Vacation/Travel Brochure

By: Katie Bergheim

About People either love it or hate it—but no matter what, Los Angeles

makes no excuses and changes itself for no one. And you've got to admire that. Made up of dozens of communities, there is not one single experience that can sum up the life and heartbeat of this city. But what can be noted about Los Angeles by both tourists and locals alike is the hustle-and-bustle lifestyle, the vibrant and unique neighborhoods, and the extreme diversity that sets it apart from any other city. From the eternal sunshine and Hollywood glitz to all the small communities with their own distinct cultural personalities, this City of Angels will forever be many things to many people.

Places to Go and People to See While not exactly in the center of town geographically due to the

sprawling nature of the city, Downtown Los Angeles is still teeming with activity. There are cultural hotbeds like Olvera Street and Chinatown that are just minutes away from Los Angeles landmarks like the Bank of America Building and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. And if you have a hankering for more art and culture while Downtown, the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) is a definite must-see.

The big sign just about says it all: Hollywood is glitz, glamour, and unavoidable. While many people are critical of Hollywood, they still can't help but satiate their curiosity by visiting this busy area. The center of things is, without a doubt, Hollywood Boulevard, location of world-famous tourist spots including Grauman's Chinese Theater, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and the Kodak Theatre where the Oscars are now held annually.

The Miracle Mile/Hancock Park area is another of L.A.'s historical neighborhoods. Here you will find Wilshire Boulevard's Museum Row. The museums are contained within Hancock Park, a small but peaceful oasis in the center of hectic urban activity. To venture into the far distant past, stop by the La Brea Tar Pits; and to immerse yourself in a famous museum, the LACMA: Los Angeles County Museum of Art is a popular attraction on Miracle Mile.

Ritzy West Hollywood is home to one of the city's most famous (or infamous) attractions: the Sunset Strip. Here you'll find most of the city's hippest clubs frequented by up-and-coming actors and socialites, as well

as some of the city's finest hotels and shopping, including the upscale Melrose Avenue Shopping District. West Hollywood is also the center of the city's gay and lesbian community, and it puts on one of the flashiest and most exhilarating annual Halloween parades in the state.

This world-famous city with its world-famous zip code is synonymous with wealth, status, and celebrity. Beverly Hills’ understated elegance and grace of the residential neighborhoods are balanced out by Rodeo Drive, which offers some of the finest—and most expensive—shopping in the world.

Back in the heyday of Route 66, Santa Monica was the end of the line. Today, this beachfront community offers the best in entertainment for all ages on its famous Santa Monica Pier. You can enjoy some carnival-style food and games or take a ride on the ferris wheel for a breathtaking view of the city and shoreline. When you're ready for some shopping, the active Third Street Promenade has a diverse directory of stores and eateries.

The motto of the coastal community of Malibu is "27 miles of scenic beauty"—and that just about describes it best. The main attraction here is the drive along the Pacific Coast Highway, which takes you past beach after beach on one side of the road and million-dollar hilltop estates on the other. Make sure you have plenty of film and sunscreen. Even at night, the stars just seem brighter.

Venice, just south of Santa Monica, is the city's home to all things eclectic and many things downright bizarre. This small, artsy beach town offers one of the greatest collections of cafes, bars, galleries, antiques and one-of-a-kind shops around. Weekend afternoons on the boardwalk are definitely a memorable experience for any visitor to the city.

On the other side of the Hollywood Hills sits "The Valley," as known by locals. San Fernando Valley features a seemingly endless sea of suburban cul-de-sacs, strip malls, funky shops and restaurants. Hollywood makes its presence known in the cities of Burbank and Universal City, which are home to Warner Bros. Studio and Universal Studios. There are two things you can always count on in the Valley: the earthquakes always feel stronger, and the temperature is always 10 degrees hotter.

Although the South Central neighborhood of Crenshaw gained worldwide publicity as the center of the infamous 1992 riots, the South

Central and Compton area is rich in history and culture. South Central is also home to famous Los Angeles landmarks such as the Watts Towers, the historic Shrine Auditorium, and Exposition Park. Within the famed Exposition Park are the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the California Science Center, and the IMAX California Science Center. It has also long been a place of culture and diversity, as evidenced by the African American Cultural Center.

Long Beach is a fairly large city in its own right and is a neighbor to the well-known district of Orange County. Aside from a plethora of shopping and dining options, this beach community is perhaps best known for the Queen Mary, a Titanic-esque ocean liner now permanently docked here and open for tours. They also have many outdoor activities for tourists to take advantage of, as well as museums and beaches that all can enjoy.

The South Bay is made up of smaller beach towns and quiet neighborhoods such as Hermosa Beach, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach and Palos Verdes Estates.

Pasadena is one of the most prominent communities in the entire state of California. Old Town Pasadena provides one of the greatest clusters of bars, shops, cafes and restaurants in the entire L.A. area. The city is also known for the Norton Simon Museum, which is the largest collection of art owned by one man, and the Rose Bowl. And every New Year's Day, this not-so-sleepy town becomes the focus of the entire world for the annual Tournament of Roses Parade.

