Los Angeles has always welcomed the unusual. It’s a city where a museum honors lost love, a giant doughnut tops a highway diner, and a time travel-themed shop blurs the line between past and future. Here, the offbeat isn’t hidden, it’s part of everyday life. One moment you might be snapping a photo of an enormous donut, and the next you’re exploring a hall of oddities filled with art and unexpected stories.
TL;DR
- LA’s oddities = core culture: artist-run museums, novelty architecture, and playful retail.
- Essentials: Museum of Jurassic Technology, Time Travel Mart, Randy’s Donuts, Giant Binoculars Building, Hollywood Forever screenings.
- Deep cuts: Velveteria (status varies), Old Trapper’s Lodge (restricted access), Sunken City (view from above only).
- Many sites are free street views; verify hours for small, volunteer-run museums.
- Cluster by area (Westside, DTLA, Hollywood, San Pedro) to minimize driving.
- Treat sensitive/graphic venues (e.g., Museum of Death) with care; consider palate-cleansing stops nearby.
Related Reads:
- The Traveler’s Ultimate Guide to Los Angeles
- Best Outdoor Markets and Street Fairs in Los Angeles
- Cultural Neighborhoods and Ethnic Districts in Los Angeles
Overview
Los Angeles has always been a city where imagination takes the lead. Its roots in film, art, and design have inspired places that blur the line between creativity and curiosity, museums filled with oddities, buildings shaped like food, and shops that feel like movie sets. In LA, unusual attractions aren’t novelties; they’re reflections of the city’s bold and playful spirit.
Exploring these offbeat spots is one of the best ways to experience the real Los Angeles. Here, weirdness isn’t rare, it’s part of daily life. Locals and travelers alike pause to photograph a giant pair of binoculars, explore a museum of broken relationships, or wander through a gallery of velvet paintings. Every neighborhood hides something strange and wonderful just waiting to be found.
The secret is to approach the city with curiosity and a sense of humor. Follow that side street or step inside the shop that catches your eye, LA rewards those who explore beyond the obvious. This guide highlights the city’s quirkiest attractions, places that prove LA’s charm lies in its unpredictability.
The Museum of Jurassic Technology
In an unassuming building on Venice Boulevard lies one of LA’s most confounding treasures: The Museum of Jurassic Technology. Step inside and enter a dimly lit labyrinth of exhibits that defy easy explanation. The museum calls itself “an educational institution dedicated to the advancement of knowledge and the public appreciation of the Lower Jurassic,” yet nothing here quite fits that description. Instead, you find a modern cabinet of curiosities filled with artifacts that blur fact and fiction.
Microscopic sculptures, mythical insects, and eccentric historical anecdotes are presented with deadpan seriousness. The factual claims of many exhibits strain credibility, provoking visitors to question what’s real – and that’s exactly the point. This surreal collection, curated by founders David and Diana Wilson (David even won a MacArthur “genius” grant), is “a museum about museums,” designed to spark wonder more than to inform.
The vibe is mysterious and poetic. You wander through hushed halls lined with wood-and-glass vitrines, peering at horned rodents or decaying dice from a magician’s collection. Soft operatic music wafts through a tea salon hidden in the back, where complimentary tea and cookies await those who make it that far.
The museum is currently open Thursday 2–8 p.m., and Friday–Sunday 12–6 p.m. (closed early week). Admission is a modest $8 (suggested donation). Plan to spend at least an hour in this tiny universe – and don’t expect easy answers. Embrace the ambiguity, read the quirky explanatory plaques, and allow yourself to “attain a mood of aloofness above everyday affairs,” as the museum’s brochure suggests. In a city of blockbuster attractions, the Museum of Jurassic Technology is refreshingly introspective and odd.
Time Travel Mart
Need a can of Viking Odorant or a jar of robot milk? At LA’s whimsical Time Travel Mart, such absurd products line the shelves – because this store proudly serves clientele from the past, present and future. With two locations (Echo Park and Mar Vista), the Time Travel Mart is a tongue-in-cheek convenience store that sells “quality goods from the past, present, and future… shipped to whenever you are!”.
Walk in, and you might be greeted with a cheesy, immersive welcome. One visitor recounts the clerk saying, “Hello again, I saw your future self in the store today – he told me you would be coming in.” That kind of playful humor sets the tone. Each aisle caters to a different era: there’s a prehistoric section with caveman tools and dinosaur eggs, a medieval section with jars of leeches and barbarian repellent, and a future section stocked with ray guns and time-machine fuel. Even the “Employee of the Month” might be an ancient emperor or an alien – every detail is delightfully absurd.
