Travel Destination: Los Angeles
About Los Angeles
Los Angeles (or LA), nicknamed the City of Angels is the largest city in California and the second largest in the US (next only to New York City). It a very popular place not only in the US but around the world for the fact that Hollywood is found here makes it so. The tinseltown is a place where dreams of becoming rich and famous are granted left and right. It is also famous because of the posh Platinum Triangle’s (a rich neighbourhood considered most exclusive in the LA area are Beverly Hills, Holmby Hills and Bel-Air) display of wealth and luxury.
If you don’t want to become a star, there are still plenty of things to see and do in this city which is home to around four million. It is after all a major centre for finance, technology, fashion, culture, arts, media, science, education and international trade.
Although life is good in LA it doesn’t mean that everything here comes with a price. Interestingly enough, there are free things to do here too. Go to the beach (Surfrider, Venice and Cabrillo beaches are just good choices in LA’s 81-mile coastline), explore the museums (California Science Center, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium and Getty Center doesn’t charge entrance fee), have a picnic at Griffith Park (the country’s largest park), drive around the Mulholland Drive, visit the Central Public Library at Fifth and Flower, get to know some fossil finds in La Brea Pits in Hancock Park where you can enter the George C. Page Museum for free on Tuesdays, and at the corner of Third and Fairfax is the LA Farmers Market where you can revel in the freshest produce and cheeses, affordable dining places and outdoor shopping.
You may also come and see the Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (established in the 1920s), sashay like a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame, admire the street entertainers in Venice Oceanfront Walk every weekend, and go stargazing in Rodeo Drive (no purchase needed on this world famous shopping strip, just walk on by). Little Tokyo and Chinatown are also free to explore so go for it if you want to experience cultural exchange. North and South Fairfax also offer ethnic experience so wine and dine in their restaurants and cafes.
If you’re feeling artistic, don’t pass up on the emerging NoHo (short for North Hollywood) Arts District. Marvel at the square mile area of boutique, vintage clothing stores, galleries, outdoor cafes and specialty restaurants.
A version of the French Riviera is also found in LA. It’s called Marina del Rey where some 600 private yachts are docked. Bike ride, jog, roller-skate or just sit back and watch the world go by in the park.
LA visitors can opt to traverse the place on foot. You can head downtown starting from Temple street towards Grand Avenue and visit the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, a fortress like church designed by Jose Rafael Moneo then turning left to Grand Avenue you’ll find the Music Center, a cultural centre where you can also find the Ahmanson Theatre, Mark Taper Forum and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the venue for the Los Angeles Opera.
To the south of Grand Avenue is the Walt Disney Concert Hall, a venue for the Los Angeles Master Chorale and Los Angeles Philharmonic. Enter the building and take an audio tour to learn more about the place. Then move forward to the east of Grand Avenue where you can find the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). There are more than 5,000 works housed in this museum made by artists from the second half of the 20th century. If you’re still wanting, there are museum tours and exposition park tours that you can also take.
At the end of the day, don’t forget to visit the bars and enjoy the night life. Or better yet, rest and save your energy for an eco-friendly shopping trip the next day.
Party, have fun, go around, drink, enjoy the flavours, there are just too many adventures to have in LA, that is, if time is on your side.