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What People Are Saying About A Day in LA Tours

Did you know that we offer the top-rated LA city tours and LA tours from Anaheim on TripAdvisor , Google , Yelp, Get Your Guide and Expedia? We’ve earned top marks on these respected sites and have over 5,000 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor for our Los Angeles tours. You don’t have to take our word for it. We encourage you to look through some of the actual reviews we have received online!

So what are you waiting for?! Book one of the best tours in Los Angeles today!

LA City Tour

Our most popular, top-rated tour, the LA City Tour is a fantastic way to spend the day exploring Los Angeles, Venice Beach, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood. The day-long trip on an upscale luxury small tour bus is narrated by your tour guide. You’ll get to spend up to 45 minutes at every stop to experience LA the way you want to. You’ll visit incredible sites such as Sunset Strip, Griffith Park, Rodeo Drive, and so much more! This tour offers hotel pickup and drop-off  from over 150 hotels! With over 5,000 5-Star reviews on TripAdvisor, Yelp, and Google  — you simply can’t go wrong!

LA City Tour from Anaheim/Disneyland

For those of you who are visiting Anaheim or Disneyland but want to spend a day seeing the best of Los Angeles, then this is the tour for you! This Los Angeles bus tour from Anaheim is perfect for those wanting to see LA, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, and other famous cities! Your tour will last an entire day and will be narrated by a friendly and informative tour guide. You’ll also spend up to 30-40 minutes at every stop to get a hands-on experience at famous attractions like Griffith Park, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Strip and so much more! Our Los Angeles tour from Anaheim also offers hotel pickup and drop-off from over 75 hotels in Anaheim!

LA City Tour Private VIP experience!

Tour in VIP style in a luxury full-size SUV with a funny, friendly and informative guide! This private tour is a great option for small groups wanting to experience all that Los Angeles has to offer in a private setting.  Our most popular itinerary which includes stops in Venice Beach, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, The Farmers’ Market for lunch, Griffith Park (Hollywood sign) and the Hollywood Walk of Fame can be custom tailored to your personal desires as well! This private tour offers free hotel pickup and drop off from over 150 hotels in the Los Angeles area.  Our 5,000+ 5-Star TripAdvisor reviews will guarantee your private tour will be unforgettable. Prices starting at $999.

Large Group and Corporate Private Tours

Let us customize any itinerary for you for the best possible experience of LA!  You can also choose from one of our many itineraries.  Whether you are in town with friends or family or are planning a corporate get-together, we’ll promise an experience your guests can’t get anywhere else. Our large group private tours are ideal for small, medium and large groups that come together for personal or professional reasons. Our 5,000+ 5-Star TripAdvisor reviews will guarantee your private tour will be unforgettable.  Call or email us today to book your Private Tour! 818-538-6287 or [email protected]

Los Angeles Tours

La – hollywood – beverly hills – santa monica – venice.

Looking to see the best of Los Angeles in a day? Whether you’re a tourist or a local, our Los Angeles tours will give you the chance to experience the City of Angels like never before. Join us to see why we are considered the best Tours of Los Angeles! Our LA City Tours and LA Tours from Anaheim have over 5,000 5-star reviews and have earned the coveted Travelers’ Choice Award – Best of the Best (ranked #1 in the world!) .A Day in LA was created by travelers for travelers. We recognized that Los Angeles and its neighborhoods had so much to offer but presented many challenges for a visitor to navigate in a short period of time. We make it easy to see a full overview of the city in one day! Reserve your seat now by clicking the Book Now button and see why we’re the best!”

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"Perfect way to see LA"

"A perfect way to see a lot of LA in one day. Comfy tour bus, small groups and friendly knowledgeable guides. Free bottled water throughout the day and fruit and juice at time of boarding. The guide and driver gave plenty of commentary as we drove around then gives you some free time to explore..."

"This is how tours are supposed to be!"

Experience Los Angeles exclusively.

