TRAVEL-202609-uswest/la_sights.md

# Los Angeles — Places to See

*Candidate menu of sights. The working LA schedule is in [`days/2026-09-26.md`](days/2026-09-26.md) through [`days/2026-09-29.md`](days/2026-09-29.md).*

> **Getting around:** the group keeps the rental car through Oct 4 — essential here, LA is spread out and transit is weak. Budget for traffic between areas.

## Beaches & Coast

- **Santa Monica Pier** — Ferris wheel, end of Route 66
- **Venice Beach** — boardwalk, canals and Abbot Kinney
- **Malibu / PCH coastal drive** — Malibu Pier, Point Dume and [El Matador State Beach](https://maps.app.goo.gl/E7MMVFwEFx1FxWei7)
  - El Matador has sea stacks and caves and is best near low tide; day-use parking is 8:00 AM–sunset, with limited blufftop spaces and steep stairs to the beach
  - Point Dume lower parking access was closed as of 2026-08-28; recheck before departure and use Zuma Beach as the fallback

## Hollywood & Landmarks

- **Griffith Observatory** — Hollywood Sign views, city panorama and exhibits; building closed Monday, grounds open daily
- **Hollywood Walk of Fame**, TCL Chinese Theatre, Dolby Theatre and Ovation Hollywood
- **Beverly Hills / Rodeo Drive**

## Museums & Culture

- **Lucas Museum of Narrative Art** — [official site](https://lucasmuseum.org) · One Lucas Plaza, Exposition Park · opens 2026-09-22 · open Monday 10:00 AM–5:00 PM, closed Tuesday · [timed-entry tickets](https://my.lucasmuseum.org/production/timed-entry/86,205)
- **Getty Center** — recommended second museum for Lera: art, architecture, gardens and views · free timed entry, paid parking · closed Monday
- **Academy Museum** — film history · closed Tuesday
- **Natural History Museum** — science and history; convenient to combine with the Lucas Museum in Exposition Park
- **LACMA** — Urban Light installation
- **The Broad** — contemporary art · free, reserve ahead · closed Monday

## Theme parks (full-day each, optional)

- **Universal Studios Hollywood**
- **Disneyland** — Anaheim, ~45 min south

## Neighborhoods

- **Downtown LA** — Grand Central Market, Arts District
- **Santa Monica / Abbot Kinney** — dining, shopping

## Events (date-fixed)

- **[Water for Elephants](https://www.broadwayinhollywood.com/events/detail/water-for-elephants) — Sun Sep 27, 6:30 PM PDT** — Broadway musical with circus acrobatics at the Hollywood Pantages; 2 hours 20 minutes. Closing performance of the LA run. It conflicts with the full coastal-day schedule, so the group would need to finish the coast after Malibu lunch and check in early