What Not to Do in Los Angeles

Ditch the guidebook for our much cooler trip to L.A. We'll tell you what to really do—and what not to do—in the City of Angels. (Spoiler alert: Don't go to Santa Monica, the Hollywood Wax Museum, or eat at Pink's Hot Dogs.)

By Valentina Silva

December 18, 2013

© Prisma Bildagentur AG / Alamy
DON'T: Walk the Santa Monica pier.
It’s exactly what you’d expect—endless souvenir shops, dinky rides, and teenagers on the loose. While the Ferris wheel offers some of the best views on the west side, the restaurants and bars are overpriced. Parking can be excruciating and equally exorbitant.
© Chris Putnam / Alamy
INSTEAD: Coast from Venice to Santa Monica.
Rent a bike from one of the various oceanfront shops and spend the day people-watching as you ride down the iconic boardwalk. Break for fresh sandwiches and fried-to-order doughnuts at Zelda’s Corner, or grab a beer flight served on a skateboard at the Venice Ale House.

© LHB Photo / Alamy
DON’T: Visit the Hollywood Wax Museum.
Recently dubbed “The Worst Wax Museum in America,” the Hollywood Boulevard mainstay might be the very definition of a tourist trap. Detractors complain that the figures barely resemble the celebrities they pretend to be, and at $30 a ticket, you’d expect a little more authenticity.
Courtesy of The Hollywood Museum
INSTEAD: Get your movie star fix at The Hollywood Museum.
Located in the historic—and splendidly Art Deco—Max Factor Building (and just around the corner from the Hollywood Wax Museum), this museum houses four floors of Hollywood memorabilia, including vintage photos, posters, costumes, scripts, and props. See everything from Marilyn Monroe’s million dollar honeymoon dress to Hannibal Lecter’s jail cell.

© Greg Balfour Evans / Alamy
DON’T: Eat at Pink's Hot Dogs.
You’ll wait in line for about 45 minutes and then wait another 20 just to eat the most overrated hot dogs and chili in L.A. Yes, Pink’s is an institution—but the food just doesn’t live up to the hype.
Courtesy of Skooby’s
INSTEAD: Go to Skooby's.
This Hollywood Boulevard sidewalk stand serves up some of the tastiest dogs we’ve ever had. Go _au naturel _with Skooby’s Original, a plain grilled dog in natural casing served on a toasted Hawaiian roll smeared in garlic. If you want to get fancy, add grilled onions and mustard.

© PhotoStock-Israel / Alamy
DON’T: Shop or eat at Universal CityWalk.
It’s free to enter Universal CityWalk, but after that you’ll be throwing down dollars left and right for chain restaurants (think Hard Rock Cafe and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.) and retailers. Swarms of tourist pack the place during the summer and holidays, but it fails to live up to expectations year-round.
Courtesy of www.NoHoArtsDiscrict.com
INSTEAD: Soak up some culture in the NoHo Arts District.
The recently revitalized NoHo Arts District offers more than 20 professional theaters and showcases some of the city’s most cutting-edge drama, dance, and art. See a show at the historic El Portal Theatre, relax with some coffee and and a slice of pie at Republic of Pie, or indulge in a cheese slate and craft beer at The Federal Bar.

© Sienna Van Nostrand / Alamy
DON’T: Hike Runyon Canyon.
Sure, this Hollywood Hills locale offers great views, but the trail also attracts large crowds, even on weekdays. If you’re not dodging other hikers, you’ll be contending with their dogs. Warning: Some owners aren’t always so meticulous about cleaning up after their furry friends.
© Della Huff / Alamy
INSTEAD: Go for a walk in Griffith Park.
One of Griffith Park's best trails leads to the Griffith Observatory, on the park’s highest peak. Make your way up the hill for outstanding views of the city, and don’t even try to resist snapping an Instagram pic of the James Dean bust there.

Courtesy Gladstone's Malibu
DON’T: Go for seafood at Gladstones.
This seaside restaurant is wildly popular and always packed, yet the crab cakes are bready and the "famous" clam chowder is bland and lacking in the clam department. The views might be great, but ho-hum food and spotty service don’t add up to the price of the tab.
Courtesy Malibu Seafood
INSTEAD: Keep it casual at Malibu Seafood.
Locals and surfers flock to this fish market and patio restaurant for fresh, daily selections fried or grilled on site. Try the fish tacos, creamy clam chowder in a bread bowl, or steamed clams, then dart across the Pacific Coast Highway to enjoy a day at the beach.

