Famous Beaches and the Port in Los Angeles
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
Los Angeles has many diverse bathing beaches. Just remember that the water is quite cold. In addition to sand and water fun, there is much to do and see at the beaches, piers, and the city's ports.
Surfing, water skiing, and sailing are very popular at the beaches, and you can also enjoy watching them.
Recommended hotels in a central location in Los Angeles:
Best Western PLUS Hollywood Hills – A 3-star hotel located a 4-minute drive from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The hotel has 86 spacious and well-equipped rooms including a microwave and refrigerator. The hotel features a diner restaurant and a swimming pool. Free internet. Private parking for an additional fee.
Holiday Inn Express Hollywood Walk of Fame - A 3-star hotel located an 8-minute walk from the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The hotel has 94 spacious rooms, each with a small refrigerator. The hotel has a swimming pool and a gym. Free internet and free breakfast. Private parking for an additional fee.
Residence Inn by Marriott Beverly Hills – A suite hotel in Beverly Hills located less than a kilometer from Rodeo Drive. The hotel has 186 suites ranging from double studios to two-bedroom suites with a living room designed for 5 people. Each suite has a neat and equipped kitchen. Free internet and free breakfast. The hotel has a jacuzzi and a gym. Private parking for an additional fee.
Hilton Los Angeles-Universal City – A high-quality 4-star hotel located a 2-minute walk from Universal Studios. The hotel has 495 rooms. The hotel features a restaurant, business center, gym, swimming pool, and jacuzzi. Each room has a small refrigerator. Rooms offer views of the theme park or the city. Internet and parking for an additional fee.
♦ Booking guided tours in Los Angeles from GetYourGuide.com:
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♦ Guided tours in Los Angeles from Viator:
Venice Beach
This famous beach is located south of Santa Monica. At the beginning of the century, it had canals like in Venice (hence its name) where gondolas sailed. Following the discovery of oil in the city, the canals became dumps and the area became neglected and dangerous, a place for many homeless people.
In the eighties, it was decided to restore the beach, and indeed today it serves as a magnet for tourists who love to observe two types of views: the beautiful sea view seen from the promenade and the diverse human landscape. The promenade is crowded with a colorful crowd: bathers, sunbathers, strollers, vendors, and artists. Many young people use rollerblades and skateboards.
Venice Beach has a huge and challenging park for rollerbladers; it is fascinating to watch the virtuoso skaters there.
The main attraction here is the many and varied street performances including guitar players, magicians, dancers, weightlifters, and strange acts like walking on glass, hypnosis, etc. The place is especially vibrant on weekends. It is not recommended to hang around the area after dark.
Walking on glass:
Santa Monica
Santa Monica is a coastal town north of Los Angeles that serves as a center for bohemian residents and artists. About 90,000 people live there. On the main streets, there are restaurants, shops, and boutiques. One of the most visited areas in the town is the "Third Street Promenade," which is packed with shops and street performances. The most colorful area is the pier located near Colorado Avenue. On the pier, there are many fishermen trying their luck, restaurants, shops, vendors, and an amusement park with rides and games. Many movies have been filmed at the Santa Monica pier. A carnival atmosphere prevails there year-round. Near the pier, on the cliffs, is a lovely park called Palisades Park, a great place for watching beautiful sunsets. The main Santa Monica visitor center is located at 1920 Main Street, Suite B. It is highly recommended to rent bicycles (preferably electric) and ride along the long, beautiful promenade to reach the beach and continue riding there. It is particularly great to join a guided bicycle tour departing from Santa Monica.
♦ To book a 3-hour guided electric bike tour of Santa Monica and Venice Beach from Viator:
Small Group Electric Bicycle Tour of Santa Monica and Venice Beach
The "Queen Mary" Ship
This historic and magnificent passenger ship is one of the largest passenger ships ever built. Today it is anchored in Long Beach port and serves as a luxury hotel. Self-guided or guided tours are held in the engine room, bridge, decks, ballrooms, dining room, and living quarters. You can purchase various "packages" including different tours. Parking is for an additional fee. The most fascinating tour is: "Ghosts & Legends of the Queen Mary," a tour combined with special effects and a show where the boundaries between imagination and reality blur. The highlight of the tour is a visit to the first-class pool, known as a popular spot for ghost sightings. In the evening, special night tours and also dinner with a show take place, all in the company of "ghouls and spirits" (not suitable for young children!). Many events and festivals take place on the ship, and it has a small museum with rotating exhibits. Adjacent to the ship is a pier with shops and restaurants. Address: 1126 Queens Highway, Long Beach. The port can be reached via Route I-710. You can purchase a discounted combined ticket for the Long Beach Aquarium and the Queen Mary. A Soviet submarine named "Scorpion" is located near the ship (entry for a separate fee or included in the extended package called: First Class Passage); a fascinating tour can be taken through the living quarters, narrow passages, torpedo rooms, engine room, and even the tiny kitchen. The tour is not recommended for those suffering from claustrophobia, pregnant women, or very young children. Children under 122 cm in height are not allowed to enter the submarine.
♦ Theme park and attraction tickets in Los Angeles:
Marina Del Rey
This is one of the largest marinas in the world, with moorings for about 6,000 yachts. It is recommended to stroll along the pier among the yachts and then dine at one of the restaurants overlooking the sea. In the marina is a structure called "Fisherman's Village," built in a New England style and housing colorful restaurants and shops. Address: 13737 Fiji Way. You can rent motorboats, rowboats, kayaks, or sailboats from one of the companies in the marina, such as Marina Boat Rentals at Fisherman's Village,
or: UCLA Recreation Outdoor Adventures, or go on a short harbor cruise.
Several companies organize various types of cruises. The largest company, with branches in other California cities, is: Hornblower Yachts. 40-minute cruises are offered by Just Fun Stuff... Tours, also located in "Fisherman's Village." Deep-sea fishing trips also depart from the marina. In the winter months, between January and March, whale-watching cruises depart from the marina. There is a visitor center there: Marina del Rey Convention and Visitors Bureau, address: 4701 Admiralty Way.
San Pedro Port
This is the main port of Los Angeles, and many ships depart from it for vacation cruises (some cruises, especially all Carnival cruises, depart from Long Beach port). For those satisfied with a short cruise, you can sail near the port on tours lasting one to two hours. The tour usually includes sailing in the outer and inner port near the Coast Guard station, past passenger ships and large tankers, the federal prison, and the lighthouse. Whale-watching cruises take place during the winter months. In the central part of the port is a picturesque area called: Ports O' Call Village, built in a New England style, featuring restaurants, shops, and an entertainment center. Entry and parking are free. From this "village," 45 and 90-minute cruises depart on yachts. It is recommended to book in advance. From San Pedro port, cruises also depart to Catalina Island.