Patch Picks: 5 Staycations

City by city, Patch tips you off on nearby destinations that are a drive away! Best of all, you'll be home by bedtime.

1. Downtown: Take a walking tour of downtown Los Angeles! There are so many things to see and do. Try the Biltmore Hotel, where you can ask to see the Crystal Ballroom (where the first Academy Awards were held in 1927). Or take a ride in the glass elevators at the Bon Aventure Hotel, from which you can view spectacular skylines. Grand Central Market, L.A.'s oldest open air market, is great for interesting foods and delicacies. Right across the street you'll find the historical landmark Angel's Flight, and then walk a couple of blocks to the Walt Disney Concert Hall for a free tour, offered daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Other downtown must-see's include the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Ahmanson Theatre,  the Department of Water and Power Building (what with their water fountain shows),  Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Cathedral, and much more. For easy, all-day parking during your adventure, try the  Pershing Square garage.

2. Griffith Park and Hollywood: There is enough to do in this one locale to last a whole week! Griffith Park is home to the Los Angeles Zoo, Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage, Travel Town Train Museum, Griffith Park Equestrian Center and the Observatory. Free parking is available all throughout the park and there is always free admission to Travel town and the Observatory. From Griffith Park, Hollywood is just a drive down Los Feliz away, so head on down to Hollywood and Highland. Walk along the sidewalk and see legends of the screen, radio, and TV from past and present on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Take pictures at the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Kodak Theatre, and take a Hollywood Star tour if you are feeling like being a tourist in your own county!

3. The Westside. Among other things, the Westside boasts the renowned Getty, where entrance is free and so is parking, after 5 p.m. From there, venture over to the famous 3rd Street Promenade for in Santa Monica. Lots of shopping and tasty treats , as well as night life, make the 3rd Street Promenade a famous location for locals and tourists alike (check them out on Sunday evening for salsa dancing outside, near Sephora). Other Westside locales include the Santa Monica Pier. Take a ride on their rollercoaster, bumper cars, or even try your hand at a game of mini golf. This is a perfect location to watch the sunset over the ocean while the light show plays on the ferris wheel. For other adventures at the pier, there's also the aquarium and the New York Trapeze School.

4. Pasadena. We all watch the horses and Rose Princesses grace past it on New Year's Day, so why not go visit the Norton Simon Museum? This is the home to an incredible sculpture garden and amazing European art from Renoir and Degas. Walk through Old Town Pasadena on Colorado and enjoy casually shopping in each store. There's also the Huntington Library, free every first Thursday of every month. Stop by Rose Bowl and check out KidSpace with the family. Millions of exciting activities will keep the kids moving! My family loves to try and find the queen bee in the glass beehive inside of the play area!

 5. Sylmar and Lakeview Terrace. How many times have you driven past the Wildlife Way Station sign on the 210 and wondered about it? Stop wondering and go explore; ten minutes from Montrose, the Way Station boasts an impressive collection of grizzly bears, raccoons, mountain lions, jaguars, and the more! Another destination is Nethercutt Collection (located in Sylmar ) and is infamous for its automobile and instrument collections, including the Mighty Wurlitzer organ. Visit the Pullman train car, enjoy cars from the 1890"s through post war era classics.   This well kept secret is an incredible adventure for the while family and it is free, open Tuesday through Saturday from 9-4:30p.m. is also in this same vicinity open parks and scenic walking tours make this an ideal location for a picnic.