Here at Kiwi.com, we love exploring new places, but we also know that sometimes you want to go back to somewhere you’ve already been. Here’s our guide to the 10 most popular airports that Kiwi.com customers fly in and out of
Airport – LAX
City – Los Angeles
If you’ve never been…
… Prepare for quite a bit of scruffiness. Los Angeles is always sold as a glamorous, sun-kissed place to be, but that’s true only for a select few. Many areas of the city have a sort of faded grandeur, but the key word there is “faded. There’s also a lot of homelessness. But, of course, like any other huge city, LA is made up of many different districts and just because you don’t like one area, doesn’t mean you won’t find somewhere else you’ll love. You might enjoy the battle over the gentrification of Highland Park just as much as some people like the obscenity of Malibu and Rodeo Drive.
Walk with the stars
Okay, so it’s a kitschy stereotype but, as with all stereotypes, it’s a stereotype for a reason. LA’s Walk of Fame is one of those things that you feel ridiculously touristy for doing, but if you go without having a look, you’ll kick yourself. Sure, you’ve seen it on TV a million times, but that’s part of the charm. During the day it’s obviously not as flashy as during a film premiere, but it has its own tacky glamour.
Go down on the boardwalk
The gentrification of Venice is slowly catching up, but this is still a great place to come and watch buskers, painters, muscle-men and -women, rollerbladers and religious leafleters doing their thing. Buy a hotdog or an ice-cream and spend the day aimlessly seeing what you can see.
Get backstage
Being the centre of the film industry, many studios do tours – because Hollywood clearly doesn’t make enough money already. Generally regarded as the best one, the Paramount Pictures studio tour offers a two hour regular tour or a four-and-a-half hour VIP option. Both offer an extensive overview of the history of the silver screen in LA, though the VIP option will also get you into back lots and up near sets if there is any filming going on.
Been to Los Angeles before? Did you try these?
Ignore the films and hit the books
A lot of people wouldn’t even consider going to downtown LA, seeing that it has a bit of rough reputation, but this would be to miss one of the fastest-growing bohemian areas of the city. The Arts District is home to craft beer brewing companies and cool little bars, as well as The Last Bookstore, which is California’s largest second-hand bookshop.
Go underground
King Eddy’s bar (also in the Arts District) used to be a genuine speakeasy during prohibition, and had – and still has – access to an 11-mile network of underground tunnels that were used as drinking dens. Also, officially closed to the public, if you find your way behind the Hall of Records on Temple Street, you’ll find a lift. Go down to find a hidden world of strange street art and abandoned tunnels…
Embrace the macabre
LA’s blatantly titled Museum of Death is precisely that. From an exhibition of artwork by noted serial killers, to the autopsy room and thousands of crime scene photos, this is very odd, and definitely not for everyone!
