City Year LA Orientation Guide May. 2015 | Page 72
Exploring Los Angeles
Prior to your start of service, and throughout the year LA has a lot to offer for fun and merriment. Below
are some tips from former AmeriCorps members of places to explore in LA that won’t kill your budget.
Free Things to Do in LA
Take a walking tour of Downtown: With so many free cultural attractions Downtown LA has
become one of the city's best places to see the sights for free.
Follow the paparazzi: Witnessing the paparazzi portion of the star making cycle is an authentic LA
experience, and totally free. Check out the top places to celeb watch.
Star gaze at Griffith Observatory: To learn about stars that are truly out of this world, the
exhibitions and displays in Griffith Park landmark are all free.
See the reality behind reality TV: Whether it’s watching the American Idol finale live, or dropping
into a Top Chef restaurant, reality TV fans have plenty of places to see throughout LA.
Explore L.A.’s Fashion District: The people-watching alone makes the Fashion District one of
L.A.’s premier shopping destinations and an experience all its own.
Explore Exposition Park: Five major cultural attractions are within walking distance of each other
in the USC/Exposition Park area, so be sure to take advantage of this walking tour.
Experience the Sunset Strip: Few other roads have the multiple personalities of this legendary
1.5-mile stretch of Sunset Boulevard.
Step into Hollywood history: The Chinese Theatre has been one of the most popular free
attractions since the 1920s, when actress Norma Talmadge accidentally stepped in wet cement
during the premiere of Cecil B. DeMille’s King of Kings. Movie fans from around the world compare
their hands and feet to those of stars past and present.
Get photographed with a star: Speaking of movie stars (and other pop culture figures), at
Madame Tussauds Hollywood you never know which famous wax figure will be on display near the
box office entrance off Hollywood Boulevard, a free photo op waiting to happen.
Walk the walk in Venice: From chainsaw jugglers, to swamis on rollerblades, or street dancers the
most amazing street entertainers in the world are at Venice Beach.
Bike around LA during Ciclavia: Throughout the year there are free Ciclavia events where streets
are closed to motor vehicles and open for the public to walk, bike, and skate through the open
streets. http://www.ciclavia.org/
Window shop Rodeo Drive: Treasure hunt and star gaze along famed Rodeo Drive in Beverly
Hills, home of the rich and super rich.
Watch TV live: Be a part of a studio audience for your favorite television shows and game shows
like Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. Tickets are free, but must be obtained in advance.
Treepeople: This LA based nonprofit organization has helped spear head the ecotourism industry
by offering numerous opportunities to volunteer.
72 | C o r p s M e m b e r O r i e n t a t i o n & R e s o u r c e G u i d e
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