The city of Los Angeles is not only one of the most populated cities in the world, but it also has probably the largest amount of attractions of any city in the world. From the beaches to the amusement parks to all of the television and movie related attractions, Los Angeles easily has more events and attractions than most people encounter in their whole lives. The city also is loaded with seemingly endless shopping opportunities. It is difficult to narrow the things to do in Los Angeles down to five, but here are five things you must do when traveling to LA.
1. J. Paul Getty Center - If anyone traveling to Los Angeles is interested in architecture, art, and art history, then they would be greatly served with a visit to the incredible J. Paul Getty Center. This site does cater more to adults than to children and it is filled with a great deal of exhibits that most people would not normally be able to see under other circumstances. View artwork from the likes of Van Gogh, Cezanne, Monet, and more. A must see for anyone visiting Los Angeles who is interested in the more cultural type of attractions.
2. California Science Center - With great exhibits that cater to both young and old, the California Science Center is the perfect destination for young families visiting Los Angeles. The California Science Center offers many hands on features and attractions so that children and adults feel involved in the things going on there. This is also one of the more affordable activities that can be found in the Los Angeles area.
3. Hollywood Walk of Fame - When it comes to entertaining anyone who has an appreciation for both history and celebrity, a visit to the Hollywood Walk of Fame is a must. The Walk of Fame includes tributes to well over 2,000 famous contributors who have built or improved the film, radio, television, theatre, and recording industries. As a vacationer walks along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, they also have extensive options to take the advantage of in terms of dining and shopping.
4. Griffith Park - One of the best non-amusement park visits a traveler can make in the Los Angeles area is to Griffith Park. Griffith Park is one of the largest urban based parks in the entire world, it covers over 4,000 acres and is home to a great deal of must see attractions. Some of the many wonderful things that can be found within Griffith Park are views of natural chapparal, the LA Zoo, Travel Town which features a number of exhibited train related attractions, Griffith Observatory, horseback riding, small train rides, a carousel and other rides, and also the Gene Autry Museum of the Southwest.
5. Grauman’s Chinese Theater - Another fantastic opportunity to view a beautiful attraction that includes a great deal of history, especially associated with the local film and television industry, is Grauman’s Chinese Theater. The theater is one of the more famous locations in terms of entertainment related attractions.
A visit to the Los Angeles area will not disappoint most travelers. There is definitely something there for the entire family, especially if they like exciting things to do. The warm weather also plays a large part in making Los Angeles such a huge tourist destination. There are few things that will put a damper on a vacation faster than bad weather, that usually isn’t a problem in Southern California. A trip to Los Angeles will go a long way in creating memories to last a lifetime.
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San Diego is one of California’s biggest cities and it lies in the seacoast of Southern California. This beautiful place has been known to many people for many things. For some, San Diego is the perfect getaway from the suffocating, traditional city life with its offering of an ideal weather, beaches and proximity to Mexico and Tijuana. For others, San Diego is the home of the United States Navy’s Pacific Fleet. Others recognize San Diego as the place where the world famous theme parks and zoos are located. Whatever San Diego is to you, one thing is undeniable, with its flair for sailing and an offering of a rich cultural heritage, San Diego is definitely a nice tourist destination.
If you are really serious in seeing what San Diego has to offer then you may want to buy passes that give you free admissions and discounts on many tourist hot spots. Try the Go San Diego Card, which offers a fast entry, and sometimes even free admission, to up to 50 tourist sites. You can also try the Southern California CityPass that gives you a one day trip at the Universal Studios Hollywood, a park hopper ticket at Disneyland for three days and one day each at the world famous San Diego Zoo and Sea World San Diego. Other than these top spots, San Diego also offers a wide array of interesting tourist destinations.
If you are interested in seeing a fine artistic collection as well as a showcase of great architectural finds then why not go to the Balboa Park that offers a variety of gardens, museums, arboretums and parks. The Balboa Park also has the San Diego Zoo, which is considered by many to be the top zoo in North America. The San Diego Zoo covers 100 acres of land displaying animal shows and creatures that no other zoo can boast of having. It is advised that a day should be spent in the San Diego Zoo to fully appreciate what it can offer. Another famous place in San Diego is the Sea World that is home to Shamu. The Sea World gives its visitors the chance to see and interact with underwater creatures and it also showcase displays and shows of the ocean world.
If you are curious as to what is all the talk about the San Diego beaches then why not try it for yourself and visit La Jolla. La Jolla is a community in San Diego that has ocean cliffs, beaches and cloves to visit. It also offers various restaurants, boutiques and cozy coffee shops. The La Jolla has the Birch Aquarium and the Harbor Seals where harbor seals breed.
