Those arriving in Los Angeles for the first time generally find themselves lost and confused pretty quickly. The sprawling city lacks a clearly defined center and the fact that it is huge does not help either. What does begin to clarify matters is to realize that what is commonly referred to as 'LA' is really 'LA County', a conglomeration of 88 cities of which LA is just one. With people from 160 countries speaking 96 different languages, the sheer diversity can be overwhelming. Four thousand square miles comprise Los Angeles County, an area divided into five distinct regions: Downtown, Hollywood, The Valleys, Westside, and the Beaches.
Choice of activities abound. For beach-lovers there are coastal hikes, tide-pool gazing, swimming, surfing, diving, fishing, and (clothing-optional) sunbathing. Getting out of the city to the surrounding mountains allows for hiking and rock climbing or skiing depending on the season. The county at large also has more than 200 miles of bike trails. Of course the city itself is known for shopping and star-spotting (the human rather than celestial variety).
Several major attractions include: Beverly Hills, Disneyland, downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood, Malibu, Santa Monica and Universal City (just to name a few). These no doubt familiar names bring with them images that the studios have stamped across our minds. To try to summarize all that glitz and glamour here would be futile; suffice it to say that you should get yourself a good tour book and have fun!
However, here are just a few random suggestions that may not be the first ones you would think of when discussing LA activities:
American Cinematheque at the Egyptian Theatre
This state-of-the-art movie theatre features rare and unusual films with live organ accompaniment. The American Cinematheque is a non-profit cultural organization that works to provide a public presentation of the Moving Picture in all its forms.
La Brea Tar Pits
These pits are one of the world's most important paleontological sites, and archaeologists continue their excavations today. They have excavated over a million bones from the pits since 1906 and many fossils are displayed in the natural history museum. Replicas of some of the fossils are available as well.
Knott's Berry Farm
Formerly a simple berry farm and chicken eatery, this establishment has grown tremendously into another theme park. Often overlooked in the shadow of Disneyland, Knott's still maintains much of its "Old West" influence, and if you are tired of Mickey Mouse, you can come here to see Snoopy and his friends instead.
Pasadena
Visiting Pasadena is akin to stepping back to the 'golden years' of Los Angeles. Many of the houses in this area of the city are from the turn of the century including a few famous buildings: the Millard House, La Miniatura (Frank Lloyd Wright), Gamble House (Charles and Harry Greene's Craftsman bungalow) and even "Wayne Manor" from the original Batman TV series. Old Town Pasadena is a 14-block historic district brimming with restaurants, coffeehouses and little shops. The Norton Simon Museum is also located there where you can view an extensive collection of European art including Rodin's The Thinker.
LA is a melting pot of ethnicities and the food favorites are correspondingly varied. The latest trend in LA restaurants is for "New American Fare." This culinary style is based on generous portions of familiar favorites, supplemented by some foreign or exotic extras to add some flare to the meal.
Contrary to popular belief, LA does have a more refined side including over 300 museums. The following is a link to a list of museums that are open free-of-charge on select days and times... free always being a wonderful thing on a student budget! ( http://www.experiencela.com/freemuseumdays.htm ) (Accessed June 2, 2004) This website also has a fascinating array of "Themed Metro Adventures" that give you history and trivia about places that can be reached by metro and explored on foot.
Sources:
( http://www.lonelyplanet.com ) (Accessed June 2, 2004)
( http://www.experiencela.com ) (Accessed June 2, 2004)
( http://www.10bestcityguides.com/LosAngeles ) (Accessed June 2, 2004)
( http://www.la.com ) (Accessed June 2, 2004)
( http://www.travelto-losangeles.com ) (Accessed June 4, 2004)