Los Angeles, the epicenter of Southern California, is one of the most geological diverse regions on earth with mountains, desert and the sea within hours, and in some places, minutes of each other.  In addition to having one of earth’s most moderate, yet diverse climates, it’s also one of the most economically dominant regions with an economy that is larger than all but a few countries in the world.  And at present, it’s also home to more famous, recognizable names of individuals of any place on earth.  But as every region’s geography defines its nature, let’s start there…

Beaches:  How about a combination of 81 miles of mostly warm white sand, some rocky cliffs, and beautiful surf!  (Most Famous beaches North to South:  Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice, Marina Del Rey, Manhattan, Hermosa, Redondo, Long Beach, Huntington, Newport, and Laguna…)  Charter a boat and see seals, whales, and dolphins!  Offshore islands like Catalina are within a half hour by helicopter or a day of sailing!

Mountains:  Hollywood Hills, Santa Monica Mountains, and the Sierra Madre’s… (Sometimes snowcapped!  Numerous ski resorts are within a couple of hours, smaller slopes within 35 miles.  And you probably thought Los Angeles was flat.  Hiking paths are numerous.  Wildlife includes mountain lions, bears, coyotes, deer, various species of hawk &, eagles, raccoons, and Jack Nicholson to name a few).

Famous Locales:  Hollywood (Sunset & Hollywood Boulevards), Beverly Hills (Rodeo Drive), Malibu (Pacific Coast Highway), Pasadena, Santa Monica, Venice Beach, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach (more Pacific Coast Highway, etc… it goes on and on and on!

The Arts:  No, in spite of what you may have heard, Los Angeles is not culturally deprived.  With classical art venues like The Getty Center, Norton Simon Museum and Armand Hammer Museum, it has more than it’s fair share.  Music venues from the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, to the Hollywood Bowl, to small rock & roll clubs, are perhaps the most abundant in the country. 

Entertainment:  Via media, L.A. is unequivocally the Entertainment Capitol of the World as well as showroom and testing ground for the future.  It is the epitome of hope and striving for that thing we call America… From cutting edge Restaurants to abundant Music Venues and Comedy Clubs, L.A. has it all!  Click on our related links on the home page for more!  Professional sports teams include the Lakers, Clippers, Sparks (basketball), the Ducks & Kings (hockey), Dodgers & Angeles (baseball), and the Galaxy (soccer).  Professional Golf Tournaments include the Riviera Classic and numerous Tennis venues abound.  Public golf courses abound at great prices (think Tiger Woods)!   USC and UCLA provide college basketball, football and other sports at the highest level.  If we only had a professional football team…

Los Angeles as a Base:  L.A. is the main port or portal to not only Southern California, but to the South Seas or the Orient as well.  Catalina & Balboa Islands are within an hour or a day of sailing!  Santa Barbara and Orange Counties, known for their wonderful climates and beauty, border the county and can easily be made on a daytrip with time to spare.  Resorts like Ojai and Palm Springs are 1 ½ to 2 ½ hours by car! Sequoia National Park (think redwoods) is around 4 to 5 hours away.  Joshua Tree National Park (think dessert or the band U 2) can be done in a day.  How about San Simeon (aka the Hearst Castle), William Randolph Hurst’s mansion retreat!  San Diego is within 2 hours (traffic permitting); Las Vegas, approximately 5 hours by car, 1 by jet…

Surfing or Sailing:  Include Windsurfing here too; Malibu was home to the origins of surfing in the Continental USA!  There are too many spots to mention here!  Serious historians please see:  The Beach Boys!  Rent a boat out of Marina del Rey or there are a bundle of fishing or whale watching charters.

P.S.   In case you haven’t heard, it’s also has Great Weather… Shhhhhh…Go back a page and click on links that interest you.  (On the left side are links that lead to over a hundred favorite locations.  On the right are links that help you organize your daily or future travel, check flight status, or map yourself.)

LAX

John Wayne (Orange County)

Burbank

Beverly Hills:  Beverly Hills Hotel (Polo Lounge), shopping Rodeo Drive & sleeping in the Beverly Wilshire Hotel (remember Pretty Woman), & great Restaurants (ever heard of Spago)?  Here is one of many links under keywords Beverly Hills…

Catalina Island:  (50 minutes by ferry; less by helicopter) Take a Day Trip and see live buffalo or spend the night and take a movie in at the famous Catalina Casino on an island once entirely owned by the Wrigley family.

Comedy Venues:  (Mostly on the Westside) For the 10 Best Comedy Store, Laugh Factory, Improv…Click Below:

China Town:  (Downtown L.A.)  Restaurants and Shops striving to make a comeback!

Disneyland:  (30 miles S.E. of Downtown L.A. in Anaheim)  Just Think Mickey Mouse or Click On:

Farmer’s Market & the Grove:  (Hollywood)  Fine Shopping & Restaurants!

Griffith Park:  (5 miles N.E. of Hollywood)  The largest Municipal Park in the USA; Home to Greek Theatre, Autry Museum, L.A. Zoo, 3 Golf Courses - two 18 hole. With 4,107 acres there is plenty of room for hiking, horseback riding and more!

Griffith Observatory:  (Hollywood)  An astrological view of the Stars - I’m sorry, the Universe!

