Individual listings can be found in Los Angeles's district articles

Exercise

Want to stay in shape during your visit to LA? The city offers more options than perhaps anywhere in the world. Yoga? Yes. Pilates? Yes. Great gyms? Yes. Spinning? Yes. Tai Chi? Yes. If it exists as an exercise then yes. Most gyms offer more mainstream versions of some or all of the above - or most types of Yoga studios can easily be found.

• YogaWorks, various locations, [33]. Has several locations around the LA area including Larchmont Blvd and 2 locations in Santa Monica.  edit

• LA Fitness, various locations. Has multiple locations in the city with tons of facilities.  edit

• Westside Velocity Sports Performance, 11845 W. Olympic Blvd Suite A, Los Angeles, CA 90064, ☎ (310)478-1233. Located in the middle of LA's Westside on Olympic Blvd, for the performance minded with the best in the business headed by John Park son of the legendary body builder Reg Park, and Chuck DeBus track coach to countless Olympic medalists.  edit

Pro sports

LA has great opportunities for seeing live pro sports.

• LA Dodgers, Dodger Stadium, [34]. The pride and joy of Los Angeles. Who wouldn't want to grab a Dodgers Dog and get a nice sunburn watching a game of baseball? Don't forget to wait until the 2nd or 3rd inning to show up, as the locals do, and to get the genuine LA experience, leave in the 7th inning - traffic is atrocious getting out of the stadium, and most Dodger-stadium visitors will be gone before the 7th inning stretch. For $35 you can get all-you-can-eat hot dogs, sodas, and nachos at the Right Field Pavilion.  edit

• LA Lakers, Staples Center, [35]. Do they need an introduction? They are the most popular basketball team in the city. Prices are very high (the most expensive ticket in the NBA) but you will rarely be disappointed with Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol and the beautiful Staples Center.  edit

• LA Clippers, Staples Center, [36]. The Los Angeles Clippers are a rising NBA team. Tickets are slightly cheaper than Laker tickets. The basketball season runs from late October to June.  edit

• LA Galaxy, Home Depot Center, [37]. Los Angeles official soccer team, and the home of English soccer superstar David Beckham.  edit

• Chivas USA, Home Depot Center, [38]. Los Angeles other MLS team, while not as famous or well known as the Galaxy, recently they've had much more success. They're name comes from mexican club Chivas Guadalajara and the team has a strong Mexican fan base.  edit

• LA Kings, Staples Center, [39]. LA's hockey team - they need your support, hockey's not at the top of most people's list in California.  edit

Events

• Cemetery Screenings, Hollywood Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, CA, 90038, [40]. Saturdays, 7pm, May-September. During the summer in Los Angeles, the Cinespia [41] film society holds movie showings once a week, on Saturdays, within the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The featured films are typically (but not always) older cult classics or horror films, such as The Shining, Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, and The Warriors. While there is no official admission fee, visitors are asked to make a $10 donation upon entrance. The showing is outdoors on one of the large lawns, as the film is projected onto a massive wall, and DJs spin music until it becomes dark enough to play the movie. Bring a lawn chair, a picnic basket, and a bottle of wine, if you so desire, and enjoy a one of a kind experience. $10 donation at the door.  edit

• Esotouric Bus Adventures, in transit throughout LA, [42]. most Saturday afternoons. Esotouric provides bus adventures into the secret heart of Los Angeles through provocative and complex tours mixing crime and social history, rock and roll and architecture, literature and film, fine art and urban studies into a simmering stew of original research and startling observations. Among the featured tours are The Real Black Dahlia Crime Bus, Raymond Chandler's Los Angeles, Pasadena Confidential Crime Bus, John Fante's Dreams of Bunker Hill and the Weird West Adams Crime Bus.The tours explore fascinating, neglected neighborhoods and are led by passionate, witty tour guides. $55/person including snacks.  edit

