Guide to Visiting Los Angeles (L.A.), California

Altogether I lived in the Greater Los Angeles area for about 15 years... if you add all the different times together, that is. I have a bit of a gypsy personality so tend to move around a lot. Los Angeles is a place I went back to many times. There are many things to love about it. I will happy to name a few of the attractions that kept drawing me back, and things you should visit if you ever get to that area of California.

The Griffith Park Observatory is not to be missed. This not just a park, although that's part of it. It's also one of the biggest telescopes, and they have a pretty cool Planetarium. In the middle is a big Foucault's Pendulum too. Gotta see that if you see nothing else here (once the Main Rotunda reopens). It's quite fascinating! Do visit the park and see the impressive building at least. It's beautiful up there... and you can also still see The Astronomers Monument, which honors six of the greatest astronomers of all time. They are Hipparchus (?-125 B.C.), Copernicus (1473-1543), Galileo (1564-1642), Kepler (1571-1630), Newton (1642-1727), and Herschel (1738-1822). (http://www.griffithobs.org/tour.htm)

2800 East Observatory Road
Los Angeles, CA 90027-1255 USA
Offices (323) 664-1181

Hollywood is one the favorite tourist areas, and indeed it is fun. Handily, the main drag is Hollywood Blvd so it's easy enough to find off the 405 freeway. Here you will find lots of little eateries, tour guides and buses, souvenir shops, and all kinds of places to buy stuff. The first Frederick's of Hollywood is here, you can't miss it, big ol' purple building. Say you went for the history of it. heh.

Also in Hollywood is the famous Chinese Theatre, where lots of premiers are held. It was at one time called Grauman's, and still is by us folks who grew up with it that way, but officially it's actually Mann's Chinese Theatre now.. at any rate, this is where the footprints of the stars are in cement. Along the sidewalks of Hollywood are stars embedded into the pavement with the names of favorite actors. This used to be quite the honor, but these days they give a star to any ol' body.

Downtown you will find the Garment District, if you're real lucky! It's hidden in a long alleyway behind other stores. Stop and ask a local, they'll know where to send you. It's worth finding. Entering that alley is like walking into another time and place. You will find all kinds of open-air stalls selling clothing made in the nearby factories and man can you ever get some great deals there!

Now, L.A. doesn't just mean L.A. proper, it encompasses the whole geographic area from South Bay up to the San Fernando Valley areas. It's huge. If you get on a freeway, and you really can't avoid it, be prepared to be either at a dead stop for 45 minutes at a time, or dodging folks doing 90+.. please do stay out of the fast lane if you can't stand the heat.

To the west, you can take in some live comedy improv at the Powerhouse Theatre. They always have great comediennes, and the old-style architecture outside is a great contrast to the modernization inside.

3116 2nd Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
Phone: 310-396-3680

Also in Santa Monica is a sweet pier with carnival type rides, and the strand is full of vendors and wonderful places to eat. Some of L.A.'s most colorful personalities can be found here on the weekends... just leave before it gets dark. heh. At sundown things change pretty drastically here and you really don't want to be around for it.

Moving north, up to the valley..err I should say THE Valley, you will find THE Sherman Oaks Galleria which has been the site of movie filming for decades. It's a pretty nice mall to visit, actually. It's not you've seen it in the movies anymore though. The Earthquake in 1994 pretty much did it in, it had to be demolished and rebuilt, so it's smaller now, and open air where it used to be a beautiful enclosed mall. It reopened in 2002, and to be honest, I haven't been to see it since it's grand reopening.. but you should, and I will as soon as I can back out there.

Michael Jackson's Estate is not far from the Galleria off Ventura Blvd. This is another of those spots you can just ask a local for directions.. you'll know when you've reached it by the big iron gate and the groupies that will be hanging out outside waiting for a glimpse of the family or the animals.

Going South from downtown you will run into the South Bay area.. my favorite of it all. Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach. They are all connected and it's a nice walk down the beach to stroll from one end to the other, culminating at the Palos Verdes Peninsula to the south. This beautiful clean sand, unlike what they have here on the East Coast. Take Virginia Beach, it has like plants growing everywhere in the sand... and it's like that all up and down the East Coast. I hate that. Give me the clean, wide, sandy beaches of Southern California any day.

In all three beach communities you will find a variety of what-not shops, souvenir places, and good food. The best food though is Old Tony's on the pier in Redondo. If you visit this area, you must stop there! They have some seriously good food and great service, not to mention if you go at night the view is just spectacular.

While in Hermosa, stop on in to Hennessey's Tavern right there by the sand on your left. It's that green bar. Yep, that's the one. Nice friendly place, that. They have corned beef and cabbage on St Patty's day that is really out of this world too. heh.

Across the street from Hennessey's you'll find the Mermaid which has been there since 1954...and it still has a 50s atmosphere. This is a steak and seafood place and I've never been disappointed by them. Average price for an entree here is $8-$12, so it isn't real outrageous.

Whiles you're at the south beaches, do take a minute to stop by the Manhattan Beach Historical Society. It's in the cutest little bungalow and is a pretty interesting visit. They're open from noon to 3pm on the weekends and have quite a few artifacts and stuff.

1601 Manhattan Beach Boulevard,
Manhattan Beach, California 90266
(310) 374-7575

I hope this helps you to see some of the neat things while in Los Angeles, there are so many of them! This should give you a jumping off point at any rate... Well worth the visit.