Los Angeles can be overwhelming, especially for someone who has never been there. Since we were only in town briefly, I decided to check out “A Day in LA” tour. In one full day we did everything from a trip through Venice Beach and Santa Monica, to LA’s most notable highlights including Griffith Park, the Sunset Strip, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, The Grove & Farmers’ Market, the Hollywood sign … and much more! It was the perfect way to see the city for someone with minimal time!

The tour started at the beautiful Santa Monica beach, where we were warmly greeted with fresh fruit and juices to kick off the tour. Once the bus arrived, our tour guide, Brett, introduced himself and kicked things off with high energy! Brett, having a background in acting, was friendly and theatrical. He definitely made this tour worthwhile through his fun facts and bits of history! 

First stop was Venice Beach and the Boardwalk. This spot represented the art culture in an expressive form. If you love the arts, this is a spot for you! One fun part of the beach was two large boards for artists to spray-paint graffiti on. These boards are painted blank according to which artist comes to paint, which ensured that the art is always fresh and new.

Next we headed to the famous Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills, home to Hollywood’s most glamorous stars. Walking down Rodeo Drive is quite the experience. There are high-end stores everywhere the eye could see. We channeled our inner celebrity here – of course. 

Time sure flies when you’re having fun! It was already lunch time! We headed to the original Farmers Market. This spot had a wide selection of food, great for any palate. However, to get a feel for the local scene, we ventured outside the market to checkout restaurants the locals go to. We came across a family style Italian restaurant called Bucas, and ordered pasta and mozzarella breadsticks. The food was generic but the servings were large, which is great if you are hungry!

After lunch we headed up to the Griffith Observatory and The Hollywood Sign. We were conveniently dropped off right in front of the museum. The view from there was stunning! Plus, you’re able to walk on the roof of the observatory and capture some great shots of the Hollywood sign. If you’re interested in science, definitely check out inside the museum, there is a lot to see inside.

The last stop was Hollywood Boulevard and The Walk of Fame. This area was very crowded, however, it’s great for a one-time see. We had fun reading the engraved signatures, hand prints and quotes in the cement.

On our way back to Santa Monica, we cruised down Sunset Boulevard and Brett continued to share fun facts, including the hangout spots of famous bands, such as, Guns n’ Roses, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and many more. One of my favorite facts was the story behind the lead guitarist from the Guns N Roses hat. I’ll let you go on the tour to find out that though!

“A Day in LA” tour was everything I wanted and more. If you have a short amount of time and would like to see the well-known attractions, this is the perfect way to do it for a great price!