Need a private tour of Los Angeles for you and your family?   Our Los Angeles bus tours service isn’t just a convenient way to get around town. It’s also a fun, safe way to experience LA and the surrounding neighborhoods.  We offer pre-set private tour itineraries or you can customize your own private tour so you can make sure you check-off all your bucket list items!  We cater to groups of all sizes, with options for small group VIP tours and large group and corporate private tours.  Contact us anytime at [email protected] or call us 818-538-6287.  Check out our Los Angeles private tours here! 

For private tours of LA please visit our Private Tours page .

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What Makes Our Los Angeles Tours Unique

Excellence is our goal.

Co-founders Kevin and Raman are global travelers who travel the backpacker’s way. From Europe and South America to India and Africa – they’ve trekked around the world and know the needs of budget travelers and how to make things fun. They understand that although the beaten path is beaten for a reason, it’s nice to step out of bounds to see another side of a new place.

With our LA city tours and LA tours from Anaheim , A Day in LA Tours wants to give you a piece of both with the best Tours in Los Angeles. We know many visitors are in town for only a few days, so we want to make the most of your time. In one day we’ll do everything from showing you breathtaking views of Venice Beach and Santa Monica to LA’s most notable highlights including Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Rodeo Drive, and other amazing Los Angeles attractions.

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THE BEST Los Angeles Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tours

Hop-on hop-off tours in los angeles.

• Movie & TV Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
• Hop-On Hop-Off Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 2.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. Big Bus Los Angeles Hop On Hop Off Tour and TMZ Celebrity Tour

2. Big Bus Los Angeles Hop-on Hop-off Open-Top Tour

3. Los Angeles: City Sightseeing Hop-On Hop-Off Tour

4. Hop On Hop Off Los Angeles & Hollywood Celebrity Homes Tour

Keep the fun going with other experiences in the area.

Illuminated Swan Boat Night Ride on Rainbow Lagoon

5.5-Hour Exclusive Malibu Stars Homes & Beautiful Beach Tour

Swan Boat Rental at Rainbow Lagoon

Malibu Wine, Food & Beach Tour

Private Beach Cities Tour in a 1957 Pink Cadillac

Mt Wilson Summit Adventure: Hike Up & Bike Down

4-Wheel Surrey Cycle Rental in Long Beach Shoreline Village

Grandma's Surprise Private Escape Room In California

Professional Personalized Photography Session in Malibu

Shoreline Village Bike Rental in Long Beach

Orange County Coastal Sightseeing Tour

California Botanic Garden Half Day Tour

Pedal Boat Ride in Chino

Private Malibu Tour: From the Beaches to the Mansions

Beverly Hills Food, Film and Fashion Tour

Pasadena Prowl Scavenger Hunt

Catalina Island Trip with Hotel transfers & Optional tours

Santa Monica Electric Bike Rentals

Long Beach Bar Hunt: Long Beach Boss Bar Crawl

3 Hours Private Sailboat Ride with Captain

Mystery Picnic Date in Malibu

15 Passengers Open Ocean/Harbor Cruise Party Boat Marina Del Rey

Exotic Car Rental- Lamborghini Huracán

Adventurous Scavenger Hunt in Burbank by Zombie Scavengers

Yacht rental charter in Marina del Rey - 60' CARVER

Private Professional Holiday Photoshoot in Los Angeles

What travelers are saying.

• Big Bus Los Angeles Hop-on Hop-off Open-Top Tour
• Big Bus Los Angeles Hop On Hop Off Tour and TMZ Celebrity Tour
• Los Angeles: City Sightseeing Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour
• Starline Tours
• Classic Hollywood Tours
• Proper Sightseeing
• Go City | Los Angeles
• Los Angeles Four Seasons Limousine
• Big Bus Tours Los Angeles

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Bus Tours in Los Angeles

Tourists flock to Los Angeles to get a glimpse of California glitz—to spot celebs in oversized sunglasses buying lattes at high-end coffee shops, to camp out at dining establishments and hotels known to be frequented by the stars, and to buy maps of massive homes only seen on MTV. But to truly get an inside look at the City of Angels, take one of many diverse Los Angeles bus tours designed for visitors of every taste. Spend a full day on the Los Angeles Grand Tour, stopping for snapshots at points like Rodeo Drive, Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and mansions of celebrities past and present or spend an afternoon appreciating the spectacular collection of artwork and central garden at the J. Paul Getty Museum. No matter the reason for visiting, tourists will delight at the multitude of options available to tour Los Angeles by bus.

