How to Make the Most Out of LA When You’re Not a Celebrity
by Ashlyn Salao
To outsiders, Los Angeles is a hazy dream of expensive homes, expensive food, and of course, expensive people, but to the rest of us, Los Angeles is more than that (as cheesy as that sounds). To the creative soul, it’s a priceless source of inspiration that feeds the desire to go, to do, to see, to listen, and to feel. However, Los Angeles is a big city, and it’s easy to feel lost amongst the graffiti-covered walls and towering buildings. Here’s a guide for the best places to go if you want to look beyond the glitz and glam of Hollywood and hit up the flea markets, beaches, and hidden gems instead.
MARKETS
For those who are balling on a budget, this colorful block of shops, music, and food trucks is perfect for finding unique pieces for your body and home. Fro 9am-5pm, you’re able to support your local business owners and artists, and with a humble price of $3 per ticket, you can support Fairfax High School as well! The last time that I visited Melrose, I was able to score
- 2 rings: $
- A necklace: $5
- A pastel pink baseball hat: $5
- A halter top: $8
If my wallet and the weather were in my favor, I would’ve given in to my heart eyes each time I passed by a booth, but for now, I decided to save my money until I could come again which is definitely going to be for my back-to-school shopping. As I walked along the pavement, I gazed in wonder at not only at the spunky clothes that filled the racks and tattered shoes that littered the floors, but also at the stunning people that were shopping. Inspiration was easy to come across at Melrose as I took in the outfits that so openly expressed the personality of the wearer. I made some notes in my head about what I was on the hunt for next time I came!
WHAT YOU’LL FIND:
- Plant booths including everyone’s favorites: succulents and cacti
- Food trucks that cater to any of your cravings, even for my fellow vegans
- Local musicians willing to sing a tune and earn a buck or two
- Cheap, well-made jewelry booths
- Vintage t-shirts, denim, leather, bags, and shoes
- And maybe, possibly, most likely a celebrity sighting (I saw Lohanthony and sadly lost Willow Smith in the chaos)
2.The Original Farmer’s Market
Like any other farmers market, The Original Farmers Market has the usual fresh produce that locals love, but since it’s Los Angeles, it exceeds the standards of the plain old fruit stands you see anywhere else. Additional to the wonderful selection of fruits and veggies, they have fresh bread, crepes, ice cream, poultry, seafood, coffee, and more. And after grabbing a quick bite to eat, you can also browse the many shops that call the corner of Fairfax and 3rd Street home. I can’t help but stock up on my collection of incense and stickers whenever I go, and of course, I’m instantly drawn to the knick-knacks that are showcased in the old windows of each shop. Here is where I find comfort in being surrounded by people who don’t know my name as I sit and create my own stories for each passerby while I’m surrounded by soft chatter and delicious aromas.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND:
- Cool postcards
- Candles, incense, and sage, oh my!
- A bread-lover’s heaven
- Fresh fruit and smoothies galore
SIMILAR PLACES:
- Grand Central Market
- Long Beach Southeast Farmers Market
- Rose Bowl Flea Market
- Long Beach Antique Market at Long Beach Veteran’s Stadium
BEACHES
About an hour outside of downtown L.A., Redondo Beach is the perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city where you can enjoy the sun on your skin and salt in your hair. What I love most about this beach is how friendly and private the area is as well as the killer sunsets that always make an appearance. Many of my most memorable summer memories have been made here like swimming in the warm water and gentle waves as the sun set or tenting up at 6am to watch the sunrise and chasing the sunset along the coast. Redondo Beach is the perfect getaway to have some time to yourself and the people you love.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND:
- Great food like acai bowls, poke, and Whole Foods Market
- Friendly locals
- Killer sunsets
- Peace and calm
I know Santa Monica Pier is on the list of touristy things to do in L.A., but sometimes a day filled with rides, games, and fried food is the best way to remind yourself of what it’s like to truly be alive. There’s nothing better than screaming your head off with your best friends on rides that get your heart pumping and adrenaline racing. Check out the video I made about the pier and see how I spent my day in Santa Monica here!
