Downtown

Huge library rebuilt in the 1980s and '90s. Almost always has a public exhibition going.

Impressive hall architecture complete with tours most days. The Dorothy Chandler Pavilion is open to the public Christmas Eve day with almost round the clock performances by amateur cultural arts groups. The Walt Disney Hall has daily tours, check website for schedules.

A branch of MOCA tucked away in Little Tokyo. Same opening hours and shared tickets as MOCA on Grand.

Covers the Japanese-American experience, with a special emphasis on the concentration camps of World War II.

The permanent collection is fairly interesting, but the changing exhibitions can be more hit or miss. The museum has no 'traditional' art, so bring an open mind. The gift shop free entrance is fun for at least 20 minutes of wonder and awe.

Old Plaza Firehouse

This was the original fire station for the City of Los Angeles. Built in 1884, it has been restored to its original condition. The knowledgeable docents offer a peek into Los Angeles in the 19th Century.

Primarily centered around North Broadway; unlike Chinatowns in many other cities, it has a wide, main, busy street filled with small shops and restaurants. At about the middle point of N. Broadway in Chinatown is an open market much like those found in Hong Kong. Be sure to haggle!

Also known as J-Town, the Japanese district features restaurants, museums, and shops. It sits in the area between Temple and about 5th and Spring through Alameda.

This is where LA was founded as El Pueblo de Los Angeles. You can take a tour of the city's oldest house to see what it looked like at that time. The plaza is mostly filled with Mexican trinket stands and Mexican restaurants.

Downtown has something for everyone.