Experience Los Angeles Like a Local During NatCon23

Are you going going, back back, to Cali Cali for NatCon23? To help you get the most out of your time in Los Angeles, we have put together a few ideas to help you experience the City of Angels like a native! 

Our Qualifacts staff residing in California have hand selected their favorite locations, restaurants, and attractions to give you the optimal west coast experience, because if there is one thing our California staff knows it’s …. how to party… in the citaaay of L.A. 

The sprawling city of Los Angeles packs in an enormous number of world-class attractions. Whether you are a fan of films, fashion, museums, the great outdoors, or fabulous and unique dining experiences, Los Angeles has something for everyone.  

Here are just a few of the many attractions that the great city of Los Angeles has to offer. From landmarks to some of the most unique eats, Los Angeles has an exhaustive array of things to do while you’re in town for the NatCon23 Conference.  

20 Things To Do While in Los Angeles

1. 1. Grand Central Market: This European-style food hall has been operating in Downtown LA since 1917. It’s a great place if you have picky eaters with you since there are different places for food. Even if you’re not there for the food, it’s worth a trip; people from all corners of LA mix and mingle among rows of spices, produce, and vintage neon signage. Of course, if you’re hungry, it’s a great place to get cheap pupusas, carnitas tacos, and aguas frescas, as well as food from trendy eateries. 
2. 2. The Last Bookstore: The largest new and used bookstore in California. It is famous for its whimsical art displays made from books. The bookstore is 22,000 sq. feet with a record store, comic bookstore, 5 art studios, an epic yarn shop, a famous book tunnel, a mammoth head, and unexpected nooks of funkiness. 
3. 3. LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art): LACMA may be the most famous museum in Los Angeles. They have a multitude of different exhibits and styles of art. If you are looking for a photo op, there is a super cool outdoor exhibit with a bunch of vintage light poles which is one of the coolest spots to take a picture.  
4. 4. Walt Disney Concert Hall: The Concert Hall was built in honor of Walt Disney and his dedication to the arts. Home to LA Philharmonic Orchestra and the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Walt Disney Concert Hall is one of the most acoustically sophisticated concert halls in the world. 
5. 5. Bike the Strand: A 22-mile bike path, officially known as the Marvin Braude Bike Trail, that traces nearly the entire extent of LA’s westward-facing coastline. It’s the best way to tour the coastline. The path starts at Will Rogers State Beach and winds its way all the way down to Torrance County Beach. 
6. 6. Union Station: Union Station is the largest train station in the west of the United States and an architectural treasure. It is often referred to as the “Last of the Great Railway Stations”. This iconic Los Angeles landmark is a vibrant symbol of downtown’s renaissance. 
7. 7. Olvera Street: Across from Union Station, is Olvera Street, a historic monument in the oldest part of LA. It is a Mexican Marketplace with a block-long narrow, tree-shaded, brick-lined market with old structures, painted stalls, street vendors, cafes, restaurants, and gift shops.
8. 8. Philippe The Original: Home of the original French dipped sandwich! Operating since 1908 and it is one of LA’s most historic and longest-operating restaurants. Philippe’s “French Dipped Sandwich” is the specialty of the house and consists of either roast beef, roast pork, leg of lamb, turkey, pastrami, or ham served on a freshly baked French roll which has been dipped in the natural gravy of the roasts. 
9. 9. Grammy Museum: Los Angeles has been the site of many Grammy Award ceremonies over the years, so it makes sense that this city would be home to the one-of-a-kind Grammy Museum. The museum rotates exhibits every few months to incorporate new artists. Each exhibit presents extensive amounts of fascinating information about the musicians’ lives, careers, and legacies. One exhibit that has been at the museum for a few years now, and for good reason, is the exhibit honoring the legendary singer and performer, Michael Jackson.
10. 10. Angels Flight Railway: The 118-year-old funicular takes passengers on a short ride between Hill Street and Grand Avenue on Bunker Hill (about a block). Originally opened in 1901, Angels Flight — the world’s shortest railway — has given more than 100 million rides on its hillside track. This fun little, short ride is an essential Los Angeles experience.  
