- Travel
Explore 5 of Los Angeles’
Coolest Neighborhoods
- May 16, 2022
Shopping in Silver Lake
We asked KEY’s L.A. concierge Gwen Sukeena for her tips on navigating the eclectic, exciting Silver Lake. “From used records, used books, flowers and dried sage, they sell it all here,” our expert says. One of her favorite used clothing stores in L.A. is the Crossroads, and Vacation Vinyl is a rocking spot for scoring excellent music. When you’re done shopping, “take one of the best strolls in Los Angeles around the Reservoir,” Sukeena suggests, or see what’s available to taste at Silverlake Wine, known for its high-quality artisanal wine, beers, and spirits. She’s a fan of Silver Lake’s trendy farmers market located at Sunset Triangle Plaza, a pedestrian-friendly spot where residents also enjoy summer movie nights and other outdoor events. The market, only open Tuesdays and Saturdays, doesn’t just sell top-notch produce. There are clothing and jewelry stands, and plenty of mouth-watering prepared foods for sale, too.
Soaking up History in Little Tokyo
Located in Downtown L.A., Little Tokyo is a National Historic Landmark district with a past dating back all the way back to the late 1800s, and a special destination. The Koyasan Buddhist Temple, officially known as “Koyasan Beikoku Betsuin” of Los Angeles, is open to visitors, as is the tucked-away beauty of the James Irvine Japanese Garden, known as Seiryu-en or “Garden of the Clear Stream.” The fascinating Japanese American National Museum is the largest museum in the United States dedicated to sharing the experience of Americans of Japanese ancestry. Japanese Village Plaza, located at district’s gateway, is a perfect spot to park, then shop and eat nearby. There’s famously fantastic food in Little Tokyo, so get your sushi fix from Sushi Gen or ramen at Daikokuya. Need help with restaurant suggestions or reservations? We’ll do it for you
Gallery Hopping in Culver City
Culver City is home to not only movie studies, but a vibrant arts scene. “Gallery Row hums on Saturday evenings during openings. It has become quite the art Mecca of Los Angeles,” our expert Sukeena raves, adding, “stalwarts like Honor Fraser, Roberts & Tilton, Cherry and Martin, and Blum & Poe provide an anchor for under-the-radar galleries like Edward Cella Art & Architecture, Anat Egbi, Luis De Jesus, and Klowden Mann.” Stop in the Helms Bakery District before you leave for food and shopping, then let KEY’s private driver take you and your treasures back home
Hitting the Beach in Santa Monica
Santa Monica boasts the kind of scenery and weather that makes Los Angeles so irresistible to visitors from less ideal climates. Spend the day at the Santa Monica State Beach, 245 acres of sand loved by residents and guests alike. KEY will arrange for your own beach butler to set up chairs, towels, a table, umbrella, and a cooler stocked with drinks. No day at the beach is complete without a stop at the iconic Santa Monica Pier, a full-service amusement park and arcade, with its oh-so-California solar-powered Ferris wheel. The pier is full of fun, funnel cake, an arcade, and other family-friendly delights, including the Trapeze School New York, where you can sign up to take flight, and the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium, where the kids can see marine life up close.
Making Magic in Hollywood
A visit to Los Angeles wouldn’t be complete without the requisite star-gazing, and Hollywood’s the perfect location to celebrate the city’s most famous industry. A KEY guided hike and picnic is where you’ll learn all about the famous Hollywood Sign and other Los Angeles landmarks. Go full tourist at the famed TCL Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, before you end up at one of Hollywood’s trendy bars or at a concert at the Hollywood Bowl. Can we arrange tickets for you? You know it!
