- Official name: Los Angeles
- Language: English
- Currency: American Dollar
Los Angeles Sights and Museums
WHAT TO SEE
Along the Pacific shore, Malibu, Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey and Palos Verde are high-class residential beach communities. Venice Beach, on the other hand, is known for bikini clad roller bladers, muscle-bound weight lifters and an odd assortment of slightly off-beat characters. Long Beach is a thriving seaport with a vibrant commercial district and oil wells. Laguna Beach houses a large artist's community.
Hollywood is the historic home of the old movie studios, and Beverly Hills is still the home of the movie stars. Here you can drive along the western terminus of historic route 66 on Santa Monica Boulevard. You can stroll along famous Hollywood Boulevard and the Sunset Strip. In nearby Burbank, you can visit many modern movie and television studios. In Anaheim, you can see the original Disney Land and Knott's Berry Farm.
Downtown is certainly a commercial district, but it is no more the urban center of the city than many other neighborhoods. Near the downtown area are ethnic neighborhoods with large Asian populations called, Korea Town, China Town and Japan Town. Nearby are several predominately Afro-American neighborhoods and many predominately Hispanic-American neighborhoods.
The Hollywood Museum - The Hollywood Museum is the ultimate destination for movie fans. The museum's permanent collection captures the miracles of motion picture magic, past and present, on four floors and in 5,000 eye-popping displays.
Warner Bros Studio Tours - The Warner Bros. Studios VIP Tour is the only studio tour where you can enjoy an in-depth, personalized look, inside the movie magic machine, at one of Hollywood's busiest and most famous movie and television studios.
Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Gardens - Located on 86 acres in Claremont, California, just south of the San Gabriel foothills, the Garden is home to 70,000 native Californian plants, representing 2,000 native species, hybrids and cultivars. Each season the Garden showcases the incredible wealth and diversity of our state’s treasure of native plants.
American Cinematheque's Egyptian Theatre - The Cinematheque is a cultural, arts organization that programs year-round specialty film series at the newly renovated, landmark 1922 Egyptian Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard.
Hollywood Entertainment District - The Hollywood Entertainment District is a business improvement district (BID) spanning an 18-block stretch of Hollywood Boulevard. The District includes Walk of Fame, Mann's Chinese Theatre, and world-famous intersection of Hollywood and Vine.
Hollywood Entertainment Museum - Celebrates Hollywood - the place and the entertainment arts - with interactive exhibits, video presentations, studio back-lot tour, and original sets from 'Star Trek' and 'Cheers.'
Hollywood Wax Museum - This unique and exciting attraction takes visitors of all ages on a personal stroll down memory lane, recapturing special moments with old friends from movies, television, music, sports and history.
Homestead Museum - A century of southern California history awaits you at the Homestead Museum! This six-acre site dates from the era when California was still part of Mexico through the decade of the 1920s when Los Angeles had become a major American city.
Speedzone - SpeedZone, a park built around speed and competition, incorporates real racing action, indoor interactive entertainment and great food to create a one-of-a-kind entertainment experience. Situated on approximately 12 acres of land.
Irwindale Speedway - Just about everything with wheels can be found racing on the Irwindale Speedway twin ovals ... Stock Cars, Sprint Cars, Midgets, Supermodifieds, Legends, Trucks, and more can all be seen in wheel-to-wheel competition action at this great new facility!
Aquarium of the Pacific - The Aquarium of the Pacific is a celebration of the world's largest and most diverse body of water. Through dozens of breathtaking exhibits, you'll meet more than 12,000 of this ocean's inhabitants, including some 550 different species.
Universal Studios - The world’s largest working film and television studio featuring plenty of thrill rides, one-of-a-kind attractions, and live shows offered year-round.
Long Beach Museum of Art - The Long Beach Museum of Art is located on a magnificent bluff site overlooking Long Beach Harbor and the Pacific Ocean. The campus includes the historic Elizabeth Milbank Anderson house and carriage house (built in 1912), a new pavilion with two floors of expansive gallery space for changing exhibitions, and oceanfront gardens.
Museum of Latin American Art - The Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California, is the only museum in the Western U.S. to exclusively feature contemporary art from Latin America.
Queen Mary Seaport - A floating city awash in elegance, the Queen Mary, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, remains one of the most famous ships in history. Relive the elegance of transatlantic travel with historic shipwalk tours, elegant restaurants, unique shops, 16 art deco meeting and banquet salons, and a charming on-board hotel.
