Los Angeles & Southern California - Andrea Schulte-Peevers [54]
Other family-friendly beaches worth seeking out include Carpinteria State Beach, said to be the world’s safest, and local favorite Arroyo Burro.
Signature flavors of Santa Barbara County are the tacos at la Super Rica and the tiny doughnuts known as abelskiver, in the Danish-themed village of Solvang. Mid-July’s county fair Click here lets you sample lots of local foods in one place.
Off the coast, Channel Islands National Park is a natural for families who like their vacations, well, natural: hiking, kayaking, camping, whale-watching and more.
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Los Angeles
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HISTORY
ORIENTATION
INFORMATION
DANGERS & ANNOYANCES
SIGHTS
ACTIVITIES
WALKING TOUR: DOWNTOWN LA
COURSES
LOS ANGELES FOR CHILDREN
TOURS
FESTIVALS & EVENTS
SLEEPING
EATING
DRINKING
ENTERTAINMENT
SHOPPING
GETTING THERE & AWAY
GETTING AROUND
AROUND LOS ANGELES
CATALINA ISLAND
SIX FLAGS MAGIC MOUNTAIN & HURRICANE HARBOR
BIG BEAR LAKE
DEATH VALLEY NATIONAL PARK
LAS VEGAS
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Buff, bronzed and beautiful, LA is a sly seductress tempting you with her beaches, bosoms and beemers. She’s a bon vivant, passionately feasting on the smorgasbord of life, not taking anything too seriously. She’s a beacon of hope for countless dreamers and daredevils. But she’s also a cranky broad, a mistress of misery that’ll chew up and spit out anyone who isn’t quite A-list material.
Now is an exciting time to visit LA. Hollywood, Downtown and even humble Culver City are in the midst of an unstoppable urban renaissance. An open and experimental climate energizes the art, music and fashion scenes, and innovative chefs have ramped up local cuisine.
So if you think you’ve already figured out what LA is all about – smog, traffic, celebrity murders, Botox babes and Paris wannabes – think again. Explore the other LA: its truths aren’t delivered through headlines or on a movie screen, but come to you at the local street, personal and experiential levels. There are superb art museums, some cutting-edge architecture, beautiful parks and gardens, and fun shopping. You can pick from an international smorgasbord of culinary experiences – Afghani to Zambian – then take in some world-class jazz or Beethoven. Explore and enjoy.
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HIGHLIGHTS
Watching the death-wish surfers face the towering waves at Surfrider Beach in Malibu, then throwing yourself into their tamer cousins on Zuma Beach
Shopping like – and maybe spot – a star at Fred Segal or along Robertson Blvd
Hot-rodding it along breathtaking Palos Verdes Dr, then hunting for starfish and anemones in the tide pools of Abalone Cove
Getting your freak on while milling with snake charmers, tarot readers and beefcakes on the Venice Boardwalk
Feeling your spirits soar surrounded by the fantastic art, architecture, views and gardens of the Getty Center
Joining the buff, the famous and their canine companions on a hike through Runyon Canyon, preferably at sunset, for superb city views
Hitting the bars of Hollywood for a night of tabloid-worthy decadence and debauchery
Getting under the skin of LA by taking a guided tour with Los Angeles Conservancy or Esotouric
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HISTORY
LA’s human history begins with the Gabrielino and Chumash, who roamed the area as early as 6000 BC. Their hunter-gatherer existence ended in the late 18th century with the arrival of Spanish missionaries and Mexican settlers who founded the El Pueblo de la Reina de Los Angeles. This first civilian settlement became a thriving farming community but remained a far-flung outpost for decades.
During the Mexican–American War (1846–48), American soldiers encountered some resistance from General Andrés Pico and other Mexican commanders, but eventually LA came