Los Angeles, California Highlights

Los Angeles is a very fascinating city and a greatone of the all day fishing boats or just hang out in
place for anybody to take a vacation. Visiting Losthe Fisherman's Village that overlooks the Pacific
Angeles and the surrounding areas could be oneOcean and has food, drinks and gift shops. There
of the best and most memorable experiencesare places near most of the beaches where you
that you will ever have. Tourists seem to getcan rent bicycles. There is Bike Path the runs
excited about everything from the simplest thingsalong the side of the Pacific Ocean right on the
to the bigger things. For some reason, touristsbeach. If you like rollerblading, rollerskating and /
always like to see the famous Hollywood sign andor skateboarding, then you will really like Venice
especially visitors from non-coastal states like toBeach.
go to the beach and see the Pacific Ocean forNormally from the west side of Los Angeles if
the first time.you are at or near the Playa del Rey Beach and
If you like more of an adrenalin rush of fun andlook up, you can see the planes taking off over
are planning to come to the city of Los Angeles,the ocean. If you are somewhere east of the
you will be in reasonable driving distance fromairport you can see the planes coming in for a
several amusement and water parks including Sixlanding. But if you look up and see a helicopter,
Flags Magic Mountain, Hurricane Harbor, Disneyland,don't get confused. It is probably not a guided
Knott's Berry Farm, Universal Studios, Raginghelicopter tour. More than likely it is the Los
Waters and other places like the Los Angeles ZooAngeles Police Department Helicopter chasing
and Griffith Park.down a suspect with the news media helicopters
If you are really interested in the Film Industry,trying to get their shots and doing their best to
you can go to the tapings of numerous televisionstay out of the way. Police car chases are very
shows where you can see your favorite stars livecommon around here. You hear sirens from
and in person. Or if you prefer to be in front ofemergency vehicles coming from all directions. But
the camera instead of in the audience, there arethat is Los Angeles' finest keeping our city nice
several advertisements in newspapers, magazinesand safe.
and posted on telephone poles looking for all kindsIn all fairness, as a traveler you really need to
of people who want to be background Extras inmake the safety of both yourself and your family
movies, television shows and commercials. Noa top priority no matter what city in the world
experience is necessary. Be sure to go downyou visit.
Hollywood Boulevard and look on the ground forIf you want to go on another cruise, you can go
the stars of your favorite entertainers on theto Catalina Island. You can go over there, have
Hollywood Walk of Fame.some fun and come back the same day if you
You can go to Staples Center, home of the 9want or you can stay for several days if you
time NBA (National Basketball Association) Worldreally like it. There are numerous activities out
Champions Los Angeles Lakers. Magic Johnson hasthere.
moved on from playing professional basketball,Another historic site that you would not want to
but you will still see his name all over Los Angeles.miss is the street corner of Florence and
He is involved with a few businesses around townNormandie Avenues which was where the 1992
including some 24 Hour Fitness locations, the MagicLos Angeles Riots all began. Most of the
Johnson Theatres located in the Crenshawbusinesses that were burned to the ground during
Shopping Center, Starbucks Coffee and Magicthat time have been rebuilt since then, so of
Johnson's TGI Friday's Restaurant.course they look much better and more modern.
Right across the street from the Forum inOthers may never be rebuilt.
Inglewood where the Lakers used to play forOn the far south side of Los Angeles County is
about 30 years until a few years ago, is theLong Beach where you can see the Queen Mary
Hollywood Park Race Track and Casino. They onlyShip that is docked. You can tour the ship. Also,
have horse racing a few months out of the year.while you are in Long Beach you can visit the
But you are in "Luck" because the Casino is in fullAquarium of the Pacific for underwater adventure.
swing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to satisfyJust like the California Science Center, it is another
your gambling needs. It is one of the few placesgreat educational learning opportunity for both
around here that at least so far, they still haveadults and children.