• Los Angeles Helicopter Tours, [43]. Scenic helicopter rides over Los Angeles, including famous landmarks, coastline, and surrounding areas.  edit

Individual listings can be found in Los Angeles's district articles

• Hollywood Boulevard. Here you can find some of the biggest tourist attractions in the city - The Walk of Fame for its stars, Grauman's Chinese Theatre for its hand and foot prints, the Hollywood/Highland plaza for shopping and entertainment, The Wax Museum, and Ripley's Believe it or Not. All of these attractions are accessible from the Hollywood/Highland Metro Red Line station. More info in the Hollywood article.  edit

• Mulholland Drive. This famous avenue is worth a drive if you have your own transport. It's the setting for endless movies and first kisses, and provides great views over the city. The easiest way to enter is to head north up Highland Ave into the Cahuenga Pass - you'll come to a turnoff to your left that is signed. Beware of speeding cars near this intersection.  edit

• Street Rod Limos[29] Take a tour in America's most famous Street Rod Limo see over 40 celebrity homes, Santa Monica Venice Beach and Marina del Rey. Daily departures from Rodeo Drive (Louis Vuitton) Tour reservations and information: 323-610-5034 Customize your private tour!!!

Historical

• Olvera Street. This is the historic center of LA and the city derives its name from the mission established here (Misión de la Nuestra Señora la Reina de Los Ángeles - the Mission of our Lady the Queen of the Angels). The oldest building in the city lies here and is open to visitors, as are a number of Mexican restaurants and shops; it is across the street from Union Station.  edit

• Union Station, 800 N. Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90012. A historic downtown site and the main railway hub for the city.  edit

Museums/Galleries

• The Getty Center (aka J. Paul Getty Museum), 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90049, [30]. Well worth a visit. Entrance is free though you will pay $10 for parking or is served by Metro Bus 761. Located at the top of the Santa Monica mountains, you have a spectacular view of both the L.A. basin, the Pacific Ocean, as well as the beautiful buildings and the rose gardens. They also have a very extensive arts collection, should that interest you. The old museum, J. Paul Getty Villa [31], in Pacific Palisades, is also worth a visit.  edit

• Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), 250 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA, 90012, [32]. M/F: 11:00am-5:00pm, Th: 11:00am-8:00pm (5-8pm is free), Sat/Sun: 11:00am-6:00pm. There are two branches located downtown, but there is another at the Pacific Design Center on Melrose Avenue. They feature rotating exhibits. GA: $10, Students/Seniors: $5, Children under 12: FREE.  edit

• Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).
• Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History.
• California Afro-American Museum.

• Page Museum at La Brea Discoveries, 5801 Wilshire Boulevard. A fascinating site of palentological excavations. Saber-tooth cats, mastadons, giant sloth, bison, Dire wolves, the American lion (yes - there was one), camels, horses. An on-going work of digging the complete remains of tens of thousands of years old animals out of tar continues today and a massive collection of the bones inside. Well worth the visit away from the glitz of Hollywood and back in time when man was just appearing in the area. Rancho La Brea is one of the world’s most famous fossil localities, recognized for having the largest and most diverse assemblage of extinct Ice Age plants and animals in the world. Visitors can learn about Los Angeles as it was between 10,000 and 40,000 years ago. Watch volunteers dig out bones every summer, watch your step as active tar seeps are all over the property, watch the methane bubbles boil up in the lake in front of the museum, hold your nose.

• The Museum of Tolerance, 9786 West Pico Blvd, ☎ 310-553-8403. Mon-Fri 10AM-5PM, SUN 11AM-5PM, Early close on Fri 10AM-3PM Nov-Mar. The Museum of Tolerance houses several exhibits focused on bringing light to the ways in which humans have been and can be more tolerant. Adults $13, Seniors (62+) $11, Student with I.D. and Youth 5-18 $10.

• Japanese American National Museum.

