Long Beach
With beaches and marinas along its waterfront and a busy dining and shopping scene on downtown’s Pine Avenue, Long Beach blends big city sophistication with resort town fun. Tour the legendary, permanently docked ocean liner Queen Mary, then relax with a drink in the ship’s Observation Bar—you can even stay overnight in one of the ship’s cabins. Also along the waterfront, outstanding Aquarium of the Pacific has huge tanks and displays featuring coral reefs, Magellanic penguins, and other ocean habitats. For beach-town style, head to the Belmont Shore neighborhood. East Village, home of the Museum of Latin American Art, has an edgier, hipster vibe.
Southern California
Discover Los Angeles County
See a movie star. Sip a cocktail on a rooftop bar at sunset. Slip on a pair of designer shoes in an ultra-luxurious boutique in Beverly Hills. Play at Universal Studios Hollywood theme park, explore world-class museums, or dance the night away in a starlet-filled club. Welcome to California’s liveliest city, entertainment capital of America, with megastar wattage and nonstop activities.
“You know, you’re really a nobody in L.A. unless you have a really big door.” –comedian Steve Martin
The main hub is the City of Los Angeles, with legendary Hollywood northwest of downtown, the San Fernando Valley to the east, and the inviting beaches of Santa Monica and Malibu to the west.
Spotlight: Los Angeles
Welcome to the bright lights and big-city allure of California’s largest metropolis. Here, A-list celebrities really do walk the sidewalks, triple...
5 Amazing Things to Do in Venice Beach
This unique Los Angeles County beach town has sand, surf, and a lot of local colour. No doubt, many consider Venice Beach to...
5 Amazing Things to Do in Beverly Hills
Think of the lifestyles of the rich and famous and chances are that Beverly Hills...
The California Questionnaire: Mario Lopez
Mario Lopez fondly recalls the family trips he took as a child—to see the woods and waterfalls of...
Homegrown Los Angeles fashion runs the gamut from red-carpet-ready looks by Rodarte to slouchy, soft T-shirts by James Perse, which makes this county...
La Brea Tar Pits
Your idea of old may be 100, but that will undoubtedly change after you spend several hours at the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum. You will learn...
The iconic Tournament of Roses in Pasadena is the city’s annual one-two punch: a parade and a football game. It’s California’s way of celebrating the New Year with a twin display of flower power...
Spotlight: Hollywood
Tinseltown, where starlets are discovered on every street corner (or at least we like to think they are), and the tinted windows of that stretch...
Spotlight: Universal Studios Hollywood
Movie magic, mega attractions - If Hollywood is the land of make believe, then this is your chance to step into...
On HBO’s Silicon Valley, Martin Starr plays Bertram Gilfoyle, a pompous computer programmer who specializes in deadpan putdowns. But the Santa Monica-born actor, a veteran of cult TV...
North Hollywood
From bustling Hollywood Boulevard, it’s less than 10 minutes to North Hollywood’s NoHo Arts...
Celebrity Spotting
Stargazing takes on a different meaning in Tinseltown. While there’s no guarantee you’ll spy a familiar face when you’re here, there are some...
West Hollywood
West Hollywood has been dubbed “The Creative City,” and for good reason. Bordering Beverly Hills and Los Angeles, “Weho” is where fashion and the...
WeHo Design District
This stylish West Hollywood Design District, roughly defined by the...
Sunset Strip Nightlife
Few roads have as much history as this 2-mile-/3.2-km-long section of Sunset Boulevard, bounded by Havenhurst Drive and Doheny Drive. In the 1960s...
Your trip begins in California’s largest city. L.A. has nonstop action and things to do, but it can be a challenge to navigate, so planning your trip in advance is a big plus. Start in the coastal city of Santa Monica, with a wide, uncrowded beach, a signature pier topped by carnival rides and...
Famous for their giant sequoias, soaring mountains, deep canyons, and roaring rivers, this tandem set of parks have plenty to see, even though they are less well known than Yosemite, roughly 75 miles/120 kilometers north. Within the borders of Sequoia & Kings Canyon are Mount Whitney, the...