FREE parking.For shopping, it depends what you are interested
For Baseball fans you can go to Dodger Stadium,in. You can get just about anything you can think
home of the former World Series Champions Losof at the malls which are located all over the
Angeles Dodgers. You would not want to go toplace. The Del Amo Mall in Torrance (the southern
Dodger Stadium without eating one of theirpart of Los Angeles County) is one of the largest
famous Dodger Dogs.malls in the United States. If you are looking for
Not only do we have professional sportsdiscount clothing and other merchandise, then go
champions, we also have our very famous crossto the garment district in downtown Los Angeles.
town college rivals, the U.C.L.A Bruins and theIf you want the expensive stuff, then go down
U.S.C Trojans who have both brought back teamRodeo Drive and the Wilshire Boulevard area in
championships to the city of Los Angeles andBeverly Hills. Just east of Beverly Hills is the
they both have had their students and alumniGrove where you can check out the Farmers
bring back Gold Medals when they wereMarket that has been serving Los Angeles since
representing the United States over the years in1934. The area has been changed, expanded and
the Olympics. If you want to see another historicbuilt up over the past few years.
Sports site, then go to the Los Angeles Coliseum.Wilshire Boulevard is one of the main business
Not only was it the home of the Rams and thenstreets in Los Angeles that runs from the beach
the Raiders, way back when Los Angeles used toto downtown Los Angeles. So if you want to
have a NFL Football team, but it was a majordrive down Wilshire Boulevard just for fun, you
venue for both the 1932 and the 1984 Summercan start by the Santa Monica Pier overlooking
Olympics. If you watched the Olympics then youthe Pacific Ocean and it will take you through the
saw the Los Angeles Coliseum during the Openingcities of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and Los
and Closing Ceremonies and the Track and FieldAngeles. When you get to downtown, be sure to
events. The Olympic Torch is still there.take a look at the Los Angeles Civic Center area.
While you are at the Coliseum, it would be wellAnother interesting street to drive down for fun
worth your while to walk over to the Californiais Crenshaw Boulevard. You can start at Wilshire
Science Center in Exposition Park. It is a greatBlvd and go southbound on Crenshaw Boulevard.
educational learning experience for both adults andIt will take you through the inner city of Los
children. The Sports Arena is in that general area.Angeles. Your trip will take you by the Baldwin Hills
Also, within walking distance in that area areCrenshaw Shopping Center, Leimert Park in the
several museums that you might be interested inCrenshaw District, then through Inglewood,
going through.Hawthorne, Lawndale, Torrance, Rolling Hills
You would not want to miss out on spending timeEstates and all the way down until you end up in
on the 405 San Diego Freeway which runs alongRancho Palos Verdes in the South Bay area of
the west side of Los Angeles County so you canLos Angeles County.
enjoy the bumper to bumper traffic that we allCheck the schedule of the Los Angeles
get to experience so frequently. Most people inConvention Center. They always have some type
the area call it the world's largest parking lot. Yourof entertainment, business or informational
foot rides the brake of your car while burningseminars, expos or workshops going on over
that expensive gasoline. Usually you are either atthere. You might find something going on that you
a full stop or traveling at a snails pace. Just hopemay want to attend. There are countless food
that they do not have a vehicle accident on theand beverage locations all over the Los Angeles
freeway ahead of you because the snail wouldarea from fine dining restaurants to fast food
actually beat you in a race.places and every shade of grey in between that
If you leave the Los Angeles International Airportwill satisfy any appetite. You just have to find the
(LAX) which is right next to the Playa del Reyones that match your taste. There are all kinds of
Beach on the far west side of the city, you canentertainment, dancing, activities and shows even
get on the 405 freeway and head northbound.in addition to all of the things that are mentioned
When you are finally able to get through theabove.
traffic, you can visit the J. Paul Getty MuseumIf you are not visiting someone who has a car
which is just before you get to the valley.that you can use, then you should probably rent a
You can go to Marina del Rey just north of thecar because waiting around for public
airport where you can enjoy a dinner cruise ontransportation in Los Angeles will use up most of
the ocean or bring your fishing pole and go out onyour vacation time. Have fun.