Ethnic

• Historic Filipinotown
• Chinatown (also the East San Gabriel Valley)
• Little Tokyo
• Little Armenia
• Little Persia
• Little Gaza
• Thaitown
• K-Town (Koreatown)
• Little Ethiopia
• Little India (Artesia)
• West Hollywood (Russian, and also gay)
• East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights (Mexican)
• Fairfax District (east-european Jewish)

Parks

• Griffith Park. This is the second largest park within a city in the whole country (and in LA, where you'd least expect it!), and is a great place for hikes, picnics or hanging around with friends. The hiking trails lead up to Mulholland Drive, and provide great views of the city. One of the main hiking trails is located on Bronson Ave. The street will end leading up to the trail. Griffith park has several options for kids, including the L.A. Zoo, "Travel Town" which is a free exhibition of old trains and model trains with trains rides for children ($3), the Autry western museum, pony rides, a golf course, driving range, horseback riding, a christmas light drive in December (expect traffic), and The (Space) Observatory.  edit

• Exposition Park is surrounded by Figueroa Street to the east, King Boulevard to the south, Vermont Avenue to the west, and Exposition Boulevard to the north. In 1909, California's Sixth District Agricultural Association and the county and city of Los Angeles agreed to transform Agricultural Park (renamed Exposition Park in 1910) into an exposition building and armory. In return, the county would construct and operate a history and art museum and the city would maintain the grounds.

• Six Flags Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita, just north of LA – a large theme park focused on roller coasters. Hurricane Harbor is just next door, which focuses on water rides, and is open from mid-May through late September.

Before heading out, get the Go Los Angeles Card [8], which gives you free admission and express entry to over 40 attractions in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties. The Southern California CityPass [9] gives a 3-day ticket to Disneyland, and 1 day each at Universal Studios Hollywood, SeaWorld San Diego, and the San Diego Zoo.

By plane

The Los Angeles area is served by six major commercial airports and more than a dozen private airports.

Los Angeles International [10] (IATA: LAX) is the major gateway. The airport is huge, with nine terminals, and the only way to get from terminal to terminal (other than walking) is to use the free "A" shuttle buses that run in a loop between the terminals.

There are also two executive terminals for commercial, private and corporate aircraft, Mercury [11] and Landmark [12]. Both are served by air taxi and air charter firms such as Great Circle Aviation [13] to LAX and going to other destinations such as San Diego and San Luis Obispo. Air charter firms have much shorter check-in times (closer to 10 minutes) with the departure time customized for each flight and set by the passengers for that trip, and no long security lines, but they often charge a premium for the time savings.

In L.A., an automobile is nearly essential, and connections to and from the airport are poor. There is no direct train service, although there are free shuttle buses to Aviation Station on the Metro Green Line, and half-hourly LAX FlyAway [14] shuttles to Union Station ($6 one way). Taxis to downtown L.A. cost $45 and take 30 minutes in good traffic, but can be far slower in rush hour. On your return to the airport, be sure to arrive two hours before your flight as queues for security are often notoriously long and time-consuming.

The others are Long Beach Airport [15] (IATA: LGB), Bob Hope (Burbank) Airport [16] (IATA: BUR), Orange County/John Wayne Airport [17] (IATA: SNA) and far flung LA/Ontario Airport (IATA: ONT) east of L.A and LA/Palmdale Airport (IATA: PMD) to the north. Even though LAX is often cheapest, avoiding LAX will save a lot of hassle because the other airports are small and not as busy (especially Long Beach), but you will typically be further away from your destination which will entail a lot of driving. However, Bob Hope Airport in Burbank is much closer to the destinations in Los Angeles and if you're able to get a flight to Burbank, take it!

Then again, going anywhere in L.A. is going to require a lot of driving. If you're going to Disneyland or any of the Orange County beaches (Laguna, Huntington, Newport), consider the Orange County/John Wayne Airport (IATA: SNA). For any of the airports, it is probably best to use the numerous buses and shuttles to get to and from the airport, if you are staying in the area. Locals do so to avoid dealing with the hassles and cost of parking.