The multistage, 575-mile Amgen Tour of California is the largest cycling event in North America, and every May the course brings...
Museums
With its diverse collection of museums, Los Angeles has grown into one of the world’s great cities for art lovers. From the dramatically modern...
Malibu
Stretching for more than 30 miles along the Pacific and Highway One, Malibu has achieved...
Los Angeles County Shopping
You’ll definitely want to leave room in your suitcase for L.A. shopping.
If you’re ready to whip out the platinum card, head to Rodeo Drive...
Sand, water, and kids—it’s a natural combination for easy family fun. This sandy dozen offers appealing, family-friendly features, such as calm water for new swimmers, tide pools for intrepid...
Spotlight: Santa Monica
This oceanfront city, bounded by a 3½-mi/5½-km-long beach, feels like a weekend getaway spot even though it’s only 15 miles/24 kilometers west of...
Juicy heirloom tomatoes and just-picked strawberries. Super-sweet peaches shaped like mini Ufos. Artisanal cheeses, emerald-green olive oils, local wildflower honey—California’s farmers’ markets...
Kiss a beluga, see cool movie props, and learn about Walt’s secret hideaway on exclusive and behind-the-scenes tours at California’s theme parks and attractions. Here’s a roundup of worth-the-...
Beverly Hills
Opulent estates. Palm-lined Rodeo Drive. Lavish hotels and stretch...
Head to the heart of California’s cities for luxurious stays at world-class accommodations. From San Francisco’s historic hotels to celebrity hot spots in Hollywood and Beverly Hills, California’s...
Shopping is an art form in California. Whether you're in search of the perfect cocktail dress or an authentic Mexican piñata, you'll find it here. Want to sample fresh produce? Try our farmers...
Spotlight: Santa Catalina Island
With its swaying palms, white-sand beaches, warmest water in summer, and melt-your-heart sunsets, Santa Catalina stands out as pretty-much-perfect...
From a candy-colored pastry shop to Michelin-starred dining rooms, top restaurants run by celebrity chefs dot the Golden State. And even if you don’t know these chefs from the TV...
Venice
Venice is the ultimate L.A. neighborhood where the surf meets the human circus. Spend a day along Venice’s palm-lined, beachfront boardwalk and...
Take one part water, one part sand, one part sun-soaked coastal charm, and you’ve got the recipe for some of California’s most appealing destinations. The Golden State’s beach towns stand out for...
L.A.'s Poshest Spas
In Tinseltown, one would expect an abundance of extravagant spas, and the city does not disappoint. Treat yourself to an experience of ultimate...
L.A. Architecture
While Los Angeles is still a young city when compared to places like, say, Rome, it still boasts a unique architectural tradition that spans a...
From almonds and olives up north to avocados, oranges, and dates in South, the Golden State has a crop (or 10) for nearly every stretch of terrain. After all, ...
You certainly won’t be the only one celebrating the Lunar New Year at this colorful event in L.A.’s Chinatown. Join thousands of revelers lining the parade route as lion dancers and giant dragons...
From Disneyland classics to beachfront carousels, the Golden State’s best-in-class theme parks deliver something for everyone. Take a tram ride to tour movie back lots at Universal Studios...
La Brea Tar Pits
Your idea of old may be 100, but that will undoubtedly change after you spend several hours at the La Brea Tar Pits & Museum. You will learn...
Great L.A. Food Trucks
From gourmet chefs experimenting with tacos to funky ice cream sandwiches, you might be surprised what you can find on the streets of L.A. Food...
Pasadena
Set at the base of the towering San Gabriel Mountains, Pasadena is best known as the home of the annual Tournament of Roses Parade and the...
If you’re a foodie, your definition of “celebrity sighting” in Los Angeles has little to do with movie stars. Instead, this annual event at L.A. Live, located across from Staples Center, is like...
Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve
Come springtime, get ready for an eye-popping show—staged by Mother Nature—in the far northeast corner of L.A. County. In the remote hills west of...
