Winning tip: From Venice Beach to Malibu, and back, by bike



LA is known as a car city, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it by bike too. The ride along the coast northwards is fantastic. From Venice Beach, a cycle route runs right by the sands, to pass Santa Monica Pier. The route is shared with the bronzed and beautiful LA inhabitants out running, cycling and rollerblading, and passes beach volleyball courts. It continues along the bay using the Pacific Coast Highway (some of it away from traffic on the wide shoulder), past the town of Santa Monica, beautiful upmarket suburbs, and finally into Malibu. As you get to Malibu, you are close to the Santa Monica Mountain natural reserve, and pass some great little canyon reserves to enjoy along the way. I am not a city person, but I really enjoyed this beautiful day ride. I even saw dolphins! Of course, you can do as long or as short a ride as you like. The round trip to Malibu is about 40 miles.

Joanna Furtado

Have a laugh, Hollywood



Photograph: Alamy

The Hollywood Improv is an institution and a great night out. We were told to expect famous comedians propping up the bar, but we went for one of the cheaper nights with no names we knew. But we couldn’t have had a better time even if improv performers such as Chris Rock or Jerry Seinfeld had been there. The dimly lit informal atmosphere is exactly what you want from a comedy club and the crowd was a good mix of locals and tourists all clearly there to have a good time.

• From $5, hollywood.improv.com

kin101

Pure shores: Catalina Island

Photograph: Alamy

Santa Catalina, 20 miles south of Los Angeles, is a wonderful treasure. If you want an unspoilt beach and beautiful blue seas for snorkelling, this is the place to visit. The island is one hour from LA. There are lots of activities from around $40 for adults, including wildlife and zip wires, and a falconry experience. It was great to be able to look out over the harbour and back to the mainland. I used visitcatalinaisland.com for my activity trip. Boats to the island leave from Long Beach and San Pedro.

• Round trip $73.50, catalinaexpress.com

Sar1234

Craft beers by the beach, Venice



Photograph: Alamy

On a Sunday head to Venice Ale House at 2 Rose Ave to watch the sun setting over Venice beach while drummers play in the background. It has a great atmosphere, excellent food – much of it organic – and drink at reasonable prices, including about 30 craft beers. Stay after dark and you will be rewarded with the parade of lit-up bicycles, playing hip-hop old school style.

• venicealehouse.com

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New Beverly Cinema



This theatre in West Hollywood (7165 Beverly Blvd) was bought by Quentin Tarantino in 2007 to save the property from redevelopment. Some films shown are from Tarantino’s private collection. It makes a nice change from the giant multiplexes not to mention a must for Tarantino fans.

• thenewbev.com

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Pier review, Santa Monica



Photograph: Alamy

Santa Monica is my go-to place in LA. I love walking along the vibrant pier – be sure to go on the Pacific Wheel, with stunning views of the beach from the top. Sitting on the beach and watching that magical golden sun setting behind the mountains is probably my favourite sight in the world. Then at night it unleashes a different kind of beauty, with the permanent glow of the lights, and the sound of people in bars.

Arfyn Rhys Ruhonah

Sit in on a TV show



Jimmy Kimmel interviews Barack Obama in 2015. Photograph: Alamy

A couple of months before you go make sure you check which TV shows are on while you are there and pick up some free tickets. I had great experiences seeing productions of Big Bang theory and Jimmy Kimmel last time I was there.

drfisher

LA buses



Photograph: Getty Images

The bus routes are numbered in a way to indicate the speed of the buses. The buses numbered between 1 and 299 are local buses which stop often and take the longest to reach a destination. Buses numbered between 300 and 799 are faster buses known as either Limited Stop, Express or Metro Rapid. For example, two of the bus routes on Santa Monica Blvd are the number 4 and the 704. Both follow the same route but the 704 is faster.

Scott Bisio

The best deal on public transport



Photograph: Getty Images

The Metro Pass covers the rail lines and the main public bus company including the rapid commuter buses. At $25 for one week of almost unlimited travel, this has to be one of the cheapest public transport passes around. We used it to get to Santa Monica, Universal, the California Science Centre (South LA), downtown, Beverly Hills, Hollywood etc. Very prompt and frequent running and there’s a great app to track the buses. We beat our friends in a car using buses and it also avoids the high parking charges and rip off valet parking that is everywhere in LA (especially at hotels). Just watch out after about 8pm when a number of bus routes stop running.

metro.net

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Store with a story, Laurel Canyon



Photograph: Damian Dovarganes/AP

At the intersection of Kirkwood Drive and Laurel Canyon Blvd is the Laurel Canyon Country Store. The wooden-floored grocery shop/deli/liquor store/cafe has been a neighbourhood hangout since the 1930s but really came into its own during the 60s and 70s when you could find Joni Mitchell, Carole King, the Byrds and Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young jamming and writing songs together on the patio. Mama Cass Elliot lived in the basement for a short time. Jim Morrison was a neighbour and he immortalised the store in the Doors song Love Street. Mick Jagger and David Bowie bought their English chocolate bars here. The shop hasn’t changed much and still has the feel of those heady carefree days, quite removed from the rest of LA. I just love sitting on the veranda with a coffee and the papers and you never know who might pop in.

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Mission possible, San Juan Capistrano



Photograph: Alamy

The Spanish architecture and the historic mission at San Juan Capistrano, just to the south of Santa Ana (50 miles from Downtown), make for a great day trip by Metrolink train from Union Station. Visitors can buy a $10 day pass on weekends. As well as the Mission, cafes, art galleries, and wine bars are all close to the station. Further down the line is San Clemente stop (if hungry, try the Riders Club Cafe) where it is wonderful to stroll along the beach to the pier, watching the surfers. Walk up the hill to San Clemente’s shops and restaurants before returning to LA from the San Clemente Pier train stop.

Stephanie Burke