South Dunsmuir Ave, Mid-Wilshire

Once the center of commercial shopping and in many ways the granddaddy of the American shopping strip, Miracle Mile is now all about Museum Row and the restaurants—at least for me anyway.

The LA County is a mammoth construction—probably the greatest, most extensive museum on the Pacific coast. It contains everything from Ancient Chinese art to avant-garde exhibitions of the latest trends in contemporary art, from the classics of European Art to a huge collection of Indian and Japanese pieces, from traditional paintings to utilitarian tools and clothing items. You not only find paintings and sculptures at the museum but films screenings and music recitals. It is an amazing cultural display, that is to art what Disneyland is amusement parks. In fact, one day is simply not enough to take in everything contained at the LA County, just one building can take up several hours if you are an art lover and there are half a dozen of them.

There is also a wonderful park adjacent to the museum where you can often catch live music from street performers. Along with the nearby Museum of Design and Architecture, you can spend many a morning here—I used to go about once a month when family responsibilities didn’t keep me out here in the Valley.

You can also take your cultural discoveries into the culinary arena on Miracle Mile. Along Wilshire you can find a number of outstanding international restaurants. You can sample everything from Greek mousaka at Ulysses’ Voyage and the goat cheese fondue at Luna Park (just off Wilshire on La Brea) to the amazing Korean joints on the eastern side of the Mile.

This is also a frenetic nightspot, with a number of local watering holes well worth the trip by themselves. Molly Malones is an outstanding Irish pub type of a joint where you can also catch the occasional alt-Rock act; Busby’s East is good if you looking for a good sports bar, and the Little Bar—a pretty cool place your inner hipster might enjoy.

All in all, it is great place to get your culture fix.