The 10 Best Things to Do in LA This Week

It's summer time in Los Angeles, and that means it's tourist season. And whether you just got into town, plan to visit soon or have lived here all your life but never took the time to see the proper sites (shame on you!), we have your list of the best places to visit in Los Angeles. 

According to Time, here are the 10 places in LA you won't want to miss:

1. Huntington Library

If you are a fan of art, literature or ecosystems you don't want to miss the Huntington Library near Pasadena. The library is built on the grounds of Samuel P. Huntington's former mansion and estate and contains some of his private art and literary collection, which are some of the rarest in the world. Boasting original Shakespeare quartos of Hamlet, a copy of The Canterbury Tales and a Gutenberg Bible, there are always amazing texts on display for you to read (through glass). And the Japanese and Chinese gardens on the grounds are sure to please fans of almost any aesthetic disposition. For more info, go here.

2. Santa Monica Pier

A roller coaster, a ferris wheel and an entire carnival await you at the end of the Santa Monica Pier, one of the most iconic locations LA has to offer. It also features arcades, restaurants and even a bait and tackle shop for those who just want to kick back with their fishing pole and relax. 

3. Venice Beach

Venice is all about one thing: showing off. Whether it's the bodybuilders lifting weights outdoors at Muscle Beach or graffiti artists creating urban masterpieces outside, you'll find plenty to divert your attention to when you're in Venice. All you have to do is stroll along the boardwalk and decide what to look at (or maybe what not to look at, depending on your tastes, of course).

Venice Beach is located on the west side of LA and is just south of Santa Monica. 

4. Hollywood

Of course, you can't say you've been to LA without stopping by its most famous attraction. Featuring the Walk of Fame and Grauman's Chinese Theater (complete with celebrity hand and foot prints in cement), Hollywood Blvd. and the surrounding area (particularly the intersection with Highland Boulevard) is truly surreal to behold. For an idea of the main points you'll want to hit, check out this list.

5. The Getty Museum

While the Getty Museum boasts an art collection that would make the most prestigious of European galleries jealous, it's not your typical museum. The scenery and architecture of the museum itself is worth the trip. Located in the Hills above West LA, the view from the Getty's gardens overlooking Los Angeles is breathtaking. Oh yeah, did we mention that it's free? For more info, go here.

6. Zuma Beach in Malibu

If you want a great beach going experience without all of the LA-ness (Venice, much?) we recommend Zuma beach. Located in Malibu amidst gorgeous scenery, you can relax and just enjoy LA's original best attraction. Oh, and parking is free on Westward Beach Rd, just off Pacific Coast Highway. 

7. Olvera Street

If you're heading downtown, you won't want to miss the city's original cultural center. Olvera Street is a great place to find some authentic souvenir shops (yes!), not to mention amazing food, including authentic Mexican churros and great sandwiches at Philippe's or Langers Deli. 

8. Warner Bros. Studio Tour

This is like the Universal Studios tour but without the ridiculous admission price. It doesn't have to be Warner Bros. either since most studios give tours. Most of them are just tours of the outsides of large warehouses, but WB still has the Gilmore Girls small town set, which is cool. But if you're staying near the ocean you might want to do Fox's tour, and Culver City has Sony. For more info, go here.

9. Robertson Blvd.

What trip to LA is complete without a celebrity sighting? Robertson is basically a celebrity high-traffic area where the paparazzi make their living. You can grab a table at the Newsroom Cafe and just wait to see who walks by. 

10. Sunset Boulevard

No, we aren't talking about Billy Wilder's iconic noir film (though you should see that too!). This iconic stretch of road runs all the way from downtown to the ocean, and in between are night clubs, restaurants and shops, plus some of the cities most high-end neighborhoods. For more info, check out this guide on touring Sunset Boulevard.