What are some popular tourist attractions in Los Angeles?

The La Brea Tar Pits, Watts Towers, Olvera Street, Hollywood, Universal Studios, Catalina Island, Long Beach Aquarium, Griffith Park Observatory, LA Zoo, Disneyland, etc...

Lived there 50+ years so here are some dos and don'ts - Watts Towers are fun but the neighborhood is really iffy. The aquarium a dud, so is Olvera street and Catalina Island. You look young, so shopping in the outlet stores in downtown - south central between 9th and the #10 freeway. Not south central LA. Ask someone who lives there for directions - plan on spending at least the afternoon and lots of money. Take someone strong to carry everything.

The California Science Center over by USC is a great place for kids. There usually is an outside exhibit featuring butterflies or something, next to the Natural History Museum; and there is a beautiful, huge garden with all kinds of flowers. Lots of room for toddlers to run.

iv been to la twice and always stay at venice beach and spend all my time between there and sana monica, the beach there is unbelievable and all thoes little market stores are really interesting if you also go to santa monica you have to go to the pier there for a bite to eat for lunch and stand at the end where forrest gump ran to in the movie, also if you walk just past the bubba gump restaurant therell be a guy giving away ticket to be in the studio audience in various shows being filmed in hollywood... literally a money cant buy experience.

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Whatever you do, do NOT go near Compton. the other answer from craig was really very good

the santa manica area has very much to see and do and you will see a beautiful beach also.

Many actors also frequent the area, shopping and the eateries.

I got lost one time on the freeway . Was on my way to Smuckers country , or is that wine country. It was horrible! Kept driving in circles .....

I heard the Compton area is really nice and family oriented.