Los Angeles

When in Los Angeles, pass up Venice Beach and maps of stars’ homes.

Don’t… Bother with Venice or Santa Monica Beaches

Venice Beach is known mostly for its wacky inhabitants who stroll the boardwalk along Ocean Front Walk. The outdoor freak show is entertaining for about 10 minutes, but eventually it starts feeling a little creepy. Plus, the beach itself is grungy at best. The Santa Monica beaches to the north are certainly less weird, but they’re also much more crowded, thanks to tourist magnets like the seen-better-days Santa Monica Pier and the chain shops on the Third Street Promenade.

Instead… Head to El Matador or Manhattan Beach

If you prefer a little serenity with your surf, head north from the Malibu Pier to the rugged, isolated beaches between Broad Beach and Decker Canyon roads. El Matador Beach, a secluded little cove with funky rock formations and plenty of parking, is a great place for a picnic or to catch the sunset. If you’re looking for sun and sand but not necessarily solitude, head south from Malibu instead, to Manhattan Beach, a family-friendly stretch of sand with great surfing, a playground, and volleyball courts. This popular spot can be crowded, but the city does a stellar job of keeping the place pristine. And there are plenty of cool shops and fun cafés to explore on Manhattan Beach Boulevard, the area’s main drag.

Don’t… Shell Out for Star Maps

Whether you pick up a $5 map from a vendor on Sunset or spend a few bucks more for a guided tour, you’ll find that most of the information you’ll get on celebrities is woefully out-of-date. Here’s the thing: Most celebs don’t actually live in Hollywood, or even Beverly Hills. They generally gravitate toward more secluded areas. The ones who do have homes in the thick of it treasure their privacy and have erected fences and hedges to foil looky-loos. So, skip an afternoon spent rubbernecking to catch a meager glimpse of a house where a star may or may not live or have lived.

Instead… See Celebs in Their Natural Habitat

Serious stargazers should check into the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills and spend the day by the pool, where chances of spotting starlets are about as good as it gets. Or dine nearby at Madeo, a family-run Italian joint favored by the likes of David Beckham and Salma Hayek, which serves the best bolognese in town. Much of the Hollywood set (Tom Hanks, John Cusack, Minnie Driver, and Sean Penn, to name a few) is based in Malibu. For a sure thing, head west to the Malibu Country Mart, just off the Pacific Coast Highway—it’s the go-to place for everything from yoga classes to Nobu sushi to the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.