If ever you find yourself in downtown San Diego you may want to find the San Diego Maritime Museum that offers a fantastic collection of sailing ships from the 19th Century and even includes the world’s oldest active sailing ship, which is the Star of India. Also in the downtown is the USS Midway Museum that bizarrely was a previous carrier of aircraft that is now turned into a museum that features naval aircrafts on their flight decks.
The state of California definitely has a lot to offer. North of the state’s San Francisco Bay Area is Napa County, which in turn is the home of the now famous Napa Valley. Although originally, this agricultural landscape offered a variety of food crops, grapes harvested for wine production are now its main source of income. Since the 1960’s, Napa Valley has become the center for wine making in all of US. Aside from the actual wines being sold in this region, tourism on a much specified scale (wine tourism) has also contributed to keeping the coffers filled to the brim, so to speak.
Napa Valley, officially titled as Napa Valley AVA is an American Viticultural Area. This means that under the federal law, this part of the US is strictly designated to grape growing, for the sole purpose of wine production. This region is particularly selected because of three factors: its natural geography, its geological factors, and its Mediterranean-like climate. In other words, this is one of the most breath-taking places to visit in the US; the regular rows of the man-made plantation set against the background of the clear blue skies is enough to entice about 4.7 million visitors to Napa Valley on a yearly basis. However, some visitors engage in the packaged educational tours within the wineries themselves; or they engage in tours that allow visitors to stay one night among the local homesteads, hostels and villas; while others yet, prefer a Napa Valley-wide tour. All these make Napa Valley the second most popular tourist destination in the Californian state; in first place is Disneyland.
If you are an avid admirer of the Cabaret Sauvignon, the Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir and the Zinfandel, then we highly recommend you visit Napa Valley. Tours are available all year round, but are particularly more interesting during the harvesting periods. If you want a romantic ride towards Napa Valley, there is the Napa Valley Wine Train that runs between the counties of Napa and St. Helena. This is a privately owned excursion train that runs around some of the more picturesque vineyards and wineries of the region.
You could always drop by Napa Valley any day of the year as there are private vineyard and winery and tours that always accommodate travelers. However, we highly recommend that you call ahead. Napa Valley is so vast and so popular that some tours are booked by a group of people for the day, and it may be difficult for you to find another winery nearby that you can actually tour. Calling ahead on one or more vineyards and wineries will make your travels more comfortable. Be prepared for a bit of cover fee, though, especially with wine tasting tours. Some of them cost up to $25 per head.
However, if you intend to spend at least one night in Napa Valley, you really need to book reservations weeks (even months) in advance. Napa Valley is so beautiful that there are many individuals who book villas or resorts for special occasions like weddings and family reunions.
Now, if you think that Napa Valley is only about tours and wines, we recommend you round off your excursion with a hot air balloon ride. For this ride, you really need to book a reservation, at least one day in advance with the company offering the balloon ride. These rides are usually held very early in the morning so you need to be in the field before the break of dawn.
It is true enough, that when people say San Francisco City, USA, the first thing that comes to mind is the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. However, there are other places to see and experience in this culturally eclectic landscape. The city has always been a favorite tourist area with its cosmopolitan and diverse population.
One other prominent attraction is the Alcatraz Island. Also known as simply Alcatraz or The Rock, this tiny piece of infamous real estate gained its notoriety as one of the toughest federal prisons of the world (circa 1960’s.) Although this facility is now being utilized as a historic and national recreation area, it had previously evolved from a lighthouse, a military fortification and finally to the prison. Tours are given daily, and you can reach the island via a ferry ride from Per 33 near the Fisherman’s Wharf.
Speaking of the Fisherman’s Wharf, this place is also a favorite watering hole among locals, out-of-town visitors and overseas tourists. This tourist spot occupies the northern waterfront area of the city, from the Ghirardelli Square on Van Ness Street to Pier 35 on Kearny Street. Some of the prominent attractions here include: the Cannery Shopping Center; the Musée Mécanique (that houses a collection of antique penny arcade games and mechanically operated musical instruments); Pier 39 (that houses the Aquarium of the Bay, marina where people could view California sea lions, the Marine Mammal Center, shops, street performances, a video arcade and virtual 3D rides); Pier 45 (that houses the Lost Fisherman Chapel); a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum; and the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park (that houses a fleet of historic sea vessels, a library / research facility, a maritime museum and a visitor center); etc.
One word of warning though: San Francisco is the home of the eccentric, and Fisherman’s Wharf is no exception. They have a local street performer in this area who has been given the dubious title of World Famous Bushman; he usually jumps from behind cover and startles passer-bys. This is an act that he has been doing for more than 25 years.
If it is food you are seeking, we heartily recommend the old-timers. These quaint eating establishments (most of them within or near the vicinity of the Fisherman’s Wharf) have served generations of patrons with the same 5-star quality. You should try Alioto’s #8, Pompeii’s or Forbes Island for some fresh seafood cuisine and a great mug of beer. Other places to make your palate work on overtime are: Café Arguello, Castagnola’s, The Cliff House, E&O Trading Company, and the Franciscan Crab Restaurant, to name a few.
