Page 97 - 2014 Travel Guide to California

The entertainment industry is an
integral part of the local economy. Annu-
ally, the industry contributes $47 billion
to LA County. For decades, the name Hol-
lywood has been synonymous with the
movie business, but today most studios
have moved into neighboring suburbs
such as Burbank and Culver City.
Some of the better-known areas in LA
County aren’t even cities but rather dis-
tricts or neighborhoods within Los
Angeles, such as Hollywood, Silver Lake
and Venice. In contrast, Beverly Hills,
home to the most expensive residences
in the world, and West Hollywood, a
diverse mélange of gays, Russians and
musicians, are cities but completely sur-
rounded by the city of Los Angeles.
Seventy miles of beaches run along LA
County’s southwest border. Malibu, an
exclusive seaside community, has some
of the most beautiful beaches in the area.
To the north of the city of LA, hikers and
mountain climbers can explore trails in
the Santa Monica Mountains. To the east,
the San Gabriel Mountains rise up to
more than 10,000 feet above sea level.
»
MUST
SEE,
DO
City & Town
Los Angeles, the second largest city in the
nation, dominates the county. Writer
Dorothy Parker once quipped, “Los
Angeles is 72 suburbs in search of a city.”
Now, well over 100 neighborhoods in LA
form a rich cultural stew. Meander around
downtown LA’s Chinatown, Little Tokyo,
the Art and Fashion Districts, the Latino
enclaves around Echo Park, Hollywood’s
Laurel Canyon, Little Armenia, Thai Town
or Melrose District where hipsters shop.
» Venice Boardwalk Hang out with surfers,
skateboarders, body builders, street basketball
players, buskers, fortune-tellers and artists at the
Venice boardwalk on Ocean Front Walk, a 1.5-mile
pedestrian-only promenade. Don’t miss the Venice
Public Art Walls featuring graffiti art on the sand,
west of the bike path between Windward Street
and Market Street.
› venicebeach.com
› veniceartwalls.com
» Picnic at the Hollywood Bowl During
the summer, socialize with locals under the stars in
this natural, open amphitheater. Pack a picnic and
listen to world-class jazz, classical, Broadway and
world music featuring the Los Angeles Philhar-
monic, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and many
top artists.
› hollywoodbowl.com
» TCL Chinese Theatres Long sought after
as “the venue” for movie premieres, TCL Chinese
Theatres has been a landmark in Hollywood for
more than 75 years. Compare your hand and foot
prints to those memorialized in cement by stars
including Charlie Chaplin, Shirley Temple, Cary
Grant, Marilyn Monroe, Sidney Poitier, George
Clooney, Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson.
› tclchinesetheatres.com
SANTA MONICA’S MUSCLE BEACH is a
place for fitness activities of all kinds, above;
downtown Los Angeles at night, opposite.
» Getty Museums in LA and Malibu
Prepare to be as awestruck by the views as by the
treasures within the museums. The Getty Center in
Los Angeles houses mostly European and American
art, whereas the Getty Villa in Malibu focuses on arts
and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria.
› getty.edu/visit
» Original Farmers Market at Third
and Fairfax in Los Angeles Get lost in the
labyrinth of ethnic food stalls, produce stands,
specialty shops and restaurants in this historic
market, open since 1934. It sits next to CBS
Television City and is open seven days a week.
› farmersmarketla.com
2014 T R AV E L G U I D E TO C A L I F O R N I A 95