Private pilots will prefer smaller general aviation airports such as Santa Monica (ICAO: KSMO), Van Nuys (ICAO: KVNY), Hawthorne or one of the dozens of other small airports in the area. LAX does not cater to small general aviation; Burbank (ICAO: KBUR) does but is high traffic; Long Beach (ICAO: KLGB) does but has a very complicated runway system and high traffic. Much of Los Angeles is Class Bravo or other controlled airspace, but due to the number of airports and the generally good weather Los Angeles makes a fantastic flying destination. Private pilots should also be prepared for flight delays when flying to LAX (including IFR ground holds} or delays in arrival or departure sequencing with busy jet traffic, and should consider alternatives such as Hawthorne (10 mi from LAX) as an option to leave an airplane and catch an airline flight.

By train

The main Amtrak [18] station is at Union Station, 800 N. Alameda St. next to the Hollywood (US-101) freeway in downtown Los Angeles. The train station also has a Metro Red Line subway station (platforms in station's basement) and Metro Gold Line light rail station (on platforms 1 and 2, parallel to the Amtrak and Metrolink trains), while local city buses stop at various locations around the terminal, including some in the MTA (Patsaouras) bus plaza at the east portal of the station. The train station is patrolled by private security staff and people lingering too long in the seats may be asked to show a ticket. Taxis are available at the west exit and the station is within short walking distance to the Civic Center and Olvera Street. Chinatown and Little Tokyo are also nearby. Be warned that it can get quite uncomfortable in the station especially when it is hot and/or there are a lot of people. Great for business travel but perhaps not the best for families or any large group of people.

Amtrak routes serving Los Angeles are:

• The Coast Starlight [19] runs daily between Los Angeles and Seattle via Portland and the San Francisco Bay Area, with one other LA County stop northwest of Downtown in the San Fernando Valley (Van Nuys).
• The Pacific Surfliner [20] runs several trains daily between San Diego and Los Angeles, with some trains traveling north to Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. There are many local stops northwest of Downtown in the San Fernando Valley (it shares a route with the Coast Starlight but stops at more stations) and southeast to Orange County.
• The Southwest Chief [21] runs daily to Chicago via Albuquerque and Kansas City. Local stops south of Downtown and east into the Inland Empire (Fullerton, Riverside, and San Bernardino).
• The Sunset Limited [22] runs three times a week out to New Orleans via Tucson and San Antonio. Additionally, Amtrak's Texas Eagle [23] service between San Antonio and Chicago incorporates the Sunset Limited to provide a direct connection to Los Angeles. Local stops east of Downtown into the Inland Empire (Pomona and Ontario).

Union Station is spectacular (opened in 1939 and with the era's associated grand architecture), but there are several stops within the County that may be better located to your destination. L.A. is big--make sure you get the right stop. Unfortunately, while Union Station has the best bus, subway, light rail and commuter rail connections (and a Hertz and Budget car rental desk), it may be far from other landmarks. If you're arriving in LA by train but planning to travel around the area, here are some alternate connection options:

• The Burbank Amtrak station is next to the Burbank Bob Hope airport, where connections include Metrolink, bus and the usual rental cars at the airport's terminal. Book Amtrak through to Burbank (BUR), although doing so means you'll probably make a connection to a Pacific Surfliner at Union Station (since no long distance train serves Burbank). If that's the case, Pacific Surfliner tickets are not tied to a specific train and can be used on any Pacific Surfliner train as well as any Metrolink trains serving the same route. So when your long distance train arrives at Union Station, you can simply take the first available train heading to Burbank. (Note that Metrolink calls the same station Burbank-Bob Hope Airport, as Metrolink also serves an additional Downtown Burbank station not served by Amtrak.)
• Los Angeles World Airports operates a cheap motorcoach service between Union Station and LAX, where every major rental car company has countless thousands of cars available (weekend prices can be real bargains). Called the Union Station FlyAway, it serves the MTA (Patsouras) bus plaza adjacent to the station.

