One of my absolute favorite things to do in LA is to go up to the Getty Center’s lawn that overlooks the entire city with a picnic lunch. It’s the perfect alternative to a beach picnic (I hate sand in my food), and it can be either romantic (think third date or beyond) or a fun outing with friends—someone brings the bread and brie, someone brings wine, someone brings the pita chips and hummus.
From the back lawn, you can see everything from the ocean to downtown to the observatory. Just make sure you go on a day when the sky is clear—like just after it rains—or else the view is obstructed by the ever-present layer of LA smog. The last time I was there, I was able to see the fog roll in from the ocean to cover the city and it was absolutely breathtaking.
Granted, parking is $15, but when you consider that also gives you admission to the museum and grounds (and you’d have to pay parking anywhere in LA), it’s not so bad. You could easily spend the whole day just going from exhibit to exhibit and not see everything there is to see.
For more information, visit their website at Getty.edu.
rachel grice 