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Top 20 Art and Design Vacation Cities on a Budget
Jill Hare, Kevin Powers, Valerie Atkisson | Monster Worldwide
October 12, 2009
#16: Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, CA
Never been to LA? Then you’ll want to consider splitting your time between Hollywood, the beach and art. Get a feel for the locals by taking a stroll down Venice Beach Boardwalk. If you’d rather see the beach from a higher perspective, start at Santa Monica Pier and ride the Ferris wheel. The weather is just about perfect at the beach in the summer, so bring a good book, a chair, and enjoy the view. Don’t be surprised if you see a few celebrities biking or rollerblading by!
After some time at the beach, head to Hollywood Boulevard and the Forecourt of the Stars at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (architectural curiosity) to measure your hands and feet against the hand prints and footprints of Hollywood’s legendary actors. Walk along the Hollywood walk of Fame and stop to take a picture with the Hollywood Sign behind you in the hills. If you know when you’ll be heading out West, try to attend a TV show taping of your favorite game show, talk show or sitcom- tickets are always free.
LACMA in downtown Los Angeles has wonderful traveling shows and don’t miss The Getty Museum. Admission is free for both but parking will cost you a few bucks. The view from the Getty hilltop fortress is worth the drive. Los Angeles is home to hundreds of top galleries. Find the galleries here.
spacecadet
5 months ago
2 comments
How is Portland, Oregon not on the list?! Aside from being a gorgeous city, impressively cheap, and full of great eats and drinks, there is a huge First Thursday following west of the Willamette River and an equally-impressive Last Thursday on the east side. Not to mention there's a thriving indie art scene and tons of alternative/non-profit gallery spaces for those not just looking to scope out museums-- though we do have the Portland Art Museum, Blue Sky Gallery, and the Museum of Contemporary Craft to scratch that itch. Not to mention, the Pacific Northwest College of Art is located in the midst of all the art galleries and has well-attended holiday events and shows throughout the year. Nine other colleges in the area have impressive exhibition programs as well. The annual Stumptown Comics Festival is a huge draw, as is the city-wide, two-week long Time Based Arts festival (T:B:A) hosted by the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art that draws performance and visual artists from around the globe each September.
Portland lives, breathes, and eats art... really a shame to not see it on here.
aboutcolor
5 months ago
24 comments
i'd like to add my little city to the list, Reno, NV. While we are not officially known for art it is a happening place during the summer. We start things off this June 18-21 at the El Cortez and Townhouse with Nada Dada motel. Over 50 artists will be participating and I'll be exhibiting my Sea Anemone Garden in rm. 308 at the El Cortez. Next door in the yard at the Town House will be a sculpture garden where I will also have pieces on display. Then during the month of July Reno becomes ARTown where there is something going on every single day, music, performances, dance, art exhibitions, you name it, free concerts, etc. Come to Reno!
courtneyyy
5 months ago
1612 comments
i can't believe savannah, georgia, isn't on the list... it's riverwalk is absolutely gorgeous, it's got all the historic southern charm, & the presence of SCAD certainly assures that it's got appeal for artsy people.
OlgaSuarez
5 months ago
2 comments
Great Articol
mosaic
5 months ago
64 comments
Charleston is a wonderful creative special place. There are so many artisitic places to visit and a lot of inspirational places as well. It has charm,elegance,culture, and of course the beaches and inlets
anani
5 months ago
2 comments
lol at the comments! NYC is my hometown and tho yes it can be very expensive there are plenty of people who live there on less then nothing and thrive. *warm smile* you just have to know where to eat, where to shop and where to live! lol seriously you can have a great meal for $3 (falafel) lol
DerekMason
5 months ago
8 comments
There are a GREAT number of FREE things to do in Washington, DC. Why is it listed as last? The Corcoran cost money to get in and see art, unlike the Smithsonian. There are free concerts and outdoor movies during the summertime and other various cultural event throughout the year. You explained the criteria of how these cities were being ranked, really. NYC? What? Seriously. I can not last that long having very little money. There are other cities that should be ranked higher.
JonathanKee
5 months ago
10 comments
no kidding, i had to laugh at the seattle entry, home of the $7 quarter pounder
astrocat
5 months ago
2 comments
uhhhhm --- you said a budget? NYC is a budget? --- whose budget? Paris Hilton's?
ugh