Los Angeles
Los Angeles, the city of dreams… where the “American Dream” is manufactured, but if you're not prepared to embrace the dream you might just wonder what all the fuss is about.
An Orientation
It helps to know that what is commonly referred to as 'LA' is really 'LA County', a conglomeration of 88 cities of which LA is just one. The heart of the city of Los Angeles is Downtown, about 12 miles (19km) east of the ocean and hemmed in by the I-10, I-5 and US 101.
Other parts of “LA” include:
- East LA - a Latino-dominated area that edges against Downtown
- South Central LA - the historically African-American neighbourhood
- West Hollywood – west of Downtown LA and the epicentre of gay and lesbian culture
- Bel Air, Brentwood and Beverly Hills – further west of downtown
- Malibu, Pacific Palisades and Santa Monica – all posh beachside areas hugging the northern country coast
- Farther south along the coast is Venice
- The Hollywood Hills - a continuation of the Santa Monica Mountains, are a physical and, some might say, ideological separation between Los Angeles 'proper' and the San Fernando Valley, which forms the northern boundary of LA County. This quintessential suburbia is characterized by unsightly strip malls and major TV and movie studios.
- Orange County, home of Disneyland, extends along the coast to the southeast of Los Angeles County.
When to Go
There really aren't any seasonal restrictions on a visit to LA. Summer is by far the busiest time but despite its desert climate, most of Los Angeles is protected from extremes of temperature and humidity by the mountain ranges to its north and east. August and September are the hottest months, January and February the coolest and wettest. Offshore breezes keep the beach communities cooler in summer and warmer in winter than those further inland, particularly the San Fernando Valley, which is the hottest area in summer and the coldest in winter.
What to See
Disneyland: The ultimate of all amusement parks still packs them in. But despite the crowds, the great rides--Pirates of the Caribbean, The Matterhorn, Splash Mountain, The Haunted House, It's a Small World--still make it worth an annual trip. Just try to do it on a weekday or during off-season, otherwise, the lines are eternal.
Disney’s California Adventure: Disney's newest edition, a theme park based around California is located right next to Disneyland. The popular attractions here are: Paradise Pier, a recreation of a beachside boardwalk with a screaming coaster, Ferris wheel, and arcade games; Grizzly River run, a water romp down a bear-shaped mountain; and an "Aladdin" stage show that's a hoot. The acclaimed Electric Parade, which for years ran at Disneyland, has been moved here every evening.
Museum of Tolerance: The Simon Wiesenthal Center sponsors this high tech, hands-on experiential L.A museum that has a dual purpose: to focus on the dynamics of racism and prejudice in America and to continue to shed light on the history of the Holocaust. Along the way, visitors encounter moving, creative exhibits that force them to reflect on their own humanity. With more than 100,000 children visiting every year, its mission is surely making a difference. A truly unique experience.
La Brea Tar Pits: The La Brea Tar Pits, just outside the downtown area, is one of the world's most important paleontological sites. These bubbling pits have trapped thousands of plants and animals over the last 40,000 years, and fossils of all sorts of prehistoric beasts are still being uncovered. You can see excavations in action at an observation pit, and the Page Museum of La Brea Discoveries displays many of the fossils pulled from the pits, including saber-tooth cats and an enormous dire wolf.
Hollywood
Los Angeles has built its reputation on the glamour of the movies, and most visitors want to experience at least a little of the glamour themselves. Hollywood itself is in northwestern LA. Take a walk down Hollywood Blvd and you'll pass by famous sights such as Mann's Chinese Theatre, where more than 150 of the rich and famous (and infamous) have left their prints on the sidewalk out the front. Head east along the Boulevard, stepping on those famous bronze stars, and you'll find yourself at the Roosevelt Hotel. Soak up a bit of 1930s ambiance: this is where the first Academy Awards were held in 1928 and where Errol Flynn, Salvador Dali and F Scott Fitzgerald often propped up the bar.
The corner of Hollywood and Vine was once the heart of off-screen action for the Industry, but it’s reputation is a little more notorious now.
More...
For more information please visit the Los Angeles Yellow Pages, which features maps,
directions, hotels and local businesses.
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