One of my favorite places to visit is Los Angeles. Growing up and living in New York, everything moves at 100mph and there's very much a "go go go" mentality. Contrast that with LA where things are more "laid-back" and always 80F with beaches everywhere.
Visiting LA provides a 180 change in perspective, allowing me to live more in the present and soak in more of my surroundings. LA itself has so much to offer - each district is so distinct from each other and provides a wide range of activities. First time visitors will be surprised to find how sprawling LA county really is, removing that claustrophobic vibe you get in most metropolitan cities.
One of my favorite places to visit in LA is Santa Monica and Malibu area. The air smells fresher, the beaches and hiking trails more scenic, and the overall vibes feeling very oceanfront resort-like.
Places Visited:
Areas:
Santa Monica
Malibu
Beverly Hills
Venice Beach
Koreatown
Silver Lake
Echo Park
Miracle Mile
West Hollywood
Museums:
Griffith Observatory
Getty Museum
Getty Villa
LACMA/La Brea Tarpits
Attractions:
TCL Chinese Theatre
Dolby Theatre
Universal Studios
Runyon Canyon
Universities:
UCLA