A popular tourist spot that you'll be missing out on if you don't visit it on your trip to Los Angeles!
Hello, this is KEINA from the SoCalization Marketing Department. Due to the effects of COVID-19, we have been away from traveling abroad for two years, but the long-awaited easing of travel restrictions has finally begun! I'm sure there are many people who have been anxious about when they can travel again, so why not use this blog as a reference to plan your trip to Southern California?
No trip to Southern California is complete without a visit to the well-known city of Los Angeles! Today, we would like to introduce the many tourist attractions in Los Angeles, the most famous city in Southern California, and its neighboring cities.
table of contents:
- Los Angeles 1-day tour
- Anaheim Theme Parks
- Anaheim Brewery Tour
- A luxurious getaway on Catalina Island
- Preparing for your trip to Los Angeles
Cars are the main way to get around in the US, but there are probably some people who don't have a driver's license or are afraid to drive in LA, where the roads are always busy. That said, it's extremely difficult to coordinate bus and train schedules in a foreign country. That's why the most efficient and safe way to get around Los Angeles is by using the ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft. With these apps, you can tell them your destination through the app, so you don't need to speak English, and you don't have to worry about being ripped off because the fare is paid through the app.
Downtown Los Angeles is home to many famous tourist attractions, so if you only have a short stay, we recommend narrowing down the places you absolutely do not want to miss.
1. Los Angeles 1-day itinerary
The perfect place to start your day is Grand Central Market in Downtown Los Angeles. This food market, the largest in LA, spans 2,787 square meters and is home to 30 restaurants and cafes. It's difficult to visit all the famous restaurants and food trucks in LA, but here you can taste a wide variety of food, from tacos to Chinese food and barbecue, in just a few hours. Refueling with coffee from Grand Central Market's popular cafe G&B and breakfast from the hugely popular sandwich shop Eggslut is the perfect way to start your day.
After filling your stomach, enjoy contemporary art at The Broad . Located a 2-minute drive or 10-minute walk from Grand Central Market, this art museum offers a wide range of contemporary art from 1950 to the present.
If you come to Los Angeles, the movie capital, you definitely can't miss the Hollywood Walk of Fame . It's a recommended place for those who like foreign movies and American actors and actresses. In addition, next to this road is the TCL Chinese Theater . This theater is a historic theater in the movie world, where the Academy Awards ceremony and many movie premieres have been held.
After taking in the art and Hollywood icons, take a stroll along the Santa Monica Pier and end your day with a beautiful Southern California sunset.
While you want to visit as many tourist spots as possible in one day, you are still concerned about the cost of transportation. After comparing the prices of the ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft, you will find that Lyft is a little cheaper. Please note that the travel time and price when using Lyft listed here are estimates for around lunchtime on Saturdays and may change depending on the date, time of day, and road congestion when using the ride-hailing service.
This whirlwind tour route is perfect for those who want to see as many sights as possible in one day, and for those who have a short stay, but if you are lucky enough to have a longer vacation, we recommend visiting not only LA but also the surrounding areas.
2. Anaheim Theme Parks
Anaheim, located between the coastline connecting LA and San Diego, is about 30 minutes from Los Angeles and is famous as the home base of the Angels, the baseball team of Japanese baseball player Shohei Ohtani. Of course, you can watch Angels games and cheer on the Japanese team, but if you're visiting Anaheim, you can't miss California Disneyland . California Disneyland is so large that it takes several days to explore the entire park. Unlike Japan's Cinderella Castle, there is Aurora Castle, and there are attractions that are not available at Japanese Disneyland, so there are many things to enjoy. In addition to Disney, Knott's Berry Farm is a theme park that the whole family can enjoy.
3. Anaheim Brewery Tour
Southern California is one of the most popular areas for craft beer in the United States, and there are many breweries in Anaheim. Golden Road Brewery is located across from Angel Stadium, which is well known for Shohei Ohtani, and it's great to enjoy craft beer next to the stadium where people are celebrating before and after the game. Karl Strauss is also a famous brewery with 11 stores throughout Southern California, and is a great brewery for those who want to taste beer that originated in Southern California. In fact, SoCalization also sells Karl Strauss products! We offer three flavors: Boat Shoes IPA, Aurora Hoppy Yaris IPA, and Mosaic Session IPA. Why not try the craft beer offered at SoCalization before actually going to Karl Strauss ?
Karl Strauss craft beer available in SoCalization
4. A luxurious getaway to Catalina Island
If you want to go a little further from Los Angeles, we recommend Santa Catalina Island, located southwest of LA. Located about 35 kilometers from the coastline, this island is full of adrenaline-pumping activities. One of these is the thrilling Catalina Island Zipline Eco Tour. This tour is a very unique tour that takes you on a zipline for two hours to explore the island. After enjoying the spectacular ocean view from the sky, you can enjoy meals and drinks at the restaurants and bars at the arrival point. For those who want to get even deeper into nature, there are a wide variety of activities available, including underwater expeditions, kayaking, snorkeling, and even horseback riding. If you want to take a break from the beach, you can also choose to visit the Catalina Island Museum. Catalina Island, which at first glance looks like a resort from LA, also has a high-end side with hotels, casinos, and golf courses. After enjoying the busy city of Los Angeles to the fullest, it's a good idea to relax on Catalina Island before heading home.
5. Preparing for a trip to Los Angeles
Travel restrictions began with the spread of COVID-19. At the same time, border control measures for people entering Japan from overseas were also implemented. These measures have been gradually relaxed, but initially, there was a very long home quarantine period of two weeks when returning to Japan, which made traveling very difficult considering school and work. The home quarantine period has finally been shortened, but it is now easier to travel, although it is conditional. However, with so many new rules, many people may not know where to start or what they need. If you are one of those people, please refer to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare website and border control page to prepare for your trip. In addition, the Japanese YouTube channel "Weekend Overseas Nomad "Daisuke"" regularly updates videos that explain overseas travel information in detail and in an easy-to-understand manner, so please take a look.
Los Angeles, the most famous city in Southern California, is a great travel destination with a wide variety of tourist attractions. Now that travel restrictions have finally begun to ease, why not use this blog as a reference to plan your trip to Los Angeles?
