As the second-largest city in America, Los Angeles has many historically and culturally significant landmarks worth visiting. Today, I will share some of the places that I have gone to and enjoyed. Since there are many interesting places in Los Angeles, I will publish Part Two to highlight some other landmarks.

Griffith Observatory, and the Hollywood Sign

This observatory is an icon for LA tourism, and GTA enthusiasts will find it to be very familiar. Outside of the building, there are breathtaking views of Los Angeles, Century City, Hollywood, and the Hollywood Sign. Griffith Observatory’s interior features many telescopes available for public viewing, a planetarium, and exhibits on space-related concepts. You can also see a Tesla coil in action. People who enjoy visiting science centers will especially enjoy Griffith Observatory, but even casuals can appreciate it.

Griffith Park

To get to Griffith Observatory, you need to park in Griffith Park and hike up to the top. You can also take a bus, but walking allows you to snap pictures of some great views along the way. Griffith Park has beautiful greenery, and a walk will help you get your steps in. In my opinion, Griffith Park is one of the prettier urban parks in Los Angeles, being away from the city and less crowded.

Olvera Street

Olvera Street is a Mexican marketplace that was built in the 1930s. Here, you can find the oldest standing house in Los Angeles, the Avila Adobe. Olvera Street serves as an icon for the Mexican community and their heritage in Southern California, and has many interesting vendors to check out. Originally prepared for demolition, this area later became a Hispanic cultural hub and hosts many Hispanic holidays year-round.

Universal Studios Hollywood

One of the most visited theme parks in the world, Universal Studios Hollywood has the famous Upper Lot and Lower Lot that split the park into two. From the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Super Nintendo World, anyone who likes roller coasters and theme park rides will be able to enjoy going here. There is also the Universal CityWalk for people who like shopping, with an IMAX theater, dining, and much more.

Little Tokyo

Although two other cities in America have Japantowns (San Jose and San Francisco), the Little Tokyo in Los Angeles is home to the largest Japanese-American population in the country. In Little Tokyo, I highly recommend going to the Japanese Village Plaza, as it is a walkable tourist destination with many Japanese restaurants and shops. Here, you can get a nice bowl of spicy miso ramen, sushi, and other Japanese foods. Outside of the plaza, you can also visit the Japanese American Museum to learn about Japanese heritage or visit a Japanese garden.

Student feedback

After the recent AP Human Geography field trip to Los Angeles with Mrs. McCormick, I asked many students how they felt about going to LA and the journey there. Naitik Gadiraju commented, “I loved the LA trip as I got to experience Little Tokyo here in LA instead of going thousands of miles to Japan. I got to experience a different culture along with different foods. This was a super enjoyable trip, as I got to spend it with my friends and enjoy a different vibe in a place I had never been to”. Mason Hwang later responded, “The trip was enjoyable. I got to go to a place that felt like home. It was especially fun to go to Little Tokyo because of how comfortable the area felt, and eating ramen and boba was a unique experience”. Overall, I think my fellow AP Human Geography students enjoyed the trip.

Methods of transportation to get around Los Angeles

You can obviously drive to Los Angeles, but the drive is painfully long, and you have to sit through traffic for hours. Therefore, I highly recommend taking a train to Los Angeles. Taking a train to Los Angeles’ Union Station is a little quicker than driving, and it is a hassle-free journey. Once in Los Angeles, you can take the Metro Bus or Metro Rail, which can be found all around the city.