Moon 52 Things to Do in Los Angeles: Local Spots, Outdoor Recreation, Getaways

by Teena Apeles

Overview

From the market you haven’t hit yet to the desert getaway you keep meaning to plan, experience something new right here at home with Moon 52 Things to Do in Los Angeles.

• Cool things to do in and around the city: Check out the art galleries in West Adams, hop on a Jeepney in Historic Filipinotown, and learn a craft from local artisans. Sample street tacos on Sunset, enjoy a platter of Ethiopian food, or experience a drag-show brunch. Bike or skate along the LA River, search for sea life in the tide pools of San Pedro, or hike to the Griffith or Mount Wilson observatories
• Day trips and weekend getaways: Take the Pacific Surfliner Train from Union Station to Solana Beach, kayak on Lake San Marcos, or wander Ojai’s nature preserves. Rent a golf cart on Catalina Island, shop and dine along Santa Barbara’s State Street , or immerse yourself in desert artwork in the Coachella Valley
• Experiences broken down by category: Find to do lists for each season, activities for kids, outdoor adventures, arts and culture, food and drinks, live entertainment, and more
• A local's advice: Longtime Angeleno author Teena Apeles knows the city's ins and outs, from unexpected street art to hidden local history
• Inspirational full-color photos throughout
• Easy-to-scan planning tips: Addresses, nearby attractions, and tips for avoiding the crowds if you're heading to a popular spot

What are you doing this weekend? Try something new with Moon 52 Things to Do in Los Angeles.
 

About Moon Travel Guides: Moon was founded in 1973 to empower independent, active, and conscious travel. We prioritize local businesses, outdoor recreation, and traveling strategically and sustainably. Moon Travel Guides are written by local, expert authors with great stories to tell—and they can't wait to share their favorite places with you.

For more inspiration, follow @moonguides on social media.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781640496316
Publisher:	Avalon Publishing
Publication date:	12/20/2022
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	1,022,920
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 6.40(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Teena Apeles is a native Angeleno who has spent two decades covering art, culture, design, activism, history, and beyond for print and online media. She has written for numerous outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, KCET, PBS SoCal, PBS Canvas, LAist, WHERE Traveler Los Angeles, Hunker, JoySauce, BUST, Giant Robot, LA Weekly, and Pasadena Weekly. Teena has also contributed to and edited numerous books covering a wide range of topics, from L.A.’s public parks and urban wildlife to comic book culture and Disneyland.
 
Her works include the history book for teens, Women Warriors: Adventures from History's Greatest Female Fighters, and essays in the anthologies Mothers Before: Stories and Portraits of Our Mothers as We Never Saw Them, and Bare Your Soul: The Thinking Girl's Guide to Enlightenment, among others.

In 2016, Teena founded the creative collective Narrated Objects, which produces books and experiences to showcase the diverse voices of the city of Los Angeles. The collective published the L.A.-themed books We Heart P-22, We Heart L.A. Parks, and Dear Seller, which feature artwork and stories by Angelenos of all ages. Past collaborators have included Homeboy Industries, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the L.A. Conservancy, the Autry Museum of the American West, Helms Bakery District, the National Wildlife Federation, Los Angeles Neighborhood Land Trust, and USC Pacific Asia Museum.
 
For her work with Narrated Objects, Teena has received an Awesome Grant, a Creative Economic Development Fund Grant, and a Certificate of Recognition from the California Legislature Assembly, and appeared on Spectrum News 1, KCRW’s DnA: Design and Architecture, and the podcasts Bookstories and The Hidden History of Los Angeles, to discuss their collective’s unique projects.

Table of Contents

1 Cycle down car-free streets during CicLAvia 20

2 See all-female mariachi bands 24

3 Feast on famous chicken in Hollywood 28

4 Dance under the stars at Chinatown Summer Nights 32

5 Sharpen your comedy chops, practice magic, and join the circus … it's L.A. 36

6 Sing along at Idle Hour's drag brunch 40

7 Find Griffith Park's hidden gems 44

8 Sample late-night tacos on Sunset Boulevard 48

9 See California's overlooked history at the Great Wall of Los Angeles 52

10 Revel in L.A. car culture at Van Nuys Cruise Night 56

11 Watch movies in historic theaters 60

12 Take a walking tour of Los Feliz architecture 64

13 Buy fresh blooms in the Flower District 68

14 Get your photo taken by a local legend 72

15 See stars at L.A. County's observatories 76

16 Tour Historic Filipinotown by Jeepney 82

17 Catch skyline views from Vista Hermosa Natural Park 86

18 Go on a bar crawl at Hollywood hotels 90

19 Ride a swan boat 94

20 Shop for art and wine in West Adams 98

21 Celebrate life and death during Día de los Muertos 102

22 Eat with your hands in Little Ethiopia 106

23 Bike along the L.A. River 110

24 Tour Downtown architecture 114

25 Go on a lakeside walk beneath the Hollywood Sign 118

26 Enjoy the cultural feast of the Piñata District 122

27 Check out the L.A. jazz scene 126

28 Eat your way around Asia at specialty markets 130

29 Learn some new moves at Dance DTLA 134

30 Find unexpected art and culture in L.A.'s cemeteries 138

31 Stroll around the Venice Canals 142

32 Relax and refresh at a 24-hour Korean spa 146

33 Dance while you browse at Crenshaw Mall's Saturday markets 150

34 Delve into the world's largest LGBTQ collection at ONE Archives 154

35 Go international bakery-hopping in East Hollywood 158

36 Get creative with local artisans 162

37 Steep yourself in the city's teahouse culture 166

38 Get a taste of L.A. at Homeboy Bakery and Homegirl Café 170

39 Browse antique and architectural salvage shops 174

40 Savor L.A.'s multicultural flavors at celebrated family-run eateries 178

41 Take a Metro tour of Boyle Heights 182

42 Catch rising SoCal stars at the Vincent Price Art Museum 186

Day Trips and Getaways

43 Picnic and park-hop in seaside San Pedro 190

44 Wander the tide pools at Abalone Cove Beach 194

45 Play in the snow and sand on the same day 198

46 Pick fresh produce from SoCal farms 202

47 Enjoy nearby nature and small-town charm in Ojai 206

48 Get away to Santa Barbara 210

49 Take an art road trip in the Coachella Valley 214

50 Captain your own boat on Lake San Marcos 218

51 Ride the Pacific Surfliner to Solana Beach 222

52 Spend the night on Catalina Island 226

Editorial Reviews

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From the Publisher