Beyond the gags, the Time Travel Mart has a heart of gold. It’s actually a front for 826LA, a nonprofit writing and tutoring center for kids. All proceeds from those quirky sales support free programs for students, which makes buying a “What Happens in the Tar Pits Stays in the Tar Pits” T-shirt feel even more rewarding.
Both locations are generally open daily from noon to 6 p.m.. There’s no admission fee – it’s a store, after all – but good luck leaving without picking up a clever souvenir or two. Parking can be tricky in Echo Park; try side streets nearby. And be sure to explore the hidden writing lab behind the store (often marked by a secret door). The Time Travel Mart perfectly captures LA’s knack for combining creativity with community. It’s silly, smart, and absolutely worth a stop on your temporal travels.
Velveteria (Chinatown)
In a small upstairs space in Chinatown, art history takes an unusual turn: Velveteria, the Museum of Velvet Paintings. This offbeat museum is (or was) dedicated entirely to the lost art of painting on black velvet. Push aside the hot-pink velvet curtains at the entrance, and you’ll find yourself surrounded by a soft glow of neon and the unmistakable sheen of velvet.
The museum’s founders, Caren Anderson and Carl Baldwin, amassed over 3,000 velvet paintings from around the world , of which about 400 were on display at any given time. The subjects range from the classic to the bizarre: yes, there are plenty of Elvis Presleys and unicorns, but you’ll also see a velvet Mona Lisa, a wall of 1970s rock stars, and even black-light velvet scenes that glow under ultraviolet lamps.
One room is devoted to psychedelic fluorescent paintings (don a pair of 3D glasses for a wild effect), while another, cheekily named the “Velvetarium,” celebrates everything from tiki bar culture to political satire – all on velvet.
What makes Velveteria special is the earnest love behind it. The owners famously insist they’re “reviving the greatest art in the history of man,” not just peddling kitsch. Visitors often come to gawk but leave genuinely impressed by the craftsmanship and history. Co-founder Carl Baldwin gives lively tours, dropping trivia about the golden age of velvet art and the artists who perfected this democratic art form. You’ll laugh, but you’ll also learn – did you know velvet art dates back to ancient Kashmir, or that Edgar Leeteg was the “Rembrandt of black velvet”?
Velveteria’s Chinatown location (711 New High St.) was open Thurs–Sun, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a modest $10 admission. (As of 2025, the museum is seeking a new home, so check ahead – they occasionally pop up with traveling exhibits.) It’s a small space; expect to spend about an hour. Photography is allowed, and trust us, a selfie with a velvet Bruce Lee or a six-foot velvet Wizard of Oz mural will light up your Instagram. Velveteria is a love letter to an art style often shrugged off as tacky – and that very fact makes it a quintessential quirky LA experience.
Randy’s Donuts
Towering over an Inglewood street corner, a colossal 32-foot donut looms in the sky – the iconic Randy’s Donuts. This isn’t just a pastry; it’s a piece of pop culture. Randy’s is considered one of Los Angeles’s most iconic landmarks , a classic example of mid-century novelty architecture. The building itself is a modest 1950s drive-up stand, but atop its roof sits the giant fiberglass donut, unapologetically oversized and visible from the nearby 405 freeway.
If you feel like you’ve seen it before, you probably have – Randy’s has made cameo appearances in countless films and music videos. Tony Stark munching a donut inside the ring of the donut in Iron Man 2? That was here. It’s also graced albums, appeared in Californication, and even witnessed the Space Shuttle Endeavour roll by. In short, Randy’s Donuts is world-famous, all because of that huge, playful confection on its roof.
Of course, Randy’s is also a working donut shop – and a darn good one. It opened in 1953 as part of the Big Donut Drive-In chain, and the recipe for their glazed donuts has been honed for decades. Pull into the drive-thru (which literally goes under the big donut) or walk up to the window. The menu is classic: fluffy glazed rings, cake donuts, apple fritters the size of your face.
They’re made fresh 24/7; yes, this shop is open around the clock to satisfy your midnight sweet tooth. A warm glazed from Randy’s at 2 a.m. is an LA rite of passage. The original stand is at 805 W. Manchester Blvd in Inglewood, a short drive from LAX – many travelers swing by on the way to or from the airport. It’s open 24 hours, with most donuts under $2 (cash and card accepted).
