Randyland is the best! It's unique and beautiful on its own, but to make the experience extra…read morespecial, you'll want to reach out to schedule a visit with Randy in person. Depending on the season and the weather, he'll be able to tell you what time of day is optimal for the best light. In my case, he responded quickly and made it so easy. I'm drawn to quirky people who are compelled to do something, do it well, and keep trying out new ideas simply because they love it. That's Randy in a nutshell, and his enthusiasm and creativity are infectious! You'll leave feeling inspired to see the world a little differently and to make your OWN art more often. Enjoy!

OK, I have had this place on my list of things to do for years. I saw it on Atlas Obscura and then…read moreI saw a video about it on YouTube. It was definitely worth the wait! What an amazing experience! Went with my sister, mom and dad on a Sunday afternoon. Beautiful light in October...beautiful light sculptures and what an interesting interaction with the universe. Randy was just a lovely individual. Like a really interesting, eccentric artist who just is behind what he is proffering 100%. Great talk. GREAT art. Great day. I really recommend it 100%.

Visited Infinity Mirror Room and let me just say... yes, it's stunning. The lights, reflections,…read morethe whole illusion makes you feel like you stepped into another dimension. No complaints about the actual experience itself, it's beautiful and definitely Instagram-worthy. BUT. That wait vs. payoff ratio? Wild. You're standing there forever, building up the moment, just to get ushered in and out in what feels like 60 seconds flat. By the time you're adjusting your camera and telling your family where to stand, it's already "okay time's up." Like... we just got here?? Honestly, I'd rather they charge more and give people a few extra minutes. Let us actually take it in, enjoy it, and get decent photos without feeling rushed like we're on some kind of aesthetic speed run. That said, it is a must-see at least once. Just go in knowing it's more of a quick visual experience than something you can really sit with.

On Friday afternoon, my family and I reserved tickets for the Infinity Room next to The Broad…read moremuseum in Downtown LA. Just a heads up, you'll need to book in advance if you want to secure a time slot to see the infinity room. We picked the 3:45 PM slot and waited about 5-10 minutes before entering. There's no food, drinks, or flash photography allowed (which makes sense). To be honest, I was a little surprised by how small the Infinity Room actually is. It's just a tiny platform you stand on surrounded by mirrors so be careful not to get too close to the edges. I think the photos online made it seem much bigger and more "galaxy-like," so I had different expectations going in You're only inside for about five minutes before it's time to exit for the next group. Still, it was a cool experience to check off the list and afterward we walked around The Broad, which made it a fun afternoon overall. I'm very grateful for the memories my family and I got to make together! Quick Note: If you get hungry, Grand Central Market is close by and has a great variety of food spots to choose from! Your welcome!!

THE famous Olvera Street, THE birthplace of Los Angeles. Here's what to expect…read more ACCESS To get here you can drive but be sure to prepare to look for parking (street or parking lot) however if you can do public transportation, great stop if you have a layover at Union Station. The marketplace isn't huge so all places are accessible via walking. VIBES Los Angeles is known for its diversity and this is part of the reason why, it's a different feel from the rest with the history brick pathways, market stalls, and sounds of Mexican music or scents of Mexican food to create a lively and nostalgic atmosphere. It wasn't a place to shop but a place to learn as you'll pass by historic landmarks and museums here and there. The stalls have choices you can select from - handmade goods, candies and other souvenirs. Whether you're looking for handmade crafts, traditional food, or simply want to soak in a piece of Los Angeles history, there's something here for everyone. OVERALL EXPERIENCE The people I encountered were welcoming, and many of the vendors were happy to share stories about their products and traditions. TL;DR OVERALL 4.5 Stars. What's not to love. Great selections, fair prices, and a beautiful atmosphere. Olvera Street isn't just another tourist attraction--it's a cultural landmark that tells the story of where Los Angeles began. Despite all the new skyscrapers and freeways, this city was built on generations of history, culture, and community. When in El Lay, definitely stop by. TIPS * Take your time exploring the artisan shops and who knows, you might catch a performance or two.

Olvera Street is in Downtown Los Angeles, right across from the train station. It is open year…read moreround but many of the shops close when it rains and many of the outdoor shops close at dusk in the winter. It is about 3 blocks of fun. Kids love it and it is fun for the whole family. Parking is for a fee. It is just fun. All of the eateries are great, are favorite being La Luz Dia. It is not the oldest restaurant there, but it is great. The shops are fun and have cool gifts from Mexico. This is an historic district and should remind you of when all of California was part of Mexico. It is safe and you will have a great time. Have fun. Any place you choose to eat will be good. They have fine dinning and street tacos. Most of the places serve alcohol.

