If you read my previous blog then you know tourism officials in Southern California are desperately trying to get the word out to travelers that the region is on the road to recovery following the latest round of wildfires. In places like San Diego execs at the Visitors and Convention Bureau are going on the offensive actively encouraging visitors to stick with their original travel plans and not avoid the area. In Los Angeles where only a handful of major tourist attractions were shut down last week, the goal is to get back to business as usual.
With that in mind I’ve compiled a list of few of L.A.’s most popular attractions, some of which are offering special deals as firefighters make gains in controlling the blazes that continue to char parts of California.
DODGER STADIUM
For a limited time (until November 1st) world-famous Dodger Stadium is offering a behind-the-scenes Championship Tour. The 90-minute look at the historic and scenic ballpark gives guests a unique vantage point and access to parts of the stadium typically off limits to fans. The tour starts with a film on the stadium’s some what controversial history (it’s infamous for having replaced the Hispanic neighborhood of Chavez Ravine) and its rise to fame as a landmark of western MLB expansion. After the film you’ll stroll on the field, visit the dugout and the exclusive Dugout Club, look out across the diamond from the press box and visit the Tommy Lasorda Training Center. Tours cost $15 for adults and are limited to 25 people.
FARMER’S MARKET
Forget about heading to Hollywood to see stars. If you want to see celebrities up close and personal the place to be is the L.A. Farmer’s Market located at Third St. and Fairfax Ave. The local landmark (it’s been around for more than 60 years) is an open-air extravaganza featuring an eclectic mix of restaurants, produce stalls and specialty shops offering everything from French crepes and Texas barbecue to greeting cards and candles. The original market was little more than a field with stands erected by area farmers during the Depression. These days the Farmer’s Market is a must-see L.A. attraction. Most visitors come for the food stands, which offer the freshest seafood, fruits, vegetables, and a host of international delicacies.
LA BREA TAR PITS
The La Brea Tar Pits has long been the destination for grade-school field trips (keep that in mind should you be visiting mid-week), but no matter how old you are you will likely be entranced by what you see here. There’s just something magical about watching bubbling ponds of black ooze and a host of working paleontologists buzzing around them. The lab in the Page Museum is where you can view busy scientists hard at work cleaning and cataloging some of the museum’s more than one million fossilized specimens. The museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. Admission is $7 for adults and $2 for kids 5-12.
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