Hidden Gems In Los Angeles

By Debrah Elliot


In a metropolitan area with more than 18 million people, you won't find it hard to find things to do. Everyone knows that Los Angeles offers plenty of great beaches, as well as sites such as Disneyland and Universal Studios. But if you want to bypass the popular touristy sites and really find the best that this metro area has to offer, you have to dig a bit deeper. Here are a just a few places to visit that will showcase the wonderful, wacky and wild place we call The Southland.

There's tons of great food in the city and metro area, but if you want something that is uniquely Los Angeles, head over to Philippe's on Alameda Street. The French dip sandwich was invented here, accidentally, in 1918. A patron's sandwich roll was dropped in the juices on the meat pan, but the customer said he wanted the roll anyway. It was so tasty he brought his friends the next day and they all requested a dipped version of the roast beef sandwich. Now, of course, this sandwich is a favorite around the country, but it all started at Philippe's. Along with the famous dips, they serve soups, salads, chili and a variety of desserts.

You can get coffee anywhere, but for a truly fantastic cup of coffee, Island Monarch Coffee is absolutely the place to go. You won't find a fresher cup of coffee anywhere in the Southland. The finest beans from Hawaii and Latin America are shipped in still in their green state. Beans are freshly roasted and used within a few days of roasting at most. Coffee is freshly ground for each order and the water is filtered multiple times to reduce the salt and any impurities. There is a full menu featuring everything from just a regular cup of coffee to a variety of lattes, mochas and much more.

There are some truly unique attractions in Los Angeles that even most locals don't know about. For instance, if you love going to the zoo, the L.A. Zoo is a great choice, located in picturesque Griffith Park. Both the park and the current zoo certainly are worth a visit, but for a little odd fun, try to find the Old Zoo, which is located nearby and includes all of the empty enclosures and cages. The Old Zoo is located a short hike from the Old Zoo Picnic Area, and there usually is parking available in this general area. After parking, head up a hill until you reach a giant stone animal enclosure with three door-like openings.

While L.A. Miracle Mile boasts a number of great museums, including the Petersen Automotive Museum, if you drive outside the city to Sylmar, there is another fantastic museum for car lovers. The Nethercutt Museum is filled with beautifully restored and maintained automobiles, most dating prior to 1940. There is a historic locomotive and a Pullman car, as well, and you can tour just about every inch of it. The museum also offers the Nethercutt Collection, which is available only with a guided tour. This portion of the museum has four sections that include everything from antique china dolls to an amazing assortment of antique musical instruments and plenty more.

There are plenty of other great places to visit in the Los Angeles area, from the antique stores located in the City of Orange down in Orange County to the donut shops that are shaped like giant donuts. There are hikes that take you to waterfalls, historic missions, whale-watching adventures and many other exciting options. You could fill weeks with great food and activities and never once pay an entrance fee to a theme park.




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