One of the most travelled to cities in the world and the home of both A-list celebrities and wannabes, Los Angeles holds certain connotations. With the likes of the Walk of Fame, Venice Beach and window shopping on Rodeo Drive featuring highly on most tourist’s itineraries, you might think you have LA all figured out. There is a surprising side to LA however. Read on and get taken off the beaten tourist track in Los Angeles.
Beyond the clichés
The Hollywood sign is an iconic symbol of LA, so it seems odd to begin this post with mention of it. You’d think it would be swamped with visitors and hardly regarded as off the beaten track. Most people only ever get a snapshot of themselves in front of the sign. Very few ever actually reach it. 
Don’t believe us? Don your climbing gear, get started on the strenuous hike up the hill and you’ll see why! If you have an active side, this climb is highly recommended. The panoramic views over the sprawling urban patchwork beneath you are second to none. The memories will be so much better than any photo with the sign in the background.
Explore Burbank
A huge appeal of Los Angeles is its connections with the film and television industry. Most never venture beyond Universal Studios. Why not make your visit more individual and head to Burbank instead? Here you will find five major production studios including NBC Television, Sony and Warner Brothers. Come to one of these and you’ll have a much higher chance of seeing some live filming than if you follow the masses and stick to Universal.
Why not visit the Silent Movie Theatre. There aren’t many around so relish the opportunity whilst you can.
Amble around the Farmers Market
Steer clear of the multitude of fancy shopping malls and instead take a trip to the original Los Angeles Farmers Market. Often overlooked by visitors, the idea of a farmers market in this fast paced city seems almost out of place. Head to the Miracle Mile area at the intersection of 3rd Street and Fairfax and you will find the market brimming with the colours of fresh fruit and veg, meat, nuts and sweet and gifts. There are also some great little restaurants to be found.
Discover some quirky museums
Spend some time visiting the selection of quirky museums. Rather than going straight to the Getty Museum or the Hollywood History Museum why not spend a few hours perusing some of the different options. For starters, try the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Venice Beach. Regarded as the most unusual of the lot and providing a hands-on experience of life in the Jurassic.
The Museum of Tolerance is a very different type of museum. It focuses on the racial problems in society around the world. Another completely different option to consider is a walking tour of the many fantastic murals painted around the city. There are more than 1,000 so you won’t get to see them all but it’s certainly worth some of your time.
Like every big city, Los Angeles is known for particular things however there is a lot more to be discovered. Get off the beaten tourist track, open your eyes during your visit and you might just enjoy a whole different side to Los Angeles.
