Los Angeles

Los Angeles sprawls across a sun-drenched coastal basin, a city so vast and varied that it feels less like a single place and more like a collection of distinct neighborhoods stitched together by freeways. It is the creative engine of the global entertainment industry, home to major film studios, record labels, and talent agencies that shape popular culture worldwide. Yet beyond the Hollywood mystique, LA is also a world-class culinary city, a hub for cutting-edge contemporary art, and a gateway to some of California's most spectacular natural landscapes.

Top attractions include the Getty Center for sweeping city views and an outstanding European art collection, the La Brea Tar Pits for prehistoric fossils in the heart of the city, and the Griffith Observatory for a panoramic view of the iconic Hollywood Sign. Venice Beach's eclectic boardwalk, Santa Monica Pier, and the upscale boutiques of Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills represent the city's range of personalities. A studio tour at Warner Bros. or Universal Studios gives visitors an inside look at where movies and television are made.

Getting around LA requires either a car rental or savvy use of the expanding Metro rail and bus network. Traffic is notoriously heavy during morning and evening rush hours, so schedule driving for mid-morning or after 7 pm whenever possible. The beach neighborhoods — Santa Monica, Venice, and Malibu — are cooler and foggier in June and July (known locally as 'June Gloom'); September and October bring warm, clear weather that makes them shine.