Because they're all located within the same part of the Los Angeles metro area, this getaway includes the cities of Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, along with the section of Wilshire Blvd. just south of Beverly Hills called the Miracle Mile. The area offers an eclectic mix of activities, good for a a girlfriends' getaway, a twenty-first birthday bash, a shopping spree or a visit to some of the finest museums you'll find anywhere.
You can plan your Beverly Hills and West Hollywood day trip or weekend getaway in a jiffy using the resources below.
Why Should You Go? Will You Like Beverly Hills and West Hollywood?
- Get a Preview: Take a look at our Beverly Hills pictures
and Sunset Strip pictures.
- This part of Los Angeles is especially popular with anyone who enjoys great style, design and architecture.
Best Time to Go to Beverly Hills and West Hollywood
Beverly Hills and West Hollywood weather is best in spring and fall. Rodeo Drive is especially pretty during the Christmas season. Check hours and plan carefully: some areas are deserted in the evening and on Sundays, when the shops are closed.4 Great Things to Do in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood
- Shopping: Depending on your budget, Rodeo Drive can be either a window-shopping experience or a buyer's binge. Either way use the Rodeo Drive guide to plan your visit. You'll also find designer boutiques and nice places to eat along the Sunset Plaza section of Sunset Boulevard between Alta Loma Road and Horn Avenue. The Avenues of Art and Design along Melrose, Beverly and Robertson offer the most cutting-edge shopping experience and shops host frequent free gallery walks, book signings, artist receptions. Check their website for events during your visit.
- Sunset Strip Nightlife: Sunset Strip is lined with nightclubs, along with the Comedy Store and House of Blues, but if you've read about a new "hot spot" and think you want to try it, beware. If it's really all that hot, you may not be able to get past the doorman, but even worse, trendy hangouts go out of style with lightning speed. Use our guide to find out more about Sunset Strip and try these tips for getting past the velvet rope to get into some of the more exclusive places.
- Architecture and Design: While you're driving around West Hollywood, it's hard to miss the distinctive Pacific Design Center with its striking green-and-blue exterior. Many of the contemporary furniture and design shops there are open Monday through Friday only, but a few open on Saturday. Also in the same complex is the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). The Schindler House, built by architect Rudolph Schindler as his personal residence is a favorite of architecture buffs. Guided tours are offered on weekends and the house is also the Los Angeles site of Austria's Museum of Applied Arts (MAK) whose artists are behind the "How Many Billboards?" project which works to fill those big, outdoor canvasses with art instead of advertising.
- Museum Row: Along Wilshire Boulevard between Curson and Fairfax, you'll find the Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits, California Craft & Folk Art Museum, Carole and Barry Kaye Museum of Miniatures (5900 Wilshire Boulevard), The Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and the Petersen Automotive Museum. The grounds around the tar pits are open to the public and you can see some of the excavation sites and life-sized sculptures representing the Ice Age animals whose skeletons have been found in it. In the summer, LACMA offers outdoor evening concerts in their courtyard. They also host many of the best traveling exhibitions such as King Tut or Renoir in the 20th Century.
- Get Your Cupcakes Here: This is so trendy that we don't know how long it will last, but we couldn't resist telling you about the "cupcake ATM" at Sprinkles Cupcake Bakery. It takes your ATM card just like the ATM at your bank, but instead of boring cash, it dispenses fresh-baked cupcakes. Not only are they delicious, but they taste even better because it's so much fun. You'll find the ATM next to the bakery at 9635 S Santa Monica Blvd, two blocks west of Rodeo Drive.
Annual Events You Should Know About
- June: LA Gay Pride
- June: Rodeo Drive Concours d'Elegance car show is held on Father's Day
- September: Sunset Strip Music Festival
- October: West Hollywood Halloween Carnival attracts nearly half a million people
- July: Outfest is the largest film festival in southern California
- October: West Hollywood Book Fair attracts ten of thousands of people, hundreds of authors and exhibitors
Tips for Visiting Beverly Hills and West Hollywood
- Rodeo Drive shops close early and are closed on Sundays, too.
- According to the West Hollywood Visitors' Bureau, about 1/3 of its nearly 40,000 residents are gay. Find out more about visiting from a gay perspective in About.com's Gay Travel guide.
- West Hollywood is a better place than many to bring Fluffy along. It's often rated as one of the state's pet-friendliest destinations.
Best Bites
You'll find places to eat scattered throughout both cities, but especially along Santa Monica Boulevard in West Hollywood. Beverly Hills locals skip the pricey Rodeo Drive spots and instead head over to Beverly Drive instead. We also like the laid-back atmosphere (and the food) at The Farm of Beverly Hills and their prices are good, too.Where to Stay
Beverly Hills and West Hollywood are next to each other and small enough that you could stay in either place. We recommend a Sunset Strip hotel, where you'll be close to the nightlife and get a better value for your money. Check our recommended hotels in Beverly Hills and recommended hotels on Sunset Strip. We especially like the Andaz West Hollywood for its great service and city views.
For something different, how about staying in Harry Houdini's former home?