The ORIGINAL FOOD HALL! Grand Central Market is an essential stop for folks who've never been to LA…read morebefore. GCM has been a part of my childhood as my parents brought me here a lot so we can try multiple eateries. It's the catalyst for the SoCal food hall concept before it became a trend. You'll find American classics, Mexican, Thai, Japanese, Salvadoran, Brunch, Donuts, Ice Cream and everything in between! I recently visited to stop by at Sticky Rice! It's a bit touristy and you'll find a few posers in the crowd but it's still a local classic and it hasn't lost its charm. If you're like me and you enjoy the sounds of hustle and bustle while you eat, you'll enjoy it here. Food is LA priced, don't expect to find a value menu. Even if you're on a budget, check out the dessert spots at least, one overpriced, high-quality donut is better than a $70 meal. Service is pretty solid, I didn't encounter any rude staff during my recent visit.

Nice array of food options for a fraction of the price of a nearby dine in restaurant. The portions…read moreare large at most establishments and one serving could feed two! That was my experience at Tomas' tacos. I ordered 2 tacos for $5 each. I thought the price points was high until I realized I could make 4 tacos from 1! And they tasted good. My daughter had a burger fries from a neighboring business and she said it was delicious. I tasted her fries and those were definitely delicious. For dessert, we opted for McConnells ice cream. The flavors were unique and good. They offered samples when requested which was a nice gesture but their portions were tiny. I paid $8 for 4oz cop of ice cream. The Central Market is definitely worth visiting. There were celebrity chef demonstrations and meals available as well as multiple food options to choose from.

We wanted to try a new trail and took the Baxster Stairways to get to the Elysian Park Trail. Being…read moreout of shape, going up the stairs was tough but the view was amazing and it was a great way to exercise.

15 sections of stairs. I started from the bottom of the steps and the steps end at a private…read moreresidence driveway so it's a little odd. Once you walk onto the street you are above Elysian Park with a view of the Downtown LA skyline. There are no handrails here!

Iconic along the Avenue in every way…read more Carroll Ave is a place filled with lots of scenic as well as historic history. This dazzling slice of Victorian homes in Echo Park, Los Angeles' Angelino Heights area encompasses the 1300s block and tip of the 1400s. Cinema, Music Entertainment & Television and various digital mediums have been capture on this landmark Avenue from Teen Witch and Grandma's Boy to the original Charmed television series and Michael Jackson's Thriller music video film. You can park on this street, stroll and even photo op (just be mindful of properties as they belong to actual home owners who help preserve their homes that are apart of the National Register of Historic Places with several official Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments listed among these homes. It's a 10 to 15 minute walk from Echo Park Lake if close by. Definitely a great place to be a local tourist, show your tourists and enjoy as an LA native/native Angelino.

Beautiful Victorian homes. I enjoyed strolling down the street. Definitely worth visiting and…read moretaking in the beautiful architecture.

Los Angeles Chinatown is a hybrid of classic Cantonese Chinatown, commercialized China Town, new…read moreimmigrant South East Asian, Vietnamese Asian Town and the new rejuvenation of "Hipster" elements, a modernization and removal of antiquated tradition. Chinatowns were originally Chinese Ghettos, the designated regions where White America would allow Chinese laborers (and subsequently their families) to live. Typically undesirable lower socioeconomic regions. It became commercialized in the late 1960's through the 1970's as a tourist attraction, a cultural curiosity of sort. New York and San Francisco had, has and have a more "authentic" if there is such a description "Chinatown" with East/West coast snobbery towards those Cities over Los Angeles' C-Town. Chinatown is still kind of dirty 'tho, much as New York's and San Francisco's that on a hot humid day you can smell the overrun of sewage stench along the curbs of the streets. It's not quite as filthy as Seattle and Honolulu Hawaii's Chinatown 'tho. Parking can be difficult, but they have ample paid parking lots, and is also off of a public metro transit system. It's nearby Little Tokyo (aka Japantown) as well as kind of close to Dodger's Stadium, Downtown LA, Crypto (aka Staples) Centger, LA Live, the Financial District, the Garment District, etc. So, as a tourist or local running errands, there's many stops along the way and perripherally adjacent. If you crave Chinese Food however, I'd recommend the SGV San Gabriel Valley or The OC, Orange County area of Irvine as great alternatives or greater destinations for dining. If it's visiting something historic, this Chinatown is gritty and a nice experience during the day. The nightlife is mediocre, 'tho if you're driving and want food past 11pm, Chinatown has some really good eats! There is a "Bruce Lee" statue for a photo op for visitors as well as a sitting statue of Sun Yat Sen in the townsquare area. Golden Dragon Restaurant is a good place for authentic Dim Sum. There's an annual Chinese New Year Parade (Lunar New Year, typically sometime in Jan-Feb annually) held here too.

