What are some amazing things to do/visit in LA (West Hollywood) if you're only there for the weekend?

Some ideas…

Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade and pier. If you like coffee, check out Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (theres one on Third Street and other various places in Los Angeles wide area)

Drive up to Malibu, grab something to eat at Dukes and see people surfing while eating

Dana Point/Laguna Beach areas

Check out Kodak Theatre in Hollywood

I live in West Hollywood.

If you like museums, you could try the LACMA in West Hollywood or the Museum of Television and Radio in Beverly Hills. You can also just drive around Beverly HIlls, ogling all fancy homes.

Go to the “farmer’s market” next to the grove at Fairfax and 3rd. Or, go to a real farmer’s market on sunday at hollywood and vine.

If you need any restaurant recommendations, let me know.

Visit the Getty Malibu – a museum of antiquities built as a replica of a Roman villa on the hills overlooking Malibu Beach. Admission is free, you just need to reserve a parking spot or park outside somewhere & walk in.

ever since i fell in love with Angelina Jolie, West Hollywood has been a huge attraction. she used to hang out there and people would report it. sadly she does not live there anymore.

Calendar of West Hollywood Events
When you’re looking for fun things to do in Los Angeles, the Calendar of West Hollywood events is the place to go! From live music to dining events, there are plenty of things to do in West Hollywood. View a list of recurring annual events in and around West Hollywood.
http://www.visitwesthollywood.com/things-to-do/calendar/

The ultimate online guide to the gay nightlife in Los Angeles and West Hollywood is westhollywood.com!!
http://www.westhollywood.com/

Cool info on west hollywood
http://www.westside-la.org/westhollywood.html

The History of “The Creative City”
West Hollywood’s history goes back to the 1780s when what is now know as the Sunset Strip emerged as one of the principal routes connecting el Pueblo de Los Angeles to ranchos further west and the Pacific Ocean. In the 1880s, Mexican Dons began to sell their land to settlers from the Midwest, East Coast and European immigrants
http://www.wehochamber.org/comminfo/city.htm

A Vision For Our Future
The City is embarking on the first comprehensive update of the community’s General Plan. The General Plan is a policy document that defines how the City manages its physical, economic and human resources.
California state law mandates that cities draft, adopt and continuously update their General Plan
http://www.weho.org/index.cfm

EXCELLENT SITE
Only in West Hollywood will you find the legendary Sunset Strip, eclectic Santa Monica Boulevard, and the chic Avenues of Art & Design – all making up WeHo’s 1.9 square miles of unparalleled LA nightlife, innovative Los Angeles dining, world-class celebrity shopping and luxurious Hollywood spas. West Hollywood, California, situated at the base of the Hollywood Hills, boasts 14 distinctive West Hollywood hotels
http://www.visitwesthollywood.com/

West Hollywood is a must when visiting LA —it is packed with places worth visiting.

Visit Bodhi Tree bookstore on Melrose, close to the crossing with San Vicente. also stop by for a cup of tea at elixirs peaceful garden , right across the street from the Bodhi Tree.

At night you can hit the Sunset Strip. The Standard Hotel is a favorite, cool, very LA, and there is no cover for the lounge or to have a drink by the pool , which has a fantastic view of the city below.

Santa Monica Boulevard gets really busy at night, most of the gay bars are here, although most of LA is gay friendly as well. Here on robertson is worth a drink.

Silver Lake’s Akbar is a great bar in a very different and unique neighborhood, just to experience another side of LA culture

Top 10 of 64 items…

Beverly Center – Mall with over 200 stores, including Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, restaurants and a large cineplex.

Comedy Store
Doug Weston’s Troubadour
Fred Segal

Whiskey-a-Go-Go – This famous club has for years been a hot spot to see the top names in rock ‘n roll.

Robertson Boulevard – “Best shopping experience” The cafes and restaurants are all great by Robertson and 3rd.

Mother Lode – Cruisy men’s bar, with different themes for each night of the week

Book Soup – Browsing is encouraged at Book Soup, the city’s leading funky, fully-stocked bookstore.

Drake’s Books – Two locations, erotic specialty store for men and women of all sexual persuasions.

