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Los Angeles

The entertainment capital of the United States, Los Angeles is more than just a fabled wonderland built on dreams. Today, the nation’s second-largest city is a place of staggering diversity and creative irreverence, where hybrid cultures find expression in innovative food mashups (LA is the birthplace of the Korean taco), soul-stirring street art and world-class cultural institutions. LA’s iconic downtown landmarks, including the billowing steel of Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, are matched in spectacle by the Hollywood sign, Hollywood Walk of Fame and famed TCL Chinese Theatres. And, when it comes to vibrant beach culture, the Santa Monica Pier, palm-studded Venice Beach and the rolling surf of Malibu have become symbols of carefree LA living.

LA LA Land

Los Angeles is a remarkably diverse geographic area that encompasses a stunning expanse of Southern California’s coast. Just 130 miles from Mexico’s border, LA is flanked by the San Gabriel Mountains to the north and the Santa Monica Mountains along the coast to the northwest. The east-west Interstate 10 cuts through LA’s heart and is known as the Santa Monica Freeway. The weather in LA is hard to beat, with just shy of 300 days of sunshine a year. During the winter, powder hounds take to the slopes; several ski resorts are located within a 90-minute drive of the city.

Outdoor Recreation

LA’s answer to Central Park (but a lot more rugged), Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks in the U.S. and is laced with more than 50 miles of trails. The park’s high point is Griffith Observatory, with a planetarium and fantastic views of the city. You may catch a view of a celebrity or two on the easy, 3-mile Runyon Canyon trail in the Hollywood Hills.

Surf’s Always Up

Home to some of California’s most iconic beaches, each with their own distinct characters, LA’s tony coastal enclaves boast some of the nation’s top surf spots and most cherished landmarks, including the Santa Monica Pier. Twenty-two miles southwest of LA, Catalina Island entices visitors with its white sand beaches and calm waters, along with family-friendly adventures within a laid-back island setting.

Malibu, Robert H. Meyer Memorial State Beach, La Piedra State Beach

LA Mountain Majesty

Just 32 miles northwest of downtown LA, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is the world’s largest urban national park, with over 500 miles of trails woven amidst native California grassland, chaparral, riparian and coastal sage scrub. There are trails for all levels, ranging from novice loop trails to more challenging ascents that reward agile hikers with spectacular 360-degree Pacific Ocean views. As well as terrific hiking, the area draws local mountain bikers, rock climbers and horseback riders.

LA Gems

Los Angeles combines cutting-edge cultural institutions with eclectic dining, around-the-clock nightlife, breathtaking architecture and the glitter of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Downtown’s crown jewel is Frank Gehry’s Walt Disney Concert Hall, a stunning fusion of art, architecture and sublime acoustics. Next door, the brand-new Broad’s $140 million building houses more than 2,000 works by 200 contemporary and postwar artists. In Hollywood, the three-hour Warner Bros. Studio Tour allows visitors to explore outdoor sets and sound stages, and view original props and costumes used in films such as “La La Land,” “Argo” and “Batman.”

Movie Magic: Sign of the Times

A symbol of both Los Angeles’ major industry and its glitzy denizens, the Hollywood sign has become one of the nation’s most beloved monuments. Located near the summit of Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills, it was originally created in 1923 as an advertisement for a new real estate development called “Hollywoodland.” The sign heralded the rise of Los Angeles as the nation’s movie-industry mecca, which started in the early 1900s, when filmmakers flocked to the West to establish production studios near or in the budding metropolis. Visitors are no longer allowed to hike up to the iconic sign; the best views are on the scenic road to the Griffith Observatory.

Griffith Observatory and Downtown Los Angeles, California, USA skyline at dawn.

Universal Fun

A visit to Universal Studios and the surrounding area fuses three classic LA experiences: a studio tour, an amusement park and a flashy shopping promenade. On a guided tram ride, you can view dozens of actual Universal movie sets and props. Movie-themed thrills include the Revenge of the Mummy roller coaster and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Cap your visit with a stroll down the Universal CityWalk, a strip of brand stores and chain restaurants located adjacent to the park.

Party in LA

The Los Angeles Film Festival has been a movie lover’s pilgrimage since the 1990s. Held at the ArcLight Cinemas in September, there’s all the pomp of a red-carpet gala, along with world premieres and star-studded panels. Looking for something different? The eccentric, offbeat soul of Venice Beach is captured each September with the Abbot Kinney Festival, California’s largest free community festival, with food trucks and vendors. Hollywood hosts the world’s largest Halloween street party with a raucous parade of drag-queens, live music, competitions and themed parties.

For More Information

LA Tourism and Convention Board

888-733-6952

www.discoverlosangeles.com

California Tourism

877-225-4367

www.visitcalifornia.com