With an estimated population of almost 4 million people in 2005, Los Angeles, California, is the second largest city in the United States and decisions made here greatly affect the rest of the world. The city is a center for film, television, and music, and with its Mediterranean climate and star-studded neighborhoods, it is a great place to live and to visit.
If you love nightlife, the Sunset Strip may be a perfect street for you. This patch of road is a mile and a half long strip that passes through West Hollywood and is known for cutting edge entertainment, nightclubs, boutiques, bars, and restaurants. The West Hollywood neighborhood is well known for its large gay population, and holds the huge Gay and Lesbian Pride parade annually. Other notable landmarks in this area include the Sierra Towers, the Viper Room (where River Phoenix died), the House of Blues, and The Pacific Design Center.
No matter what sport you like, you can find a team to cheer on in Los Angeles. Baseball fans can watch the Los Angeles Dodgers, a team once found in Brooklyn, and if you love NBA, Los Angeles is home to the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers. For hockey, check up the Los Angeles Kings, and for soccer, the Los Angeles Galaxy. The city is the birthplace of beach volleyball and windsurfing, as well as skateboarding and rollerblading. Los Angeles has twice hosted the summer Olympic games and was the site of the very first Super Bowl. Outdoor enthusiasts can also find their place in Los Angels, with a variety of hiking and biking trails, hang gliding spots, and ski resorts.
One of the most famous districts in the world, Hollywood is a mecca for anyone who loves movies. Tourists flock to this area, especially to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which has the stars for celebrities who are honored for their contributions to the film television, theatre, radio, or music industries. The first star was award to Joanne Woodword in 1960. Another famous site in Hollywood is Man’s Chinese Theatre, which is home to a number of premiers every year and is most famous for the autographs and handprints of stars outside in the cement. Nearly 200 celebrities have made their marks here.
Los Angeles centers around the downtown district, home to a number of famous landmarks and tourist sites. Like Manhattan in New York, this is the financial and business hub of the city, as well as a shopping center. Filled with skyscrapers, in downtown Los Angeles you can visit the U.S. Bank Tower, which is the tallest building west of the Mississippi River and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, which was designed by Frank Gehry and is home to the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. This building is hard to miss, since it features large concave steel surfaces.
If you love artwork, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) is a great place to visit. It is location along Museum Row and was originally created as part of Exposition Park, which is now home to the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the California Science Center, and the Exposition Park Rose Garden. The LACMA is home to over 250,000 pieces in its permanent collection, including one of the largest collections of Latin American Art in the world. Other museums in Low Angeles include the J. Paul Getty Museum, located in the Getty Center and the Griffith Observatory, located in Griffith Park.
There are a number of other attractions to be found in Los Angeles as well. You can view the famous Hollywood sign from the city, visit Chinatown for some cultural cuisine, see a concert at the Hollywood Bowl amphitheater, or tour the historic Los Angeles City Hall. If you beautiful weather, a fast-paced lifestyle, and the chance to hear and see great art, Low Angeles is the perfect city for you.