These Things Not to Do in Los Angeles

It’s no secret that Los Angeles is one of most sprawling cities in the world, making it impossible to see all, or even most, of it in one trip. It’s downright overwhelming when you think about how to pack Hollywood, Beverly Hills, the beach cities, and everything in between into one trip.
Many visitors try to do it all, but there are some things you simply shouldn’t do in L.A. We’re here to guide you away from those, so you have more time for the best of Los Angeles. Let find out These Things Not to Do in Los Angeles below.

These Things Not to Do in Los Angeles

Don’t eat at Pink’s Hot Dogs

If you’re going to stand in line for thirty minutes for a hot dog, it should be a unique L.A. experience, not just another hot dog stand. Ditch Pink’s and go to Dodger Stadium for a Dodgers game to enjoy the famous 10 inch Dodger Dog. Or better yet, visit Wurstküche, with locations in Venice Beach and Downtown Los Angeles in the Arts District, featuring exotic sausages such as duck and bacon sausage, Belgian fries with homemade dipping sauces, and more than twenty different Belgian and German beers.

Don’t take a star home tour

Lining Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards you’ll find no shortage of sightseeing companies and vendors handing out brochures and maps for guided and self guided tours of celebrity homes. A lot of celebrities don’t even live in Hollywood or Beverly Hills, and the ones who do treasure their privacy and often have large fences around their residences. You’re more likely to see a celebrity at an independent shop, such as the Brentwood Country Mart, or a locally owned restaurant.

Don’t shop on Rodeo Drive or The Grove

Both Rodeo Drive and The Grove aren’t short on upscale shops or people watching. However, if it’s shopping you’re after, there are better options that won’t require elbowing your way through crowds. Though Rodeo Drive often gets all the attention, one of the trendiest shopping districts is Robertson Boulevard, lined with both prominent designer stores and small boutiques. Further west in Santa Monica, Montana Avenue is a tree lined street home to more than 150 specialty shops and restaurants.

Don’t hike Runyon Canyon

Runyon Canyon, located just off Hollywood Boulevard, may be the most convenient and accessible trail in Los Angeles. That also makes it one of the most crowded. To escape the hordes, go to Griffith Park, home to the Griffith Observatory and more than fifty miles of hiking. Further west, near the Pacific Palisades is Topanga Canyon, which offers trails through the Santa Monica Mountains and sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean.

Don’t go to Hollywood and Highland

It may be the best people watching spot in L.A., but Hollywood and Highland is also the biggest tourist trap here. It’s the Times Square of Los Angeles, feeling a bit like a can of sardines on the weekends. Everyone will try to sell you something on the street, from souvenirs to DVDs, and even Superman will ask for money to take a photo with him.

Don’t walk the Venice Beach Boardwalk on the weekend

There’s a recurring theme here with crowds in Los Angeles, and Venice is no exception, especially on weekends when you’ll have to move with the pace of the crowd to walk down the Venice Beach Boardwalk. However, the great thing about L.A.’s beaches is that the 22 miles paved bicycle path, The Strand, also runs along some more offbeat, less crowded beaches, such as Playa del Rey, which is just south of Venice. Whatever you do, don’t go into one of the boardwalk’s cannabis clinics in Venice.

Don’t rely on public transportation or taxis to get around

Public transportation more specifically, buses doesn’t have the same virtues in L.A. as it does in other cities. Taking a bus from LAX to Hollywood, for example, takes no less than an hour and a half although it’s just a 12 miles trip. Also, don’t try hailing a cab because it doesn’t work in L.A. Rent a car or use Uber or Lyft for nearby drivers to pick you up and drop you off. They are often 20 percent to 30 percent cheaper than taxis.