If you live or have lived in Los Angeles, you will understand that traffic can be a nightmare on most of the freeways, especially during rush hour. Locals tend not to venture too far away from home on the weekends so when they actually make an effort to visit certain places, you know they’re really worth going to! If you’re planning a trip to Los Angeles, consider ditching the overrated tourist spots and visit the sites where Angelenos go to revitalize their bodies, minds and spirits.

Huntington Library & Botanical Gardens

Located in the beautiful city of Pasadena (a destination in itself), Huntington Gardens is a private, non-profit institution that houses a library, several art galleries and the botanical gardens. You can practically spend the whole day there wandering from place to place, and there’s just so much to see! The perfect time to head to the botanical gardens is definitely in spring. The flowers are blooming and the weather is just perfect. After your visit to Huntington, check out the charming Old Town Pasadena where you’ll have lots of dining options.

Griffith Observatory

The iconic landmark has been featured in several movies, most notably in Rebel Without a Cause with James Dean. The perfect time to visit the Observatory is right before sunset, so you can enjoy the views of Los Angeles. It’s free to enter the building and grounds, but there’s a small fee to see shows at the Planetarium. It’s worth going to just to check out the awesome views!

The Getty Center & the Getty Villa

Situated on top of a hill with views of Los Angeles, the Getty Center exhibits magnificent art from medieval times to the present.  It also hosts talks, conferences and fun family activities. In contrast to the modern architecture of the Getty Center, the Getty Villa has more of an ancient Roman look to it. It’s along the Pacific Coast Highway so you can enjoy the beach views and head down to Malibu for some fresh seafood. It also boasts a gorgeous art collection as well as a stunning garden. Admission to both places is free, although you’ll have to reserve an advance ticket online for the Getty Villa.

Hike to the Hollywood Sign

Locals love to hike! I guess it’s a combination of the perfect weather and lovely mountains to hike on. It also helps (or hurts in the environmental sense) that it doesn’t rain a lot in Southern California, so it’s much easier to partake in outdoor activities. There are several trails that will lead you close to the Hollywood sign. You can’t actually get right to the sign but close enough to take a really cool photo. The Canyon Blvd trail is the one that most hikers go on and you might even spot a celebrity or two. It can get pretty hot and dusty so be sure to slap on the sunscreen and bring enough water to quench your thirst.

The Original Farmers Market

I absolutely LOVE this place! As a permanent farmers market in a large historic building, it offers fresh produce,  best cuts of meats, seafood, specialty groceries and so much more! The best part about the Farmers Market is the huge variety of international food stalls you can find in one place. You’ll be spoilt for choice with Brazilian, French, Korean, Spanish, Singaporean, and Japanese. That’s just the tip of the iceberg! I often find myself wandering around a couple of times trying to decide which cuisine I want to indulge in.

There are many other awesome local spots in Los Angeles that aren’t mentioned in this article. Where do you like to hang out in LA? Comment below and share with fellow travelers where they should visit the next time they’re in town.