Los Angeles
LA, as most Californians know it, is a varied, sprawling city offering a wide variety of attractions and sights. The “City of Angels” is perhaps most famous as the home of filmmaking with Warner Brothers, Paramount Pictures and of course Universal Studios Hollywood® all open for tours.
Distances between the various neighbourhoods can be huge and for example, from downtown Los Angeles to Anaheim is some 60 miles! This is the city of the car and there are millions of them, so expect traffic jams at peak times! As an alternative, there is a very clean, efficient subway system, which links some of the main areas such as Universal Studios, Hollywood, Beverly Hills and even goes out as far as Anaheim, Long Beach and Redondo Beach. Possibly the most famous shopping street in the world, Rodeo Drive, is in Beverly Hills – also probably the most expensive with wall-to-wall designer stores. For more down-to-earth shopping, well, Los Angeles is really a suburban sprawl encompassing lots of small towns with their own shopping areas. Try the new mall at Hollywood and Highland or go to the pedestrianised 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica for every High Street brand name there is. If you’re looking for great nightlife, then LA is glitzy and you never know when you will see a “star”! Eating out can be as expensive as your pocket can stand, but there are some great value places too.
Things to see and do in and around Los Angeles
Beverly Hills - The most affluent and elegant residential area of southern California. Even if you don’t purchase a map of the stars’ homes and track down the mansions of the famous, allow time to shop along Rodeo Drive, the city’s premier shopping street. Whilst in Westside, as this truly glamorous area of LA is known, be sure to take a drive through the hills of Bel Air to see its lavish homes and spend some time on Sunset Strip, home to hip clubs such as Dan Aykroyd’s House of Blues.
Hollywood - For many, this is the first image of LA. You can walk along Hollywood Boulevard’s ‘Walk of Fame’ and view almost 2,000 stars’ names, see the landmark Mann’s Chinese Theatre and study the footprints and hand prints of the famous. However, don’t be fooled into thinking you will be rubbing shoulders with the stars, if you really want to see one, visit the Hollywood Wax Museum! A brand new centre piece in the area is the ‘Hollywood Highland Centre’, the new home of the Academy Awards presentations and an entertainment centre boasting a five screen multiplex theatre, world class restaurants and one-of-a kind shops.
Universal Studios Hollywood® - The World’s Largest Movie Studio and Theme Park - Witness the live magic, music and mischief of the Rugrats Magic Adventure, experience the reality-shattering Terminator 2:3D, ride to the moon with E.T. and get T-Rex-size thrills and chills on Jurassic Park - The Ride. Don’t miss Nickelodeon Blast Zone and Animal Planet Live! Plus, visit Universal CityWalk, featuring 65 of LA’s hottest restaurants, night clubs and shops. It’s all right here and it’s all waiting for you at Universal Studios Hollywood!
Film Studio Tours - Whilst in LA take time out to visit Paramount Pictures and Warner Brothers for a real taste of the movies. You can often pick up tickets for live recordings of TV shows as well.
Long Beach - Home of the Queen Mary, the Aquarium of the Pacific and five and a half miles of unspoilt beaches, this ‘Big City by the Beach’ also offers a varied selection of arts, culture, shopping, dining and night-life. Getting around is easy with free transportation to all downtown major attractions with the Passport Shuttle Service.
The Getty Centre - 110 acre arts and cultural museum in the Brentwood Hills where you can view the priceless European art and antiques the museum houses. The museum is free although advance car parking reservations are required.
Santa Monica - Five miles of white sandy beach and a varied collection of shops, night spots and restaurants make this LA’s most exciting beach community. Make time to see the ferris wheel at the famed Santa Monica Pier and check out Third Street Promenade, a browsers heaven of book stores, boutiques, restaurants and cafés.
Disneyland – the original “Disney” is in Anaheim around 60 miles from downtown LA. Whilst smaller than the Orlando version, it is most definitely worth a visit.
Knott’s Berry Farm – in Buena Park is another popular theme park with some exhilarating rides!
Top Tips
Go to a movie at Mann’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Go to Santa Monica and hire a bike (or for the true LA experience, rollerblades) and check out the path along the beach. Great people watching.
Take the short trip from Long Beach to Catalina Island - explore and relax.
Go and watch the world’s best basketball team - if you can get a ticket that is.
Go to McCormick and Schmick’s, round the corner from Rodeo Drive, for Happy Hour and some great value appetisers – big enough to make a meal of!
Take a tour and spot the homes of the stars.