East L.A., as evidenced by its name, forms the eastern edge of the city and is a great example of a neighborhood rich in cultural expression.

LAX is one of the largest airports in the United States when it comes to the sheer number of people passing through its hallways. The airport is the main feature of the otherwise sleepy, suburban neighborhood of Westchester. This pocket of quiet, tree-lined streets and neighborhood schools and churches is a refreshing oasis in an often-frenetic city.

Inglewood features a wide variety of restaurants, music and sports venues. Here you will find the Hollywood Park Racetrack and The Forum arena, an entertainment hot spot.

Places to Stay

Top Ten Hotels to Stay at:

1. Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills $480-$703

2. Magic Castle Hotel $194-$286

3. Elan Hotel Los Angeles

$159-$263

4. The Brentwood Inn $159-$263

5. The Redbury @ Hollywood and Vine

$264-$501

6. Omni Los Angeles at California Plaza $206-$401

7. The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles

$438-$682

8. Mr. C Beverly Hills

$333-$489

9. Jerry’s Motel $75-$85

10. Rodeway Inn & Suites Pacific Coast Highway

$73-$74

Top Ten Attractions:

1. J. Paul Getty Museum

o Attraction type: Art Museums; Architectural

Buildings; Lookouts; Museums; Gardens

Owner description: Spectacular museum boasts a most impressive collection by

such luminaries as Van Gogh, Monet and Cezanne, along with the architectural

triumph of its six buildings and gardens.

2. Griffith Observatory o Attraction type: Observatories/

Planetariums; Observation Decks/ Towers

Owner description: A non-profit space observatory located in Griffith Park whose

purpose is to provide the public with information on astronomy and related sciences.

Magic Castle Hotel

Four Seasons Hotel Los

Angeles at Beverly Hills

Elan Hotel Los Angeles

3. Walt Disney Concert Hall o Attraction type: Architectural Buildings;

Theaters; Symphonies; Landmarks/ Points of

Interest; Concerts

Owner description: Home of the Los Angeles

Philharmonic, this concert hall is designed to be one of

the most acoustically sophisticated in the world

4. IRIS by Cirque du Soleil o Attraction type: Performances

Owner description: IRIS A Journey through the World of Cinema (™), the first

permanent production from Cirque du Soleil® in Los Angeles and taking up

residence exclusively at the world-renowned Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland

Center. IRIS is a lyrical, fanciful, kinetic foray through the world of cinema bringing

together dance, acrobatics, live video, and filmed sequences and takes spectators on

a fantastic voyage through the history of cinema and its genres. Featuring 72

performers, 200 costumes, 8,300 square feet of floor surface, 174 loudspeakers, 603

lighting features, 20 video projectors, and 166,000 watts of sound, IRIS joins the

other Cirque du Soleil resident productions in scale, scope and size. IRIS is written

and directed by French director-choreographer Philippe Decouflé, whose credits

include opening and closing ceremonies of the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville.

IRIS features music by Grammy® and Emmy Award® winner and Academy Award®

nominee Danny Elfman.

5. Nethercutt Museum o Attraction type: Specialty Museums

Owner description: The Grand Salon showcases cars of the 1910s to 1930s. There

are also collections of furniture, dolls, timepieces and one of the world's finest

collections of mechanical musical instruments.

6. Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

County o Attraction type: Natural History Museums

Owner description: The county's natural history museum has a new Dinosaur Hall

containing three T. rex specimens. Children will enjoy the interactive Discover Center

and live animal and story presentations.

7. Griffith Park o Attraction type: Parks

Owner description: Comprising over 4,000 acres, Griffith Park, one of the largest

urban parks in the world and is home to a number of wonderful attractions. Also, if you're from out of state, it may be your only chance to see the natural chaparral which covered most of California's hills and valleys before they were built over.

8. Los Angeles County Museum of Art

o Attraction type: Art Museums Owner description: Since its inception in 1965,

LACMA has been devoted to collecting works of art

that span both history and geography—and represents Los Angeles’ uniquely diverse

population. Today, the museum features particularly strong collections of Asian, Latin

American, European, and American art, as well as a new contemporary museum on

its campus, BCAM. With this expanded space for contemporary art, innovative

collaborations with artists, and an ongoing transformation project, LACMA is creating

a truly modern lens through which to view its rich encyclopedic collection—more than

100,000 works strong. With this much to explore, we encourage you to spend an

entire day with us, delving deep into the work of your favorite artists, taking a free

tour, catching a film or concert, or just letting your curiosity lead the way.

9. ArcLight Cinemas

o Attraction type: Movie Theaters

No owner description

10. Westwood Memorial Park

o Attraction type: Cemeteries Owner description: Small cemetery with a large number of graves of stars and

other Hollywood folk.

Los Angeles Sports Teams

Los Angeles hosts a number of world-famous sports teams, including professional organizations like the Dodgers and the Lakers, as well as college teams such as the UCLA Bruins and the USC Trojans. See the list of Venues for links to sports centers such as Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Staples Center.

