Lace up a pair of rented skates and roll amid the colorful characters onthe Venice Boardwalk, then cross the bridges around Dell Avenue forviews of the ducks and boats in the area’s remaining canals.Soak up the old-fashioned atmosphere of Santa Monica Pier, browsingthe curio shops and mussing your hair while plummeting down the rollercoaster. Immerse yourself in the still-thriving surf culture that was born inMalibu in the 1950s and ’60s.Window-shop along Rodeo Drive, a stretch of sidewalk anchored by the glamorous Two Rodeo “mall” on one end and the swank RodeoCollection on the other. #LA #LosAngeles
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AAA Destination Guide: Official AAA maps,
travel information and top picks
AAA Destination Guide: Los Angeles includes trip-planning information
covering AAA recommended attractions and restaurants, exclusive
member discounts, maps and more.
For much of the globe, the stereotypical
perception of Los Angeles is one of a
superficial city populated by movie stars,
plastic surgeons and towering palms. But
Angelenos know the entertainment capital of
the world is much more than that. From its
glorious natural surroundings and world-class tourist attractions to ethnic
neighborhoods with their own unique character, L.A. is a wildly
stimulating, very real city where fantasy just happens to be the signature
export.
Because L.A. sprawls so vigorously—stretching from the lofty San
Gabriel Mountains to the golden shores of the Pacific Ocean—putting
together a sightseeing plan is essential. For movie lovers, the Hollywood
area should be on the A-list. From the famed Grauman’s Chinese
Theatre to Universal Studios Hollywood, a close-up encounter with movie
myths and magic is a must. Soaking up rays on one of Southern
California’s beaches is another quintessential L.A. experience, which is
best done at vibrant Venice Beach or the ocean bluffs of Malibu. For
skeptics who dismiss L.A. as a cultural wasteland, they obviously haven’t
gawked at the Renaissance art displayed in the Getty Center or heard the
Los Angeles Philharmonic at downtown’s Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Whether it’s shopping in Beverly Hills or nightclub-hopping on the storied
Sunset Strip, spirits easily soar in the City of Angels.
Essentials
Lace up a pair of rented skates and roll amid the colorful characters on
the Venice Boardwalk, then cross the bridges around Dell Avenue for
views of the ducks and boats in the area’s remaining canals.
Soak up the old-fashioned atmosphere of Santa Monica Pier, browsing
the curio shops and mussing your hair while plummeting down the roller
coaster. Immerse yourself in t