The Entertainment Capital

Visiting various places is all about getting inspired, making sense of how everything else around it seems to fit in. In a city with endless attractions and never-ending entertainment like Los Angeles, your visit is truly what you make of it! If you really look, you will find that there is no shortage of places to visit in Los Angeles. I reckon it to be one sought after travel destination. So to make my visit a bit more of a challenge, I opted to discover some random attractions as opposed to the usual tourist sights. Here’s a list of places that you might want to see during your next trip to Los Angeles.

Those who want a taste of indoor skydiving should visit iFLY at the Universal City Walk in Hollywood. This attraction is a state of the art facility and a trained professional will guide you through your experience.

Given the chance to explore, you may want to go for a drive around the attractive Old Town Pasadena or go for a stroll along its high street surrounded by a funky atmosphere of bars, clubs and restaurants. You may want to sit down for a drink, have a chat and listen to music all night long in a diverse atmosphere.

How about a day trip down south to the city of Long Beach for the Aquarium of the Pacific or a visit to The Queen Mary? You may also want to meet some sunbathing meerkats and other interesting animals at the Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens, making the best of a good day.

Fancy a jog around the Rose Bowl Stadium or a drive through Little Tokyo instead? A good game of bowling or karaoke at the Lucky Strike could be another option and if you’re lucky, you could be awarded a free game or two of bowling if you sing karaoke to your heart’s content in front of a cheering crowd!

How about a visit to the Comedy Store or maybe watch a live band play right before you at the Roxy Theatre on Sunset Boulevard? Perhaps, spending some of your spare time at a place called Americana or the Citadel outlet for bargain shopping? To make the best value out of your stay, do look out for coupons that could save you loads of cash or speak to a local, it’s always the best way!

A visit to Los Angeles is an everyday food fest if you feel passionate for food. Some of my local favorite eateries include Taco Azteca located in Glendale for its decently priced fresh tacos served to eat in an outdoor setting. Another is called Buca di Beppo for extremely massive portions to share. Then there’s the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co., a very fun place to eat if you’re a big shrimp fan! Hold up the “Run Forest Run” sign when you need the waiter or the “Stop Forrest Stop” sign when you don’t. You may also take home the glass if you order a fancy drink! Another local favourite is In N Out, a fast food that serves fresh quality juicy burgers made with the best ingredients and no preservatives. The smell and taste is so overwhelming, you may want to have more than just one portion! More Than Waffles is popular as well for a casual lunch (many claim it to be better than IHOP) but do check on opening times as they vary from day to day. As for Oriental dining, I’d recommend the New Dragon Restaurant in Chinatown or Panda Express, which you will find all over the city! Adding to my list is Popcornopolis for gourmet popcorn. The wafting smell will just drag you inside, so ensure to try the best-selling Zebra flavour, the caramel-dipped coated with milk and white chocolate – this unique product is just absolutely delicious! Others places to try are The Cheesecake Factory – be prepared to take a year to get through the menu, Sorabol Korean BBQ, Koji’s Sushi and Shabu Shabu – for fresh Kobe beef cooked in your personal shabu-shabu pot, Castaway – a place with a view of the San Fernando Valley, Porto’s – an excellent pastry and dessert shop but be prepared to queue, Red Lobster, The Farm of Beverly Hills, Midori Sushi (eat all you can), The Yardhouse – known for its large selection of draft beer, one called Franziskaner Hefeweisse is a must-try, Wolfgang Puck – ensure to check their daily specials, and the Café Sierra buffet at the Hilton Universal City (voted as the best in LA)! I don’t think that you could ever go wrong with these eclectic mix of choices I have made – a range from American fast food to world-class dining that I have personally sampled.

In sunny Los Angeles, I also chose to spend a lot of quality time with people and appreciate the bond we created despite being in two separate parts of the world. This has made my visit even more so fulfilling and very appealing! Life is just too short to put to waste so I never fail to enjoy it in every possible way. While writing this, I am reminded of many beautiful thoughts and tell myself with a smile that life is just wonderful!