Los Angeles Amazons - Women's professional football team. The season runs during April to June, and home games are played near downtown L.A.

Los Angeles Clippers - Men's basketball team that plays at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Dodgers - L.A.'s world-famous baseball team that plays at Dodger Stadium in Elysian Park, just north of downtown Los Angeles. On game days, Metro offers a free shuttle (non-ticket holders pay a small fee) from Union Station to Dodger Stadium.

Dodger Stadium Tours - The Championship Tour gives fans an opportunity to view Dodger Stadium in a way only the players do. This behind-the-scenes tour lets fans visit restricted areas and view the ballpark from a whole new perspective. (Seasonal availability)

Los Angeles Galaxy - Soccer foot ball team starring world-famous players David Beckham and Landon Donovan. The team plays at Home Depot Center in Carson, about 20 miles south of downtown L.A. (10 miles west of Long Beach).

Los Angeles Kings - Ice hockey team that plays at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Lakers - World-famous men's basketball team that plays at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Marathon - Annual 26.2 mile run through the streets of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Sparks - Women's Basketball team that plays at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.

UCLA Sports - UCLA Buins website - sports teams and sports programs offered by the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) in Westwood

USC Sports - USC Trojans website - sports teams and sports programs offered by the University of Southern California (USC) next to Exposition Park near downtown Los Angeles.

Ticketmaster Sports Section - tickets for all major LA sports teams. In addition, many teams sell tickets directly from their website.

Sports Venues in or near Los Angeles

Home Depot Center - Home of the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer team. Located in Carson, about 20 miles south of downtown L.A. (10 miles west of Long Beach).

Honda Center (formerly known as the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim) - Anaheim event center, home of the Mighty Ducks. Sporting events, concerts, entertainment. Calendar of Events, Box Office info. (Near Disneyland in Orange County)

Los Angeles Coliseum - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and Sports Arena. Home field for the USC Trojans football team, as well as occasional sporting events and foot races. The Sports Arena is adjacent to the Coliseum and hosts occasional basketball and hockey games, plus boxing matches.

Staples Center - Located near the Financial District in downtown Los Angeles, this is the home court of the Lakers, Kings, Clippers and Sparks. The site of many concert and special events. The website has a calendar of events, seating chart and more.

Teams Near Los Angeles

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim - Baseball team in Orange County. Originally known as the Los Angeles Angels, the team has gone through a couple of name changes (California Angels and Anaheim Angels), although their home field has been at Angel Stadium of Anaheim (formerly known as Anaheim Stadium) from 1965 to present. Angel Stadium of Anaheim is close to Disneyland.

Anaheim Mighty Ducks - Ice hockey team in Orange County. Home games are held at Honda Center in Anaheim (near Disneyland).

Lancaster JetHawks - Minor league baseball team from Lancaster (in the Antelope Valley). It is about a one-hour drive from downtown Los Angeles,

although if you are a fan of baseball then it's worth the trip. JetHawk games are exciting and you are going to have a great view (compared to Dodger Stadium) no matter where you sit.

Horse Racing Tracks:

Fairplex Park - live horse racing during the L.A. County Fair in September. Nearby, the Finish Line Sports Grill satellite video feeds of horse races that occur throughout the United States, Australia, South America and Dubai (United Arab Emirates).

Hollywood Park - Live racing (seasonal) and satellite video racing. Hollywood Park is not near Hollywood - it's in Inglewood, not far from LAX. If you are in Hollywood and want to visit a track, consider Santa Anita Park near Pasadena.

Los Alamitos Race Course - east of downtown LA

Santa Anita Park - Santa Anita is one of the most popular race tracks in Los Angeles. Located in Arcadia (near Pasadena), 14 miles northeast of downtown L.A., the track offers seasonal live horse racing.

Del Mar Thoroughbred Club (near San Diego) - 20 miles north of San Diego (100 miles south of LA). Seasonal live horse races.

Speedways near Los Angeles

AAA Auto Club Speedway - Formerly known as the California Speedway, the track is now sponsored by the AAA Auto Club. offers seasonal NASCAR auto racing and high-performance dragster racing. Located in Fontana (near San Bernardino, about 50 miles east of downtown L.A.)

Long Beach Grand Prix - The annual Indy Car race event held on the public streets of Long Beach. The streets are closed each year for three days during April so that Indy Cars can race through business districts, along the shoreline, and within view of tourist attractions such as Aquarium of the Pacific, Shoreline Village and the Queen Mary. The event also features live entertainment and automobile exhibits.

Toyota Speedway of Irwindale - Offers a wide variety of auto and motor vehicle racing events, including stock car racings, sprint cars, midget cars, drag strip racing, motorcycles, monster trucks and various NASCAR events. Located in Irwindale, around 25 miles northeast of downtown L.A.

LA County Raceway - Now closed. Los Angeles County Raceway was an NHRA Championship Drag Strip and motocross track, located in Palmdale (Antelope Valley). The track was closed in 2007 and is presently seeking a new location.

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