Who says nobody walks in LA! Get out of your car and immerse yourself in LA’s fascinating heritage on a cultural walking tour. LA Conservancy and Esotouric offer a slew of walking tours revealing the social, cultural, and architectural history of Los Angeles, many just a short distance from Circa. Take an insider’s tour of “Undiscovered Chinatown” with the Chinatown BID. Or indulge in a delicious foodie tour with Sidewalk Food Tours. With the relaxed pace and street-level view, you’ll get a different feel for the city’s vibe, discover hidden neighborhood gems, and clock some great exercise. With all these options, you’ll gain a whole new perspective when you go walking in LA. Check websites for hours and meeting locations.
L.A. Conservancy: Art Deco Tour
Nothing evokes Jazz Age elegance like Art Deco. Discover how it made its way to Los Angeles, why it became such a defining architectural style, and learn about the craftspeople who created these soaring structures and their iconic details. Clean lines and geometric patterns proved a perfect style for L.A. in the 20s and 30s, and an extraordinary collection of these masterpieces still stands in the heart of the city.
L.A. Conservancy: Historic Downtown Walking Tour
The Historic Downtown walking tour offers a great overview of downtown L.A. history and architecture, from the eighteenth century to the present. Learn about the founding of this great city, and the story of its growth, as told through its magnificent architecture. Explore some of L.A.’s most beloved landmarks, such as the Central Library, the U.S. Bank Tower, and the Bradbury Building. Discover—or rediscover—the area’s unique character as you visit the areas surrounding Pershing Square, the heart of downtown.
L.A. Conservancy: Broadway Historic Theatre and Commercial District Walking Tour
Before there was Hollywood, there was Broadway. This central street in Los Angeles was the original epicenter for film premiers and boasts the country’s largest collection of intact historic movie palaces. On this tour, you’ll visit one of these lavish architectural wonders up close and learn about the street where Hollywood history first began.You’ll also hear how these theaters have continued to play a role in the changing identity of downtown L.A. and become a touchstone for a diverse array of communities and organizations.
Undiscovered Chinatown Walking Tour
Visit a temple, an herbal shop, art galleries, antique stores, and more when guided to the unique treasures–not to mention great bargains–to be found in Chinatown. The walking tour will take visitors to a number of off-the-beaten-track points of interest, and will guide those interested in shopping to some of Chinatown’s best bargains and its trendiest shops. See why Chinatown is touted by Sunset and Los Angeles magazines as one of the hottest destinations for urban adventurers! Wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared to wind your way through a myriad of alleyways, plaza stalls, and classical courtyards to discover the charm of L.A.’s Chinatown.
Mar 18 Step back in time and re-live history like never before! Join the Historic Core BID for a private tour of 3 historic and haunted bars. Learn about the lore of Downtown Los Angeles and taste delicious cocktails. This is a 21+ event. Tickets are $10 per person and all proceeds go towards the Historic Core District. Payments will be verified before the start of the tour.
Esotouric Tours: Bunker Hill, Dead and Alive
Mar 21 In the late 1960s, after the Community Redevelopment Agency bought up all the boarding houses, hotels, shops and taverns, displaced 9,000 people and brought in the bulldozers, it seemed like the end for Bunker Hill, the Victorian neighborhood above Downtown. But a funny thing happened, as the proposed redevelopment stalled and new ideas about adaptive reuse, historic preservation, environmentalism and tenants rights took root. People who never visited old Bunker Hill began to study, celebrate and explore it–virtually–through the thousands of photos, film clips, stories and paintings that survive. Bunker Hill might be dead, but its ghosts are active and eager to meet you.
Esotouric Tours: Know Your Downtown
Mar 28 Join Esotouric for an immersive time travel trip as you explore Victorian time capsule interiors, Prohibition-era speakeasy tunnels, early public spaces and the richly layered streetscape, all on a three hour tour like no other. Also on this tour, you’ll make a rare interior visit to Arts & Crafts tile master Ernest Batchelder’s Dutch Chocolate Shop, a remarkable 1914 time capsule that’s been in the news with recent efforts by Altadena’s Save the Tiles volunteers to rescue his work from fire damaged properties.
LA Conservancy: Modern Skyline
L.A. may not be known for its skyscrapers, but the ones downtown pack quite a punch! L.A.’s skyline is studded with towers that tell the story of the city’s evolution, from iconic Art Deco structures to inventive Late Modern hotels to contemporary corporate design office buildings. You’ll get up close to the public art tucked away within the plazas of these sleek high-rises, and see details that you’ve never noticed before. You’ll also step inside the 70s when you visit the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, one of L.A.’s most recognizable and beloved Late Modern buildings.
Sidewalk Food Tours: Downtown Los Angeles
Sidewalk Food Tours Downtown LA Food Tour includes six unique stops showcasing the best of the growing, diverse DTLA food scene. Their expert foodies have done extensive and delicious research to offer you the ultimate best-of food tour of downtown. Highlights include sampling a variety of delicious foods from the best specialty food stores, buzz-worthy spots, and ethnic eateries, and a stroll through the historic Grand Central Market with tastings from some of its most well-known vendors. Sidewalk Food Tours was inspired by a deep love of food, history, and the unique stories of different neighborhoods. Their mission is for you to feel as if you’re exploring the city with a close friend who’s showing you all their favorite local hideaways.
Gourmet Downtown LA Walking Food Tour
Taste your way around Downtown LA with Delicious Dish Tours. Sample the variety of cuisines that LA offers without fighting traffic. From its Mexican roots to Chinatown and Little Tokyo, Downtown is where it all began. Enjoy tastings at 6-8 top-rated eateries, ranging from casual spots to upscale restaurants. Discover why chefs from Japan come to Little Tokyo and taste Japanese fusion dishes only found in LA. Learn to identify specialty ingredients at Chinese and Japanese neighborhood markets. Perfect for food lovers and history buffs looking to explore LA’s beginnings through food!
Six Taste Downtown Los Angeles Food Tour
Family owned and operated, Six Taste is the Original Downtown LA food tour. Take in the LA vibe as you explore Art Deco skyscrapers and historic landmarks. Visit Grand Central Market, LA’s oldest public open-air market, for some incredible cultural bites. Sample signature tastes from popular to hidden neighborhood gems while learning about the history, culture, and ongoing revitalization of our great city. This tour can accommodate most dietary restrictions as long as you inform them ahead of time.
Photo credits:
Photo #1: L.A. Conservancy
Photo #2: L.A. Conservancy
Photo #3: L.A. Conservancy
Photo #4: L.A. Conservancy
Photo #5: Chinatown Business Improvement District
Photo #6: Historic Core BID
Photo #7: Esotouric Tours
Photo #8: Esotouric Tours
Photo #9: L.A. Conservancy
Photo #10: Sidewalk FoodTours
Photo #11: Delicious Dish Tours
Photo #12: Six Taste