Queen's Wharf - Queen's Wharf is an open-air seaside market for the freshest fish, lobster, crab, shrimp and seafood available.
Red Line Tours - Red Line Tours is LA's only daily operating walking Tour Company. They offer "edutainment" sightseeing tours of Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles that take you inside the famous landmarks and let you discover the hidden treasures of America's second largest city.
Museum of the American West - You are invited to explore the rich cultural tapestry of the American West. The wide-ranging exhibitions, collections, programs, and educational offerings connect the past to the present and showcase the history of the region west of the Mississippi River.
Beverly Center - Since appearing in Los Angeles, Beverly Center, with over 160 specialty stores and restaurants, has become one of the city's most recognizable landmarks and shopping destinations.
California Science Center - The California Science Center is the west coast's largest hands-on science museum! Through hands-on experiences, you'll learn about human inventions and innovations, the life processes of living things and more. The Science Center also features and IMAX Theater and fantastic special exhibits that change regularly.
Children's Museum of Los Angeles - A fun interactive environment where children learn by doing.
George C. Page Museum - The Page Museum is located at the Rancho La Brea Tar Pits, one of the world's most famous fossil localities, recognized for having an unusually diverse assemblage of extinct Ice Age plants and animals. Visitors learn about Los Angeles as it was between 10,000 and 40,000 years ago, during the last Ice Age, when animals such as sabertoothed cats and mammoths roamed the Los Angeles Basin.
The Original Farmer's Market - Farmers Market continues to proudly boast of its international cuisine, wide range of gifts from around the world, regularly scheduled special events for the family and outdoor flavor, not to mention the freshest and finest meats, poultry, seafood, produce and flowers in all of Los Angeles.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor - Set amidst the fringes of a tropical jungle, guests pass through the entry portal and are swept into the lost lagoons of a forgotten world. Pirate treasures, playful sea creatures, ancient ruins, scattered remains of Red Eye's shipwrecked sea vessel and tribal artifacts await discovery on the shores of this tropical paradise.
Japanese American National Museum – The unique American museum located in Little Tokyo's historic district. Only national museum dedicated to sharing the Japanese American experience.
Los Angeles County Museum of Art - With more than 120,000 works in its permanent collection, LACMA is the premier visual arts museum in the western United States.
Los Angeles Zoo - Located in Griffith Park, the Los Angeles Zoo, home to 1,200 animals representing 350 species.
Kodak theatre - Kodak Theatre is the crown jewel of the Hollywood and Highland entertainment complex located in the heart of historic Hollywood. Since opening in November 2001, the theatre has hosted a range of prestigious artists and events including the Academy Awards® Ceremonies.
Museum of Contemporary Art - The only institution in LA devoted exclusively to art from 1940 to the present, featuring exhibitions of painting, sculpture, drawings, prints, and photographs of importance.
Museum of Neon Art - The Museum of Neon Art (MONA) is a non-profit, cultural and educational organization which exhibits, documents and preserves contemporary fine art in electric media and outstanding examples of neon signs.
Museum of Tolerance - The Museum of Tolerance is a high tech, hands-on experiential museum that focuses on two central themes through unique interactive exhibits: the dynamics of racism and prejudice in America and the history of the Holocaust - the ultimate example of man's inhumanity to man.
Grauman's Chinese Theatre - Grauman's Chinese Theatre is the most famous theatre in the world. Since its gala opening in May 1927, millions of movie patrons and visitors to Hollywood have been drawn to the theatre. They come to be entertained and enthralled by the legendary Chinese, home to the Forecourt of the Stars.
Skirball Cultural Center - The Skirball museum collection, reflecting a history of 4,000 years, ranks among the largest of its genre in the world, with 25,000 objects of artifacts related to Jewish life and culture. The museum's core exhibit, Visions and Values: Jewish Life from Antiquity to America explores themes related to the pursuit of the American dream through immigration, acculturation and the embracing of democratic values.
Starline Tours of Hollywood - Since 1935, 'Starline Tours of Hollywood' provides the most exciting tours to discover greater Los Angeles. Our daily Hollywood and Los Angeles tours are from 2 hours: Movie stars homes tour which departs every 1/2 hour, to all day tours like the Grand tour of Los Angeles or Los Angeles Tours by night.
