The Best Of Los Angeles: Off The Beaten Path

By Debrah Elliot


In a metropolitan area with more than 18 million people, you won't find it hard to find things to do. Everyone knows that Los Angeles offers plenty of great beaches, as well as sites such as Disneyland and Universal Studios. But if you want to bypass the popular touristy sites and really find the best that this metro area has to offer, you have to dig a bit deeper. Here are a just a few places to visit that will showcase the wonderful, wacky and wild place we call The Southland.

There's tons of great food in the city and metro area, but if you want something that is uniquely Los Angeles, head over to Philippe's on Alameda Street. The French dip sandwich was invented here, accidentally, in 1918. A patron's sandwich roll was dropped in the juices on the meat pan, but the customer said he wanted the roll anyway. It was so tasty he brought his friends the next day and they all requested a dipped version of the roast beef sandwich. Now, of course, this sandwich is a favorite around the country, but it all started at Philippe's. Along with the famous dips, they serve soups, salads, chili and a variety of desserts.

You can get coffee anywhere, but for a truly fantastic cup of coffee, Island Monarch Coffee is absolutely the place to go. You won't find a fresher cup of coffee anywhere in the Southland. The finest beans from Hawaii and Latin America are shipped in still in their green state. Beans are freshly roasted and used within a few days of roasting at most. Coffee is freshly ground for each order and the water is filtered multiple times to reduce the salt and any impurities. There is a full menu featuring everything from just a regular cup of coffee to a variety of lattes, mochas and much more.

For some quirky fun, Southern California offers some interesting venues. There are two zoos in the City of Los Angeles, the current L.A. Zoo and the Old Zoo. The Old Zoo is empty and abandoned, but you can still explore the grounds and walk into cages and through various enclosures. The Old Zoo is located in Griffith Park and if you were heading to the current zoo, you would look for a sign that says, "Old Zoo Picnic Area." Park in that lot and then you walk up the hill, across a field and you will find this old relic.

While L.A. Miracle Mile boasts a number of great museums, including the Petersen Automotive Museum, if you drive outside the city to Sylmar, there is another fantastic museum for car lovers. The Nethercutt Museum is filled with beautifully restored and maintained automobiles, most dating prior to 1940. There is a historic locomotive and a Pullman car, as well, and you can tour just about every inch of it. The museum also offers the Nethercutt Collection, which is available only with a guided tour. This portion of the museum has four sections that include everything from antique china dolls to an amazing assortment of antique musical instruments and plenty more.

Of course, these are just a few of the attractions and eateries you might consider. There are plenty of other options, including some amazing seaside and canyon hikes, historic walking tours, tiny donut shops actually shaped like donuts, sea adventures where you will encounter dolphins, whales and sea lions and plenty of great sunsets that don't cost a penny to enjoy.




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