Universal City Things to Do

This park is a great place for a picnic overlooking the ocean, or to watch the sunset with a loved one. There are all kinds of people here, from young teenagers to elderly couples to homeless people. Everybody likes to relax un... more

This small, bustling cluster of shops has helped build Santa Monica's reputation as a shopping Mecca. Located several blocks south of the Pier, you will find both famous and not-so-famous clothing stores as well as a variety of... more

This building in downtown Los Angeles was built in 1974 by AC Martin Partners. It rises 55 stories into the sky and is set at an angle to the street, making it stand out from the other high-rises in the downtown area. It is wel... more

The Historic Theater District stretches from Third Street to Olympic Boulevard. It was the first district of its kind to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are a dozen major theaters covering a six-blo... more

With a daily circulation of more than one million readers, the Los Angeles Times is by far the most popular newspaper in the Southland. Situated on the outskirts of downtown, the publication's headquarters is a massive building... more

An integral part of the downtown skyline, Sanwa Bank Plaza was built in 1991 by AC Martin Partners and features some innovative design and architecture. The lobbies are 80 feet high and are filled with streaming light, which sh... more

Named after a former chief of police, Parker Center Building is the home of the Los Angeles Police Department. You might be familiar with the exterior of the building from countless television programs and movies. Visitors can... more

The Zanja Madre or "Mother Ditch" is a fragment of the city's original irrigation ditch. It was built in 1781 and its purpose was to carry water from the Los Angeles River up near Elysian Park into the city. In 1929, to show wh... more

Like the more famous Whitley Heights, this community of homes built in the 1920s was one of the most exclusive areas of its time. Back in its prime (1940s-1960s), it attracted a number of stars and other entertainment industry... more

Bunker Hill Steps is one of downtown's most unique architectural offerings. Wrapping around the base of the First Interstate World Center, this huge and exhausting stairway was designed by Lawrence Halprin in 1990. The stairs l... more