Friday, September 27, 2013

Hidden Los Angeles: The City's Best Finds

By Debrah Elliot


While Rodeo Drive, Disneyland and studio tours beckon tourists every year, there's much more to the Los Angeles area than shopping and theme parks. This diverse and immense city and its suburbs offer a myriad of unique hidden gems. From the quirky to the delicious, there are wonderful spots to discover all over the place. Here are just a few of the best spots in L.A.

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.

In Los Angeles, it seems like there is a coffee house on every corner, but all coffee houses are definitely not created equally. If you want to sample the best and freshest gourmet brew in the L.A. area, you cannot beat Island Monarch Coffee in Culver City. The proprietors use only the freshest beans and the finest purified water to create the many coffee drinks on their menu. Still-green beans are shipped in from Latin American and Hawaii and then roasted and blended. These beans are freshly ground for each order to ensure that every cup of coffee is perfect.

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.

If you are a car enthusiast, you will want to visit the Petersen Automotive Museum which is located on Wilshire Boulevard along the Miracle Mile. However, outside of the city in the town of Sylmar, you will find the Nethercutt Museum. This museum houses a vast collection of pristine automobiles dating from about 1910 to the 1930s. In addition to the cars, there is also a restored 1937 Canadian Pacific Royal Hudson locomotive and a Pullman Private Car that dates back to 1912. In addition to the museum, you can schedule a guided tour of the Nethercutt Collection which includes automobile collectibles, historic musical instruments and music boxes, antique dolls and much more.

Of course, these are just a few of the attractions and eateries you might consider. There are plenty of other options, including some amazing seaside and canyon hikes, historic walking tours, tiny donut shops actually shaped like donuts, sea adventures where you will encounter dolphins, whales and sea lions and plenty of great sunsets that don't cost a penny to enjoy.




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