Los Angeles Tourism

Kind Factors

Kind Eats & Drinks

Be sure to bring your appetite because Los Angeles has one the most diverse dining scenes in the country, if not the world. You can have street tacos for lunch followed by a Michelin star dinner any day of the week. For those choosing to dine on the kinder side, L.A. has vegan hot spots in nearly every neighborhood. LA’s chefs are leading the charge for sustainable food and environmentally sustainable restaurant practices. Crossroads Kitchen in West Hollywood is where you’re sure to be dazzled by the sights (celebs flock to this joint) and the tastes. Plant Food + Wine on fashionable Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice serves locally sourced fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes as the centerpieces of seasonally crafted dishes. On that same stretch of beachside real estate is the Butcher’s Daughter Venice and its sister resto which takes on Mexican plant-based, Da Buena Planta (both spots have opened second locations in West Hollywood and Silver Lake, respectively).

Don’t miss Gracias Madre as a West Hollywood staple (be sure to make a resy for the stunning patio). Nic’s on Beverly should be on every vegan and vegetarians "must-see” list. On the casual dining side, Café Gratitude is an O.G of the plant-based scene serving locally sourced, organic vegan food and fresh pressed juices in its multiple Southern California locations including Venice Beach, Larchmont Village, LA’s trendy Arts District and Newport Beach. You can’t beat the healthy home-style cooking at little Silver Lake favorite Flore (vegan biscuits and gravy, anyone?). Los Angeles is a town that takes burgers seriously, and so does Monty’s Good Burger, plant-based burgers that live up to the name.

For kind cuisine on the go, be sure to stock up on fresh juices and whole food plant-based meals from Larayia's Bodega in the Westlake District (near Downtown). Larayia’s heart extends beyond its walls to her non-profit Lunch On Me, which feeds thousands of vegan meals to homeless people in Venice, Watts and Compton at her once-a-month block parties.

Ways to Do Good in L.A.

There are a multitude of organized activities, tours, and things to do in Los Angeles that are not only fun, but also benefit the greater good. Take a peek into ways to do good for a day in L.A.:

An unusual take on LA’s popular hiking pastime is a 2-hour Runyon hike with rescue dogs, hosted by the co-founder of non-profit animal welfare organization Free Animal Doctor. These morning hikes with like-minded fellow participants include stunning city views and, more importantly, exercise and socialization for the adoptable dogs while letting locals know that they are ready for their furever homes. Great for groups and teams, too, and includes oodles of cute canine photo ops.

Located on the edge of Santa Clarita, where pristine housing developments make way to sprawling horse properties and scrubby hillsides, the Gentle Barn is a six-acre non-profit animal sanctuary. On Sundays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., guests are welcome to visit and hug cows, tummy-rub pigs, cuddle turkeys, and experience all-around rejuvenation in rustic surrounds in Santa Clarita. Founded by Ellie Laks in 1999, the Gentle Barn moved to its current property in 2003 and now also has Missouri and Tennessee locations. And it’s not just about cooing over cute critters: the psychological benefits of a Gentle Barn visit are evidenced by its animal-assisted therapy programs for disabled and special-needs children, and for at-risk youth.

Farm LA is not your typical urban farm. Rather, this non-profit organization is dedicated to “rescuing” underutilized Los Angeles lots by repurposing them as solar or agricultural farms. It acquires vacant properties and transforms them into farms that nurture food (often easy-to-grow lima beans) for community distribution, or into solar farms that help the city generate its water and energy from renewable sources. You can help by signing-up to be notified of either scheduled group volunteer events, or of available days where you, solo or as a small group, can come to a given farm and help as needed (likely with de-weeding). Your small effort will further cultural awareness of community gardening, while also promoting healthy eating and sustainable energy.

With two facilities located in Southern California (Los Angeles & South Bay), The Midnight Mission is dedicated to helping those most in need in our community. They are more than just a homeless shelter; they offer a net of resources and support services that help guests and program participants get back on their feet and into productive lives. Their multi-faceted approach to homeless services helps community members make the changes that last. From volunteering in The Midnight Mission Kitchen's meal service to making food boxes and hygiene kits, sign up to volunteer solo or with a small group. 

