Sunshine, surfing, and celebrities. These words could only describe one place in the world: Los Angeles .
Los Angeles is located in southern California and is American's second largest city with a population of almost four million people within the city and an additional six million in the Greater Los Angeles area. Los Angeles County covers a massive 4,061 square miles, including 70 miles of Pacific coastline. With so much ground to cover, you can bet there is a lot to see and do.
Think of Los Angeles and most people think of Hollywood . Home to several of the entertainment industry's big studios, Hollywood is the ultimate symbol of glitz and glamor. A visit to Hollywood must include Hollywood Boulevard , the Sunset Strip, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Grauman's Chinese Theatre and the Kodak Theatre are also must-sees.
Los Angeles isn't just the home of movie stars. The city hosts several pro sporting events and is famous for teams such as the Dodgers, the Lakers, the Clippers, and the Galaxy.
Los Angeles isn't just about celebrity, though. For travelers looking for a bit of culture, the city is home to several museums, such as the Museum of Contemporary Art , the Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History, the Museum of Tolerance , and the Japanese American National Museum .
Beyond the high rises and skyscrapers, Los Angeles has a surprising number of parks and, of course, beaches. Los Angeles 's Griffin Park is the country's second largest city park, behind New York 's Central Park . It is home to the L.A. Zoo. For a spectacular view of the city and the surrounding San Fernando Valley , visitors can hike up to famed Mullholland Drive . Beaches such as Manhattan Beach , Redondo Beach , Hermosa Beach , and Santa Monica Beach and Pier draw big crowds. Venice Beach , in particular, is well-known for its bronzed and buffed bodies and bohemian atmosphere.
For a different type of park experience, visitors can enjoy one of Los Angeles 's many amusement parks, such as Disneyland, Six Flags Magic Mountain , or Knott's Berry Farm.
Los Angeles is home to some of the best shopping in the world. There are plenty of high-end retailers on Rodeo Drive and Melrose Avenue that cater to the rich and famous. Also catering to the celebrity crowd – as well as the tourists – is a wide variety of restaurants, from those serving organic and vegetarian food to ethnic specialties and haute cuisine.
Whether visitors come to Los Angeles to catch a glimpse of Brad Pitt or Mickey Mouse, Los Angeles has something for everyone.
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