Several Metrolink lines overlap Amtrak's routes or serve the same cities via a slightly different routing. Metrolink tickets can cost significantly less than Amtrak; for example, LA to Oceanside is $12.50 on Metrolink but $19 on Amtrak. Train frequencies vary between Amtrak and Metrolink for given station pairs (some are more frequent via Amtrak and some are more frequent via Metrolink, since some Metrolink runs terminate before the end of the line). Metrolink schedules are available at the Metrolink Web site [24].

By bus

The Greyhound [25] terminal is at 1716 East 7th Street, near I-10 along South Alameda Street, south of the city's Downtown Arts District and east of the vast, notorious Skid Row district. Though a growing residential population in the area has brought increased safety and services, this neighborhood remains largely underdeveloped.

Access to connecting transit services is limited. From the Greyhound station, take a taxi, Metro Rapid Bus #760 or Metro Local Bus #60 to connect to the Downtown center.

Fortunately, other terminals are in far safer areas and have better access to public transportation. From the north, the North Hollywood station is located at 11239 Magnolia Boulevard, one-quarter mile south of the Metro Red Line North Hollywood station. The Hollywood station, at 1715 North Cahuenga Boulevard, is one-quarter mile west of the Metro Red Line Hollywood/Vine station.

Of note for passengers coming from the east is the El Monte station, at 3501 North Santa Anita Avenue. The station also houses an M.T.A. and Foothill Transit bus station, and frequent express bus service to Downtown Los Angeles is available upstairs. The El Monte station also houses a substation of the local county sheriff. Also, from the east, the Pasadena Greyhound station, located one-quarter mile west of the Lake Avenue Metro Gold Line station, is an option.

From the south, Greyhound passengers should use the East Los Angeles station, located at 1241 South Soto Street, or the Compton Station, located at 305 North Tamarind Avenue. The East Los Angeles station has multiple lines operating to downtown nearby, while the Compton station is across the street from a Metro Blue Line station.

LuxBus [26] offers four daily trips to and from Anaheim, San Diego, and Las Vegas.

Xe Do Hoang [27] offers service between Los Angeles and the Bay Area.

Los Angeles' massive sprawl and dysfunctional public transportation makes getting around rather painful, especially during weekends when service can be more erratic. The only rational way of getting around much of the city is to rent a car, in which case you'll get a crash course in the complex freeway system and, if you're "lucky," a taste of the notorious traffic jams. The underdeveloped rail system will only get you so far (although it does, fortunately, provide service to most of the main tourist areas). On the other hand Los Angeles' bus system is enormous and you should be able get wherever you need to by bus, provided you aren't terribly pressed for time.

By rail

Los Angeles County's Metro Rail subway and light rail system has grown considerably over the past 20 years and is increasingly useful in getting around.

Many neighborhoods and sightseeing destinations can be reached using the Metro, including Downtown, Little Tokyo, Koreatown, Los Feliz, Thai Town, Hollywood, Universal City, North Hollywood, Chinatown, Pasadena and Long Beach. Public transportation is preferable to the gridlock that often occurs on Los Angeles-area streets and highways.

A single-trip fare valid on one line in one direction costs $1.25 and can be purchased from ticket vending machines located in the stations. Alternatively, a day pass (good until 3AM the next day) costs $5; a weekly pass costs $17, and a monthly pass costs $62. Passes allow unlimited access on Metro bus and rail lines. Day passes can be purchased through ticket vending machines in stations (or on any Metro bus), while weekly and monthly passes can be obtained from Metro Customer Centers (main center at Union Station) or online. Because Metro Rail interfaces with Metro's bus network and passes are valid on either system, current route maps are available online and in stations.