Snap a photo from across the street to capture the full donut-in-sky effect, especially at sunrise or sunset when the silhouette is striking. Ultimately, a stop at Randy’s Donuts is quick, cheap, and delightfully only-in-LA. It’s a place where grabbing breakfast doubles as sightseeing.
The Museum of Death
Not for the faint of heart, the Museum of Death in Hollywood turns the morbid into a must-see attraction. This small museum proudly houses the world’s largest collection of death-related artifacts – a statement that is equal parts intriguing and alarming. Step past the skull-emblazoned facade on Hollywood Blvd, pay the ~$20 admission, and prepare to be unsettled (or oddly fascinated). Inside, the exhibits are a graphic journey through the many facets of death.
You’ll find baby coffins in one room, letters and artwork from serial killers in another, even authentic guillotined severed heads and execution devices. Walls are lined with crime scene photographs and morgue tools.
There’s a taxidermy hall filled with preserved animals, and in a darkened nook, the actual recreation of the Heaven’s Gate cult’s mass suicide scene, complete with the original bunk beds and Nikes from that 1997 event. One corner honors notable deaths with newspaper clippings and memorial items. Around another bend, TVs play autopsy footage and the last interviews of death row inmates. It’s intense, to say the least.
Why would anyone visit? For some, morbid curiosity; for others, an attempt to make peace with mortality. The museum’s founders, J.D. Healy and Catherine Shultz, established it in 1995 with the stated goal “to make people happy to be alive.” It sounds paradoxical, but after an hour steeped in these dark displays, you might indeed walk out appreciating life’s light a bit more.
The atmosphere inside is somber but not disrespectful – there are informative descriptions treating death as a cultural and historical subject. You’ll learn about Victorian mourning rituals, see an original Thanatron suicide machine built by Dr. Jack Kevorkian , and discover how serial killer John Wayne Gacy’s clown paintings ended up on these walls.
The Museum of Death is open 7 days a week, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. , and it’s located at 6031 Hollywood Blvd (with a second branch in New Orleans). There’s no age restriction posted, but due to extremely graphic content, it’s 100% not suitable for children or the squeamish.
Allow about an hour, and be aware there are no bathrooms inside (perhaps by design!). Photography is technically allowed, but you may be too busy picking your jaw up off the floor. Whether you view it as a dark tourism gem or a hard pass, the Museum of Death is undeniably one of LA’s most unusual attractions – a macabre mirror that makes you reflect on the value of life.
Old Trapper’s Lodge
Tucked away on the grounds of a community college in the San Fernando Valley is a bizarre little frontier town that time forgot. The Old Trapper’s Lodge is a collection of larger-than-life folk art sculptures depicting Wild West characters, all created by one man’s eccentric vision.
This California State Historical Landmark was the life’s work of John Ehn – a self-proclaimed old trapper and self-taught artist. In the 1950s, Ehn ran a motel near Burbank Airport called the Old Trapper’s Lodge. To attract guests, he decided to “go big” with roadside advertising and started crafting giant concrete statues of cowboys, bandits, saloon girls, and Native Americans.
He even built an entire fake Boot Hill cemetery scene complete with humorous tombstones and gaunt prospectors rising from graves. Ehn used his own family members as models for many figures – so one of those dusty old sheriffs might actually have the face of Ehn’s brother or uncle carved in stone. The statues are rough-hewn and cartoonish, painted in sun-faded colors, exuding a certain ghost-town charm.
When the motel closed in 1985, the collection was moved to Pierce College in Woodland Hills, where it stands today in a grassy corner of the campus. As you approach, you’ll see a sign marked “Old Trapper’s Lodge” and a circle of sculptures under shady trees.
There’s the Old Trapper himself (pipe in mouth, rifle in hand), Big Nose Nellie the madam, Saloon Sue, and various other frontier caricatures – about seven major figures and a host of smaller critters like rattlesnakes and vultures. The Boot Hill Cemetery features witty epitaphs that capture dark Old West humor. It’s quirky, a bit unsettling, but wholly captivating as outsider art.
The sculptures sit just past the equine pastures on campus; enter Pierce College from Winnetka Ave at El Rancho Drive and look for a red barn and corral – the statues are clustered nearby. Technically, this is public campus property and was freely accessible for years. However, due to recent disputes, the site may be fenced off with restricted access.
