- Some see Los Angeles only for it's celebrity buzz, but the city has so much more to offer visitors.
- Here's a comprehensive guide to visiting my hometown of LA, including where to stay, what to do, and more.
I grew up in Los Angeles, I have lived most of my adult life here, and I get that it feels perennially trendy to hate on my fair city. Yes, it's a place where cosmetic surgery is all the rage and traffic seems to sprawl to infinity. But those who see LA only for those stereotypes are missing so much about this exciting, beautiful, and diverse city.
As the entertainment capital of the world, LA is alive with the buzz of Hollywood. We have Oscar parties, the Hollywood Sign, and certain parts of town where you just might see a celebrity on your morning juice run. And that's all exciting stuff, but it's only one aspect of our kaleidoscopic environment.
Beyond the glitz and glamour, the often-overlooked natural landscape here is stunning and easy to access. Spend a day on our beaches — some of the widest stretches of sand from the waves to the road that I've seen anywhere in the world. Work up a sweat on hiking trails from the wooded and serene Solstice Canyon to the urban, see-and-be-seen Runyon Canyon.
LA is also a cultural melting pot. People from more than 140 countries, speaking 224 different identified languages, call this city home. And their cultural imprints enliven our world-class restaurant scene, with everything from divine street food to Michelin-starred fine dining and the best Mexican food throughout town.
We have world-class museums — many of which are directly next to each other in the Miracle Mile stretch, including the brand new Academy Museum, LACMA, the La Brea Tar Pits, and more. And visitors get to enjoy the city as pampered guests at some of the most exceptional and iconic hotels. Or, with so much choice in this enormous metro area, you can find plenty of budget-friendly and mid-priced options among the lot, too.
If you're planning a visit, get ready for an unforgettable experience. With so much to do, your biggest complaint — besides the traffic, of course — might just be having to choose.
Here's everything you need to know to plan a fantastic trip to Los Angeles, according to an LA local.
Explore Insider's guide to visiting Los Angeles: