| Los Angeles - Weekend Getaway - The Arts |
If the only image that comes to mind when you think of Los Angeles involves smog, traffic and Hollywood studios, think again. Did you know that Los Angeles has over 80 stage theaters and 300 museums, more than any other U.S. city? A weekend getaway in LA can be culturally rewarding. Visit world-class museums, go to the theatre, enjoy the finest in dining and take in some California sunshine along the way.
Preparation
Fly into LAX or Burbank and reserve a hotel in the Westside. You will need a rental car. This itinerary assumes that you will arrive in the evening, stay two nights and return home in the evening of the second day.
Most concerts and stage performances will require advance reservations. Pick a concert at the Hollywood Bowl (summer only), a theatre performance, and/or other performing arts and make reservations. Adjust the rest of this itinerary around the performances. If any of the performances at the downtown Performing Arts Center (Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum, Dorothy Chandler Pavilion) interest you, it's the best place to go. The outdoor ambience here elevates an evening of the arts to a high and rightly deserved level of glamour.
If you are a classical music fan, tune your car radio to FM stations KCSN 88.5 or KKGO 105.1.
Evening: Arrival
Get settled into your hotel, then choose an evening activity:
- Take in a free concert or view the exhibits at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. They are open until 9:00 PM on Fridays. The Armand Hammer Museum at UCLA also offers free Friday jazz concerts.
- Today is a good day to enjoy dinner at one of Los Angeles' finest restaurants, especially if you plan on attending a performance tomorrow evening.
- Enjoy an independent or foreign film at the Landmark Theatres or the Laemmle Theatres.
The Getty Center Museum is the crowning jewel of Los Angeles art museums. Expect to take a full day to visit it and if you like architecture, you may spend so much time admiring the buildings that you'll never get inside. Admission to the museum is free, but there is a charge for parking and parking reservations are sometimes required. Depending on your evening schedule and the weather, sunsets can be spectacular from the Getty and you may want to time your visit so you're still there when the sun goes down.
Evening: Attend the performance of your choice. If you are going to the Performing Arts Center downtown, allow plenty of time to drive, at least twice as long as you think it should take under normal conditions. Traffic jams are persistent around downtown and nothing spoils a lovely evening any faster than worrying about being late for the performance. An alternative is the Metro Rail's Red Line, exiting at the Civic Center/Tom Bradley station, a short walk from the Arts Center.
Day 2Enjoy a leisurely breakfast or brunch at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles, The Belvedere or Campanile.
Spend a half day at any of LA's myriad of fine museums. Head for the airport and home.
Day 2 of a 3-Day TripThere are still plenty of museums and performances you haven't seen. Save them for another visit. For a change of pace, try something different.
- Drive west until you reach the water, park the car, take off your shoes and play in the sand.
- Take a movie studio tour at Paramount or Warner Bros. and learn how movies are made.
- Make a day trip to Catalina Island.
Photos (c) 2000 by Betsy Malloy. All rights reserved.
