People from all over the world visit Los Angeles, but they usually have a set agenda influenced by entertainment. Most will see the most popular places like Disneyland, Universal Studios, Santa Monica, Warner Brothers, The Chinese Theater, the beaches and many other points of interest. Even with the recent unprecedented wildfires, travelers will continue heading here in multitudes.

This post will be short, but next week is different. RAS and I will cruise on Harmony of the Seas from Galveston, Texas. Although I stayed there last May and covered it extensively, I plan to write more about the hotel we are staying at and, of course, the ship and cruise itself.

But for now, I thought I’d share some places in downtown Los Angeles that, surprisingly, aren’t on many people’s radar. For example, I was surprised that quite a few friends and acquaintances didn’t know about the little funicular railway on Bunker Hill, which is the first thing I’ll mention.

Angels Flight

Although someone looks at downtown Los Angeles and doesn’t think hills exist, they do. Bunker Hill is on the western edge of the area. Colonel J.W. Eddy constructed the railway, which is just under 300 feet long and was for the wealthy residents who once lived in this part of the city. The neighborhood is gone, but many high-rise office buildings and condos are taking place. A one-way trip costs $2 and takes less than a minute. Like many historic landmarks in L.A., it’s been featured in movies and TV shows, most notably “La La Land.”

Japanese American National Museum

With these following two places, I’ve written previous posts. But they are worth mentioning here because they are places few Los Angeles visitors know about. The JANM is personal, as many of its displays and exhibits relate to my family’s experience with culture, daily living and society. There is a substantial portion of the museum devoted to the World War II internment, through which my dad’s family suffered for nearly three years. I am hoping this museum will remain for 

Grand Central Market

Like the JANM, I wrote about this place a few years ago after hearing about it as a foodie destination. I had vaguely heard about and seen it in a few movies and TV shows, but I finally visited and thoroughly loved it. What’s great about the Central Market is its variety of cuisines, mainly from Latin America and Asia. I tried the pupusas, a Salvadorean turnover, and the Korean lunch plate called doshirak. On another visit, the girls and I had donuts and breakfast sandwiches from Eggslut (amusing name, I know).