La-La Land. The City of Angels. Hollywood. As a bona fide world capital, Los Angeles is a magnetic source of endless curiosity. A city of vast proportions, the urban swath it carves imposes itself on you like the heavy smog that weighs down the tops of the skyscrapers.
Nevertheless, L.A. has allure. While it lacks the latent sophistication and intellect of New York and Paris, not to mention the affluent legacy of London, Los Angeles is like a sexy blonde at a cocktail party. Not much for witty banter but impossible to ignore. And underneath the marquee idol looks and shiny complexion, a little grime under the fingernails and enough dirt to hold your attention.With that in mind, here are 25 rides you have to take in L.A.
Aside from the entertainment capital and film factory reputation, Los Angeles has a depth that often gets cut from the final print. With ethnic enclaves, superb affordable eats, architecture, nightlife and enough heady glitz and glam to make your head spin, the city’s myriad ‘hoods form a veritable amusement park.
The famous 1.5 mile strip of Sunset Boulevard that runs through West Hollywood is a trashy, frantic span of wall-to-wall advertisements, boutiques, bars and restaurants. From the Viper Room to Whisky a Go Go, Troubador to The Roxy, the Strip has a surfeit of live music halls and nightclubs. The Hollywood Hills that overlook the street are home to some of the most powerful names in show business.
Meander on Melrose and Robertson
While infamous for rehab retreats, Los Angeles is not the place to kick your addiction to retail. A simple walk on Melrose and Robertson between West Hollywood and Beverly Hills could ruin your credit score. With a superfluity of brand name stores to keep the likes of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan busy and draw hopeful paparazzi to window storefronts, the twin streets represent the best bets for star gazers and wannabe trendsters.
There are many reasons not to be part of the audience in a live television show performance and perhaps only three good ones. First, studios offer tickets for free. They want – more like desperately need – people to attend their shows, most of which are abominable. However, every once in a while you can score tickets to a popular show that you know well and maybe even like – perhaps a game show, late night talk show or sitcom. Not only that, the process is actually pretty cool to witness in person and the studio AC provides a great escape from the hot California sun for a few hours.
If you love Hollywood lore and glamour, Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery and Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery represent ideal pilgrimmage sites. The two locations contain headstones for some of the most iconic names from the silver screen, television, sports, popular music and entertainment industry. The list is long and includes Marilyn Monroe, Dean Martin, Bette Davis, Truman Capote, Buster Keaton and Walter Matthau.
California is a state of roads. Everyone drives and owns at least one car, especially in metro Los Angeles. Efforts to navigate the immense city without the benefit of a vehicle are futile. So rent a car. A convertible. Throw on some good music and take a slow cruise down Sunset from the downtown core all the way to the Pacific Ocean. This quintessential L.A. experience is a must.
With few exceptions, the nightlife in Los Angeles is above and beyond that of any other city. La-La Land is party central. Celebrity cameos often determine what makes one club hot over another and while buzz fades comically fast here, you can always count on a killer scene somewhere. Reserve at least one night, one outfit and some serious cash for a night out on the town.
Venice Beach that is. The beach with the household name is a kitschy throwback that still attracts hot bods, freaks, performers, artists and hustlers. The Ocean Front Walk provides the stage for entertainment, with the beach and Pacific in full view. For a reliable free show, check out the action on the basketball courts. The Venice Breakwater is the place to surf and for the height of narcissistic egomania, observe the testosterone on Muscle Beach.
Check out some superb rates on hotels in Los Angeles.
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