
Los Angeles © Thomas Pintarik
Why?  There is surely no-one in the world that would not
choose to holiday in Los Angeles if given the chance, for this is
where celebrities and movie stars pound the pavements and the
sights are familiar icons to all. Los Angeles neighbourhoods like
Beverly Hills and Hollywood are legendary and draw hordes of
tourists to this megalopolis. People also travel to Los Angeles to
enjoy its miles of sea-front suburbs which have their unique
sun-bronzed beach culture.
When?  High season for travel to Los Angeles is during the
hot, sunny months of July and August, but those who prefer to avoid
crowds and high prices are better advised to choose the months
either side of peak season to holiday in Los Angeles. Winter can be
wet but temperatures fairly mild.
Who for?  Anyone who has ever seen a movie will have stars in
their eyes when they holiday in Los Angeles and explore the many
attractions and sights. In addition young and old alike are
thrilled with the famous theme parks like Universal Studios.
More Info:  Learn everything there is to know in order to
plan a holiday in Los Angeles from our exciting Los Angeles travel
guide, which lists events, attractions, excursions and even a
selection of choice restaurants in this sprawling city, with
directions on how to find them and public transport options.
Overview
Millions of visitors arrive each year in Los Angeles eager to
experience for themselves the epitome of the American Dream; to
find the self-indulgent living soap-opera lifestyles, to experience
firsthand the images that are strangely-familiar thanks to the 'big
screen', and to walk in the footsteps of the stars. The fantasy
worlds of Disneyland and Hollywood, the famed extravagance of
Beverley Hills and Malibu, and the sun-soaked beach culture are
just some of the attractions within this 'City of Angels'.
Los Angeles is not really a city but rather a sprawling
metropolis constituting more than 80 smaller city areas woven
together by a daunting network of traffic-congested freeways
without a clearly defined centre. LA is just one of these cities
with Downtown at its heart, and lying outside the city limits is
the surrounding conglomeration of cities that comprises LA
County.
Los Angeles offers a dazzling variety of attractions and
world-famous amusements. Downtown is a mixture of cultures and
local communities: the traditional herbalists of Chinatown's Bamboo
Lane; Little Tokyo with its sushi bars and Japanese gardens; and
the narrow Latino-influenced Olvera Street. Los Angeles County is
endowed with a rich diversity of backgrounds and is a mix-and-match
of people from 140 countries speaking 96 different languages, of
those who have left home to seek acceptance for ideas or
unconventional lifestyles not tolerated in the more conservative
parts of the country, and would-be stars with dreams of fame and
fortune. West Hollywood is the focal point of gay and lesbian
culture, and the posh beachside resort of Santa Monica and
body-builders at Muscle Beach, as well as the childhood fantasy of
Disneyland are all a part of the diversity, although not always a
harmonious one. There are exciting museums, cinemas featuring every
conceivable production, swanky boutiques with the latest fashions,
comedy clubs, poetry readings and coffee house recitals, and music
of every kind played in various venues throughout the city.
Underneath the huge 'Hollywood' sign on the crest of the
Hollywood Hills, the high energy and pleasure-seeking atmosphere,
bold billboards, sexy sun-bronzed people, bright lights and fancy
cars are images of a city that everyone loves to hate; but whether
one likes what one finds or not, Los Angeles must be experienced at
least once in a lifetime.