Spending time in an airport before you after a long-haul flight can be daunting, but read on to learn come of the best ways to make a layover at LAX fun.
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The Los Angeles International Airport, also more commonly referred to simply as LAX, is a major international airport located in the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Westchester.
LAX is the main airport that serves Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, making it one of the busiest airports in the entire United States; it ranks second busiest in the country, just after Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
As a major transportation hub, LAX is a common gateway airport to other western destinations, which means that plenty of travellers spend layovers here.
While it can get boring to spend hours waiting for your next flight, it’s also a risk to leave and head over to the city, especially one as big and traffic-prone as Los Angeles.
If you are arriving at LAX on a quick stopover, there are still plenty of things that you can see and do without having to risk missing your flight.
Below, you will find a list of fun things to do on a layover in LAX.
Don’t forget to store your bags at a luggage storage facility near the airport for a more hassle-free excursion.
First, do some shopping at the airport
Los Angeles is a world-renowned shopping destination; if you’re on a layover in L.A., you don’t have to worry about having to leave the airport to do some retail therapy.
The Tom Bradley International Terminal’s Great Hall is filled with shops and boutiques that you will find on the famous Beverly Hills Rodeo Drive.
Here, you can shop from designer stores such as Gucci, Hermes, Bottega Veneta, Emporio Armani, Burberry, Salvatore Ferragamo, Bvlgari, and Michael Kors.
LAX also features other well-known names in jewellery and cosmetics, including Omega, Montblanc, Hublot, Estee Lauder, Bobbi Brown, MAC, and plenty of other renowned brands.
If you’re looking for something a little cheaper and local, check out the independently owned boutiques that sell souvenirs, surf gear, and books.
Visit the Flight Path Museum & Learning Center
Whether you are a fan of aviation or not, it will be worth checking out the Flight Path Museum & Learning Center before you leave.
Housed inside the LAX Imperial Terminal, the aviation museum and interactive learning space is home to numerous artifacts related to aviation, the development of LAX, and the aviation industry’s role in Southern California’s history.
The museum’s collection is comprised of objects such as scale aircraft models, pilot uniforms, and Howard Hughes memorabilia, to name a few.
Try the famous Animal Style burger at In-N-Out
There is simply no way that you can come to Los Angeles, even on a short layover, without making a stop at In-N-Out for their world-famous burger.
The burger chain has multiple locations around Los Angeles, including one not too far from LAX, which is the perfect stop for travelers who want to experience this L.A. tradition before they leave.
The burger is the undisputed star of In-N-Out’s menu and the restaurant offers different variations of the sandwich – from the 4×4 (comprised of FOUR burger patties) to their iconic “Animal Style” burger, which features their signature In-N-Out sauce.
You can have fries on the side (also available “Animal Style”) and their delicious shakes (comes in chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla flavors).
Play some golf at Westchester Golf Course
If you are a fan of golf and would like to tee up before your next flight, stop by the Westchester Golf Course during your layover.
Located just north of LAX, this 18-hole, par-64 public golf course is a popular spot among locals and travellers who are looking to swing a club during a layover.
The Westchester Golf Course offers club rentals as well as golf instruction for first-time golfers.
If you don’t feel like playing 9 or 18 holes, the facility also has a driving range where you can hit some golf balls.
Explore the lovely beach town of El Segundo
El Segundo is a beachside city that is situated approximately three miles from the Los Angeles International Airport and is one of the best places to go when you have a lengthy layover at LAX.
Considered a hidden gem because of the lack of tourists compared to other places in the L.A. area, this laidback town has slowly made a name for itself because of the lovely beaches, bustling arts scene, quality restaurants and bars, and cultural points of interest.
One of the most interesting places worth checking out while in El Segundo is the Automobile Driving Museum.
The museum boasts a rotating collection made up of more than 130 vintage, antique and classic cars on display.
The museum also regularly hosts community events and car shows. If you happen to drop by on a Sunday, you can experience their Sunday Rides program, where guests aged 10 and above can get a passenger experience on one of the automobiles chosen from their collection.
If you want to catch some sun, another noteworthy spot is the local El Segundo Beach.
Enjoy the sunny California weather at Manhattan Beach
Los Angeles is famous for its year-long sunny weather and you’d be remiss not to soak up this wonderful climate, even if it is just for a little while.
While L.A. has no shortage of prominent beaches, Manhattan Beach is the top choice for those on a layover because of its proximity to the airport.
A mere 10-minute drive from LAX, Manhattan Beach is one of three beach cities in California (along with Redondo Beach and Hermosa Beach) and a perfect place to hang out and spend some time.
The beach is home to the Manhattan Beach Pier, which is a famous spot for strolling and people-watching; there are also available cruiser bikes that you can rent to explore the beach’s lengthy coastline.
Manhattan Beach is also home to a number of interesting attractions, including the Sand Dune Park, the Roundhouse Aquarium, and the iconic sidewalk known as The Strand.
Keep planning your trip with these
A Step-by-Step Guide to Planning Your Trip
How to get Foreign Currency for your Travels
What to Expect at the Airport
TRAVEL PLANNING ESSENTIALS
Find flights – I always use Skyscanner as my starting point when searching for flights. One search will give many options including airlines I may not have thought of. This means I can find the best possible flights to suit my needs
Book accommodation – my go to is always Booking.com for the best places to stay. It’s not just hotels anymore, but hostels, apartments, B&Bs and more. I love that the bookings are usually cancellable, and that I can book now and pay later.
Hire a rental car – RentalCars.com is my go to here. It allows me to do just one search and it finds cars from many of the different supplies, so no checking multiple websites to compare.
Get travel insurance – you would have heard by now that saying “if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford to travel”. If we’ve learnt anything from the last couple of years it should be how essential travel insurance is. I use CoverMore for my insurance.
Pick up an eSIM – I tried an eSIM on my last trip and it was fantastic. I set it up before I went so it was ready as soon as I landed, and I still had access to my home number for emergencies. Get your own eSIM at Airalo.
Book activities, tours & attractions – I use a few different websites for this. Viator and Get Your Guide tend to be the first places I look. In Asia, Klook often has more options, and in Australia it’s Experience Oz.
Manage your money – the best way to manage your different currencies is with an account from Wise. You can hold money in many different currencies, and use them with the ATM card or from your phone.