Mickys – Young, trendy, gay video and dance bar. Mostly men

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g33252-Activities-West_Hollywood_California.html

West Hollywood Forum
No worries, there are really no “unsavory” parts in L.A. It is not likely that you make a wrong turn and end up in a crime ridden area(which L.A.does not have) Hollywood is totally save and very tourist friendly, just enjoy your stay
http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g33252-i423-West_Hollywood_California.html
There are great things to do all around Los Angeles, but for the true Hollywood experience choose from these top picks.

The Forecourt of the Stars at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
The Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Sign
Attend a TV Show Taping
Universal Studios Hollywood
Hollywood Nightlife
Hollywood Museum at the Max Factor Building
Hollywood Entertainment Museum
Kodak Theatre Tour
Tour a Historic Hollywood Movie Palace

http://golosangeles.about.com/od/thingstodoinhollywood/tp/ToDoHollywood.htm

I’m also an LA native; it’s important that you have a car, maps (or nav even better) and change/money for parking. Although things are not that far from each other getting around in the west side can be tricky and often a fair amount of traffic.

There’s a lot to do and see-much has already been mentioned, and consider planning both dayside and evening activities; some recommendations are based on access and safety so:

•both Getty museums (I’d recommend on separate days, the LA one has an amazing view on a clear day, the Malibu has no view but beautiful nonetheless)
http://www.getty.edu/visit

•Venice beach boardwalk-various ‘artsy’ and interesting shops and people; great on a weekend esp. Sundays they have a drum circle and various spectacles-street parking is free but takes a bit of driving around…lots of eateries/cafes there too…

•Third Street Promenade-parking in city’s parking garages are free with validation; nice for dinner al fresco (if weather permits), more conventional outdoor mall but for hip/upscale urban scene; less chintzy than the Santa Monica pier, and lots of dining options.

•Santa Monica pier-it’s okay but parking’s a rip at $7! it is possible to walk down from the Third Street Promenade but I wouldn’t recommend doing this at night for safety reasons;

•Lots to do in Hollywood dayside, the obvious being walk/drive down the strip (Hollywood Blvd.), and the Grove and farmer’s market are fun too if you like to shop; also right around the corner is Melrose Ave. Where all of the hipsters shop (Aardvarks thift store is a hoot).

•LACMA (county museum of art) is close on Wishire but admission is pretty steep;

•If you’re into quietude there’s a neat spiritual retreat center right by Malibu called the Lake Shrine Self-Realization Fellowship center that’s basically a large lake-centered meditation garden-many celebrities over the years have gone there to meditate and nothing like it in LA (free admission and parking)

All of the above are family oriented and mostly day-side activities; for night side I’d recommend an activity calendar such as the LAWeekly.com for recommendations.

Lastly plan ahead as these are geographically in different parts of the city and travel time with traffic can be an issue. Also if renting a car make sure you have insurance-you’ll be surprised how densely populated LA is if it’s you’re first visit.

Travel light and common sense safety precautions and you’ll be fine. Have fun!

Oh almost forgot-some great hiking and natural beauty above Santa Monica by driving up PCH and either checking out the beach or Malibu Canyon (Topanga State Park and Malibu Canyon).

Lastly if you want to save money, pack plenty of bottled water, snacks and bring sunscreen-LA can be tricky even in hazy or partly cloudy sky one can still catch sunburn; with a family of four I can’t help but be vigilant.

Also in Hollywood if you’re in to celebrities and tourist-y stuff then check out universal studios/citywalk and also the Hollywood Forever Cemetery…

Two of my favorites are not mentioned in the above responses. I am a sucker for the LaBrea Tar Pits http://www.tarpits.org/ with its exhibits of all the unfortunate ancient creatures who wandered in and got caught. When you are in modern day LA, it is fun to think of them roaming the same areas. Another must for me is Olvera Street. It is the oldest part of historic downtown Los Angeles and has a colorful Mexican feel, good food and fun.

I also love to visit Mt. Wilson Observatory if you have a car. http://www.mtwilson.edu/vis/index.php

You should have some ideas by now but I’ll add
I didn’t read all of the above but if not mentioned the Hollywood Walk of fame is a hit with visitors, Malibu cyn drive for old movie fans.
Take the sndfreQ advice

Do not park your car anyplace that you don’t have to pay for the space. That assures it will be protected against break-ins.