You can often see the statues through the fence, but not walk among them. Still, it’s worth a try on weekdays when campus staff might allow a quick peek (or check local art groups for periodic tours). There’s no admission fee. If you have a soft spot for folk art environments like Salvation Mountain or Watts Towers, Old Trapper’s Lodge will scratch that itch – it’s pure DIY artistry and a slice of LA’s hidden history.
The Last Bookstore Vaults
Downtown LA’s The Last Bookstore isn’t just a shop – it’s an adventure. Housed in a grand 1914 bank building with towering columns and marble floors, this massive bookstore feels like a crossover between Diagon Alley and an art installation.
The main floor is filled with tens of thousands of new and used books, cozy reading nooks, and even a record store in the old bank vault. But it’s the mezzanine upstairs – aptly named The Labyrinth – where things get truly quirky and magical. Climb the stairs (past the vault door) and you enter a maze of bookshelves winding through what used to be bank offices and vaults full of vintage books. Here, 100,000+ books are just $1 each, arranged in whimsical ways.
You’ll stroll through a tunnel made entirely of books, arcing over a doorway like a literary wormhole. There’s a “secret” passage hidden behind a bookshelf that leads to more stacks (don’t worry, it’s marked – half the fun is walking through the swinging bookcase). One vault’s safe door stands open, revealing a room devoted entirely to horror novels – appropriately eerie. Another little room is dedicated to science fiction, complete with a retro-future vibe.
What makes the Labyrinth as much art as bookstore are the installations sprinkled throughout. Peer through a cut-out “time travel port-hole” of books into a tiny model of outer space. Look up to see a flock of books “flying” from a typewriter to the ceiling – a piece called “Diagnosis” by artist David Lovejoy.
Find the dangling magnifying glass that perfectly frames a shelf of classics. Around one corner, you’ll find a couch where every surface is covered in comic book pages (a popular selfie spot). The effect is delightfully chaotic and immersive.
The Last Bookstore is open daily (11 a.m. – 8 p.m.) at 453 S. Spring Street, and entry is free. Weekends can get crowded with tourists hunting the perfect Instagram shot, so consider a weekday visit for a calmer browse. The store buys/sells books and also hosts events like readings and small art gallery shops by local artisans on the mezzanine.
Parking in the area is mostly paid lots or meters, and the Pershing Square Metro station is a block away. Don’t leave without walking through the famous book tunnel and poking your head into the old vault. This place truly lives up to its hype, part landmark, part labyrinth, and wholly enchanting. It’s easily one of the most quirky places in Los Angeles to lose yourself for an afternoon.
The Bunny Museum
Hop on over to what was once dubbed “The Hoppiest Place in the World.” The Bunny Museum, formerly located in Altadena, is (or was) home to the world’s largest collection of rabbit-related items. Imagine over 40,000 bunny artifacts gathered in one place – from cute ceramic bunnies to stuffed Easter bunnies, antique bunny toys, artwork, and beyond.
The museum held the Guinness World Record for bunny memorabilia since 1999 (when it had a mere 8,473 pieces) , and kept growing to tens of thousands of items across 16 jam-packed galleries. Walking through was like entering a pastel bunny wonderland.
Every shelf, wall, and floor was covered in bunnies: tiny porcelain rabbits from around the globe, a giant fiberglass Hare (once a Rose Parade float figure), bunny lunchboxes, even freeze-dried real bunnies (former pets preserved lovingly) among the displays. There were quirky scenes set up too – imagine a mini “Bunny Wedding” diorama or a bunny-themed altar. And yes, live rabbits hopped around as mascots (the owners’ beloved pets, which had free rein in certain rooms).
The museum was the labor of love of married couple Candace Frazee and Steve Lubanski. Back in the ’90s, they started calling each other “Honey Bunny” and exchanged bunny gifts daily – a tradition that snowballed into this incredible collection. They opened their home as a museum in 1998 and later moved the collection to a bigger house in Altadena in 2017 to accommodate the ever multiplying bunnies.
Visitors were greeted by Candace and Steve themselves, often dressed with bunny ears, eager to share puns and bunny trivia. It was simultaneously adorable, funny, and a bit overwhelming to see so much of one theme. Where else can you browse a cabinet of international bunny figurines, then turn a corner to find a full-size Rabbit from Donnie Darko movie costume?
As of early 2025, The Bunny Museum is temporarily closed – an accidental fire tragically destroyed the building and much of the collection. (Happily, the owners and live bunnies were safe, and they vow to reopen and rebuild.) When it was open, hours were typically daily 12–6 p.m. with a ~$12 entry. The museum often hosted holiday events like “Hoppening” parties on Easter.
