ABOUT THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES:The ‘City of Angels’ is, of course, known for its links with the film industry. Almost everyone here appears to be an aspiring actor – it is definitely a city full of beautiful people. As much associated with the California beach ‘n’ surf lifestyle and music of the 1960s as it is with the urban rap and hard rock of the 1980s and 1990s, Los Angeles remains a hotbed of live music performances.
Over the years, Los Angeles has subsumed smaller neighbourhoods and many of these retain their own character, such as Chinatown and Little Tokyo, while farther out the wealthy areas of Venice Beach, Bel-Air, Beverley Hills and Pacific Pallisades are fun places to take a distant peek through the gates of the rich and famous.
Must-visit places for tourists to the area include Graumann’s Chinese Theatre and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the idiosyncratic Watts Towers – or any of the film studios where they are open for tours.
Sports fans should head for Dodger Stadium for a baseball game or to the Staples Center for a basketball match.
Naturally, shopping is a way of life for many here, and Beverley Hills’ Rodeo Drive is a must, even if your only window shopping.
For nightlife, where else is there to go but the now cleaned up Sunset Strip or Hollywood Boulevard? In fact, there are plenty of other places to spend time, but it would be a shame to miss out on the glamour.
To escape the heat in summer, it’s easy to head for the hills that surround the city, or the beaches or head for one of the many superb art galleries and art museums.
LOCATION OF LOS ANGELES:In the southwest of the United States, in south California, on the Pacific seaboard. 400 miles south of San Francisco. 150 miles north of the Mexican border. Los Angeles International Airport is 17 miles southwest of Downtown.
SERVING AIRPORTS:Los Angeles International [LAX]
Flight time from the UK: approximately 11 hours
BEACHES IN LOS ANGELES:72 miles of coastline provide the W border to Greater Los Angeles, with beaches located in many communities. Most are sandy, wide and long, and many have oceanside paths and piers which are attractions in themselves; these include Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Redondo Beach, Marina del Rey and Long Beach. The obsession with keep fit means that people of all ages will be seen jogging, cycling and roller-blading at the beach side.
SHOPPING IN LOS ANGELES:Downtown department stores; many shopping malls throughout the city. The area's wholesale outlets are open to everyone: there is a jewellery district, a fashion district and the enormous California Mart. Melrose St. has some chic boutiques and coffee shops. Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and other places have Farmer's Markets on different days. Beverly Hills also has the fashionable Rodeo Drive, so exclusive that some stores can be entered only by appointment. But everyone is catered for throughout the LA area. Souvenir hunters will not go home empty-handed.
EATING OUT IN LOS ANGELES:There's a world of dining possibilities in LA, and most ethnic cuisines are readily available. Fast-food outlets are everywhere. Along the coast, restaurants specialise in seafood.
DON’T MISS IN LOS ANGELES:- Sunset Boulevard
- head to ‘Sunset Strip’ for shopping and nightlife.
- Shopping on Rodeo Drive
- Taking in a studio tour
– Paramount, Universal Studios and Warner Brothers all offer studio tours so you can check out where your favourite movies were made.
- Star-spotting
- One of the summer concerts
- at the Hollywood Bowl
YOU SHOULD KNOW:Venice claims to be the home of Skateboarding and rollerblading
Disclaimer:
By its very nature much of the information in our destination guides is subject to change at short notice and travellers are urged to verify information on which they are relying with the relevant authorities. Corona Holidays [UK] Limited cannot accept any responsibility for any loss or inconvenience to any person as a result of information contained above.
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