot of the magical Chinese elixir pronounced “in-gah-pay” in the clay bottle behind the bar.
San Diego’s model railroading clubs put together this expansive set of O-scale, HO-scale, N-scale, and toy layouts depicting Southern California locales.
Best-known for its still-intact Western town, which played a Colorado hamlet in the 1990s TV series, Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
Fun place to learn about the silent film history of Niles. Catch a silent film with live piano here.
An unassuming 100+ year old landmark in Japantown makes the best fresh mochi in the bay. When I'm craving sugar and carbs, their peanut butter mochi hits the spot. - Mia, Digital Marketing Coordinator
Opened 1937. A landmark on Rte 66, this small Mexican cafe is where Glen Bell “borrowed” the taco recipe for Taco Bell.
If you are an East Coaster and you miss the really old and really charming dives back East, this is your place
Since 1972, a fav hangout of rockers Alice Cooper, John Lennon, Led Zeppelin, Poison, Van Halen, Slash, Lemmy. Great for drinks & musician/celeb after show parties!
Rare helictites are the stars of this national natural landmark in the town of Volcano. There's also an underground lake. Need we say more?
Beautiful, easy trails with tons of huge trees and stumps. Very aptly named state park.
Great historical find. Reserve a spot for a tour of the Hazel-Atlas Mine and then go for a hike in the park.
One of California's secret treasures! The underground gardens are a masterpiece! It's like an adults version of a treehouse but underground. True craftsmanship & history displayed here. A must see.
This is the premier art museum in Sacramento. With exhibits that continually change, the selection of art never gets old.
Named after the 18th century explorer Kendall Bumpass, who accidentally stepped in the boiling mud pool and as a result lost his leg.
A hidden gem along California's coastline. Stop by during sunset for scenic views of the last remaining "natural bridge" out of the original 3.
