Los Angeles is a very big place, and it's very easy to spend most of your visit in traffic.
That said, LA is really just a collection of a hundred-plus fascinating neighborhoods, so you can find amazing places around the corner and across town.
Here are places we'd recommend you check out:
Close:
The Beach* (http://www.smgov.net/portals/beach/)
Santa Monica Pier (http://santamonicapier.org/)
Areal Restaurant (Brunch and Weekend Happy Hour) (http://arealrestaurant.com/)
Library Alehouse (http://www.libraryalehouse.com/)
Ashland Hill Restaurant (http://www.yelp.com/biz/ashland-hill-santa-monica-3)
The Albright on the Pier (http://thealbright.com/)
Santa Monica Farmers Market - Weds and Sat (http://www.smgov.net/portals/farmersmarket/)
The Sunny Spot - Roy Choi restaurant (http://www.sunnyspotvenice.com/)
Alibi Room - $$ home of the Korean taco! (http://www.alibiroomla.com/)
A-Frame - $$$ Roy Choi restaurant (http://www.aframela.com/)
Superba Food + Bread (http://www.superbafoodandbread.com/#about)
The Misfit Restaurant + Bar (http://www.themisfitbar.com/)
Bay Cities Italian Deli $$ (http://www.baycitiesitaliandeli.com/)
Swingers Diner $ (http://swingersdiner.com/)
Philz Coffee (http://www.philzcoffee.com/)
Barkowski Bar (http://www.barkowski.com/)
Basement Tavern (At the Victorian) (http://www.basementtavern.com/)
Urth Caffe (http://www.urthcaffe.com/)
Tongva Park* (http://tongvapark.smgov.net/)
Hotel Erwin (Rooftop Restaurant and Bar) (http://www.highvenice.com/)
3rd Street Promenade (http://www.downtownsm.com/)
Venice Boardwalk (http://venicebeach.com/)
Venice Canals* (http://www.yelp.com/biz/venice-canals-venice-2)
Main Street Santa Monica (http://www.mainstreetsm.com/)
Abbott Kinney (http://www.abbotkinneyonline.com/)
Beach Bike Path* (http://www.yelp.com/biz/santa-monica-bike-path-santa-monica)
James’ Beach $$$ (http://www.jamesbeach.com/)
Gjelina $$$ (http://www.gjelina.com/)
Gilbert’s El Indio (http://www.yelp.com/biz/gilberts-el-indio-santa-monica)
Chez Jay (http://www.yelp.com/biz/chez-jay-santa-monica)
Abbot’s Pizza (http://www.yelp.com/biz/abbots-pizza-co-venice)
Venice Beach Wines (http://www.yelp.com/biz/venice-beach-wines-venice)
The Whaler (http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-venice-whaler-venice)
Waterfront Cafe (http://www.yelp.com/biz/on-the-waterfront-cafe-venice)
Pretty Close:
Malibu Beaches (https://www.malibucity.org/index.aspx?NID=96)
StubHub Center (Mexican National Team Soccer World Cup Qualifying) (http://www.stubhubcenter.com/)
Inglewood and Torrance Breweries (http://www.threeweavers.la/, http://www.smogcitybrewing.com/, etc.)
The Getty Villa (Need Reservation)* (http://www.getty.edu/visit/villa/)
The Getty Center* (http://www.getty.edu/visit/center/) (Nate has some reservations for 1 pm on Saturday)
Westwood Village/UCLA (http://www.ucla.edu/visit)
Hammer Museum* (http://hammer.ucla.edu/visit/)
Downtown Culver City (Sony and Culver Studios) (http://www.downtownculvercity.com/)
Museum of Jurassic Technology (http://www.mjt.org/)
Culver City Expo Station (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culver_City_(Los_Angeles_Metro_station))
LAX (http://www.lawa.org/welcomeLAX.aspx)
Malibu Canyon hiking* (http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=614)
Pretty Far:
Hollywood (http://www.hollywoodchamber.net/)
Koreatown (http://www.laweekly.com/arts/15-great-things-to-do-in-koreatown-5113357)
Cassell's (http://www.cassellshamburgers.com/)
Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre(s) (https://franklin.ucbtheatre.com/, https://sunset.ucbtheatre.com/)
iO West (http://ioimprov.com/west/)
Groundlings (http://www.groundlings.com/)
Meltdown Comics (http://www.meltcomics.com/blog/)
The Greek Theatre (http://www.greektheatrela.com/events/#October)
The Hollywood Bowl (http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/tickets/calendar?month=2015-10)
The Pantages (http://hollywoodpantages.com/)
The Line - Roy Choi’s Hotel with POT, Commissary and gift shop Poketo (http://www.thelinehotel.com/)