WHAT YOU’LL FIND:
- The best food to pig out on
- The best rides to scream on
- Unbelievable street performers
- Guy with a pet snake
SIMILAR PLACES:
AREAS/DISTRICTS
Echo Park never seems to let me down when it comes to things to do, see, and be inspired by. It’s a well-known “hipster hangout” which means that the people there always seem to exude a cool and confident aura, but maybe that’s also due to the fact that they always seem to dress better than most people around. But don’t worry! There’s plenty of thrift stores around to help step up your style game, and maybe the people there will even inspire you1 to go out of your comfort zone. With an array of bookstores and cafes scattered around, I have to make sure to bring a pocketful of cash so that I don’t have to gaze longingly at all the books, food, and clothes that I want.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND:
- Thrift stores
- Cafes (vegan!)
- Books, books, records, more books
- The coolest and trendiest kids on the block
- Lake, ducks, and not-so-nice geese
- Good lighting
- Concert venue
Again, a well-known hipster hangout. But it shouldn’t be a surprise when there’s creative people, studios, and shops everywhere you walk in the Art District of L.A. There’s so much to see and eat and people to meet over here, but if you plan on walking, I recommend going when it’s not so hot because the L.A. heat can be torturous. However, it’s not hard to find relief in the air conditioning of a store since you’ll probably want to go inside every single one. My favorite place to cool down and refresh is Cafe Gratitude. With a steady stream of empowerment from the workers and menu, you can’t help from smiling no matter what kind of day you’ve had. And the best part about it? A cruelty-free menu! Feel good from the inside out here at the Art District.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND:
- Creative people
- Studios
- Innovative shops and restaurants
- Good, expensive food that make you want to spend even more money on pigging out
- Street art
SIMILAR PLACES:
PARKS (& REC)
It was a late night decision to drive an hour to Rocket Ship Park in San Pedro for the sunrise and then stay all day at Redondo Beach for the sunrise. On a few hours of sleep, we piled into the car and relied on adrenaline to keep us awake for the rest of the day. My sister and cousins had been to Rocket Ship Park before me so I was left without much to expect. Unsurprisingly, there’s a rocket ship, but what left me speechless was the amazing view. We gazed on at the city laid out in front of us, and though we didn’t catch the sunrise because of the clouds, it was just as nice to watch the fog roll in and out between the buildings. Grab a bottle of champagne or, if you’re like me, a whole watermelon, put on some tunes, and let the kid inside of you run wild as you play pretend and watch the sun dance in the sky.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND:
- SWINGS!
- A ROCKET!
- AND A KILLER VIEW! (what more could you need?)
Cliff-jumping is what draws me and others to Malibu Creek. Nothing says adventure more than cliff-jumping, and as we traveled over the dirt path, through the rocks and trees, and into the murky waters, I can definitely say we felt like adventurers. Find inspiration in the spirits of the people and and scenery that surround you with every step.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND:
- A creek
- Cliffs that you technically aren’t supposed to jump off (but everybody does anyways)
- Trees (yes!)
- Bugs (no!)
- ADVENTURE
SIMILAR PLACES:
LOOKIN’
A train station?, you might be wondering. But yes, a train station. This one might only appeal to my fellow writers, people-watchers, photographers, and other artists and observers, but if you don’t see yourself as one of those, I suggest you just spend half an hour just picking a spot at the station to just watch and think. You might surprise yourself with new ideas or inspiration or you might even make a friend or two. One can say that you’re wasting time, but compared to how most people waste time today, it’s really not so bad. Grab a book, a journal, and headphones, and see what happens.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND:
- Trains
- People
- Luggage
- More trains
- Inspiration
A museum doesn’t exactly sound like the most exciting thing to do, but like the Union Station, sometimes it’s about watching and not doing. The art and galleries themselves are inspiring because (duh!) they’re supposed to be, but you’ll find inspiration in some unlikely places. Or in this case, people. Never have I seen more fashion-forward people than those walking around LACMA. They leave me wondering 1. how the hell they do that and 2. I need to learn how to do that. Besides LACMA, you could walk down the streets and visit the other museums or even admire the garden of sculptures or the art-covered piece of the Berlin Wall. Maybe here you’ll be inspired to break barriers and create your own art.
WHAT YOU’LL FIND:
- Art (duh)
- Sculptures
- Live performances
- Cafe (more specificcally, food)
- Lamps, lots and lots of lamps
- Tar pits
- Fashionable people that make you remember what L.A. is all about
SIMILAR PLACES:
Los Angeles is the jackpot of inspiration, and it’s not just dollar signs and skyscrapers. I hope this guide helps you find a place that motivates you to kick some butt, break barriers, and be loud.
