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Why
Travel to Los Angeles [LA]?
Truly
one of the grotesque, must-see cities of the world; you may well
hate it but if you've ever seen a Hollywood movie you have to experience
it once. Your chances of seeing an A-list star are tiny, but there's no shortage
of stunning, interesting, self-publicising wannabes waiting on tables.
How can you not cruise Beverly Hills, stroll Venice Beach, gawk
at Hollywood Boulevard's famous hands, visit Universal Studios,
get a drink in the Hotel California [Beverly Hills Hotel]...
'I
love Los Angeles... Everybody's plastic, I love plastic. I want
to be plastic.' Andy Warhol
Downside:
- This urban sprawl of massive proportions demands that you rent a
car to get around in reasonable time but direction signs are terrible.
Walking around the shops or the beach is fine but elsewhere you'll
feel like a freak. Freeway traffic is hell.
- Crime is present but not as bad as the movies might suggest, just
be sensible about when and where you go.
Los
Angeles Travel Guide, climate:
Best: Spring and Autumn, tho' winter's
usually OK too.
Worst: July/Aug [hot, humid and frequently
smoggy].
Length
of stay, not incl. flights:
Minimum worthwhile: 2 days. Recommended: 1 week.
Main Attractions:
Hollywood* not what you expect perhaps - a few hot, shabby, crowded
streets with little or no glamour and no stars save those stuck
on the sidewalk.
Still, there's the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Mann's Chinese Theatre,
and the old Roosevelt Hotel.
Beverly Hills*** take
a tour to see the houses of the rich and famous,
or just cruise past the giant palms and bizarre styles in your rental
before 'doing' lunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel or window
shopping in Rodeo Drive.
Downtown** some
excellent architecture [play spot the movie locations], including
Union Station and the Bradbury Building, parks, museums and plenty
of ethnic zones, Mexican, Chinese, Japanese.
Santa Monica** one
of the most attractive seaside towns in LA suburbs with nice architecture
and a calm, friendly atmosphere.
Venice
Beach*** great for exercising and wacky people watching,
including muscle builders and other colourful mutants, with a massive stretch of rather plain beach and excellent walking trails going both north and south.
Mid-Wilshire* get your Kosha or Korean
here, or alternatively try one of the museums, esp. LA County Museum
of Art, or the Page Museum near the La Brea Tar Pits, with severely
oiled up prehistoric critters.
Malibu*, home of
the seriously rich with some superb beaches and worth a drive along
the coastal road for the views.
Santa Barbara*** an hour up the coast
is totally tranquil, beautifully designed as a sort of mega-adobe village.
Short
Trips:
Disneyland*** the first and best Disneyland is half an hour south of downtown - if the traffic is willing. Children
love it and so do some big kids, but be prepared for long queues for
rides unless you go in the evening.
Universal
City*** another good theme park, run by Universal Studios.
Movie based, it's an hour north of LA.
Palm Springs resort city and its environs
of mountains, desert and wind farms is kind of interesting in a
dull way. 2 hours east.
Major
Festivals and Events:
1st
January, Tournament of Roses, Pasadena.
May, Cinco de Mayo.
June, Gay Pride Parade, Santa
Monica Blvd.
September, LA County Fair, Pomona.
For
some dates see: English
Speaking Festivals
Arts
and Culture:
Museums:
head for the huge, free Getty Center in the Santa Monica mountains
for LA's best art collection.
Others of interest are: the excellent Museum of Contemporary Art;
Petersen Automotive Museum; Hollywood Entertainment Museum; Museum
of Death; Hammer Museum.
Cuisine:
Great foods from all over are available in LA. This is where Teppan
Yaki was invented - now adopted by Japan, Spago rules, and Diners
serve crab croissants and champagne for breakfast, cheap.
Nightlife
and Entertainment:
Clubbing - infamy is to be found in abundance
in West Hollywood, along Sunset Blvd, a variety of clubs
and restaurants, often celebrity owned.
Shopping:
Terrific shopping at fair prices:
Posh: Rodeo Drive.
Foody: Farmers Market.
Wacky: Melrose Avenue.
And more USA pages: SW
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