Los Angeles, California is a popular year-round destination thanks to its terrific weather and vast number of activities and attractions. The City of Angels spans more than 500 square miles. Los Angeles has it all: world-class beaches, Hollywood stars, electrifying concerts, major league sports, amazing museums, and a mountain range running through the heart of the city. Moreover, it is a 50-mile drive from the L.A. Harbor to the Angeles National Forest in the northern mountains. From spacious houses in quiet neighborhoods to trendy lofts in the downtown area, there are plenty of Los Angeles vacation rentals to choose from. Check out the different festivities and things to do in the city during each season.
Visiting Los Angeles in the Summer
If you’re heading to Los Angeles for a summer vacation with plans to go to the beach, don’t be surprised to learn that others had the same idea. And why wouldn’t they, given the perfect weather, zesty surf, and acres of broad white sand to relax on. Head to Santa Monica to enjoy one of the region’s great beaches, and stroll out on the pier for carnival fun and rides at Pacific Park; from the top of the Ferris wheel, you can see most of the beaches in Los Angeles County. If you’ve chosen a vacation rental a little further inland, all the region’s water parks open up during the summer; head east to Raging Waters or up to the Santa Clarita Valley to Hurricane Harbor. Pack your favorite swimsuit, sunscreen, and shorts for walking around town.
Outdoor entertainment is at its best during a Los Angeles summer. Check out the concerts at the Hollywood Bowl, where you can choose from classical concerts, rock and pop greats on tour, and sing-alongs to movies like “The Sound of Music.” Outdoor movies spring up all over Los Angeles each summer. Look for screenings at the Skirball Center, on hotel rooftops downtown and in Hollywood, and, yes, even at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Los Angeles also has its own version of Shakespeare in the Park, with the Independent Shakespeare Company setting up a stage in Griffith Park and other performances each year at the Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga Canyon.
Visiting Los Angeles in the Fall
Crowds thin out in Los Angeles during the fall, while temperatures stay high, even into the 90s, all the way to October or even November, so it’s a great time to book a vacation rental near the ocean and enjoy the beach all to yourselves. Head east to the L.A. County Fair in September to see a rustic, home-grown side of Los Angeles you probably didn’t even know existed. Halloween starts early in Los Angeles; expect to see some spectacular decorations as you drive through residential neighborhoods, or head to Universal Studios for Halloween Horror Nights. While the special events require a separate admission, they provide plenty of scares. To really walk on the wild side, head to West Hollywood on Halloween night as half a million people crowd the streets for the biggest Halloween party in the world (but you might want to leave the kids at home for this one).
Festivals celebrating food and drink pop up all over L.A. during the fall. Check out amazing seafood at the Hook Fest on the Santa Monica Pier, head to the Taste of Soul festival in the Crenshaw district, or knock back some beers at the Burbank Beer Festival each fall. While you still want to pack like it’s summer, consider adding jeans and a light sweater for cooler evenings.
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Visiting Los Angeles in the Winter
If you’re thinking that a wintertime visit to Los Angeles means you don’t get to go to the beach, think again. While temperatures do drop during an L.A. winter, you’ll find plenty of days in the 70s and even higher at times; just make sure you include a swimsuit and a hoodie or light jacket when deciding what to pack, and be aware that the lifeguard stations aren’t manned during the winter.
Outdoor ice rinks pop up around town during the winter, including in Santa Monica, Woodland Hills, and at Universal CityWalk, and skiing and snowboarding are just a few hours out of town at Big Bear Lake. Wintertime is also the time to try out some of L.A.’s astounding cuisine as Dine LA takes over the top restaurants for two weeks, with special menus at special prices featured all over town. If you’d prefer to cook something in your vacation rental, don’t worry — farmers markets are a year-round phenomenon in every neighborhood of the city. Also in January, Chinese New Year festivities draw people to Chinatown, just north of downtown, as well as to the community of Monterey Park.
Visiting Los Angeles in the Spring
The City of Angels burst into bloom in the spring, with jacaranda trees spreading a breathtaking canopy of purple over the streets, and coral trees, silk floss trees, and magnolias trying to keep up. During this delightful season, the weather starts to warm up, and runners come out en masse for the L.A. Marathon, which winds through every corner of this massive city. If races on wheels are more your style, head to Long Beach for the Long Beach Grand Prix each spring. Pack your favorite spring and summer clothes since this is your chance to start wearing them early.
The L.A. Dodgers also start their season during April, so head to Chavez Ravine to buy a Dodger Dog and cheer on the boys in blue. Spring is also prime time for festivals. Don your best tights and jerkins and wind your way east to the Renaissance Pleasure Faire to enjoy life in the 1500s, or check out the Irish Fair at the L.A. County Fairgrounds around St. Patrick’s Day.
The Best Time to Visit Los Angeles
While any time of year is a great time to visit Los Angeles, summer gets just a bit of an edge, especially early summer when the weather is still cool into the afternoon. During summer, iconic attractions such as the Hollywood Bowl are open, theme parks keep later hours, and the city has a relaxed vibe as even the locals take time to appreciate all it has to offer.
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