Featured Listings

Dearly departed: the tragic history tour of los angeles.

N Highland Ave & Sunset Blvd Los Angeles CA 90028

5 Book a tour

Come along in the ???Tomb Buggy??? on Hollywood's Tragical History Tour as you enjoy a revealing ride through the seedy underbelly of the City of Ange…

Los Angeles City Bus Tour and Movie Stars Homes

6925 Hollywood Blvd Hollywood CA 90028

4 Book a tour

You've seen their movies, now see where your favorite stars actually live! You'll see over 40 mansions on this fully narrated two-hour tour through Lo…

Los Angeles Combo: Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour and Self-Guided Beverly Hills Bike Tour

Book Tours Online! Los Angeles CA 99999

Book a tour

See the best of Los Angeles with this combo tour, joining two top-selling tours for one ultimate LA experience. Customize your own itinerary on a hop-…

Warner Bros. VIP Studio Tour and Movie Stars' Homes Tour

4.5 Book a tour

Go behind the scenes of Warner Bros. Studio and see dozens of celebrity homes on this 9-hour tour that takes you from Hollywood to Beverly Hills. Expl…

Los Angeles Movie Locations Bus Tour

Los Angeles CA

The city of Los Angeles has played not only itself in movies but also New York, Miami, Tokyo and many other cities, as you’ll discover on this 3-hou…

Los Angeles Hop-on Hop-off Double Decker Bus Tour

Grauman's Chinese Theatre 6925 Hollywood Blvd CA 90028

Book This Tour

You can get the full Los Angeles experience on a hop-on hop-off double-decker bus tour. The open-top buses provide recorded commentary throughout the …

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Hop On Hop Off Los Angeles - Bus Tours

Immerse yourself in the glitz and glamor of Tinseltown during a hop on hop off Los Angeles Bus Tour. With your tickets, you get to sit in the Director’s Chair when it comes to your LA vacation. Hop off our open-air, double-decker busses and explore the attractions in Hollywood, Santa Monica, Melrose, Downtown, Beverly Hills, and more! Then, hop back on and you’re off to the museum, tour, or event. Los Angeles City Sightseeing tour has never been so streamlined!

Los Angeles Sightseeing Bus Tours

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Carsten hoffmann.

Toll gemacht, freundlicher Service viel gesehen, nette Tour.

Great!!!!!!!

Annabel Lambourne

As always saw all the sights in LA great staff and service

Experience Los Angeles in Hop On Hop Off Bus Tours

Los Angeles – a name that conjures up visual imagery like palm trees, Hollywood sign, and crisp blue skies. But it is not just the film industry that the city excels in but also the oil. Yes, LA was leading oil production in the US and by 1930 it was producing a quarter of the world’s oil. The real reason behind LA being the mecca of entertainment is Edison’s patent. Filmmakers flee to LA to get away from enforced patents by Edison on movies made in New Jersey. Did you also know that the popular ‘Hollywood’ sign initially said ‘Hollywoodland’?

LA has an exhaustive array of things to see and do. See the Hollywood Sign, Sunset Strip, and Hollywood Walk of Fame! Or check out Disneyland, Universal Studios, and Madame Tussauds! And, if you want to save a little dough, you can combine your tour with other LA attraction tickets, why not pair your bus tour with the Hollywood Celebrity Homes tour? You can even pick up a Los Angeles Sightseeing Flex Pass which includes a hop-on hop-off tour, Legoland admission, Zoo tickets, and much more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: what is the best time to book a los angeles hop-on hop-off tour.