Now, fans are helping them recover; you might see a few rescued bunnies on display at pop-ups or outside the remains of the Altadena location – a sign on the fence proclaims the museum “will return.” Keep an eye on their website for reopening news.
When it does bounce back, expect the Bunny Museum to remain one of LA’s quirkiest, most singular attractions. It’s heartfelt, hare-brained, and an absolute must-see for anyone who loves niche collections or just needs a dose of unbridled whimsy.
The Psychic Window at The Standard Hotel
In the heart of Downtown LA’s nightlife district, passersby once encountered a curious sight: a street-facing Psychic Window at The Standard Hotel. By day, The Standard (a chic boutique hotel on Flower Street) was known for its trendy lobby and rooftop bar. But by night – especially on weekends – one of the hotel’s ground-floor windows transformed into a live art installation straight out of a David Lynch film.
Behind the glass sat a “psychic” in dramatic costume, neon signs glowing with promises of fortunes told. This wasn’t your average neon palm reader’s shop, however; it was quirky performance art meets prediction. The Psychic Window was often staffed by performance artists who would assume the role of clairvoyant.
You could walk up from the sidewalk and, without entering the hotel, have a personal (and often tongue-in-cheek) psychic reading through the glass. They used props like tarot cards, crystal balls, or just otherworldly pantomime to “divine” your future. Sometimes it was interactive – you might pick a card or press your hand to the glass – other times it was purely visual theater.
This being LA, the whole thing blurred the line between sincere spiritual service and avant-garde art piece. Many visitors weren’t sure if they were witnessing a real psychic or a clever parody. That was part of the fun. The Standard’s Psychic Window became a little legend – an Instagrammable and only-in-LA experience where hotel guests, bar hoppers, and random pedestrians all paused to play along with fate.
Sadly, The Standard Downtown LA closed in 2021 (and with it, the Psychic Window went dark), but its legacy lives on in the city’s collective memory of cool oddities. Although you can’t visit this installation now, we include it as a testament to LA’s creative weirdness.
If you’re eager for a “psychic” novelty fix, check out Sant Monica’s occult shops or Venice’s boardwalk fortune tellers – or perhaps the 24-hour psychic sign near Hollywood that inspired part of this vibe.
The Psychic Window reminds us that in Los Angeles, even something as mystical as fortune-telling can be reimagined as witty public art. Keep your eyes open – another hotel or art space might just resurrect the idea. After all, in a city that loves spectacle, who wouldn’t want a glimpse of their future through a plate-glass window on a Friday night?
The Sunken City
On the cliffs of San Pedro, at LA’s southern edge, lies the Sunken City, an urban ruin that looks like a post-apocalyptic playground with a million-dollar view. Back in 1929, this area was a thriving coastal neighborhood, until a massive landslide caused several homes, a road, and a chunk of cliffside to tumble into the Pacific Ocean.
The land moved up to 11 inches per day, ultimately shearing off a whole hillside and leaving concrete foundations and streetcar tracks broken and half-submerged in the sand. The homes that survived were relocated, and what remained was a forbidden zone of crumbled streets and tilted slabs of pavement. Fast forward nearly a century: nature and artists have reclaimed this space.
The Sunken City today is a surreal expanse of shattered concrete slabs covered in vibrant graffiti, perched on a cliff with stunning ocean panoramas. Tilted palm trees grow at odd angles.
Chunks of sidewalk jut from the earth at 45 degrees, now serving as canvases for ever-changing street art – you’ll see everything from elaborate murals to countless spray-painted tags. It’s beautiful in a gritty way, especially at golden hour when the sun sinks into the Pacific and the painted ruins glow.
However, Sunken City is also one of LA’s more illicit attractions. The site is officially off-limits, fenced off with “No Trespassing” signs due to safety concerns. Over the years, adventurous locals and tourists have hopped the fence (or snuck through gaps) to explore, resulting in frequent police patrols and hefty $400+ citations for trespassers. There have been accidents and injuries from falls on the unstable cliffs , so the danger is real.
If you’re curious, the safest way is to enjoy the view legally from above. Head to Point Fermin Park in San Pedro (807 W Paseo Del Mar). At the park’s edge, near the white fence, you can look down onto the Sunken City site. You’ll spot the colorful graffiti patches and broken structures below and can take photos from there. Some people venture around the fence at the end of the park – we can’t officially recommend it, but if you do, know you’re taking a risk.