Mindful Adventures

The Aquarium of the Pacific has not only a stunning display of sea life and fun for the family promoting stewardship and conservation, it was the first museum in the nation to register its greenhouse gasses and is a leader in green practices, including two LEED® Platinum exhibits: the Watersheds exhibit and the Molina Animal Care Center. The Aquarium of the Pacific has successfully certified its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory with the California Climate Action Registry (now The Climate Registry) to become the first museum in the United States to earn the status of a Climate Action Leader™. The Aquarium also received the SuperNova award from the Alliance to Save Energy for its investment in energy and climate conservation practices. 

You can explore the universe from the heart of Los Angeles at Griffith Observatory. This icon nestled on the south slope of Mount Hollywood in Griffith Park, is not only a movie star itself, but offers countless exhibits, daily programs, and recurring events for those hoping to stargaze at the actual stars.

Hiking is woven into the fabric of the Los Angeles lifestyle. Any day of the week you will find Angelinos trekking on the countless moderate trails, taking in the city views, and taking advantage of L.A.’s abundant sunshine. The Griffith Observatory West Trail Loop starts at the Fern Dell picnic area near Los Feliz Blvd, and from there, head uphill toward the Griffith Observatory. You’ll be able to stop and enjoy views of the city along the way. As the path flattens out, you’ll see a trail to the right leading up to the observatory for spectacular views of Downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific. The Runyon Canyon trail is a 3-mile loop that pairs people watching and cardio as you wind your way with views of the Hollywood sign. Open daily from sunrise to sunset, the Eaton Canyon Natural Area is a 190-acre zoological, botanical, and geological nature preserve situated at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. In addition to hiking, visitors can enjoy equestrian trails with a staging area, picnic areas, a seasonal stream, and native flora and fauna in their natural habitats. Take the 6-mile loop at Will Rogers State Historic Park for some spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, the L.A. Basin and the Santa Monica Mountains. The Los Liones Trail to Mesa Overlook in Topanga State Park has an elevation gain of about 1,300 feet and you can find your reward as you gaze out from a vantage point atop the bluff. Enjoy a picnic lunch or relax on a bench while taking in the overlook.

Founded in 1919, The Huntington Library, Art Collections and Botanical Gardens is world-renowned as a cultural, research and educational center. The Huntington features more than a dozen specialized gardens spanning 120 acres, including the iconic Japanese Garden and the acclaimed Garden of Flowing Fragrance (Liu Fang Yuan), one of the largest Chinese-style gardens outside of China.

After all that adventure, you might want to wind down with a peaceful meditation and appreciate your present. The mecca for getting into a good frame of mind is the Lake Shrine Temple & Retreat in Pacific Palisades, part of the Self Realization Fellowship.

Kind Transport 

To see the city up close, Metro Bike Share is available 24/7, 365 days a year in Downtown LA, Central LA, Hollywood, North Hollywood and the Westside. LA Dept of Transportation (LADOT) is making bicycling safer and more comfortable for all by building better bike lanes, increasing safe bike parking and repair stations, and creating the world’s largest scooter and bike share program.

The FlyAway nonstop bus service provides transportation between LAX and Union Station and Van Nuys with Hollywood and Long Beach routes returning shortly. FlyAway buses drop off passengers on the Upper/Departures Level of each terminal. At LAX, passengers board these buses on the Lower/Arrivals Level in front of each terminal at the blue FlyAway sign. Each bus is marked with its service location. One-way fares are $9.75 each. For more information about the FlyAway bus service, go to the website here.

Several public transit providers serve LAX, including L.A. Metro, Culver City Bus Lines, Santa Monica Big Blue Bus, Torrance Transit, and Beach Cities Transit. Passengers can pick up many bus lines from the LAX City Bus Center. The Metro C Line at Aviation Station (Green Line). Passengers going to the Aviation Station to connect to the C Line should wait at the PINK LAX Shuttle sign on the Lower/Arrivals Level in front of each terminal and board the “Metro C Line (Green Line)” Shuttle. Find more info on Metro C line and LA Metro for navigating the bus and rails around Los Angeles here. For more Kind Travel tips for planning your next Los Angeles stay visit www.discoverLosAngeles.com. 

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