Weatherwise, the ideal time to explore Los Angeles is during early autumn. From October to late May, you can enjoy pleasant weather ideal for sightseeing and spending time at the beaches. Summer months can be harsh with soaring temperatures. So, we recommend avoiding them unless you want to explore Los Angeles in less and score good deals in the off-season.

Q: What are the key attractions covered in the Los Angeles Hop-On Hop-Off tour?

Experience the glitz and glamour up close and explore Los Angeles with Big Bus or City Sightseeing guided tours while enjoying the city from a unique vantage point. The tour covers major attractions like Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory, TCL Chinese Theatre, The Dolby Theater, Sunset Boulevard, Beverly Hills, Paramount Studios, Venice Boardwalk, Santa Monica, Beverly Gardens Park, and so on.

Q: Do Los Angeles bus tours run throughout the year?

Yes, LA bus tours run throughout the year but make sure to book in advance during the high season.

Q: What is the duration of the Los Angeles bus tour?

Each tour is different, but in general, they will have a duration of between 1hr and 2hrs. Make sure to check the specific tour for timings.

Q: What time do LA bus tours operate?

Bus tours will run at different times of the day, especially if you have booked admission or skip-the-line tickets to the attractions. Make sure to check the tour details for full details on timings.

Other Hop On Hop Off Destinations

• New York City
• San Francisco
• Washington DC
• Los Angeles
• Johannesburg
• San Antonio
• Reykjavik Iceland
• St-Petersburg
• Benalmadena
• Thessaloniki
• Kristiansand
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• Hop-On Hop-Off Hop-On Hop-Off Tours Timetable and Route Map
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Starline Tours’ Hop-On Hop-Off, City Sightseeing buses showcase the very best our city has to offer. Visit famous sights, attractions, museums, and hundreds of shops. From classic Hollywood to the stunning coastal landscapes and legendary beaches of Santa Monica. We offer 24-hour, 48-hour, and 72-hour passes, giving you the freedom and flexibility to see the city on your own schedule while enjoying the comfort and convenience of our open-air double-decker bus service.

+1 (323) 463-3333 [email protected]

6801 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90028

Copyright © Starline Tours 2024

• Hop on Hop off

See the City-Sightseeing route and departure maps below for details.

Hollywood Departures -Full loop 2 hours First departure from Stop #1 Dolby Theater: 10:00 am. Last full loop departs from Stop #1 Dolby Theater: 4:30 pm. (Buses depart approx. every 45 minutes from stop #1)

First departure from stop #57 at 9.30 am

Your ticket is valid for three consecutive days upon activation.

Parking Garage Enter our underground parking garage from Highland Ave. in front of Loews Hollywood or on Orange Court between Hollywood Blvd. and Franklin Ave. Parking Rates: $2.00 every 20 minutes; $6.00 every hour Daily Maximum of $20.00 Enjoy up to 2 hours for $3 with validation by participating shops and restaurants. Valet Daily Maximum of $30.00

Explore Citysightseeing Los Angeles on StarLine’s Hop-On, Hop-Off double decker bus tour!

With the largest open-top Hop-on Hop-off City Sightseeing bus service in the world! Discover the many marvels of Los Angeles attractions on the ultimate customized tour in comfort and style!

Our Hop-On, Hop-Off bus route Services:

With action-packed routes crisscrossing Los Angeles, our Hop-On Hop-Off buses are perfect for visitors who want to explore L.A’s treasured destinations, with panoramic views from the top of a double-decker bus with pre-recorded tour guide narration. .

At your convenience simply hop off and once you’re ready hop back on the bus to continue your journey.

