Best Things to Do on a Road Trip from Buena Park, California to Los Angeles, California

Buena Park, California, has long been known as a fantastic destination spot for tourists searching for a good time. From theme parks to museums to gorgeous beaches, Buena Park and the surrounding areas offer a diversity of experiences that are hard to beat. But often, the real magic of life is found on the journey, not in the destination itself. If you're searching for the perfect road trip that offers both the excitement of sightseeing and the thrill of a classic adventure, then look no further than the trip from Buena Park to Los Angeles.

A mere 24 miles away from Buena Park, Los Angeles is a halfway point that serves as a starting point for the road trip. While it certainly offers a lot of its own sights to see, this article is going to detail five of the best things to do on the road trip from Buena Park to Los Angeles.

1. Drive Along the Pacific Coast Highway

The Pacific Coast Highway, also known as PCH, is a must-visit spot for anyone in Southern California. Stretching from Orange County up to the San Francisco Bay Area, PCH is known for its gorgeous ocean views that hug the California coast. As drivers navigate through this breathtaking route, they will find endless opportunities to stop and enjoy the magnificent vistas. Additionally, visitors can stop at different beaches such as Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, or Laguna Beach and even grab a bite to eat by the shore.

Interesting Fact: Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow have both been spotted dining at the Beachcomber Café in Newport Beach, a restaurant close to PCH that offers excellent food and stunning waterfront views.

2. Visit the Queen Mary

One of the most famous ships in history, the Queen Mary, has been a popular attraction located in Long Beach, California since 1967. Constructed in the 1930s, the Queens Mary is a glamorous, art-deco-style ocean liner that crossed the North Atlantic Ocean from 1936 until its retirement in 1967. Visitors can come aboard to explore its history and even book a room there for an overnight stay. Due to the Queen Mary's reputation as one of the most haunted places in America, a night on board is an experience that no thrill-seeker should miss.

Interesting Fact: The Queen Mary transported plenty of celebrities during its time in use. The likes of Bob Hope, Lee Iacocca, and Clark Gable all traveled on the ocean liner, making it a kind of flying Vegas Strip.

3. Discover Universal Studios Hollywood

One of the most popular tourist destinations in the Los Angeles area, Universal Studios Hollywood offers an immersive experience for its visitors. At Universal CityWalk Hollywood, visitors can purchase their tickets and choose the rides they desire. Parkgoers can enjoy themed attractions such as the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Transformers, Jurassic World, and more. Visitors can also observe the movie-making process first hand and see the petrifying special effects up close.

Interesting Fact: Universal Studios began as a small tour in Hollywood in the early 1900s, eventually transforming into a full-fledged theme park with the advent of talkies. Of course, the studio had to share its lot with quite a few exotic animals, including lions, tigers, bears, and even elephants.

4. Stop at the Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is the epitome of Los Angeles glamour, renowned as one of the city's most iconic landmarks. Visitors can see the names of some of the most famous actors, singers, and entertainers in the world. This highlight allows visitors to see every significant feeling the movie industry has to offer, from the Golden Age of Hollywood to modern times. It stretching over a mile long, visitors can take as much time as they want to stroll the Walk of Fame and search for their favorite celebrities' names.

Interesting Fact: The original design for the Hollywood Walk of Fame consisted of round terrazzo and brass plaques; but due to the sheer number of people honored, the design was changed to a star-shaped terrazzo involving pink, black, and charcoal squares framing the bronze star in the center.

5. Walk Around Griffith Observatory

Located on the southern flank of Mount Hollywood, Griffith Observatory's magnificent view of both the Los Angeles Basin and the Hollywood Hills makes it accessible to a vast audience. Enter to see a selection of exhibition areas and enjoy the night air on the observatory's many terraces. Visitors can observe the wide-range collection of cosmic exhibits and even gaze at the stars with telescopes that are open for visitors' use. The countless opportunities to learn about the sky are what make Griffith Observatory a must-see out of all the locations in this article.

Interesting Fact: In 1912, Griffith J. Griffith offered LA residents $100,000 to build an observatory in Griffith Park. His motivation came from his belief that exposure to the wonders of the universe could help prevent social problems like warfare and alcoholism.

After you have finished all five stops, you'll find it hard to leave Los Angeles without falling in love with the city's atmosphere and culture. Gathering memories on the road trip from Buena Park to Los Angeles strengthens relationships, inspires thoughts never imagined, and helps create a bond that unites all of us as travelers. The trip can take as little as three and a half hours or up to an entire day, depending on how long you stay at each stop, but it’s worth that extra time to experience the magical journey that is the road trip to Los Angeles.