6 disappointing tourist traps to avoid in LA

Don't let its proximity to Universal Studios fool you: CityWalk features none of the park's movie magic but seemingly twice the number of people. The loud, oppressively neon shopping center crams souvenir hawkers, junk-food retailers and a handful of sloppy bars into a hillside pedestrian street. At least, we think it's actually up in the hills—it's hard to retain any sense of direction inside the claustrophobic corridor.

Instead: Though they're certainly crowded and touristy, the Grove and the Americana offer a much classier take on a faux shopping city, with better stores to boot.

Not to crush your Pretty Woman shopping spree dreams, but you can file most of Rodeo Drive's high-end shops under "look but don't touch." The palm tree-lined street is pretty, to be sure, but expect to spot more selfie posing, window shopping tourists than celebrities.

Instead: Malibu Country Mart may not have the same name recognition, but this casual seaside shopping outlet attracts a mix of both locals grabbing lunch in wetsuits and celebrities pretending they don't want to be seen.

Venice Beach has always been a circus by the sea, so it's no surprise that these days it runs on cheap T-shirts, medical marijuana cards and street performers. Oh, you'll see plenty of palm tree-lined walkways and maybe even a roller skater who escaped from the '70s, but this place is so much seedier than the movies have led you to believe. Good luck trying to find parking, too.

Instead: The Strand, LA's beachfront bike path, runs from the Pacific Palisades all the way down to Torrance. Immediately north of Venice, the path cuts through Santa Monica's blossoming Main Street district. Much farther south, you can scope out seaside estates in Manhattan Beach. If you're still intent on visiting Venice, at least stray from the boardwalk to the idyllic canals or the posh Abbot Kinney.

Walk anywhere on Hollywood Boulevard and you’re sure to be stopped by someone hawking a discounted van tour. The prices and employees are persuasive, but the celebrity hunting part is as soul sucking as it is unreliable—Oh, that sliver of stucco hidden behind those hedges and that huge security gate is Jennifer Aniston's house? How exciting! 

Instead: Rent a car—it'll be cheaper than a tour if you're travelling with a buddy. Start with a view of the Hollywood Sign from Lake Hollywood Park followed by a cruise along Mulholland Drive. Wind your way through Bel-Air, Holmby Hills, Beverly Hills and the Bird Streets in the Hollywood Hills if you're set on seeing (mostly hidden) celebrity mansions. If you're only after star sightings, make a beeline for these celebrity hangouts instead.

We don't mean to pick on a single restaurant, but this Pacific Palisades seafood spot has somehow become an Instagram essential for out-of-towners. Overpriced and overcrowded, you're mostly paying for the view at Gladstone's—and a steep $7 for parking.

Instead: For a romantic oceanfront spot that actually lives up to the (admittedly hefty) price tag, try Nobu Malibu. If you're looking for no-frills fresh fish, head down PCH to Malibu Seafood. For the quintessential SoCal experience, watch the sunset over a basket of fried goodness at Neptune's Net.