1. DOLBY THEATRE (STARLINE TERMINAL) 2. GUITAR CENTER, "ROCKWALK" 3. CHATEAU MARMONT  / LAUGH FACTORY 4. THE COMEDY STORE / SUNSET STRIP 5. LONDON HOTEL / WHISKY A GO GO 6. SANTA MONICA BLVD. / CHASE BANK 7. [Mon-Sat] 3RD ST/BEVERLY HILLS  [Sunday ONLY] REXFORD DR/BEVERLY HILLS 8. FOUR SEASONS HOTEL, BEVERLY HILLS 9. BEVERLY CENTER – SHOPPING 10. Academy Museum/LA BREA TAR PITS/ PETERSEN AUTO 11. FARMERS MARKET / THE GROVE 12. MELROSE AVENUE – SHOPPING 13. PINK'S HOT DOGS 14. VINE STREET / PARAMOUNT STUDIOS 15. HOLLYWOOD AND VINE / PANTAGES THEATRE

57. OCEAN AVE. / SANTA MONICA PIER 59. WILSHIRE / 3RD ST. PROMENADE 60. MONTANA AVE. / EUCLID ST 61. BRENTWOOD COUNTRY MART 63. WESTWOOD / UCLA / HAMMER MUSEUM 64. THE BEVERLY HILTON - WILSHIRE BLVD 7. [Mon-Sat] 3RD ST/BEVERLY HILLS  [Sunday ONLY] REXFORD DR/BEVERLY HILLS 51. THE BEVERLY HILTON - SANTA MONICA BLVD. 52. CENTURY PLAZA HOTEL 54. ONE WESTSIDE SHOPPING CENTER 55. SANTA MONICA COLLEGE / 17TH ST 83. VENICE BEACH 78. MAIN ST. / VISITOR CENTER

1. EL CAPITAN THEATER l 31. ENGINE CO. #28 / 7TH STREET 32. WESTIN BONAVENTURE HOTEL 33. WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL / MOCA 34. CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY 35. CHINATOWN - CENTRAL PLAZA 36. CHINATOWN - SHOPPING MALLS 37. OLVERA ST. /PUEBLO/UNION STATION 38. LITTLE TOKYO 39. GRAND CTR. MKT/ BRADBURY BLDG 40. CENTRAL LIBRARY / BILTMORE HOTEL 41. JEWELRY DISTRICT / L A THEATRE 42. FASHION DISTRICT / SANTEE ALLEY 43. CONVENTION CTR / STAPLES CENTER 44. L.A. LIVE / GRAMMY MUSEUM

Our easy-to-use online schedules and City sightseeing map, make it a breeze to plan your day. Allow 45 minutes between bus services at each stop, to plan your activities.

To learn more about our L.A. Hop-On Hop-Off bus services, or to book your trip, please give us a call at 1-800-959-3131 or (+1) 323-463-3333.

LA Traffic Disclaimer:  Please be prepared as the nation’s fifth most congested city for traffic the consequences maybe traffic-clogged delays and “time loss”

Package our Hop-On Hop-Off Hollywood bus tours with other sightseeing outings and save!

Why A Hop On Hop Off Tour is the Best Way to Explore a City

• You won’t miss out on major tourist sites.
• It’s a safe way to get around an unfamiliar city, Learn about each site and hear some interesting facts about the city as you explore!
• Discounts To Attractions
• Choose which places you want to stop at and how much time you want to spend there.
• The visuals that a tour bus offers certainly surpass anything you might see from a car by far.
• Buses are a cheap and convenient tour option, for one reasonable ticket price.
• Meet Other Travellers
• Avoid Getting Lost / Wasting Time
• Great photos opportunities from the top of a double deck: Selfie, Pink Wall, Angel Wings, Urban Lights, Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach. LA city, Hollywood sign.
• Eats: Pink’s Hot Dogs, Farmers Market, Taco Food trucks, Koreatown Yup Dduk LA. & Korean BBQ Restaurants.

Jimmy Kimmel Surprises Hollywood Tourists at the Oscars on one of our bus tours!

+1 (323) 463-3333 [email protected]

6801 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles CA 90028

Copyright © Starline Tours 2024

Pair these L.A. road trips with a hike and a lunch

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In April 2020 — only a month or so into the COVID-19 pandemic — my wife and I were running out of things to do. The novelty of Zoom calls with friends was wearing off. We’d watched lots of movies and TV. We were itching to get out of our apartment, but with the virus still raging, we couldn’t risk being around other people. Then we had an idea: Why not go for a drive?