Wear good shoes (gravel and broken glass abound) and absolutely stay away from the cliff edge. Better yet, satisfy your curiosity by searching online for drone footage or photos which provide a thorough glimpse of the ruins.
The allure of Sunken City is strong – few spots in LA offer such a stark reminder of nature’s power amid an ever-urban landscape. Standing there, with waves crashing and the carcass of a neighborhood at your feet, you’ll feel like you discovered a secret. It’s haunting, fascinating, and undeniably quirky in the annals of Los Angeles attractions.
Hollywood Forever Cemetery Movie Screenings
Imagine watching a classic movie under the stars, picnicking on a grassy lawn… in the middle of a cemetery. At Hollywood Forever Cemetery, this scenario is an iconic summer tradition.
Since 2002, film organization Cinespia has teamed up with the cemetery to host outdoor movie screenings on the Fairbanks Lawn – a lush field where stars like Douglas Fairbanks and Judy Garland are buried nearby.
Each summer weekend, thousands of people gather after sunset to watch beloved films projected onto the side of a giant mausoleum. It’s equal parts macabre and magical: you’re literally sitting among tombstones and mausoleums, but the atmosphere is festive and communal.
Attendees bring blankets, low lawn chairs, and elaborate picnics (charcuterie boards, wine and cheese, even candelabras are not uncommon). Before the show, a DJ spins music in theme with the movie, and people mingle under swaying palm trees and the glow of old Hollywood.
When the film starts, silence falls except for the movie audio and the occasional laughter or cheer for a famous line. The screen on the mausoleum is huge and crisp, and above you the open sky completes the experience. The selection of films ranges from classic Hollywood (think Casablanca, Sunset Boulevard) to ’80s favorites (Back to the Future, The Goonies) to cult hits (The Craft, Purple Rain). Horror movies around Halloween are especially popular – imagine watching Night of the Living Dead in a cemetery!
Sometimes special guests show up: actors or directors of the film will introduce it, or themed photo booths let you snap pics in costume. It’s an only in LA kind of night – glamorous yet ghoulish, reverent yet fun. Visiting info: The screenings typically run May through September on Saturday nights. Tickets (sold on Cinespia’s website) usually go on sale a few weeks in advance and sell out fast – plan ahead.
Prices are around $20–$25 per person. Gates open around 7:15 p.m., and it’s first-come, first-served for lawn spots, so arriving early (and waiting in line) is part of the ritual. You can bring your own food and BYOB (beer and wine only, 21+). Bring jackets or blankets – it can get chilly by the end of the film. Parking is limited; many people Lyft or carpool, and some nearby lots offer paid parking.
When the film ends and the credits roll over the marble crypts, you’ll pack up by flashlight and stroll past silent headstones in the dark – a tiny bit spooky and utterly unforgettable. Watching a movie at Hollywood Forever is a chance to commune with Hollywood history in the most literal way: among the stars, and under them.
The Giant Binoculars Building
Driving along Main Street in Venice, you might do a double-take: is that a giant pair of binoculars on the side of the road? You’re not seeing things – you’ve found the Giant Binoculars Building, one of LA’s quirkiest pieces of architecture.
This office building’s facade is dominated by a massive sculpture of binoculars two stories tall, so big that cars can actually drive through the eyepieces to enter the parking garage. The building was designed by famed architect Frank Gehry in 1991 for the Chiat/Day advertising agency, with the binoculars as a public artwork by artists Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.
Gehry’s known for bold designs, but even he outdid himself here – the rest of the structure is a deconstructivist mix of curves and angles, yet it’s those binoculars that have become a local landmark. They’re whimsical, completely unexpected, and oddly fitting in free-spirited Venice Beach.
Today, the Binoculars Building is part of Google’s LA campus (Google leased it in 2011), so it’s not a public museum or anything you can tour inside. However, the exterior alone is worth a visit or at least a photo stop. Stand at the base of the binoculars and you’ll feel tiny – each lens is about 8 meters high.
The sculpture doubles as an archway: pedestrians can walk through a door in one lens, and cars enter a ramp between the two lenses. It’s a popular Instagram spot to pose as if you’re peeking through the binoculars or to capture the contrast of this huge black object against the bright California sky.
Architecture buffs will also appreciate how the binoculars cleverly hide the building’s structural columns and hint at the creative purpose the building once served (advertising think-tank).
