| Los Angeles is a very fascinating city and a | | | | pole and go out on one of the all day fishing |
| great place for anybody to take a vacation. | | | | boats or just hang out in the Fisherman's |
| Visiting Los Angeles and the surrounding | | | | Village that overlooks the Pacific Ocean and |
| areas could be one of the best and most | | | | has food, drinks and gift shops. There are |
| memorable experiences that you will ever | | | | places near most of the beaches where you can |
| have. Tourists seem to get excited about | | | | rent bicycles. There is Bike Path the runs |
| everything from the simplest things to the | | | | along the side of the Pacific Ocean right on |
| bigger things. For some reason, tourists | | | | the beach. If you like rollerblading, |
| always like to see the famous Hollywood sign | | | | rollerskating and / or skateboarding, then |
| and especially visitors from non-coastal | | | | you will really like Venice Beach. |
| states like to go to the beach and see the | | | | |
| Pacific Ocean for the first time. | | | | Normally from the west side of Los Angeles if |
| | | | you are at or near the Playa del Rey Beach |
| If you like more of an adrenalin rush of fun | | | | and look up, you can see the planes taking |
| and are planning to come to the city of Los | | | | off over the ocean. If you are somewhere |
| Angeles, you will be in reasonable driving | | | | east of the airport you can see the planes |
| distance from several amusement and water | | | | coming in for a landing. But if you look up |
| parks including Six Flags Magic Mountain, | | | | and see a helicopter, don't get confused. It |
| Hurricane Harbor, Disneyland, Knott's Berry | | | | is probably not a guided helicopter tour. |
| Farm, Universal Studios, Raging Waters and | | | | More than likely it is the Los Angeles Police |
| other places like the Los Angeles Zoo and | | | | Department Helicopter chasing down a suspect |
| Griffith Park. | | | | with the news media helicopters trying to get |
| | | | their shots and doing their best to stay out |
| If you are really interested in the Film | | | | of the way. Police car chases are very |
| Industry, you can go to the tapings of | | | | common around here. You hear sirens from |
| numerous television shows where you can see | | | | emergency vehicles coming from all |
| your favorite stars live and in person. Or | | | | directions. But that is Los Angeles' finest |
| if you prefer to be in front of the camera | | | | keeping our city nice and safe. |
| instead of in the audience, there are several | | | | |
| advertisements in newspapers, magazines and | | | | In all fairness, as a traveler you really |
| posted on telephone poles looking for all | | | | need to make the safety of both yourself and |
| kinds of people who want to be background | | | | your family a top priority no matter what |
| Extras in movies, television shows and | | | | city in the world you visit. |
| commercials. No experience is necessary. Be | | | | |
| sure to go down Hollywood Boulevard and look | | | | If you want to go on another cruise, you can |
| on the ground for the stars of your favorite | | | | go to Catalina Island. You can go over |
| entertainers on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. | | | | there, have some fun and come back the same |
| | | | day if you want or you can stay for several |
| You can go to Staples Center, home of the 9 | | | | days if you really like it. There are |
| time NBA (National Basketball Association) | | | | numerous activities out there. |
| World Champions Los Angeles Lakers. Magic | | | | |
| Johnson has moved on from playing | | | | Another historic site that you would not want |
| professional basketball, but you will still | | | | to miss is the street corner of Florence and |
| see his name all over Los Angeles. He is | | | | Normandie Avenues which was where the 1992 |
| involved with a few businesses around town | | | | Los Angeles Riots all began. Most of the |
| including some 24 Hour Fitness locations, the | | | | businesses that were burned to the ground |
| Magic Johnson Theatres located in the | | | | during that time have been rebuilt since |
| Crenshaw Shopping Center, Starbucks Coffee | | | | then, so of course they look much better and |
| and Magic Johnson's TGI Friday's Restaurant. | | | | more modern. Others may never be rebuilt. |
| | | | |
| Right across the street from the Forum in | | | | On the far south side of Los Angeles County |
| Inglewood where the Lakers used to play for | | | | is Long Beach where you can see the Queen |
| about 30 years until a few years ago, is the | | | | Mary Ship that is docked. You can tour the |
| Hollywood Park Race Track and Casino. They | | | | ship. Also, while you are in Long Beach you |
| only have horse racing a few months out of | | | | can visit the Aquarium of the Pacific for |
| the year. But you are in "Luck" because the | | | | underwater adventure. Just like the |
| Casino is in full swing 24 hours a day, 7 | | | | California Science Center, it is another |
| days a week to satisfy your gambling needs. | | | | great educational learning opportunity for |
| It is one of the few places around here that | | | | both adults and children. |
| at least so far, they still have FREE | | | | |
| parking. | | | | For shopping, it depends what you are |
| | | | interested in. You can get just about |
| For Baseball fans you can go to Dodger | | | | anything you can think of at the malls which |