Southwest Museum - The Southwest Museum holds one of the nation's most important museum, library, and archive collections related to the American Indian. In addition it has extensive holdings of Prehispanic, Spanish Colonial, Latino, and Western American art and artifacts.
Los Angeles Natural History Museum - The Museum assembles, conserves, interprets, and holds in trust collections of irreplaceable objects from nature and human history.
Placerita Canyon Park and Nature Center - Placerita is a unique east-west running canyon featuring cool, shaded oak groves, a willow and sycamore-lined seasonal stream and numerous other interesting plant and animal communities. The historic "Oak of the Golden Dream" is the site of California's original gold discovery in 1842.
Norton Simon Museum - European paintings and sculpture range from the 14th to the 20th century. The Museum exhibits Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo masterpieces by Raphael, El Greco, Rubens, Rembrandt, Hals, and Tiepolo, along with works from the 19th and 20th century by Goya, Manet, Monet, Degas, Renoir, van Gogh, Cézanne, Rousseau and Picasso.
The Gamble House - The Gamble House in Pasadena, California, is an example of American Arts and Crafts style architecture. The house and furnishings were designed by Charles and Henry Greene in 1908. The house, a National Historic Landmark, is owned and operated by the University of Southern California and is open for public tours.
Raging Waters - Raging Waters is California's largest water theme park featuring a 50-acre aquatic recreation park which includes water slides, speed slides, rides, chutes, lagoons, children's activity pools and beaches for sunbathers.
Huntington Library - The Huntington is an oasis of art and culture set amidst 150 acres of breathtaking gardens. Three art galleries and a library showcase magnificent collections of rare books and manuscripts, 18th- and 19th-century British and French art, American art from the 18th to the early 20th century, and a small but noteworthy collection of Renaissance paintings.
Cabrillo Marine Aquarium - Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is an educational, recreational, and research facility devoted to encouraging active public participation to promote knowledge and conservation of the marine life of southern California.
Los Angeles Maritime Museum - Located in the former Municipal Ferry Terminal in the Port of Los Angeles, the Los Angesles Maritime Museum is the largest maritime museum on the West Coast. The Museum offers seven galleries of exhibits exploring the maritime history of Southern California.
Six Flags Magic Mountain - Six Flags Magic Mountain features the world's most thrilling rides plus exciting shows and family adventures. Next door, Hurricane Harbor water park is open May-Sept. The park now has more roller coasters than any other park in the world.
Museum of Flying - The Museum of Flying, located in Santa Monica, California, houses a rare collection of World War II fighter aircraft.
Santa Monica Museum of Art - The Santa Monica Museum of Art is located at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica, the museum features contemporary art exhibits and artists' projects.
Santa Monica Pier Aquarium - The Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is a marine science learning center and aquarium serving K-12 classes from schools in the greater Los Angeles area as well as the general public. The center uses interactive lessons and activities to introduce students to the basic concepts of marine environmental studies, marine biology and oceanography.
House of Blues - West Hollywood's House of Blues features eclectic live music and Southern Delta-inspired cuisine.
Griffith Observatory - The Griffith Observatory has been a major Los Angeles landmark since 1935. It is visited by nearly two million people each year end ranks seventh on the list of major tourist attractions of Southern California. It sits on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood where it commands a stunning view of the Los Angeles basin below. Thousands of people enjoy the view from its balconies, especially at night.
Los Angeles Entertainment
EVENTS
February 3 - 5 - Southwest Arts Festival, Indio. More than 200 artisans from the U.S. and Canada display their works; food and entertainment. (800) 44-INDIO or (760) 347-0676.
February 13 - 15 - World Ag Expo, Tulare. World's largest farm equipment show and international exposition features 1,500 exhibitors, global marketplace and cutting edge technology. (800) 999-9186 or (559) 688-1751.
February 16 - 25 - Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival, Indio. Exhibits of Coachella Valley dates and produce; camel and ostrich races, rodeo, Arabian Nights Musical Pageant, carnival rides and food. (800) 811-FAIR or (760) 863-8247.
March 4 - Foothills Celebration, Grass Valley. Enjoy fine food, wine, beer and art, all from local establishments, while listening to great music. (530) 272-8315.