Located at 340 Main St. in Venice, the building is easiest to see from the sidewalk along Main and Rose Avenue. It’s a quick stop – there’s usually street parking in the area, or you can walk over from the Venice Boardwalk (about 15 minutes inland).
Early morning or late afternoon will give you good lighting on the sculpture for photos. Since it’s an active office, you can’t go inside or climb on the binoculars, but feel free to wander around the front courtyard. Fun fact: the binoculars have secretly been functional – the artists included a periscope mechanism so that one could (in theory) peer out from a hidden window using the binocular optics (though this isn’t accessible to public).
Whether you’re an art lover, architecture fan, or just road-tripping through LA’s odd sights, the Giant Binoculars Building is a prime example of the city’s playful streetscape. It embodies that LA ethos: why have a plain office entrance when you can have a gigantic binocular sculpture instead?
How to Explore LA’s Quirky Side
Exploring Los Angeles’s quirky attractions is a joyful adventure, and a little planning (and mindset) will make it even better. First and foremost, approach these spots with curiosity and respect.
Many are labors of love by passionate individuals or small communities. It’s okay – encouraged, even – to laugh and marvel, but do so in good spirit. You’ll enjoy the Museum of Jurassic Technology or Velveteria more if you engage with the wonder and creativity on display, rather than viewing it as a joke.
LA’s quirks are an expression of its creative heart, so celebrate them sincerely. Bring a friend who’s open-minded or go solo and strike up conversations; the docents or owners often have incredible stories to tell about how these places came to be.
Since these attractions are scattered across the sprawling LA area, plan your routes to maximize fun. You might spend a morning in Hollywood (Museum of Death, Hollywood Forever Cemetery), then an afternoon on the Westside (Binoculars Building, Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City).
Or dedicate a full day to Eastside oddities (Time Travel Mart, Velveteria, and maybe the Bunny Museum’s future location). Check Google Maps beforehand for traffic expectations – weekends can be surprisingly smooth, while weekday rush hour is best avoided.
Combine stops by neighborhood to save driving time and to create your own thematic tour (see our Weird LA Itineraries below for ideas). Public transit in LA can get you to some, but many quirky spots (like Sunken City or Old Trapper’s Lodge) are easier by car, so consider renting wheels or using rideshare for far-flung places.
Crucially, always verify the current status and hours of these attractions. Quirky museums often have limited or odd hours, and some are run by just a couple of people, meaning they might close unexpectedly or require appointments. A quick phone call or website check can save you a trip.
Suggested “Weird LA” Itineraries
Ready to dive in? Here are a few thematic itineraries to guide your exploration of LA’s quirky side. Feel free to mix and match, but each of these clusters attractions that pair well for a half-day or full day of fun.
Artfully Odd
Start your day at The Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City when it opens (early afternoon on most days). Spend 1–2 hours wandering its surreal exhibits and enjoy tea in the rooftop garden.
Next, drive about 25 minutes to Chinatown to visit Velveteria (if open) and immerse yourself in velvet paintings and retro pop culture vibes. From there, it’s a short hop (15 minutes west) to Venice Beach to see the Giant Binoculars Building.
Late afternoon light is perfect for photos of the binoculars façade. Cap off the theme with a stroll down Abbot Kinney Boulevard – not “weird” per se, but full of eclectic art galleries and street art that complement the artistic oddities you’ve seen. Transportation: car is easiest for this route. Parking is available near each stop (Chinatown has paid lots; Venice has street parking near Main St).
Sweet and Strange
Begin at Randy’s Donuts in Inglewood in the morning. Grab a famous glazed donut and marvel at the giant rooftop donut as the sun rises (bonus: minimal crowds at that hour).
Next, drive about 30–40 minutes northeast to Altadena to pay homage to The Bunny Museum. While it’s rebuilding, you might only see the exterior or temporary displays, but it’s en route to our next stop – consider it a pilgrimage to bunny ground-zero. From Altadena, head down to Downtown LA (roughly 30 minutes) and explore the area around the former Standard Hotel.
While The Psychic Window is no longer operating, you can pop by the building (now The Delphi Hotel) for a sense of where it was. Then continue a few blocks to The Last Bookstore at 5th & Spring – not on our original list, but a perfect weird+wonderful detour for midday.
Finally, in the evening, treat yourself to a quirky dining experience: perhaps Beetle House LA (a Tim Burton–themed restaurant in Hollywood) or Clifton’s Republic (a historic cafeteria-turned-cabinet-of-curiosities bar downtown).