The Grove/LA Farmers Market (http://www.thegrovela.com/, http://www.farmersmarketla.com/)
Chinese Theater/Walk of Fame (http://www.walkoffame.com/)
West Hollywood (http://www.visitwesthollywood.com/things-to-do)
Melrose (for shopping) (http://www.melroseavenue-shop.com/)
Larchmont (http://larchmont.com/merchants.alphabetical.html)
Thai Town (Sapp and Jitlada) (http://la.eater.com/maps/a-handy-guide-to-dining-in-thai-town)
Los Feliz Village (http://takesunset.com/neighborhoods/los-feliz-los-angeles-ca/)
Griffith Park (Observatory)* (http://griffithobservatory.org/)
Lake Hollywood/Hollywood Sign* (http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/facility/lakeHollywoodPk.htm)
Beverly Hills (http://lovebeverlyhills.com/)
LACMA (http://www.lacma.org/)
La Brea Tar Pits (http://www.tarpits.org/la-brea-tar-pits)
Coliseum (USC Bye) (http://www.lacoliseum.com/)
USC/Expo Park* (http://visit.usc.edu/, http://www.expositionpark.org/)
Natural History Museum (http://www.nhm.org/site/)
California Science Museum* (Endeavor Needs Reservation) (http://californiasciencecenter.org)
Paramount Studio (http://www.paramountstudiotour.com/)
Far:
Dodgers Stadium (Dodgers v Padres) (http://losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com/la/ballpark/)
Silver Lake (http://www.timeout.com/los-angeles/things-to-do/la-city-guide-a-walking-tour-of-silver-lake)
Echo Park (http://www.laparks.org/dos/aquatic/facility/echoPkLake.htm)
Downtown LA (https://www.downtownla.com/)
Golden Road Brewery (http://www.goldenroad.la/)
MOCA (Grand and Little Tokyo) (http://www.moca.org/)
Disney Concert Hall (http://www.laphil.com/philpedia/about-walt-disney-concert-hall)
Grand Park (http://grandparkla.org/)
City Hall (https://www.laconservancy.org/locations/los-angeles-city-hall)
The Broad Museum* (http://www.thebroad.org/) (Nate has some reservations for 10 am on Saturday)
Cliftons (http://www.lamag.com/citythinkblog/cliftons-cafeteria-coming-back-life-long-last/)
B.S. Taqueria (http://www.bstaqueria.com/)
The Ace Hotel (Rooftop bar) (http://www.acehotel.com/losangeles)
Perch (http://perchla.com/)
Grand Central Market (http://www.grandcentralmarket.com/)
Little Tokyo (Oomasa) (http://www.visitlittletokyo.com/)
El Pueblo de Los Angeles/Olvera Street* (http://elpueblo.lacity.org/index.htm)
Union Station* (http://www.metro.net/about/union-station/)
The Arts District (Coffee, beer and shopping) (http://downtownmuse.com/)
Staples Center (Clippers pre-season v Warriors) (http://www.staplescenter.com/)
Universal Studios/CityWalk (http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/)
Long Beach/Port of Los Angeles (http://www.visitlongbeach.com/, http://www.sanpedro.com/)
Warner Brothers and Disney (https://www.wbstudiotour.com/, https://visitburbank.com)
Bob's Big Boy (http://www.bobs.net/)
Really Far:
Disneyland (https://disneyland.disney.go.com/)
Angel's Stadium (away) (http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/)
Rose Bowl (UCLA v ASU) (http://www.rosebowlstadium.com/)
Old Town Pasadena (http://www.oldpasadena.org/)
Huntington Library, Art Collection & Gardens (http://www.huntington.org/)
Norton Simon Museum (http://www.nortonsimon.org/)
The Americana (Din Tai Fung) (http://www.americanaatbrand.com/, http://dintaifungusa.com/)
* indicates free or at least no admission charge
Tours are also a great way to see an overview of some of LA's best features.
Here is a list of recommended tours:
http://www.lacraftbeertours.com/
http://www.secretstairs-la.com/
http://neonmona.org/cruise/index.html
Here are some events Vicki recommends:
Amber Rose Slut Walk LA - Saturday October 3rd -DTLA (http://www.amberroseslutwalk.com/)
Sweaty Sunday - Sundays @ 12pm in Silverlake (http://www.thesweatspotla.com/)
Santa Monica Farmer’s Market Sunday (In the Victorian’s Parking Lot) (http://www.smgov.net/Portals/Farmers_Market/Market_Days/Sundays/Sunday_Main_Street.aspx)
Melrose Trading Post (Flea Market) (http://melrosetradingpost.org/)