March 23 - 26 - Redwood Coast Dixiland Jazz Festival, Eureka. Celebration of Dixieland, swing, blues and zydeco music; food and dance. (707) 445-3378.
April 8 - 23 - BubbleFest X at Discovery Science Center, Discovery Science Center, Santa Ana. Explore the sciences behind the amazing and colorful world of bubbles. Activities demonstrate a bubble’s science and math along with the ultimate show featuring World Record holder Fan Yang. (714) 542-2823.
April 8 - May 21 - Renaissance Pleasure Fair, San Bernardino. Re-creation of 16th-century English county fair and marketplace features costumed performers, entertainment, fine handmade crafts, sumptuous food and hearty ale. (909) 880-6211, ext. 212.
April 21- 23 - Asparagus Festival, Stockton. Multi-event festival celebrates asparagus with entertainment, tasty asparagus dishes, celebrity-cooking demonstrations, crafts and car shows, and Spear-It Run. (209) 644-3740.
April 30 - Fiesta Broadway, Los Angeles. One of America's largest Hispanic events celebrates the best in Hispanic music, fun and food. (310) 914-1933.
May 11- 14 - May Fair, Dixon. Oldest agricultural fair in California features entertainment, educational and competitive exhibits, junior livestock auction, wool show, pig races, carnival and food. (707) 678-5529.
May 20 - 21 - Artichoke Festival, Castroville. Artichoke cuisine, classic car show, 10K and half-marathon, and vegetable art and artichoke eating contests. (831) 633-2465.
May 20 - 21 - Orange Blossom Festival, Riverside. Citrus heritage celebration includes parade, fireworks, entertainment, arts and crafts, carnival, food, children's area and living history village. (909) 715-3400.
May 25-September 10 - Dinosaurs, Discovery Science Center, Santa Ana. New interactive exhibit that includes life-size Dinosaurs and an online dinosaur videogame quest. Walk-thru an Argentinasaurus, examine a T-Rex, explore a stegasaurus and more! (714) 542-2823.
May 25 - 29 - Sacramento County Fair, Sacramento. Demolition derby, pig races, livestock show, horse show, entertainment and educational displays. (916) 263-2975.
May 5 - 14 - San Bernardino County Fair, Victorville. Pig races, fabulous food and great concerts. (760) 951-2200.
May 28 - Sierra Festival of the Arts, Grass Valley. Enjoy fine art & crafts by California artists whose talents make this event a cultural destination. (530) 272-8315.
June 1- 4 - Contra Costa County Fair, Antioch. Old-fashioned fair features entertainment, motor sports, children's activities, vendors, exhibits and livestock. (925) 757-4400.
June 9 -11 - Ventura County Greek Festival, Camarillo. Greek food and music, rides, games, dance exhibitions and lessons, and church tours. (805) 482-1273.
June - San Jose Tamale Festival, San Jose. Come celebrate in a healthy family environment with music, dance, and of course, tamales!!! (408) 617-2520.
June 10 -11 - The Downtown Burbank Fine Arts Festival returns for an engagement Saturday and Sunday, 10:00 A.M. to dusk. The event, which has expanded to include live music, pottery wheel demonstrations and chalk artists creating paintings on streets, has built a large following in the past two years.The Downtown Burbank Fine Arts Festival is free and open to the public.818.709.2907
June 10 - July 4 - San Diego County Fair, Del Mar. Animal, woodworking and floral exhibits, midway and entertainment. (858) 755-1161.
June 14 - 25 - San Joaquin Fair, Stockton. Fair features top-name entertainment, horse racing, exhibits, junior livestock auction, carnival and food. (209) 466-5041.
June 15 - 18 - El Dorado County Fair, Placerville. Old-fashioned county fair with music, carnival rides, exhibits, livestock and contests. (530) 621-5860.
June 16 - 18- California Huck Finns Jubilee, Victorville. Camping, cat fishing, bluegrass music, circus, hot air balloon rides and more! (909) 780-8810.
June 23 - July 9 - Alameda County Fair, Pleasanton. Family fun in the sun with live horseracing, carnival, free concerts, and our new Action Zone! (925) 426-7600.
June 30 - July 4 - Marin County Fair, San Rafael. Traditional fair features carnival rides, fireworks, farm animals and New Inventor's Showcase. (415) 499-6400.
