Even if you’re not there for the food, this century-old gathering place is worth a trip; people from all corners of L.A. mix and mingle among rows of spices, produce and vintage neon signage. Of course, if you’re hungry it’s a great place to get some al pastor tacos from Tacos Tumbras a Tomas, a fast burger from Belcampo, a vegan bowl from Ramen Hood, a breakfast sandwich from Eggslut or some strawberry perfection from the Donut Man.

A free hilltop art museum with a rolling lawn overlooking the ocean, the Getty Center’s panoramic views more than compensate for its relative inaccessibility (you need to ride a tram to the museum). So too do the masterpieces on display, particularly its Impressionist paintings and baroque and French decorative arts. Don’t miss Pacific Palisades sister institution the Getty Villa, which is brimming with Greek and Roman antiquities. Both museums require a free reservation; parking costs $20.

The trails, the flora, the views, the howls of coyotes down the canyons at night, the twinkly lights of Downtown in the distance: L.A. may not have a grassy, centralized park, but Griffith’s 4,000 acres of hilly wilderness make for a stellar alternative. And even when the Griffith Observatory is closed (on Mondays), you can still drive or hike up to the grounds of the landmark art deco dome to take in the unparalleled views.

The Huntington’s distinctly themed gardens are easily the most stunning manicured outdoor spaces in SoCal. Add in a historic library and stellar museum, and this San Marino spot is more than worth the cost of admission ($25–$29; reservations required on weekends). Wander rows of roses, climb through a bamboo forest at the Japanese garden, admire the cacti in the desert garden and go for a stroll around the Chinese garden, which recently welcomed a massive expansion.

Three words: Infinity Mirror Rooms. Downtown’s persistently popular contemporary art museum has two of Yayoi Kusama’s immersive, mirror-laden rooms (one that you can step into, one that you only pop your head into). Elsewhere in the free museum, Eli and Edythe Broad’s collection of 2,000 post-war works includes artists like Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Ed Ruscha, Cindy Sherman, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Barbara Kruger and Jeff Koons.

You’ve inevitably seen Point Dume’s iconic rock face in movies, TV shows and commercials—but for us, its beauty outranks its fame. You can pay for parking in the lot ($3–$15) or hunt for a free space along Westward Beach Road just outside of the entrance, but either way you’ll be rewarded with a wide and rarely crowded patch of sand. Pack a picnic for a beachfront meal as seals and dolphins frolic in the sunset surf, or climb an easygoing dirt path to the top of the point.

LACMA may be best known to out-of-towners for Chris Burden’s Urban Light, a piece made up of 202 cast-iron street lamps. But you’d be selling yourself short if you don’t venture beyond the photo-friendly installation; the museum’s collections boast modernist masterpieces, large-scale contemporary works and by far L.A.’s most consistently terrific special exhibitions. Just a heads up: The eastern half of the campus is in the midst of a massive redesign due to debut in late 2024.

Better known as the Strand, this 22-mile bike path traces nearly the entire extent of L.A.’s westward-facing coastline. The path starts at Will Rogers State Beach and winds its way all the way down to Torrance County Beach. If you’d rather take the path at a walking pace, you’ll find pedestrian-friendly walks through Santa Monica, Venice and Manhattan Beach.

The history of moviemaking finally has a permanent home in L.A., and it’s filled with the sorts of cinematic treasures you’d expect from the people who put on the Oscars (and yes, you can hold one): R2-D2, E.T. and the sole surviving shark from Jaws, among many others. But its slick, soap-bubble–like theater and three floors of exhibition space also tell an unflinching, nonlinear history of cinema that makes room for a mixture of stories.

Oh, so that’s why they call it Venice. These narrow canals offer a completely different side of the grungy-yet-posh beachfront neighborhood. The three canal-lined blocks and their arching pedestrian bridges are perfect for gawking at real estate. Though you won’t find boat rentals anywhere along the canals, you can bring your own non-motorized vessel to tour the neighborhood at water level (enter via the launch ramp at Venice Boulevard).

A gorgeous and instantly recognizable outdoor amphitheatre, the Hollywood Bowl has been hosting concerts since the LA Philharmonic first played there in 1922. Summertime sees a packed schedule of classical and pop shows (and BYO boozy picnics). As long as there’s no performance going on (which is most days in the winter and spring), it also doubles as a public park.

The Downtown skyline, lotus flower blooms, fountains: This former reservoir turned park is a family-friendly destination worthy of its bold backdrop. You can push your way through the lake in a pedal or swan boat or stroll around the path that hugs its borders.

A small but beautiful state beach in Malibu dominated by rocky coves, El Matador is easily the most scenic stretch of coastline in the region. It’s only accessible via a steep gravelly path from a paid parking lot ($10), but the effort is worth it, whether it’s to watch the waves lap against the rocks or see the sunset. Just make sure to check the tide schedule. The beach here is pretty narrow and sand space is limited when high tide rolls in.

The next time you’re at a restaurant and tempted to ask the waiter where your astoundingly fresh beets came from—don’t. We’ll save you the trouble and answer for you: the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market. While the market occurs on a couple of days in various parts of Santa Monica, the best day to go is on Wednesday morning along Arizona Avenue.

This grassy spot in San Pedro overlooking the Pacific Ocean is known for its mighty metallic bell, donated by South Korea in 1976, and an ornately painted pavilion. The exposed hillside is an ideal spot to fly a kite thanks to persistent winds coming off the ocean.

This 8,000-acre mountainous park looks unlike anything else in L.A. With dramatic gorges, open pastures, lush forests, hidden pools and jagged peaks, Malibu Creek is simply stunning. You’ll find a bit of silver screen history, too, with remnants of the M*A*S*H set and the rock pool that was featured in Planet of the Apes. Parking costs $3 an hour, up to $12 for the full day.

It takes 282 steep, concrete stairs to reach the top of this Westside lookout. But it’s worth the exertion. The panoramic views are the best in the region, with the ocean on one side and the Downtown L.A. skyline on the other (set against a backdrop of snowcapped mountains in the winter). If you’d rather not take on the stairs simply drive up to the top of the hill and park in one of the many empty spaces ($6).

With a variety of terrain, flora and views of the ocean and city, this Pacific Palisades trail is perfect for runners, hikers and dog walkers. You’ll experience vast, breathtaking views that span from Catalina to Downtown and enough varied terrain to keep your walk interesting —all the way to the Valley. Just don’t miss the stop signs near the trailhead (parking $12). Seriously. They’re photo enforced, and you’ll be sent a $100 fine if you roll through.

You can drive for about an hour from L.A. into the mountains and meet snow in the winter. But burn through a bit of extra gas and you’ll be rewarded with a proper high-altitude wonderland. Just three hours from L.A., Bear Mountain is one of the closest ski resorts and it boasts irregular terrain and one of the first freestyle parks, established back in the ’90s. Even if you don’t pick up a lift ticket, the drive around the nearby lake is worth a trip.

Holiday light experiences are plentiful—and, honestly, pretty overpriced—in L.A. But consider this (free) mile-long road lined with cedars the O.G., and easily the most charming. The century-old tradition decks out a stretch of evergreens in Altadena (Santa Rosa Ave, between Woodbury Ave and Altadena Dr) in lights, typically from mid December through New Year’s Day.