photo by gusto

Los Angeles’ downtown area has never taken off. Instead, several independent communities (including Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Pasadena, and Long Beach), covering 469 square miles from cool coastal plains on the Pacific east into warmer foothills and canyons, have their own thriving centers. Neighboring Orange County is the home of Disneyland and Disney’s new California Adventure. The ubiquitous freeway connects these disparate communities, so having a car here is essential. In fact, there are two cars per resident, and stop-and-go traffic is the norm.With approximately 3.6 million residents, Los Angeles is the most populous city in the United States, after New York City. It is also California’s biggest economic center, a thriving urban industrial center, a major importer and exporter of international trade goods, a gateway between Asia and the United States, and home to the nation’s finest motion picture, television, radio, and music studios.In 1840, Los Angeles was the largest settlement in Mexican-ruled Alta California. The area was ceded to the United States in 1850 and the city was incorporated. A thriving cattle industry fed thousands of hungry prospectors on their way to the gold fields. Today the city is a rich cultural mix, as people from all over the world come to enjoy a buoyant economy and balmy climate. However, it is prone to major natural disasters, including earthquakes, fires, and floods, and limited water may hamper further growth.At least three full days are needed to explore this city. One day could be spent along the coast, stopping in at famous beach communities such as Malibu, Santa Monica, and Venice Beach, and visiting the magical Santa Catalina Island.Another suggestion is for visitors to start out with a drive through Beverly Hills’ residential areas to see where the stars live—and a walk along Rodeo Drive where the stars shop. Later, a drive up to Hollywood to visit Studio City and Universal Studios could be followed by a walk around Pasadena’s Old Town. A third day could be spent at Disneyland and the California Adventure.Aside from the traffic, normal precautions are necessary, as in any large urban area. Pickpockets are common, and women and children should not enter any park, at any time, unescorted. The south-central area of the city, near Los Angeles International Airport, is a center of gang activity.Los Angeles is reached by train and bus, and by flights into Los Angeles International, Burbank- Glendale-Pasadena, Long Beach Municipal, or Orange County/John Wayne Airports. It is also accessible by car from the north via scenic Hwy 1, quicker US-101, or the unpleasant but significantly shorter I-5.