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For our first trip, we drove the length of Little Tujunga Canyon Road in the Angeles National Forest. After that, we were hooked. In the ensuing months, we crisscrossed the Santa Monica Mountains and made trips into Los Padres National Forest and beyond.

My wife bought me a California road atlas, and it became part of our scenic drive ritual: We’d consult its pages for inspiration, looking for two-lane roads and state highways that squiggled through mountain ranges or meandered through deserts. After returning home, I’d highlight our route. Four years after our first drive, the atlas is full of highlights documenting our travels — and there’s still a lifetime’s worth of backroads we haven’t covered yet.

No matter where we go, each drive gives me a deeper appreciation for the incredible range of landscapes in Southern California. And these journeys have led to many rewarding discoveries, from out-of-the-way diners to new trailheads for hiking and biking.

If you’re tired of visiting the same places, it’s time to hit the road. These two trips — all within a three-hour drive of the city — will get you started.

Los Padres National Forest and Carrizo Plain National Monument This route traverses winding mountain roads through Los Padres and spits you out near the southern entrance to Carrizo Plain — a vast preserve of native grassland and a hotspot for wildflowers (at least on some years ) and birdwatching . From Interstate 5, take Exit 205 and head west on Frazier Mountain Park Road. This two-lane road changes names several times as it ascends into the San Emigdio Mountains, passing forested slopes and epic canyon views along the way.

After about 42 miles, you’ll meet California 166. Take a right here and then a left on Soda Lake Road to enter Carrizo Plain National Monument. Drive northwest for 35 miles to the parking lot for the Soda Lake Trail, a short boardwalk that gets you up close to the park’s salt-crusted lake. If you plan ahead, you can also book a guided tour of Painted Rock, a sandstone outcrop with Native American rock art.

Hungry? Head back the way you came, take a right on California 166, and drive west 15 miles to the Cuyama Buckhorn , a renovated ’50s motel, restaurant and bar. The eatery’s Santa Maria-style tri-tip is superb, and if you grab a room, you can turn this scenic drive into a full weekend escape .

Volcan Mountain and Julian This route will take you to Julian , a mountain town famous for its apple orchards and delicious pies. From Interstate 15, take Exit 58 for California 79. Take a right on Pechanga Parkway and head south. The road becomes Pala Temecula Road and emerges into a wide canyon with mountains towering on either side. Take a left at Pala Mission Road and continue east on California 76, which hugs the San Luis Rey River before ascending more than 1,000 feet up a chaparral-covered ridgeline.

After some hairpin turns, the road levels off and skirts Lake Henshaw, a picturesque reservoir. Take a right on California 79, and after 10 miles, take a left on Wynola Road. Follow that road for about 3.5 miles, then take a left on Farmer Road to arrive at Volcan Mountain Wilderness Preserve. Stretch your legs on the Five Oaks Trail , a 1.2-mile path that ascends the western flank of Volcan Mountain and offers sweeping views of the orchards below.

With your appetite revved up, head south on Farmer Road into Julian and make a stop at the Julian Pie Co . Grab a well-deserved slice of apple pie and some apple cider and rest your feet at a picnic table while you chow down.

3 things to do

1. Race plankton in Manhattan Beach In celebration of Earth Day, the Roundhouse Aquarium will hold a day full of educational activities inside and outside its facilities. Highlights include dolphin spotting, a fish feeding, crafts, games, a “shark shack” and, yes, plankton racing. The festivities kick off at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and go until 4 p.m. The event is free, but be sure to register ahead of time at roundhouseaquarium.org .

2. Go gardening in San Pedro Give back to the land by planting native species, removing weeds, mulching and watering the White Point Nature Preserve’s garden with the folks at Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy. You’ll also have the chance to enter a raffle and take a guided nature walk. As a bonus, refreshments will be provided by Starbucks to keep you cool and hydrated. The three-hour event begins at 9 a.m. Saturday. All volunteers under age 16 should be accompanied by an adult, and all volunteers under age 18 must have a parent or guardian sign a waiver at the event. Register at pvplc.com .

