4 Fun & Unusual Things to Do in LA

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Things to do in LA: I’m a lover of doing things that most other people don’t, like snorkeling between tectonic plates or jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. I chase adventure and have notebooks upon notebooks filled with bucket lists. So when I find myself yet again in LA for another conference or event, you can almost hear my internal groan. I want to see everything, so it’s painful to go back to a place I’ve been so many times before.

I’ve partnered with my friends at CheapOair to share some of the best things to do in LA. Each month, they release a new Things to Do destination video on their YouTube channel. Below, you’ll find some of their suggestions, and I’ve included some of my own of my favorite things to do in LA.

If you’re not familiar with CheapOair, head over to the post I did about finding cheap last minute flights. They’re my go-to provider of cheap flights because of their Fusion Fares technology which allows you to get itineraries across multiple airlines.

Things to Do in LA

1. Eat the World’s Stinkiest Fruit

You can find durian, the world’s stinkiest fruit, in many places in Los Angeles. You can head to Puan Sri, which is a Malaysian restaurant in Los Angeles County. It’s a little out-of-the-way, but if you’re looking for durian, it’s the place to be: this cafe has 11 durian food items and 5 durian intensive drinks. Yes, you can smell it from the parking lot, and this olfactory fruit does take some getting used to, but it’s worth checking off your bucket list.

2. See the Stars

Sure, LA is known for having some of the biggest stars in movies and television, but those aren’t the kind of stars I’m talking about. Head to LA for the Griffith Observatory. Here, you’ll get some of the best views of both land and space—billions of stars, plus views of the Pacific Ocean, Hollywood, the LA Basin, and Downtown LA. Plus, it’s free. Win-win.

3. Step Back in Time

The La Brea Tar Pits and Museum gives visitors the opportunity to observe what it was really like for dinosaurs who got stuck in tar. Natural asphalt has seeped up through the ground and you can find remnants of trapped animals. The tar pits are free, but you’ll have to pay to visit the museum.

4. Book a Photo Shoot

Photo by Coco Haus Productions

What better way to commemorate your trip than to have beautiful lifestyle shots for your Instagram or blog? Since I find super cheap flights with CheapOair, I can splurge on things that matter most to me—like getting lots of photos wherever I travel. One of my favorite photo shoots I’ve ever done was in LA with Coco Haus. It’s fun to get glammed up and become a star, if only for a day.