11. 11. The Grove: The Grove is a great location for shopping, restaurants, and entertainment in a casual outdoor environment. It has a wonderful mall with a huge Barnes and Noble, a movie theater, and lots of stores. And right next to The Grove is a large outdoor food market, called the Original Farmers Market. There is pretty much every kind of food you could think of with lots of outdoor seating. On select days they have live music and entertainment. 
12. 12. FIDM Museum and Galleries: If you like movies and fashion the FIDM Museum and Galleries is a fantastic stop. They have a rotating collection of costumes from films as well as showcasing the work of students. Two things LA is known for in one place (movies and fashion). 
13. 13. Little Tokyo: Little Tokyo is the Japanese American district located in downtown LA. Visit the Japanese American National Museum, the largest museum in the United States dedicated to the Japanese American experience. Stroll the Japanese Village Plaza and immerse yourself in all things Japanese (shops, food, supermarket, etc.). 
14. 14. OUE Skyspace: This glass slide is located at the US Bank Tower. You slide from the 70th floor to the 69th floor, all completely glass. They also have an observation deck that is amazing during sunset. 
15. 15. The Broad: The Broad is a contemporary art museum in Los Angeles offering free general admission and an active program of rotating exhibitions. The collection of contemporary art is from the 1950s to the present. 
16. 16. Koreatown: If you are a fan of karaoke and Korean food, Koreatown is a fun spot! They have lots of karaoke bars where you can rent a room for the evening with a small group and do karaoke and have a few cocktails if you’re so inclined. There are also lots of restaurants, including ones that offer all-you-can-eat Korean BBQ.
17. 17. Griffith Park and Observatory: Griffith Park and Observatory are great spots if you are willing to make the trip. Located just above Hollywood, the distinctive Observatory building can be seen for miles. There are lots of interesting free exhibits that are open to the public at no charge. One highlight is the view of the Hollywood sign and a great view of all the whole city of Los Angeles. If you bring your hiking shoes, there is a path from the main parking lot to the back of the sign for another amazing view of the iconic sign and the LA reservoir. Within Griffith Park, there’s the Greek theater and abandoned zoo. The zoo is a cool area to walk around and take some fun pictures. The new zoo is also located in Griffith Park, with sunset horseback rides through the park available. 
18. 18. Warner Brothers Studio Tour: If anybody’s looking for the quintessential Hollywood experience, we recommend the Warner Brothers Studio Tour. You learn about the fine art of making movies and visit sets from well-known movies and tv shows. They also have the Friends café, Central Perk, and you can have your picture taken on the famous couch. Warner Brothers is right next to Griffith Park, so a little bit of a hike from downtown LA. It’s very close to Griffith Park, so if making the trip, we say hit both spots. 
19. 19. Paramount Studios Tour: If you are looking to do a studio tour but don’t want to make the trip to Warner Brothers studio, we recommend Paramount Studios. Located down in Hollywood, Paramount Studio is closer to downtown Los Angeles. Paramount’s past and current achievements come together in this intimate, behind-the-scenes look at a true working studio. On this 2-hour tour, you’ll discover Hollywood’s first major movie studio and lots of history and information about the business of movie making over the years. 
20. 20. Stop by the Qualifacts booth: Come see our three award-winning EHR platforms – CareLogic, Credible, and InSync  – to find out which solution fits your organization’s needs. Our team of behavioral health EHR experts are ready to help you find the right EHR for clinical productivity, compliance and state reporting, billing, and business intelligence. Schedule a free consultation with an EHR expert or a custom demo of our EHR solutions ahead of time here – Schedule a Meeting. 

We would love to hear about your adventures! If you visit any of the locations on our list, make sure to stop by booth #1001 and tell us about your Los Angeles experience.  

If you’d like to learn more about these attractions and more insider tips to make the most of your time in the city, be sure to stop by our booth #1001 at NatCon23.