Metro fare payment works on a 'trust' system: There are no turnstiles or barriers. However, tickets or passes must be purchased before entering boarding zones; Metro police randomly check for valid tickets on the trains or platforms. The penalty for not being able to show a valid ticket is $250 and up to 48 hours of community service.

Trips that involve multiple lines or transfers require separate tickets for each line or a valid day, weekly or monthly pass. Passes can be more cost effective than several single-ride tickets.

Metro Rail/Transitway Lines:

• Red Line, a subway that runs from Downtown (Union Station) to the Hollywood area, then to North Hollywood in the San Fernando Valley. This route shares track with the Purple Line for about half of its length; when boarding a subway train, check its destination signs to make sure you are on the right train.
• Purple Line, a subway that runs from Downtown (Union Station) to Koreatown. This route shares track with the Red Line for most of its length; when boarding a subway train, check its destination signs to make sure you are on the right train.
• Blue Line, a light rail line that runs from Downtown (7th St/Metro Center Station) through South Los Angeles to Long Beach.
• Gold Line, a light rail line that runs from Downtown (Union Station) through Chinatown and Northeast Los Angeles to Pasadena.
• Green Line, a light rail line that runs from the South Bay (near LAX) east to the city of Norwalk along Interstate 105.
• Orange Line, a transitway across the San Fernando Valley from North Hollywood to Warner Center (Woodland Hills), using sleek articulated "bus-trains" on rubber tires.

Note Metro operating hours and timetables, which do vary between lines.

Distinct from Metro is the Metrolink commuter rail system, centered at Union Station. This commuter rail system reaches as far as Ventura, Lancaster, San Bernardino, and Oceanside (northern San Diego County), but runs limited night and weekend service. Metrolink does not accept Metro passes and requires the purchase of separate tickets. Like Metro, Metrolink uses the honor system where no barriers are required to enter the system, and random inspections to ensure that every passenger is in possession of a valid ticket are conducted often.

By bus

The Los Angeles bus system, operated by Metro, is extensive but takes a little bit to learn. The website www.mta.net or 1-800-COMMUTE are the best way to plan trips in advance. Once you have the hang of it, you can get anywhere during the day.

Many Angelenos rely on the bus as their primary mode of transportation. Within the central area (from Downtown to the coast, south of Sunset Boulevard and north of Interstate 10) the buses are frequent and ubiquitous enough to get around without a schedule (see Metro's '12-minute map').

Metro's Rapid buses have fewer stops than local service and cut through the traffic well. Some travelers recommend checking night schedules; bus service (but not rail service) runs 24 hours but many routes change and have reduced frequency in the late hours. Fares are currently $1.25 per boarding (no transfers), $5 for a day pass (also good on Metro Rail), and $17 for a weekly pass. Day passes can be purchased from any Metro Rail station or bus operator; weekly passes can be purchased online, in selected stores in the county, and at Metro Customer Centers.

Neighboring cities often operate their own bus systems. Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus system operates a number of lines that link not only places within Santa Monica, but also Westside Los Angeles districts like Brentwood, Westwood, and Venice Beach. The Culver CityBus operates buses in and around Culver City.

Transit connection to Los Angeles International Airport

• Though there is currently no direct rail connection between Downtown Los Angeles and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) operates the direct LAX FlyAway shuttle every 30 minutes between Union Station and airport terminals.

• A free shuttle from the Metro Green Line Aviation/LAX Station to terminals is available.

By car

Los Angeles is notorious for problematic traffic conditions on local highways, but visitors used to driving in most of the world will not find it especially bad. Many major car rental companies are located at LAX.

Many spectacular natural areas surrounding the L.A. metropolitan area can only be reached by car. See the article about Driving in Los Angeles County for more information.

If you are going to be driving, make sure you have access to extensive street and freeway maps, a Thomas Bros. Guide or a car with an onboard navigation system. One map in particular that even locals find useful is a pocket guide to the area's extensive freeway system offered by the Automobile Club.