Hollywood:  Hollywood Sign, Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame, Chinese Theater, Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood Bowl, Griffith Observatory, Hollywood Wax Museum, House of Blues, Cinerama Dome, and great Restaurants!

Hollywood Park:  (5 miles east of LAX!)  Horse Racing and Gambling!

Knotts Berry Farm:  (22 miles S.E. of Downtown L.A.)  America’s 1st Theme Park!

La Brea Tar Pits:  (Hollywood)  1,600 Fossils from the Ice Age!

Laguna Beach:  (Orange County)  Think beach, rocky cliffs, great restaurants and great  local art all rolled into one!

Little Tokyo:  (Downtown L.A.)  Restaurants and shopping!

Long Beach:  Queen Mary, Long Beach Grand Prix,  & the largest port the on West Coast!

Los Angeles Coliseum:  (Just south of Downtown L.A.)  2 Olympics & the Rolling Stones, need anyone say more!

Malibu:  Where the mountains meet the sea; and Home to the Rich & Famous!  Parks and great restaurants; the best view, Geofrey’s Restaurant!

Marina Del Rey:  Marina, Boat Charters, Fisherman’s Wharf, & Seafood Restaurants!

Magic Mountain (aka Six Flags):  (35 miles N.W. of Downtown L.A.)  Think big, big, big Roller Coasters!

Movie Studios:  Fox, Paramount, Sony (MGM), Universal, Walt Disney, & Warner

Newport Beach Marina & Harbor:  Home to other Rich & Famous like John Wayne! 

Pasadena:  Norton Simon Museum of the Arts, City Hall (perhaps the regions most gorgeous architecture), Rose Bowl, the Wrigley Mansion, and a rejuvenated Nightlife in Old Town which challenges the Sunset Strip!

Queen Mary:  (Long Beach)  Great Tour or spend the night on the grand ole lady!

Santa Anita Racetrack:  (Santa Anita)  Upscale Horseracing!

Santa Monica:  3rd Street Promenade, Pier & Beach, great Restaurants!

Sunset Strip:  Nightlife where all the stars prefer to get arrested!

Television Studios:  ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, & more…

Universal Citywalk (Universal City):  Movies, music, and cool shops galore!

Universal Studios Tour (Universal City):  Plan on at least half a day!

Universities:  UCLA (Westwood) & USC (Just south of Downtown L.A.)

Venice Beach:  Historic Canals, The Infamous Beach Boardwalk, Muscle Beach, Bars, Restaurants & and a lot of Sand!

Watts Towers (Watts):  A poor man’s obsession that turned into Art!  The epitome of L.A…

Westwood:  UCLA’s hangout, Armand Hammer Museum, Marilyn Monroe’s Grave, movies, shops, and restaurants!

Will Rogers State Park & Home (Pacific Palisades):  Hike or just relax!

Ahmanson Theater (Downtown L.A.):  Live theatrical Plays!

Armand Hammer Museum (Westwood):  Consists primarily of paintings and works on paper by French nineteenth-century masters!

(Grauman’s) Chinese Theater (Hollywood):  Probably the most famous movie theater in the world!

Cinerama Dome (Hollywood):  One of the great movie theaters of the world!

Dodger Stadium (Just above Downtown L.A.):  Home of the Dodgers & many Concerts!

Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (Downtown L.A.):  Ballet, Symphony, & Plays!

(Gene) Autry Museum of Western Heritage (Just north of Hollywood)

Getty Center (Brentwood):  World famous Art & Sculpture from the J. Paul Getty Estate!

J. Paul Getty Museum at the Villa (PCH: Pacific Palisades):  More Antiquities!

Great Western Forum (5 miles east of LAX):  Big Venue of Concerts to Rodeos!

Greek Theatre (Hollywood):  Outdoor amphitheater; Rock to Pop!

(The) Grove of Anaheim:  Wide Venue From Music to Comedy!

(The) Honda Center (Anaheim):  Formerly the Arrowhead Pond;  Home to the Mighty Ducks!

Hollywood Bowl (Hollywood):  Outdoor amphitheater; Beatles to Classical!

House of Blues (West Hollywood):  Blues, Rock & Hip Hop!

Kodak Theater (Hollywood):  New home of the Oscars & Miss USA Pageant!

Mark Taper Forum (Downtown L.A.):  The Classics!

Norton Simon Museum of the Arts (Pasadena):  Art Exhibitions!

Pasadena Civic Auditorium (Pasadena):  Small classical venue!

Peterson Automotive Museum (Near Beverly Hills): Classic Rare Autos!

Shrine Auditorium (Just south of Downtown L.A.):  Award Shows & Music!

Shubert Theater (Century City):  Contemporary to Classical Plays!

Southwest Museum (Just north of Downtown L.A.): Native American Antiquities!

Staples Center (Downtown L.A.):  Home of the Lakers, Clippers, & Kings!

The Roxy Theatre on Sunset (West Hollywood):  Rock to Willie Nelson!

Walt Disney Concert Hall (Downtown L.A.):  L.A. Philharmonic Symphony Plus!

Wiltern Theatre (Hollywood Mid-Wilshire):  Rolling Stones & U2 have both  played at this old small venue!