Where to go in Culver City

Culver City offers many dining options. (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 buff, 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.

Culver Hotel by night. (Image: Ruksana Hussain)

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.

Dining at Culver Hotel. (Image: Ruksana Hussain)

Fuel up at any time during the day at Hotel Culver. Not only do they have a fabulous outdoor area but their interiors are pretty cool too. Interesting fact: The rooms on each floor are furnished and decorated differently so if there are six rooms on each floor then that's six different types of decor. And then that room type/plan follows the same decor on every floor. Kinda cool huh? The hotel's location is perfect - you can walk to so many neighborhood eateries, stores, and more. They also have a lovely afternoon tea on weekends, perfect for a quiet hour for two to read or journal. 

Entrance to Wende Museum. (Image: Ruksana Hussain)

Two interesting museums to visit here are the Wende and the Museum of Jurassic Technology. The Wende Museum is free to visit, offers docent-guided tours, and has some fascinating art and artifacts from the Cold War era. Some of the spy tactics and techniques certainly give you the chills. I recommend the docent tour even if they highlight only a few pieces, it's still interesting to hear some of the stories behind the displays. The Jurassic Technology museum is two floors and has a paid ticket with timed entry. This is an older building so if you have mobility challenges then this might not be the best venue for you. Also you may want to read up about the museum before visiting - I can never quite describe it in the right words. They do not allow photography inside so I have no images but if you are generously a curious person then I think this venue should be on your agenda. 

Seen at Wende - do you know what this is? (Image: Ruksana Hussain)

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Author

Ruksana Hussain is the publisher and editor of Traveler and Tourist digital magazine, author of Around the World in Los Angeles, and award-winning journalist and writer at RH Media Consulting. Connect with her on Instagram and Facebook or through the Contact Form.