Ladera Heights, CA Road Trips

1 Watts Towers of Simon Rodia, 1765 E 107th St (east of Graham Ave and the Metro Rail tracks; near and visible from the 103rd Street/Watts Towers station on the Metro Rail Blue Line), ☏ +1-213-847-4646. Tours available Th-F 11AM-3PM, Sa 10:30AM-3PM, Su noon-3PM. A notable example of non-traditional vernacular architecture and naïve art, the Watts Towers are a series of 17 interconnected structures, two of which reach heights of over 99 feet (30 m). All of the structures were built using salvaged materials and embedded with found objects, such as glass, ceramic tiles, and seashells, often arranged in elaborate displays. Next to the towers is a small museum and a cultural center. Guided tours are available for a fee and at limited hours, but you can always view the towers from the outside for free. Guided tours $7 adults, $3 seniors/teens (13-17), free for children 12 and under. 2 Leimert Park. A famous center for Los Angeles' African-American culture, this neighborhood (just south of Crenshaw/Martin Luther King- accessible by bus) is a must-see if in the area, with shops, restaurants, art galleries, and performance venues catering to the city's African-American population. A quick sidetrip into nearby Baldwin Hills offers beautiful views of Downtown Los Angeles and a nice peek at lifestyles in the "Black Beverly Hills". 3 USC Fisher Museum of Art, 823 Exposition Blvd, ☏ +1 213 740-4561.

1 Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area, 4100 S La Cienega Blvd, ☏ +1-323-298-3660. Daily 6AM-sunset. A state park atop the Baldwin Hills, with marvelous views overlooking much of the Los Angeles Basin and some challenging hiking trails. Other amenities include sports fields, a fishing lake, picnic areas, a Japanese garden, and a visitor center. A shuttle connects the park with the La Cienga/Jefferson Metro Expo Line station on weekends and holidays. $6 per vehicle. (updated May 2017) 2 Shrine Auditorium, 665 W Jefferson Blvd, ☏ +1-213-748-5116. A huge venue that once served as host to a number of awards shows. Located on Jefferson Blvd and Figueroa Street across the street from the University of Southern California, famous for its red bricks and nightlife. Closed to visitors. University of Southern California hosts many musical and theatrical performances throughout the year that are free or cheap. USC football games are one option. Tickets can be purchased on campus at the Ticket Office next to Tommy Trojan, but can sometimes be hard to come by. Go to a Baptist (or AME) African-American Church for a peek into local spiritual culture. Go to a Leimert Park coffee shop at night for some spoken word or freestyle rap.

1 Ono Hawaiian BBQ, 3010 S Figueroa St (two blocks north of USC), ☏ +1 213-745-9888. Daily 10AM-Midnight. Hawaiian bbq with your favorites like musubi and chicken katsu and macaroni salad.

Lots of cheap bars abound. For a peek into Greek university student life head to the 2-9 a few blocks west of Figueroa (just north of USC) or the 9-0 right on Figueroa (USC students' favorite dive). 1 La Barca, 2414 S Vermont Ave, ☏ +1-323-735-6567. Another favorite hangout of USC students, locals, and law enforcement officers alike. Although it is actually a restaurant, La Barca is famous for its "two dollar Tuesdays", when you can get strong and delicious margaritas and piña coladas for under three dollars. Expect a long line for seating on Tuesdays.

Sleeping accommodations in South Los Angeles are fairly limited, except in the USC/Expo Park area. Additional hotels are located in Downtown LA, the Westside and near LAX Airport. 1 The Vagabond Inn USC Hotel, 3101 S Figueroa St, ☏ +1-213-746-1531, toll-free: +1-800-522-1555, fax: +1-213-746-9106. Check-in: 2PM, check-out: noon. $85+. USC Hotel, 3540 S Figueroa St, toll-free: +1-833-2-BOOK-USC (2665-872), [email protected]. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: noon. (updated Jun 2020) 2 Regal Inn, 5966 S Broadway. Free parking is provided on site. $95. (updated Oct 2021)

South L.A. is characterized by a grid system of streets spread across a vast area. The major streets are wide enough to prevent too much traffic congestion, although they can make walking a challenge. However, most of the major streets have bus service running at 15 minutes or better headway. Three freeways serve South LA: the 10 Freeway runs east-west through the northern part of South LA, the 105 Freeway runs east-west through the southern part of South LA, and the 110 Freeway runs north-south through the center of South LA. Major east-west streets include: Adams Blvd (Metro 37), Jefferson Blvd, Obama Blvd, Martin Luther King Jr Blvd (Metro 40), Vernon Avenue (Metro 105), Slauson Ave (Metro 108), Gage Ave (Metro 110), Florence Ave (Metro 111), Manchester Ave (Metro 115) and Century Blvd (Metro 117). Major north-south streets include: La Cienega Blvd, La Brea Ave (Metro 212), Crenshaw Blvd (Metro 210), Western Ave (Metro 207), Normandie Ave (Metro 206), Vermont Ave (Metro 204/Rapid 754) Figueroa St (Metro 81), Broadway (Metro 45), Main Street, Avalon Blvd (Metro 51), Central Ave (Metro 53) and Alameda St. Metro operates public transit in L.A., and the bus system in South L.A. is well-developed, with frequent service on most major streets. Four rail lines and a BRT also serve South Los Angeles: The A Line runs north-south between Downtown and Long Beach and offers easy metro access to the Watts Towers. The E Line also connects the area to Downtown, serving Exposition Park and the USC campus before heading west along Exposition Blvd to Culver City and Santa Monica.

South L.A. has long had a reputation for violence. It was the scene of the 1992 L.A. riots and is known for producing the Bloods, Crips, and other notorious gangs. Although its reputation has preceded itself over the past couple of decades, it's no longer quite as dangerous or violent as some might suggest — though it's still not really a destination for the average tourist. While muggings still occur, most happen at night on smaller streets. Stay in groups of at least three if you must be on foot.