Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California Travel Guide

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Intro to Los Angeles

If you fly into Los Angeles at night, take advantage of the aerial view; Los Angeles looks like an enormous circuit board with its profusion of lights and massive, intricate street grids. The people – and the array of modest to grandiose lifestyles – of Los Angeles heats up the circuitry of the big city, and the pulse of L.A. electrifies the circuit board, day in and day out.

Los Angeles has a reputation that precedes itself. It’s where six degrees of separation from Kevin Bacon are too many. We’re talking about one or two. Everyone has a cousin who knows someone who has a friend who – L.A.’s celebrity connection ad infinitum. There is a bit of a social and geographical separation that makes Los Angeles seem a bit impersonal. It’s the very thing that locals try to bridge.

The city, however, is widely recognized as the land of opportunity. That’s what makes the Los Angeles so great. The city of “Angels”, the translation of Los Angeles, breeds celebrities every minute from its Hollywood veins and superstars from its entertainment capital epicenter. Nowhere else can you walk through a mall or grab a coffee at a Coffee Bean and randomly run into a celebrity. Can you mingle with the stars? Depends on your nerve and gusto. Can anyone make it “big” in Los Angeles? Yes, but get in line and get ready for some long, hard work ahead. Did I say long years of work ahead?

Starting with the basics, locals refer to Los Angeles as L.A. The only time “Los Angeles” is ever said by locals is when they’re singing a song that mentions “Los Angeles” or telling visitors that they (L.A. locals) are from “Los Angeles.” Los Angeles is located in the southern California region. It has golden miles of beaches and coastline to the west and runs into mountains to the east. Geographically, the Greater Los Angeles area is huge and spread out. Los Angeles County stretches beyond Long Beach into Anaheim and Huntington Beach to the south and into Ventura County to the north. Los Angeles city propery covers a lot of land as well. You most certainly need some sort of mode of transportation to get around. Likely, you will need a car. One thing about L.A. is that the auto industry thrives in the vast city. Los Angeles has the largest “car” culture and locals tend to say that everyone “lives in their car.” For this reason, it can be a bit difficult to meet people and make friends. Geography, traffic and lack of an extensive metro/subway system can be blamed for people’s slight isolation.

There are approximately 17 million people who inhabit the Greater Los Angeles area. L.A.’s demographics reach to the far corners of the world with virtually every race and creed. The Mexican and Asian population make up more than half of Los Angeles. As well, African American, Middle Eastern, European and so forth have a large presence. The diversity of Los Angeles’ demographics lends charm to the city. The diversity is evident with all the ethnic enclaves that have sprung up over the years. Thai Town, Filipino Town, China Town, East Los Angeles, Little Tokyo, Korea Town (K Town, as it’s referred to) and Little Ethiopia are just a few ethnic enclaves that brightly color Los Angeles.

Color is the order of the day in Los Angeles. If the sun’s not illuminating L.A., Angelenos (locals) will throw on their high beams, especially the lights from the L.A.’s famed entertainment industry. Los Angeles IS the entertainment capital – mecca – of the world.

But beyond the lights, camera, action of Los Angeles, however, are less flashy but nevertheless exciting, everyday activities. Because of its physical location, Los Angeles can boast about its endless array of activities and sightseeing opportunities. The list runs the gamut: the famous Malibu Beach to the west, Big Bear Mountain and its popular ski resort to the east, Palm Springs Desert to the east, Hollywood, Disneyland, Getty Museum, shopping and you name it.

The fun you can have in Los Angeles depends on your sense of adventure – and your wallet. You can throw down some serious cash and have a great day or you can spend $5 to $10 and have an equally fantastic day. Los Angeles has something for everyone.

So wrapped snuggly in some of the most consistent and enviable weather in the world, Los Angeles boasts a true melting pot of race, gender and cultures. And its this diversity which spawns the motley and abundant amount of things to do in Los Angeles. From the sun to the surf to the mountains and to the urban mix, Los Angeles has it all. Welcome to Los Angeles – the city of angels, opportunities and dreams.