July 12 - 16 - Santa Barbara County Fair, Santa Maria. Carnival, livestock auction, children's activities, fine and home art displays, destruction derby and rodeo. (800) 549-0036 or (805) 925-8824.
July 18-22, 25-29 - Oakland Temple Pageant, Oakland. Enjoy a full symphony orchestra, a 450-voice balcony chorus, actors, soloists, a stage chorus, and dancers. Admission is free; however, tickets are required because of limited seating. (510) 531-0704.
July 14 - 23 - Solano County Fair, Vallejo. Traditional county fair includes horse racing, entertainment and exhibits. (707) 551-2000.
July 25 - August 7 - Sonoma County Fair, Santa Rosa. Horse racing, 4-H exhibits, flower show, entertainment, carnival, rodeo, food and children's activities. (707) 545-4203.
August 10 - 13 - Redwood Empire Fair, Ukiah. Carnival rides, entertainment and food. (707) 462-3884.
August 11 - September 4 - California State Fair, Sacramento. Top-name entertainment, fireworks, county exhibits, livestock nursery, culinary delights, midway, horse racing, and more. (916) 263-3247.
September 2 - 4 - Capitola Begonia Festival, Capitola. Begonia Floats, Music, Sand Castles, Volleyball, Children's Art, Horseshoes, Fishing, Rowboat races. (831) 476-3566.
September 12 - 17 - Santa Cruz County Fair, Watsonville. Old-fashioned county fair includes carnival, food, livestock and entertainment. (831) 724-5671.
September 8 - October 1 - Los Angeles County Fair, Pomona. Largest county fair in the nation; exhibits, carnival, horse racing, food and entertainment. (909) 865-4263.
September 20 - October 1 - Kern County Fair, Bakerfield. Entertainment, rodeo, carnival, junior livestock show, food, and arts and crafts. (661) 833-4900.
November 10 - 12 - 2nd Annual L. A. International Tamale Festival, Los Angeles. Tamales, Tamales & more Tamales from all over the world! (323) 318-4553
November - County Christmas Faire, Grass Valley. More than 150 top artisans from around the U.S.; caroling, wagon rides, food, entertainment and Santa Claus. (530) 273-6217.
November 24, December 1, 8, 15, 22 - Cornish Christmas, Grass Valley. Recapture the spirit of Christmas past amid the quaint surroundings of this historic Gold Rush town. (530) 272-8315.
December 2 - 3 - The second annual Tamale Festival, Indio. Three-day event includes 80 vendors selling more than 300,000 tamales; food, arts and crafts, and carnival rides. (760) 342-6532
Los Angeles Transports
By air
Los Angeles International Airport - 1 World Way, Los Angeles. LAX is on of the major ports of entry for international flights into the United States as well as a major destination for domestic flights so it can be quite busy, especially around holidays. Bob Hope Airport - 2627 Hollywood Way, Burbank. Alaska, America West, American, Delta, JetBlue, Southwest and United Airlines fly into this airport located north-east of Downtown. Long Beach Airport - 4100 Donald Douglas Dr., Long Beach. Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, America West Airlines and JetBlue Airways fly into this airport located in southern Los Angeles County. Ontario International Airport - 1940 East Moore Way, Ontario. Located 37 miles (59 km) from of Downtown Los Angeles, Ontario is about a 40 minute drive east of Downtown. John Wayne Airport - 18601 Airport Way, Santa Ana. Located 40 miles (64 km) from Downtown Los Angeles, John Wayne Airport is a 45 minute drive south-east of Downtown.
By car
Several major highways come into Los Angeles County:
- From the north: Interstate 5 and U.S. Highway 101
- From the east: Interstates 10 and 15
- From the south: Interstates 5 and 405
By train
The Pacific Surfliner runs from San Diego to San Louis Obispo. It has three stops in Los Angeles County: Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles, Glendale and Burbank.
San Joaquin runs from Bakersfield to Oakland and Sacramento with Amtrak Thruway bus connections to Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles.
Metrolink - Metrolink trains connect surrounding counties with Los Angeles County with most lines having a terminus at Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. Each line has several stops in Los Angeles County in addition to stops in their originating counties.
By sea
Long Beach has a Carnival Cruise Lines terminal. 231 Windsor Way, Long Beach, San Pedro has a cruise ship terminal that all of the major cruise ship lines (except Carnival) sail from. Berth 90-93, San Pedro.