THIS IS CHINATOWN?! (3 stars)…read more Not going to lie, I'm use to San Francisco's Chinatown so coming here it was like "this is Chinatown?" It's really rundown and I feel could have potential is the right businesses and attractions were put in place. 1) if was so easy to find parking - yes, in LA, and in a Chinatown. 2) the streets were empty with a few local elderly walking around but packed in areas where there were groceries being sold 3) not many attractions to look at. I kind of felt sad for this part of down. It has a great view of downtown LA and prime for development but it feels like a washed up and forgotten area.

If you're in downtown LA and you wanted to enjoy some holiday spirit, head over the Bloc to…read moreexperience the magical holiday show for FREE! Lots of photo op opportunities here under the lighted Christmas tree and giant giant bulb ornament. At every hour starting from 5pm to 9pm, they start playing Christmas songs and the light sparkle to the tunes. See my video for sampling. Everyone is welcome to come here as long as masks are worn at all times and social distancing observed. I even saw some fur babies enjoying the festivities. Your pets are welcome here as well. Lots of tables and chairs for your seating pleasure. There's also Starbucks at the location so you can watch the show while sipping on your favorite drink.

Such a cute little hidden village in the heart of downtown LA. You could drive by and notice signs…read moreof the area but not till you walk through. It's a small stretch but once inside it'll amaze you. Just follow along the pathways and you'll enter an area where it's shops and restaurants. It does get busy so be prepare for that. There's two main parking structure next to it but street parking and public lots are available. Inside you have a small grocery store. Limited in things but they do carry a good selection of produce and Asian items. Then there's all the fun and amazing desserts shops. Anything Asian pastries they should have. The smell of fresh baked items as you're walking by. There's a good amount of ramen and sushi spot with the revolving sushi maybe the most popular at the beginning of the strip. Theres always a line so get there early to put your name down. You have all the fun Asian stores with anime, fun apparel and trinkets. Asian anime lover heaven. The day we stopped by for lunch it was packed. The village was crowded as well as all the parking structure was full. We were walking along the outside of the village as it was too crowded looking for someplace to eat. There was a crowd following each other which I asked someone what was going on and it happened to be a Pokémon battle. Let me say, the place was packed that we thought there was some kind of convention or a tour has happening. It literally brought out so many people. Also I love the fashion there. Kids and adults showing their amazing fashion skills with anime related clothing. The fashion show happening as you're just sitting there on the stoop. The amazing fashion scene where it's all individuality insisted of judgment. Little Tokyo is a hidden spot in downtown that you should check out. It's not big so you could get through it pretty quickly. The restaurant, shops, boutiques, stores are all cute and worth a wander through. LA does have its nice area. Heads up, if it's your first time here. A couple blocks from here is the sketchy area of skid row. Tents and homelessness so just heads up so you're not shocked and freaking out.

JAPANESE CULTURE & CUISINE UNLEASHED! I love Little Tokyo, I feel safe every time I'm around the…read morearea and the businesses are fairly friendly. I haven't had a bad experience with anyone here. Most of the Japanese restaurants are tourist traps although they tout they're "authentic", I'd skip most of them. Overall, more anime events and cultural festivities are blossoming in Little Tokyo, so there's always something to do! I recently visited Kodansha House and one of the night markets near SomiSomi on a Sunday night. Personally, I recommend the discount shops. Theres a lot of bootleg items in some of them, however, I find neat backpacks and anime-inspired gear once in a while! I've gotten decent deals. If you're a visitor there's several hotels and places to stay nearby. Things close up early, but you'll find a few late night bites here and there. Note: The metro is accessible from Little Tokyo.

This is such a beautiful landmark railway…read more This is my second time visiting the railway and it's always beautiful to come and take a slow easy ride down to the other side of the streets. Note: get yourself a TAP card so that you don't have to pay $1.50 instead you only pay $.75 one way.

Celebrating 125 Years!!…read more Angels Flight, a 298 foot funicular / inclined plane, originally opened on December 31, 1901. It connects Hill Street with California and features two vintage cars, Sinai and Olivet. It is open from 6:45am-10pm every day! This was so fun I rode both cars - up, down and up again! $1.50 each way... such a deal! The ride itself takes less than a minute and besides a little shimmy and shake when the cars pass each other, it is a straight shot. You can pay with your metro card, debit/credit card or cash. It's a fairly streamlined process & you pay at the top. The gates for the funicular are automatic at the top and bottom of the hill & only the top is staffed by an employee. If you want to save $1.50, you can always walk up the nearly 300 stairs to the left of the funicular & get your steps in! Peace.