Los Angeles, California Highlights

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