Tour Culver City: Your Day Trip Itinerary of Famed Highlights

(Image: Ruksana Hussain)

The first, most obvious attraction to anybody headed to Culver City will be the Sony Pictures studio. Especially if you are a movie freak, or even if you are remotely piqued by the entertainment industry, their studio tours are a big hit. The 2-hour guided walking tour takes you through sound stages, movie history, scenes and props you will remember from some very famous productions. Depending on when you visit, you might be able to catch a show taping here. Do check on the website beforehand though for dates, times and other rules to entry. Go here for the history but chances of any star sightings are rare. You will definitely learn a few things about the movie industry you did not know before.

For a nice walk in the area, Culver City Park and the Culver City stairs on Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook are recommended. Great views are guaranteed from this 500 ft. peak. Open 8 am to sunset daily, you can access the area on Hetzler Rd. off Jefferson Blvd. The trail is pretty steep and zigzags a bit, but the staircase itself is fairly easy to climb if you give it enough time. Or you could consider it exercise and work up a sweat. The hike loops around the park but the view up top is beautiful. The park itself is a great place to meet family and friends right in the heart of Culver City. Amenities include picnic areas, restroom facilities, barbecue pits, etc. The city has more than 100 pieces of public art available – see if you can identify them all from this list. Whether you want to visit local museums or bike along Ballona Creek admiring murals and nature, Culver City has you covered. Westfield Culver City offers a bit of a shopper’s paradise but walk around the downtown area and you will find a few local hidden gems, unique businesses to support and keep you coming back to this part of town.
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Fuel up at any time during the day at Picnic LA. The new restaurant opened doors late last year and has been a welcome addition the Culver City foodie scene. Great location on the intersection of Duquesne Ave and Culver Blvd, with parking available in the building. Floor to ceiling windows facing the street makes you feel like you are having a picnic in the middle of the city. The picnic style tables and benches as well as the myriad menu offerings add to the experience. Owners Brad Zions, Eliot Silver and Noah Ellis have gone to great lengths to translate their fine dining expertise to affordable healthy options focused on seasonal, local produce and ingredients. Staff walks you through the day’s specials and serves your choice of entrees and sides as you build your plate. In a sense, giving you some variety to choose from an upscale menu with flavors inspired by the diversity of Los Angeles but not too much that you are overwhelmed. Extra points for simple yet useful legends on the name cards for the dishes which makes it easier to have that conversation about allergies or dietary preferences. The best part – they offer catering, online ordering, curbside delivery and even picnic supplies. And of course, gingham wins any day!