The freeways in L.A. can be confusing for visitors. It is recommended that you familiarize yourself with your chosen route prior to setting out on your trip and pay attention to traffic and road signs. "Carpool Only" lanes may be entered with two or more occupants in a vehicle.

Listening to a radio station is helpful for any long trip through L.A. since most stations regularly disseminate traffic information during the daylight hours. KNX 1070 AM and KFWB 980 AM are the most frequent and cover the metropolitan area, including Orange and Ventura counties and the Inland Empire.

Although L.A.'s traffic jams are legendary, the freeway grid provides for an effective movement of traffic and a variety of alternatives. Be sure to have an alternative route planned out in advance; many freeways run parallel to each other and serve as viable alternatives, especially in long-distance trips. If possible, use a passenger as your navigator. You may also check SigAlert [28] for current traffic information before your trip.

Individual listings can be found in Los Angeles's district articles

Shopping

Los Angeles has a well-known, diverse and unique shopping traditions and destinations. Shopping malls will dominate your shopping trip as they are nearly inescapable in many of your destinations. For example, the Hollywood & Highland mall is a popular meeting point for those gazing at the Walk of Fame and Mann's Chinese Theater. Other malls you may bump into are the Grove (next to the Farmer's Market) and the Beverly Center, which is quite unlike other shopping malls as it is multilevel with a nice view of Los Angeles from its food court patio.

Lacking any significant public square, Los Angeles funnels its commercial life onto its streets. Among the most popular street is Larchmont Blvd. which caters to the wealthy elite of Hancock Park with one-of-a-kind boutiques. Melrose Avenue, especially in the West Hollywood portion, one-ups Larchmont Blvd. with celebrity presence.

Broadway in Downtown will take you out of the comforts of overly manicured shopping centers and drop you onto its chaos. With merchandise geared towards the city's millions of Latinos, twenty dollars would probably get you a new wardrobe. You will also find pirated DVD's and CD's. You can find a lot of brand name merchandise at discounted prices. Broadway once was the city's premier boulevard and looking up above the gritty flea markets and you would see the opulent theaters that defined luxury in early 20th-century Los Angeles.

For a similar experience in a less-polished but even livelier environment, try Alvarado Blvd around Wilshire & 6th in the Westlake District. This district, with a density that rivals Manhattan's, gives an insight to how most of working-class Los Angeles shops. Big deals can be found on a wide range of counterfeit goods, but don't stay too long after dark, when the neighborhood gets sketchy. Make sure to check out the art deco buildings that exist in between the makeshift warehouses (malls), as well as the Alvarado Terrace Park, surrounded by early century mansions.

For more upscale purchasing head to Beverly Hills to the world-famous Rodeo Drive, or the ever-growing chic-boutique strip of Melrose Ave between Crescent Heights & Robertson Ave in West Hollywood.

Specialty

Downtown is the destination for some focused retail therapy. Want flowers? Why there's a Flower District in Downtown! Jewelry? Fashion? Seafood? Toys? Yep, there are entire districts in Downtown dedicated to these particular products. You can buy art in Gallery Row up and down Main Street or see artists at work in the Artist District. They are located mostly just east of the towering Financial District. Beware though as they exist along with the notorious Skid Row.

Music

No matter what music you're into, Los Angeles will feature artists to your taste. Visit the Rock Venues on Sunset Blvd. Jazz Clubs in Hollywood. The Disney Symphony Hall in Downtown. etc. As the second capital of hip-hop culture Los Angeles has hundreds of records stores scattered around the area. Also, though vinyl has disappeared from the shelfs of regular record stores, many stores still sell used and new vinyl. Amoeba Music in Hollywood is without a doubt the best in the city.

Individual listings can be found in Los Angeles's district articles

The Los Angeles area is one of the best places in the country for food - you can find just about anything you can imagine somewhere within its loose borders. From traditional American diner culture (try Mel's Drive-In in West Hollywood) to the new wave of organic cafes, to inexpensive taco trucks, and swanky eateries with breath-taking food, there are no shortage of options.