| Stadium, home of the former World Series | | | | are located all over the place. The Del Amo |
| Champions Los Angeles Dodgers. You would not | | | | Mall in Torrance (the southern part of Los |
| want to go to Dodger Stadium without eating | | | | Angeles County) is one of the largest malls |
| one of their famous Dodger Dogs. | | | | in the United States. If you are looking for |
| | | | discount clothing and other merchandise, then |
| Not only do we have professional sports | | | | go to the garment district in downtown Los |
| champions, we also have our very famous cross | | | | Angeles. If you want the expensive stuff, |
| town college rivals, the U.C.L.A Bruins and | | | | then go down Rodeo Drive and the Wilshire |
| the U.S.C Trojans who have both brought back | | | | Boulevard area in Beverly Hills. Just east |
| team championships to the city of Los Angeles | | | | of Beverly Hills is the Grove where you can |
| and they both have had their students and | | | | check out the Farmers Market that has been |
| alumni bring back Gold Medals when they were | | | | serving Los Angeles since 1934. The area has |
| representing the United States over the years | | | | been changed, expanded and built up over the |
| in the Olympics. If you want to see | | | | past few years. |
| another historic Sports site, then go to the | | | | |
| Los Angeles Coliseum. Not only was it the | | | | Wilshire Boulevard is one of the main |
| home of the Rams and then the Raiders, way | | | | business streets in Los Angeles that runs |
| back when Los Angeles used to have a NFL | | | | from the beach to downtown Los Angeles. So |
| Football team, but it was a major venue for | | | | if you want to drive down Wilshire Boulevard |
| both the 1932 and the 1984 Summer Olympics. | | | | just for fun, you can start by the Santa |
| If you watched the Olympics then you saw the | | | | Monica Pier overlooking the Pacific Ocean and |
| Los Angeles Coliseum during the Opening and | | | | it will take you through the cities of Santa |
| Closing Ceremonies and the Track and Field | | | | Monica, Beverly Hills and Los Angeles. When |
| events. The Olympic Torch is still there. | | | | you get to downtown, be sure to take a look |
| | | | at the Los Angeles Civic Center area. |
| While you are at the Coliseum, it would be | | | | |
| well worth your while to walk over to the | | | | Another interesting street to drive down for |
| California Science Center in Exposition Park. | | | | fun is Crenshaw Boulevard. You can start at |
| It is a great educational learning | | | | Wilshire Blvd and go southbound on Crenshaw |
| experience for both adults and children. The | | | | Boulevard. It will take you through the |
| Sports Arena is in that general area. Also, | | | | inner city of Los Angeles. Your trip will |
| within walking distance in that area are | | | | take you by the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw |
| several museums that you might be interested | | | | Shopping Center, Leimert Park in the Crenshaw |
| in going through. | | | | District, then through Inglewood, Hawthorne, |
| | | | Lawndale, Torrance, Rolling Hills Estates and |
| You would not want to miss out on spending | | | | all the way down until you end up in Rancho |
| time on the 405 San Diego Freeway which runs | | | | Palos Verdes in the South Bay area of Los |
| along the west side of Los Angeles County so | | | | Angeles County. |
| you can enjoy the bumper to bumper traffic | | | | |
| that we all get to experience so frequently. | | | | Check the schedule of the Los Angeles |
| Most people in the area call it the world's | | | | Convention Center. They always have some |
| largest parking lot. Your foot rides the | | | | type of entertainment, business or |
| brake of your car while burning that | | | | informational seminars, expos or workshops |
| expensive gasoline. Usually you are either | | | | going on over there. You might find |
| at a full stop or traveling at a snails pace. | | | | something going on that you may want to |
| Just hope that they do not have a vehicle | | | | attend. There are countless food and |
| accident on the freeway ahead of you because | | | | beverage locations all over the Los Angeles |
| the snail would actually beat you in a race. | | | | area from fine dining restaurants to fast |
| | | | food places and every shade of grey in |
| If you leave the Los Angeles International | | | | between that will satisfy any appetite. You |
| Airport (LAX) which is right next to the | | | | just have to find the ones that match your |
| Playa del Rey Beach on the far west side of | | | | taste. There are all kinds of entertainment, |
| the city, you can get on the 405 freeway and | | | | dancing, activities and shows even in |
| head northbound. When you are finally able | | | | addition to all of the things that are |
| to get through the traffic, you can visit the | | | | mentioned above. |
| J. Paul Getty Museum which is just before you | | | | |
| get to the valley. | | | | If you are not visiting someone who has a car |
| | | | that you can use, then you should probably |
| You can go to Marina del Rey just north of | | | | rent a car because waiting around for public |
| the airport where you can enjoy a dinner | | | | transportation in Los Angeles will use up |
| cruise on the ocean or bring your fishing | | | | most of your vacation time. Have fun. |