© John Crowe / Alamy
DON’T: Go to the Laugh Factory.
Some of the greatest acts in comedy have played this Sunset Strip stage, but the experience can make you feel like you’re in an actual factory. You’ll stand in line unless you pay extra for priority seating, and you’ll be rushed to meet your two-drink minimum with watered-down cocktails and overpriced beer during the two-hour show.
Noel Vasquez/Getty Images
INSTEAD: Catch big-name comedians at the Largo at the Coronet.
The casual and intimate West Hollywood theater Largo at the Coronet routinely books rising and established stars, like Tig Notaro, Patton Oswalt, and Sarah Silverman. Plus, there’s a bar with snacks and no drink minimum. Don’t be surprised if Louis C.K. suddenly appears on stage—he’s been known to pop in unannounced from time to time.

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DON’T: Take a double-decker tour bus.
Most packages on these double-decker tour buses include a two-hour ride around the city that will only give you quick glimpses of the most touristy spots, along with the hedges and fences of celebrity homes. In the end, your two hours are better spent at a single, quality point of interest.
© Mark Bassett / Alamy
INSTEAD: See the city lights on the Museum of Neon Art’s Neon Cruise.
The seasonal nighttime bus rides showcase movie marquees and neon signs from Downtown to Hollywood with a narrated tour that provides interesting context and background.

© Ian Dagnall / Alamy
DON’T: Shop on Rodeo Drive.
The Rodeo Drive strip in Beverly Hills is always portrayed as a glamorous celebrity hotspot in films and on TV, but what you’ll mostly see is window-shopping tourists clamoring for their photo op in front of Gucci or Chanel. The truly famous keep their distance.
© Mark Bassett / Alamy
INSTEAD: Go to Robertson Boulevard for celebrity spotting and high-end fashion.
Trendy boutiques like Kitson and Madison still hold court on Robertson Boulevard, but you’ll also score chic finds from big-name designers such as Tory Burch and Phillip Lim. If you really want to see and be seen, get a table at The Ivy—the food isn’t amazing, but it’s a great place to see the paparazzi in action.

© Peter Horree / Alamy
DON’T: Go to The Grove.
Parking is a nightmare at this outdoor mall, and the payoff includes little more than huge crowds, chain stores, and unremarkable restaurants. The adjacent Original Farmers’ Market is a fun spot, but you don’t have to set foot in The Grove to access its food stalls and vendors—use the back parking lot.
Eric Murphy / Alamy
INSTEAD: Explore West 3rd Street.
A favorite among locals, the street is lined with hip independent boutiques and restaurants. Shop for colorful housewares and quirky knickknacks at Plastica, find your signature fragrance at Le Labo, and don’t miss lunch—and dessert—at Joan’s on Third.
More in our 'What Not to Do' series:
What Not to Do in New York City
What Not to Do in San Francisco
What Not to Do in Chicago
What Not to Do in Las Vegas

DON'T: Walk the Santa Monica pier.

INSTEAD: Coast from Venice to Santa Monica.

DON’T: Visit the Hollywood Wax Museum.

INSTEAD: Get your movie star fix at The Hollywood Museum.

DON’T: Eat at Pink's Hot Dogs.

INSTEAD: Go to Skooby's.

DON’T: Shop or eat at Universal CityWalk.

INSTEAD: Soak up some culture in the NoHo Arts District.

DON’T: Hike Runyon Canyon.

INSTEAD: Go for a walk in Griffith Park.

DON’T: Go for seafood at Gladstones.

INSTEAD: Keep it casual at Malibu Seafood.

DON’T: Go to the Laugh Factory.

INSTEAD: Catch big-name comedians at the Largo at the Coronet.

DON’T: Take a double-decker tour bus.

INSTEAD: See the city lights on the Museum of Neon Art’s Neon Cruise.

DON’T: Shop on Rodeo Drive.

INSTEAD: Go to Robertson Boulevard for celebrity spotting and high-end fashion.

DON’T: Go to The Grove.

INSTEAD: Explore West 3rd Street.