Home to Universal Studios, Hollywood, Beverley Hills, the Sunset Strip and the Walk of Fame, Los Angeles has long lured many into its glittering fantasy world. With endless sunshine, palm trees, shopping malls and beautiful people, this city is like no place you’ve ever been before, and yet is strangely familiar. Los Angeles is a wonderful, vibrant, exhilarating multi-cultural hub with a plethora of things to do and see.
The sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles is spread across four thousand square miles of desert between the mountains and the ocean. It consists of several mini-cities bound by a network of freeways. LA is divided into five main districts: Downtown, Hollywood, The Valley, Westside, and the Beaches - each a world in themselves.
The size of the place may be a source of confusion to a first-time visitor, but don’t give up! It all soon falls into place. Tourists tend to concentrate in the western part of the city, where beach hotels and attractions are located. However, it is worth venturing Downtown for a bit more grit and less glitz, as well as for some great eating and drinking, Downtown is home to the magnificent Walt Disney Concert Hall, an experience in itself.
Los Angeles will always be associated with movies and movie stars. The huge Hollywood sign on the hill to Universal Studios, the glamour of Beverly Hills and the unavoidable celebrity spotting in bars and restaurants... You cannot help but be lured into this surreal and magical world. However, if you fail to look beyond this celluloid culture, you will be missing some of the most fabulous art collections and galleries in the world. The Getty Center, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Norton Simon Museum all house spectacular permanent collections.
With most days of the year being sunny and warm, outdoor life is a large part of the Los Angeles lifestyle. Santa Monica, Venice and Malibu beaches offer some great urban beach culture with roller skating on the promenades and shopping on the boulevards. Griffith Park is one of the largest city parks in the country and offers all manner of outdoor pursuits (including the LA Zoo).
With a population as diverse as its geography, Los Angeles has become a multicultural hub, which is reflected in the food, art, and streets themselves. Both Chinatown and Koreatown offer some great food, interesting shopping, and, when it comes to the latter, some top karaoke!Read More
