Los Angeles, California Highlights

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