The City
The sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles is spread across four thousand square miles of desert between the mountains and the ocean, several mini cities bound by a network of freeways. The city is divided into five main regions: Downtown, Hollywood, The Valley, Westside, and the Beaches, each distinct unto themselves. The sheer size of the place may be a source of confusion to the first time visitor, but don't give up! It soon begins to make sense. Tourists tend to center their visit on the western side of the city and the beaches, where beach hotels and attractions are located. However, it is worth venturing Downtown for bit more grit and less glitz. As well as for some great eating and drinking, Downtown is home to the magnificent Walt Disney Concert Hall, an experience in itself. Los Angeles will always be associated with movies and movie stars. From the huge Hollywood sign on the hill to Universal Studios, the glamour of Beverly Hills to the unavoidable celebrity spotting in bars and restaurants, you cannot help but be lured into this surreal and magical world. However, if you fail to look beyond this celluloid culture, you will be missing some of the most fabulous art collections and galleries in the world. The Getty Center, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the Norton Simon Museum all house spectacular permanent collections. With most days of the year being sunny and warm, outdoor life is a large part of the Los Angeles life style. Santa Monica, Venice and Malibu beaches offer some great urban beach culture with roller skating on the promenades and shopping on the boulevards. Griffith Park is one of the largest city parks in the country and offers all manner of outdoor pursuits (including the LA Zoo). With a population as diverse as its geography, Los Angeles has become a hub of multi-ethnicity and multiculturalism, apparent in its food and art and in the faces and languages of the streets. Both Chinatown and Koreatown offer some great food, interesting shopping, and, when it comes to the latter, some top karaoke!