DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Los Angeles Downtown

Hit the beach, Venice Beach! Walk along the circus-like boardwalk or stroll through the sand at this beachfront district. Catch some surf or just take in the sun while you explore this bustling area. Forgot to bring swimwear? No worries. Venice beach also has a skate park, a bike trail and tennis, basketball and volleyball courts. There's no outdoor beauty like the kind you'll find at the beach.

LA is known for filmmaking; so you shouldn't be surprised to learn dozens of film festivals occur in the LA area every year. The Los Angeles Film Festival is one of the largest, screening over 100 films during its 10-day festivities. The festival showcases independent, international, feature, documentary and short films and draws in a crowd of more than 90,000 to its special events and premieres.

Spend an evening at the opera. The Los Angeles Opera, the fourth largest opera company in the United States, performs during its regular season at the Los Angeles Music Center. Opera lovers of all ages will enjoy the high-quality performances by rising opera stars, as well as a variety of education and community outreach programs.

For a small venue with great acoustics and top-notch local bands and headliners, stop by Whisky A Go-Go. Since opening in 1964, they have acted as an anchor on the Sunset Strip nightlife scene, hosting some of rock ‘n roll's most legendary bands and up-and-coming new artists.