Los Angeles abounds with inexpensive, authentic food that represents the culinary traditions of L.A.'s many immigrant communities. You have to be willing to do a little legwork, go to neighborhoods you might not otherwise go to and often deal with charmless florescent-lit storefronts in strip malls, but your reward is hype-free, authentic cuisine from around the world served up at bargain prices. Food critic Jonathan Gold has been finding and reviewing these gems since the 1980s, mostly in the free paper LA Weekly [44].

Coverage of regional food from other parts of the U.S. is spotty. Migration into the city has been disproportionately from Texas and Oklahoma, the South, Midwest and greater New York City and food representing these areas is easy enough to find. Food representing New England and other parts of the East Coast, the Pacific Northwest, and the Intermountain-Rocky Mountain regions can be elusive, along with many ethnic cuisines with central- and east-european origins. However L.A. is birthplace of the drive-thru and numerous fast food chains clog the roadsides. The In 'n Out Burger chain is far above average for hamburgers, french fries and milkshakes.

The cultural diversity of Los Angeles is an evident influence on the local vegetarian food restaurant industry. Where else but L.A. can you find strictly vegan and vegetarian dining, be it Chinese, Ethiopian, Mexican, Thai, American, Indian, International Fusion, Vegan Macrobiotic, and Raw Gourmet restaurants among others. Other dietary restrictions are catered to as well. For example Genghis Cohen in West Hollywood serves kosher Chinese food and kosher Mexican or Italian is not hard to find along predominantly Jewish parts of Pico Boulevard. Tung Lai Shun in San Gabriel offers Halal (Islamic) Chinese, including the cuisine of China's muslim minorities as well as familiar favorites prepared according to Islamic law.

There are several different supermarket chains of varying quality - for something different (and cheap) try Trader Joe's, a reputable grocery store with multiple locations (the original is in Pasadena), selling many organic products with no preservatives. They normally give out great samples to the public and sell their acclaimed Charles Shaw wine, also known as "Two Buck Chuck." Whole Foods [45] is another market with multiple locations and a favorite among the health conscious -- but also a little pricey. Their salad bar is fully stocked, they have huge fresh burritos, sushi, hot dishes ready to go, and a comprehensive selections of pre-made, delicious salads. This is a great place to buy food for a picnic!

The nearby cities of Beverly Hills, West Hollywood and Santa Monica also offer numerous dining options.

LA visitors and locals alike have the opportunity to indulge in a selection of specially priced three-course menus from a wide variety of LA’s best restaurants during dineLA Restaurant Week [46]. It takes place over a two-week time period. Restaurant week for 2008 was January 27 to February 1, 2008 and February 3 to February 8, 2008. Dates are not yet set for 2009.

Individual listings can be found in Los Angeles's district articles

Coffee & Tea

• Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, multiple locations citywide, 213-689-8087, [47]. Invented the Original Ice Blended coffee drinks that are now ubiquitous throughout the country.

• Urth Cafe, Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood, or Main St. in Santa Monica. Popular among the trendy health concious LA crowd. Good food, coffees and teas.

Alcohol

The hotel bars are generally considered by Angelenos to be the best places to have drinks. Some of the more popular ones include: Chateau Marmont (Sunset Strip), Skybar at The Mondrian (Sunset Strip), Tower Bar at the Sunset Tower (Sunset Strip), and The Rooftop Bar at The Standard (downtown). Hollywood and the Sunset Strip are generally considered the nightlife centers of LA, though neighborhoods such as Silverlake, Los Feliz, and Echo Park are home to the dive bars and cafes favored by trendy hipsters. Downtown has recently recaptured some of its former glory with a selection of popular nightlife destinations such as The Golden Gopher, The Edison and the bars/clubs at LA LIVE.