You have an out of town guest that you get to play LA Tour Guide with? What do you do? Don’t panic! Touring friends and family doesn’t have to be expensive or stressful. With a little planning, it can be an exciting experience for you both.
Here are a couple of tips to give them the best LA TOUR ever!
The first thing to remember is to ask your guest what they want to do. Some people like to walk, some people want to stay in the car. You don’t want to plan a trip that your guest will not want to do.
Secondly, try to localize your trip. You can stay in the same vicinity and see several points of interest. This way, you won’t feel rushed into driving all over town.
Third, don’t forget charge you camera. You want them to remember the best time they’ve had with you. Besides, disposal cameras and batteries are expensive in tourist spots
And finally, bring water and snacks. Being a tourist can be exhausting and dehydrating. You want to make sure you’re prepared for the long day of walking and and driving.
I’ve included 3 Local Areas you can take your guest to enjoy a day in Los Angeles.
HOLLYWOOD
Take them to the Kodak Theater, Hollywood Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe it or not, and the Grauman’s Chinese Theater.
Photograph the famous Hollywood sign from Hollywood and Highland.
Eat at Roscoes Chicken and Waffles
BEVERLY HILLS
Rodeo Drive is a common tourist spot. Check the Greystone Mansion if they are open for admission. And the Grove is always a fun place to shop and hang out.
While you’re in the neighborhood, grab a bite at Pink’s Hotdog. For dessert, you can go the Sprinkles for a cupcake or two.
Also, here are more attractions available through the Beverly Hills Website.
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES
Take pictures of the amazing structures and skyscrapers in Downtown LA. You can also Visit the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo or MOCA on Grand Avenue. Olvera Street is a great place filled with history and culture.
Experience shopping at great discounts at the Garment District.
Food is always good in Chinatown. There is a wide array of restaurants available. Some local favorites include The Mayflower, Phillippes and Won Kok. For Dimsum, try the Empress Pavillion.
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In addition, a great way to be a good Tour Guide is to:
1) Check for FREE Museums. You can follow a link here for a listing.
2) Try shopping at Farmers Markets that sell fresh produce and unique crafts. Here’s a link to CALIFORNIA FARMERS MARKETS for Local listings.
3) Look into Craft shows as well, they are always fun and will provide an unforgettable experience! Check out Festival NET for an extensive list for available events.
4) Consider the Fads. For example, right now, Food trucks in Los Angeles are all the rave… so might as well treat your guest to this eating experience. Find LA Food Trucks has tweets from food trucks all over LA so you know where to find them.
5) Use Yelp to find other local restaurants, shops and points of interest. Yelpers are kind enough to review the best and the worst. Check out YELP now!
6) Check out local publications like LA WEEKLY for events and happenings in the area.
7) Visit City Websites to find out whats going on. You might be surprised with some events that you’ll find.
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