Los Angeles, California Travel Guide
Los Angeles is one of the most famous cities in the world. With
close to 29 million annual visitors, it’s also the top California travel
destination. It is located on the southern coast of California about
75 miles (120km) north of the Mexican border and 400 miles (600km) south
of San Francisco.
The original name of the city was "El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina
de los Angeles" or "The Village of Our Lady the Queen of Angels", but
the name was shortened for obvious reasons. On this page you will find
information to guide you in planning your LA vacation.
Los Angeles landscape
Los Angeles is situated on an irregularly shaped coastal plain about
30 to 60 miles across. It is bounded on the west by nearly 60 miles of
Pacific Coast beaches and ocean cliffs. The San Gabriel and San
Bernardino Mountains form a 2500-meter high wall to the east. The Santa
Monica Mountains define its northern limit and the Santa Anna Mountains
define the southern.
Los Angeles natives inhabit the entire plain, from the local hills to connecting valleys to the slopes of the mountain ranges. The city now covers over 1000 square-miles composed of dozens of interconnected communities. High-rise buildings only exist in a few isolated clusters. From nearly every vantage point, you can gaze across miles of low rooftops with palm trees towering above.
Los Angeles natives inhabit the entire plain, from the local hills to connecting valleys to the slopes of the mountain ranges. The city now covers over 1000 square-miles composed of dozens of interconnected communities. High-rise buildings only exist in a few isolated clusters. From nearly every vantage point, you can gaze across miles of low rooftops with palm trees towering above.
© CorelIn order to commute between these widely dispersed neighborhoods, Los Angeles has constructed a remarkably efficient road system of broad streets, avenues and 10-14 lane wide freeways.
Nice Los Angeles hotels can be booked via EasyToBook.com.
Los Angeles is composed of many interconnected communities
Unlike most cities, Los Angeles does not have a distinct urban
center. It is a collection of individual communities, each with a
uniquely different character. In order to commute between these widely
dispersed neighborhoods, Los Angeles has constructed a remarkably
efficient road system of broad streets, avenues and 10-14 lane wide
freeways. These roadways enable people to quickly navigate across the
vast metropolitan complex at most times; however, avoiding the freeways
between 7 to 9 AM and 4 to 6 PM, when millions of cars clog the roads
during the rush hour commute, is recommended.
Hollywood, Beverly Hills and the studios
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. There are many tour operators who will
take you to see the homes of the stars. Though often times you’ll only
be able to peer over a through a secure gate.
Beach Communities
When visiting Los Angeles, it’s worth your while to travel to
multiple beaches because each has a different atmosphere and draws a
different group of locals. 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.
Also, Los Angeles is a major destination port. Many people come all over the world to enjoy the cruises from Los Angeles sailing over seas.
Downtown L.A.
Downtown Los Angeles 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.
Los Angeles is served by four major airports
Los Angeles has four major airports: Los Angeles International
Airport (LAX), Burbank-Glendale Airport, John Wayne Airport and Ontario
International Airport. In addition, the Orange County Airport is less
than one hour from the city and San Diego International Airport is
within a two-hour drive.
Top LA attractions
Here are a few of the top attractions that every traveler should
see. For more comprehensive information about the attractions in Los
Angeles, visit our L.A. attractions guide.
© CorelHollywood is the historic home of the old movie studios, and Beverly Hills is still the home of the movie stars.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is the famous sidewalk composed of
terrazzo and brass stars honoring celebrities of the past and present.
There are over 2400 covering fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and 3
blocks of Vine Street. Following the stars is a great way to give
yourself a free tour of this famous part of the city.
The famous Hollywood sign is easily the most recognizable landmark in Los Angeles. The sign was originally erected in 1923 to promote a housing community called “Hollywoodland”. Over time the sign fell into disrepair and decay until efforts were made to preserve the sign in 1978. Today, everyone who travels to Los Angeles on vacation looks for the sign is a integral part of the landscape.
You can get a fantastic view of the Hollywood sign from Griffith Park. The park is home to the Griffith Observatory, the LA Zoo and other attractions. It is a popular destination for locals who want to hike, picnick, swim or partake in other activities to enjoy the outdoors.
The famous Hollywood sign is easily the most recognizable landmark in Los Angeles. The sign was originally erected in 1923 to promote a housing community called “Hollywoodland”. Over time the sign fell into disrepair and decay until efforts were made to preserve the sign in 1978. Today, everyone who travels to Los Angeles on vacation looks for the sign is a integral part of the landscape.
You can get a fantastic view of the Hollywood sign from Griffith Park. The park is home to the Griffith Observatory, the LA Zoo and other attractions. It is a popular destination for locals who want to hike, picnick, swim or partake in other activities to enjoy the outdoors.