3. Stretch your legs on Venice Boulevard CicLAvia is back. And this time it’s shutting down a 5.75-mile stretch of Venice Boulevard that connects Palms, Mar Vista and Venice Beach for walkers, joggers, bikers, roller skaters, unicyclers, penny-farthings, pogo sticks — anything as long as it’s completely powered by humans. There will be three local hubs along the route where you’ll be able to partake in family-friendly activities, pump air into your bike’s tires, refill your water bottle and use the restroom. Be sure to reference CicLAvia’s digital map so you can scope out the local businesses you’d like to visit along the way. It all takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. For more information about the event and the area it covers, visit ciclavia.org .

The must-read

The Klamath River in Northern California has turned brown and muddy, but that’s a good thing. As Times writer Ian James reports , it’s a side effect of the largest dam removal project in history, which aims to restore the river to its natural state. Four dams are being removed along the Klamath, and the river is passing freely through tunnels in three of them, draining reservoirs and churning up an estimated 2.3 million tons of sediment that had settled along the bottom of those man-made lakes. Although the turbid water might look ugly, restoration advocates and tribal leaders see it as a sign of healing. The muck is passing out of the Klamath, and new life — everything from salmon heading upstream to native plant seedlings along the riverbanks — will soon take its place.

Happy adventuring,

Want to try birding but don’t have binoculars? Head to the Audubon Center in Ernest E. Debs Regional Park. The center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, and you can borrow a free pair of binoculars (as well as a birding guide, backpack and other gear) to help you spot the 140 species of birds that call the park home.

For more insider tips on Southern California’s beaches, trails and parks, check out past editions of The Wild . And to view this newsletter in your browser, click here .

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Michael Charboneau is a freelance writer covering gear and the outdoors, and he’ll be writing The Wild newsletter for the next few months. He has written for a variety of publications, including Men’s Journal, Runner’s World and InsideHook, and he lives in West L.A. When he’s not writing, he can be found running, hiking and biking around Los Angeles and its mountains.

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Black Moms Bring Questions, Accountability (And A Party Bus) To LA Hospitals

On a recent Friday morning, a group of Black women with pregnant bellies step onto a party bus in Leimert Park.

They’re headed on a tour of birthing centers and hospitals around Los Angeles, in style: leather seats, good music, mood lighting that shifts colors.

“This program is essentially an opportunity for you all to get resources, connect, build a village… because it takes a village,” says guide Gabrielle Brown, a program coordinator with Black Women For Wellness , as the group takes off. Her organization created the expedition.

The tour started this year during Black Maternal Health Week, and shows Black birthing parents resources in their communities and the different birthing options available around Los Angeles. The goal is to help equip them on how to self-advocate. In California, Black pregnant people are three to four times more likely to die due to pregnancy-related issues.

While the tour is just getting started, that topic is top of mind for the women on the bus.

“Equity in healthcare is a very big thing for our community, like, we're so underserved and it's just ridiculous,” says Candace Cosey in a discussion with the other expecting parents. “Like, people are dying.”

Last year, for instance, April Valentine , a 31-year-old mother, died at Centinela Hospital in Inglewood while giving birth to her daughter. Soon after a state investigation , the hospital closed its maternity ward . In 2016, another mom, Kira Johnson, died after giving birth at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

“It's important for us at Black Women for Wellness to host these programs and provide the education around how to self-advocate,” says Gabrielle Brown. “Unfortunately, racism is built into the system, into the healthcare system.”

Showcasing doulas and midwives

The bus arrives at the tour’s first stop: a cozy house in South L.A. associated with the Charles Drew University’s Black Maternal Health Center of Excellence .

At the house, the expecting moms are greeted with staff that treat them to smoothies, snacks and gift bags filled with a onesie.

