TRAVEL-202609-uswest/la_sights.md

# Los Angeles — Places to See

*Candidate menu of sights. No day plan yet (Sep 27 arrival, Sep 28–29) — pick from here to build one.*

> **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
- **Malibu** — coastline, PCH drive
- **[El Matador State Beach](https://maps.app.goo.gl/E7MMVFwEFx1FxWei7)** — Malibu, ~1 hr from DTLA via PCH. Sea stacks, caves, sunset spot. Small paid lot, steep stairs down; best at low tide. *Requested — as a group or solo*

## Hollywood & Landmarks

- **Griffith Observatory** — Hollywood Sign views, city panorama (great at sunset)
- **Hollywood Walk of Fame** & TCL Chinese Theatre
- **Beverly Hills / Rodeo Drive**

## Museums & Culture

- **Getty Center** — art + architecture + gardens, free entry (paid parking)
- **LACMA** — Urban Light installation
- **The Broad** — contemporary art (free, reserve ahead)
- **[Lucas Museum of Narrative Art](https://lucasmuseum.org/)** — Exposition Park, 3800 S Vermont Ave. Brand new, opens Sep 22. Mon 10 AM–5 PM, **Tue closed** → fits Mon Sep 28 only. Timed-entry [tickets](https://my.lucasmuseum.org/production/timed-entry/86,205) required

## 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** — Broadway musical with circus acrobatics, Hollywood Pantages Theatre (~25 min from the DTLA Airbnb). 2 hrs 20 min. Closing performance of the LA run — the only slot on our dates, on arrival day after the drive from Sequoia. Optional, just for fun; book ahead if wanted