Dark Curiosity Tour
Start in Hollywood. Arrive at The Museum of Death when it opens (late morning) to brace yourself for an hour of morbid fascination. Afterwards, lighten the mood with lunch nearby (perhaps at a classic diner – you’ve earned some comfort food).
In the afternoon, drive south to San Pedro (about 40 minutes) to see The Sunken City. Watch the ocean crash against the ruins and reflect on nature’s power (from a safe distance). Time your visit so you’re there around golden hour for eerie, beautiful views.
As twilight hits, drive back north to Hollywood for a unique evening at Hollywood Forever Cemetery. If it’s summer and there’s a Cinespia movie screening that night, you’ll join hundreds of others for a film under the stars (tickets needed, of course) surrounded by the resting places of Hollywood legends. If it’s not screening season,
Hollywood Forever is still open to stroll earlier in the day – or you could pivot and take an after-dark tour at the Roosevelt Hotel (haunted legend) or attend Dearly Departed’s Tragical History Tour (an oddball bus tour of celebrity death sites).
The Takeaway
Los Angeles’s quirks and offbeat attractions aren’t side notes, they’re part of what makes the city truly alive. Built on creativity and reinvention, LA embraces the strange and the surprising with open arms. Every odd museum, giant donut, or time-travel-themed shop reflects a city that thrives on imagination. The glamour of Hollywood lives comfortably alongside the weird and the whimsical, reminding you that Los Angeles was never meant to fit into one mold.
After exploring its more eccentric corners, you’ll see the city differently. Maybe you’ll remember the glow of velvet art under neon lights, laughter echoing through a hallway of oddities, or the silhouette of a massive donut against a pink sunset. Each of these moments captures LA’s playful spirit and its endless capacity to turn the unexpected into something unforgettable.
The next time you’re in Los Angeles, look past the familiar landmarks and dive into the wonderfully strange. Skip the predictable stops for something unexpected, a curiosity shop, a bizarre museum, or a roadside icon that makes you smile. You’ll find that these places aren’t just weird for the sake of it, they’re expressions of the city’s bold, creative heart. In Los Angeles, unusual is normal, and the magic lies in every surprise around the corner.
FAQ
Q1. What are LA’s must-see quirky attractions for first-timers?
Start with the Museum of Jurassic Technology (Culver City), Randy’s Donuts (Inglewood), The Last Bookstore’s vaults (DTLA), Hollywood Forever cemetery screenings (seasonal), and the Giant Binoculars Building (Venice).
Q2. Are these places kid-friendly?
Many are (Randy’s Donuts, Giant Binoculars exterior, Time Travel Mart). Some, like the Museum of Death, are explicitly adult and graphic; check policies and content notes.
Q3. Can I visit Sunken City?
The site is fenced off and trespassing is enforced. View legally from Point Fermin Park or nearby overlooks; bring zoom for photos.
Q4. Is Velveteria open?
Status can change. Check for current Chinatown hours or pop-ups before you go.
Q5. What’s the deal with the Time Travel Mart?
It’s a playful shop benefiting 826LA’s youth writing programs. Buy a gag “future relic,” support student tutoring.
Q6. Can I go inside the Giant Binoculars Building?
No public tours; it’s an office campus. The facade is the draw. A great quick photo stop from the sidewalk.
Q7. Is the Bunny Museum open?
It has been temporarily closed following a fire; the owners plan to rebuild. Check their site or socials for updates and pop-ups.
Q8. How much time should I budget for the Museum of Jurassic Technology?
Plan 60–90 minutes to wander slowly, read plaques, and enjoy tea if offered.
Q9. What’s special about Hollywood Forever screenings?
Outdoor films projected on a mausoleum wall: BYO picnic/blanket. Tickets sell out; buy ahead in season.
Q10. Any etiquette tips for odd/artist-run spaces?
Ask before photos, respect posted rules, and engage with staff or docents. Many spaces run on passion and donations.
Q11. How do I organize a low-stress “weird LA” day?
Cluster by neighborhood: e.g., Culver City/Venice (Jurassic Technology + Binoculars + Abbot Kinney), or DTLA/Echo Park (Last Bookstore + Time Travel Mart).
Q12. Do I need a car?
It helps. Pair Metro with short rideshares for DTLA/Hollywood; driving is easiest for far-flung stops like San Pedro or the Valley.