The center provides prenatal, postpartum and wraparound care services to Black birthing persons throughout L.A. County.

Clinical manager Keomi Barksdale explains how the center helps with providing lactation support, physical therapy, and getting access to a doula — which is what expecting mom Victoria Levi came on the tour to learn more about.

“I'm still in my first trimester, so I don't know a lot of information,” she says. “No one's ever — in my family — had doulas or had a midwife. So these are things that I want to explore.”

Searching for equity in healthcare 

Candace Cosey is expecting her third child in July, but came on the tour because she wanted to make this birth better than her previous ones.

“It wasn’t horrible with my daughter, but nine years ago, with my son, it was just very traumatizing and so I don’t want to go through that, but that’s kind of led me to start being active now,” she says.

When she started going into labor with her son, an ambulance took her to the nearest hospital, Centinela. “I didn’t have anybody in the room with me,” she recalls.

She says a doctor tried to deliver the baby while she wasn’t fully dilated, and she had problems with her epidural being placed correctly. A second try was also unsuccessful, and Cosey decided to labor without the pain medication.

“At that point, I’m like, ‘It’s OK. I don’t want anything.’ So it was like I was forced into a non-medicated birth,” Cosey says.

In a statement to LAist, a Centinela spokesperson says federal and state privacy laws don’t allow them to discuss specific cases without a patient’s permission. They note that patients who have concerns about their care can talk to their physician, nurse, patient experience staff members, or contact a relevant regulatory agency, like the California Department of Public Health: “Information for these agencies is included in our Patient Handbook and posted in various locations throughout the hospital.”

This time around, Cosey says she wants a doula, which Medi-Cal now covers . She hasn’t decided yet on where she wants to give birth, but is exploring the options of birthing at home or a birthing center. “That’s why I’m here and that’s why I want to get more information.”

She’s enamored with the next stop, Kindred Space LA, a birthing center.

Nicole LaCour-Wordlaw, director of operations, guides the guests around the space, and shows them tranquil birthing rooms, equipped with bathtubs and birthing balls for labor.

One mom quips she’s about to go into labor.

Considering pregnancy plans and hospital births

The next and final stops of the tour are two hospitals: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and L.A. County General Medical Center, formerly known as LAC-USC.

On the way there, several of the women discuss Cedars’ history with Black maternal health, most notably the death of Kira Johnson in 2016.

Gabrielle Brown, with Black Women For Wellness, explains choosing the hospital was intentional, and that it’s been working to address Black maternal and infant health.

“We wanted to be sure to introduce our mamas to the care that Cedars-Sinai provides. But also, when we show up, our goal is to hold Cedars accountable,” she says. “Let them know that, you know, ‘These Black mamas are interested in seeking care here. What do you all have to offer?’”

At the hospital, nurse Paola Wong guides the group to a labor and delivery room, showing the different options a birthing parent has when it’s time to give birth, like using a squat bar on the hospital bed, playing music or dimming the lights.

She explains that after birth, nurses and doctors will leave the baby on mom’s chest for an hour to help them transition to their new world.

“It’s a form of stress being squeezed out, and so being able to be right on mom’s chest, we call it froggy position — ear on mom’s heart.”

At L.A. County General Hospital across town, nurses guide them through the towering hospital into the labor and delivery ward.

Midwife Tatjana Muwwakkil explains for people who don’t have a doula, the hospital provides an option to have medical students serve as doulas.

“Last week for a patient, we called one of our medical students, and then they came and supported her through her labor and her postpartum, and it was a great service for her,” she says.

“Just because you're having a surgery or giving birth in the hospital doesn't mean it's all out of your control,” says med student and Black Women for Wellness intern Kayla Blair, mentioning doulas and incorporating birth plans.

She said one of the big benefits of the tour is giving people options.

“In my experience, a lot of times people in the community might just go to maybe the first provider, the first clinic or something that's available to them,” Blair says. “A benefit of this experience is you can go and ask all the questions and you’re not stuck there.”