Los Angeles is one of those places that is fun to visit in short durations; the weather and vibe of the city are second to none. This article highlights some of the more popular locations and destinations to visit in Downtown Los Angeles.
Downtown Los Angeles Uncensored
Let’s start with the good.
The area is a melting pot of Asians, Mexicans, and “Other.” The diverse mix of people makes for fun people watching and likely some of the best authentic cuisine you’ll be able to get without visiting another country.
The Downtown area has a beautiful skyline and plenty of trendy places to live that are close to the major public transit hubs for trains, light rail, and busses. This location makes using public transportation easy (a little more on that later).
One of the hidden gems of Downtown is the fashion district; It’s store after store selling everything at cost. All of the merchandise came from overseas, and any manuals are rarely in English. In addition to cheap trinkets, the fashion district is home to a lot of knock-off and counterfeit fashion goods (Watches, handbags, makeup, clothes).
The downtown cooridore is home to the Staples center and Nokia Microsoft Theatre, which is where lots of the glitz and glamor happens.
The not so good
Traffic in southern California does suck; If you have any anxiety in traffic, this is not the place for you. Expect to sit in endless traffic, no matter the time of day or day of the week.
Public transportation is an excellent choice if you’re able to use it without making too many transfers. The reality is that if you’re not going to/from Downtown Los Angeles or between major stops, it quickly becomes faster to sit in traffic.
Finally, the worst and saddest thing about Downtown is the homeless crisis. People of all ages and all walks of life who have nowhere else to live become residents of the thousands of tents and temporary shelters near the Skid Row area. If you’re sensitive to seeing a naked crack head singing nursery rhymes, then Los Angeles isn’t for you.
Downtown through the viewfinder