Nightlife in San Francisco is very trendy, and there are certain clubs here that have achieved the status of Hollywood glamour. However, there are specific places that seem to predominantly cater to one type of patron. For the musically inclined, we highly recommend the night scenes of the Mission District and SOMA. If you want a quieter and more sophisticated arena, you should head on out to the Marina District. A few of the prominent places in the area are: Amber, Club Deluxe, Dolce, Hemlock Tavern, Hush Hush, Red Devil Lounge, Rockit Room, 111 Minna Street Gallery, and 26 Mix.
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A five hour plane trip from the eastern seaboard will carry a traveler to the Pacific Coast. In fact the Los Angeles International Airport, LAX, lies less than one mile from the coastline of southern California. A flight into LAX carries a traveler to an ideal spot, a spot that is a “door” to the Pacific Coast cities in central and southern California.
A short 10 minute drive north from LAX, a drive that can be taken on Lincoln Boulevard, takes a traveler to Marina Del Rey. Marina Del Rey contains the boat marina that provided a backdrop for several Hollywood movies. Hollywood often has its most interesting characters residing on a boat, and many times that boat lies in the docks at Marina Del Rey.
If one chooses to ride a train into the Union Station in Los Angeles, then a 30 minute bus ride offers a bit slower entrance into Marina Del Rey. If one wants to take a private plane to Santa Monica Airport, then one lands at a point just three miles from Marina Del Rey. And of course, one can also ride a boat into the harbor in Marina Del Rey.
Marina Del Rey lies close to the beach communities of Venice and Santa Monica, CA. Still all of the boats in the Marina harbor indicate that Marina Del Rey also affords easy access to the Pacific Ocean. Marina Del Rey offers the traveler a glimpse of a special aspect of the Pacific Coast. Marina Del Rey contains a section of the wetlands of southern California, a rapidly disappearing ecosystem.
Marina Del Rey also contains a number of great restaurants. Many of those restaurants give the diners an excellent view of the waterfront. Café Del Rey at 4451 Admiralty Way is one such restaurant. It specializes in Mediterranean dishes, dishes made with fresh seafood and California produce.
The Cheesecake Factory has gained local recognition due to its setting and its food. The Factory claims to have been the scene for a large percentage of the marriage proposals made in L.A. County. Later, as those newly wed couples began to deal with family obligations, some brought their families to El Torito in Marina Del Rey. Travelers also dine at this Mexican restaurant on Fiji Way in Fisherman’s Village.
The Pacific Coast Highway, a route easily reached from Marina Del Rey, carries the traveler up to the Pacific Coast of central California. A 230 mile trip brings the traveler to San Simeon, CA, a point half way between Los Angeles and San Francisco. San Simeon is the site of the famous Hearst Castle.
The Hearst Castle offers a number of different tours. Tour one is the suggested tour for the first time visitor. Tour two allows the Castle visitor to spend more time in the rooms on the second floor. Tour three features a visit to the Castle’s North Wing. Tour Four concentrates on the grounds and gardens; it also includes a visit to the guesthouse and the wine cellars. Tour Five is strictly for evening visitors to the Hearst Castle. The Castle recommends reservations for all tours.
The cities on the Pacific Coast in central California offer a number of different activities. Golfers can enjoy Pebble Beach on the Monterrey Peninsula. Gourmets can sample some of the fare at Grassing’s Coastal Cuisine. The chef at that restaurant, which is located in the village of Carmel, prepares excellent lasagna; he uses the local artichokes in his unique dish.
At one time Clint Eastwood served as the Mayor of Carmel. He often commuted south to Hollywood. A visitor to Carmel might also plan to journey south. In fact, many cities on the Pacific Coast lie south of Los Angeles County; some lie close to San Diego.
La Jolla is a seaside community within the boundaries of San Diego. A drive down Interstate 5 offers the fastest route to La Jolla. La Jolla is neighbor to California’s greatest concentration of medical professionals, a group focused on biomedical research. The Scripps Research Institute and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies are both found in Torrey Pines, just north of La Jolla.
La Jolla restaurants treat the traveler to many wonderful seafood dishes. The Fresh Seafood Restaurant and Bar serves both seafood patters and seasonal dishes. Its patios at 1044 Wall Street offer a refreshing glimpse of the Pacific Ocean.
Travelers get an even more sweeping view at Top of the Cove. The chef at that restaurant on Prospect Street treats diners’ taste buds with Lobster Ravioli, Coldwater prawn and grilled Filet Mignon. Travelers can avoid a long wait by calling ahead for a reservation.
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