14 Best Sights in West Hollywood, Fairfax, and Mid-Wilshire, Los Angeles

The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures sits on the corner of Wilshire and Fairfax, with a giant spherical dome that features a 1,000-seat theater and stunning terrace with views of the Hollywood Hills. Inside, the museum has enlightening exhibitions that delve into the history of cinema with interactive exhibits, videos of award-winning storytellers, multiple theaters, and immersive experiences.

Los Angeles has a truly fabulous museum culture and the ever-changing Los Angeles County Museum of Art boasts the largest collection of art in the western United States. With more than 135,000 pieces from 6,000 years of history across multiple buildings, plan on spending a full day. Highlights include the Urban Light sculpture by Chris Burden (an Instagram favorite), Levitated Mass by Michael Heizer, and prominent works by Frida Kahlo, Wassily Kandinsky, Henri Matisse, and Claude Monet. With an illustrative permanent collection to go along with an ever-rotating array of temporary exhibits, film screenings, educational programs, and more, the museum is a beacon of culture that stands alone in the middle of the city. Temporary exhibitions sometimes require tickets purchased in advance.

Car lovers enjoy strolling around more than 300 rare classic automobiles, vintage cars, and iconic motorized vehicles from film and pop culture, including Batmobile, the DeLorean from Back to the Future, and the car from Ghostbusters. Take the 90-minute self-guided tour of the basement-level Vault. The museum itself is a work of art; the eye-catching stainless steel design of curving lines gives it a futuristic look.

Show your kids where Ice Age fossils come from by taking them to this fascinating outdoor park and indoor museum. Oil rises and bubbles to the earth's surface, as it is collected in shallow pools, and coagulated into asphalt. In the early 20th century, geologists discovered that all that goo contained the largest collection of Pleistocene (Ice Age) fossils ever found at one location. There are more than 600 fossils of species of birds, mammals, plants, reptiles, and insects. Roughly 100 tons of fossil bones have been removed in excavations during the last 100 years, making this one of the world's most famous fossil sites. You can see most of the pits through chain-link fences, and the Excavator Tour gets you as close as possible to the action.

Sunset Boulevard is a sexy and seductive drive with bigger than life celebrity billboards, architecturally unique hotels, a variety of casual to upscale restaurants, and fashionable boutiques. The cocktail bars charge a premium, but the iconic Hollywood sign and Los Angeles views justify the price.

Adjacent to the Original Farmers Market, this popular outdoor mall is known for live entertainment as well as the "dancing" water and light show. A vintage-style, double-decker trolley runs through The Grove for visitors to take in the sights and sounds.

Since 1934, the Original Farmers Market continues to sell fresh produce, meats, cheese, and other culinary and gourmet delights. With over 100 purveyors, standouts include Monsieur Marcel, a gourmet French-style market and café; Bob's Coffee & Doughnuts; and actor Danny Trejo's Trejo's Tacos.

This small but important cultural landmark is a nonprofit supporting contemporary crafts and traditional folk arts. The two-story space displays rotating exhibitions, and the ground-level gift shop stocks a unique collection of handcrafts, jewelry, ceramics, books, and textiles. 

The Holocaust Museum uses its extensive collections of photos and artifacts, along with audio tours and interactive tools, to evoke European Jewish life in the 20th century. The mission is to commemorate the lives of those who perished and those who survived the Holocaust. The building is itself a marvel, having won two awards from the American Institute of Architects.

Melrose Avenue is a tale of two streets. West of Fairfax Avenue is vibrant with boutique shops, international restaurants, and avant-garde galleries. East of Fairfax is more eclectic with street art and murals, sneaker stores, and thrift and vintage shops. The open-air Melrose Trading Post Artisan Market is every Sunday at Fairfax High School starting at 10 am. There are rows of antiques, vintage clothing, art, furniture, and collectibles.

Santa Monica Boulevard is part of the historic Route 66. As American songwriter Bobby Troup sang, "Get Your Kicks on Route 66," along this lively commercial core of West Hollywood. It's filled with trendy restaurants and cafés, shops and galleries, and LGBTQIA+-friendly bars and clubs. Park your car and walk from Fairfax Avenue to Doheny Drive. The fashionable West Hollywood Design District runs between La Cienega Boulevard and Doheny Drive. 

As one of the best people-watching spots in town, people flock to this stretch of Sunset Boulevard for brunch or lunch and to browse in the trendy shops that offer a range of price points. Chin Chin has a delicious Chinese chicken salad, while Saltie Girl is for those craving seafood and New York style smoked fish.

More than 200 art galleries, antiques shops, fashion outlets, and interior design stores are found here near 30 restaurants, including the famous paparazzi magnet, the Ivy. All are clustered within walking distance of each other—rare for L.A.

Directly across from the Pacific Design Center, this public library is filled with resources in a floor-to-ceiling glass multistory building. They also have an impressive children's library and LGBTQ+ book collection. Park in the nearby city parking complex.