Los Angeles, CA Travel & Vacation Guide

What to Know

The City of Angels is well-known as the entertainment capital of the world, but there’s much more to this sprawling city than glitz, glamour and celebrities galore. L.A. is rich in culture, with an ethnically-diverse population, more than 300 museums and thriving arts and culinary scenes.

L.A.’s history is deeply rooted in Latino-Hispanic culture. Long before the Golden Age of Hollywood, the city was inhabited by Spanish and Mexican settlers. Today, the birthplace of Los Angeles (otherwise known as downtown’s Olvera Street) is a unique attraction, featuring a block lined with historic buildings, Mexican restaurants, street vendors and a Mexican-style plaza.

Blessed with near perfect weather year-round, the outdoors are a big part of modern life in L.A., from ample alfresco dining to popular outdoor shopping areas like Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade and the Grove, a Mediterranean-style plaza adjacent to L.A.’s historic Farmers Market. There are also miles of beaches, scenic canyons for hiking (try Runyan for celeb sightings) and sprawling natural areas like Griffith Park.

Where to Go

Get a feel for this diverse, sprawling city by exploring a handful of popular neighborhoods with distinct personalities. First stop is Venice Beach to stroll along the funky boardwalk, where street performers, skaters and general characters provide the city’s best people-watching.

Just north of Venice, explore Santa Monica, a larger, upscale community with excellent shopping and posh beachfront hotels. Stop by Shutters on the Beach for a sunset cocktail on the patio overlooking the beach.

Cruise your way east through Beverly Hills’ ritzy Rodeo Drive and the bustling Sunset Strip before hitting Hollywood. Stroll down Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame to the opulent, touristy Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Before catching a flick, pose for a photo with a costumed character (they expect a tip) or stand next to a famous pair of footprints. Anchoring the adjacent Hollywood and Highland shopping center, the Kodak Theater is the site of the Academy Awards ceremony.

Continue east to Los Feliz, the hip neighborhood made famous in Swingers. Stroll down boutique- and café-lined Vermont Avenue and end the day with a martini at the Dresden Room, a retro-style lounge with live entertainment from local fixtures Marty and Elayne.

When to Go

While temperatures are mild year round, Los Angeles has some funky weather patterns that visitors need to know about. If you plan on hitting the beaches, think twice about visiting in June. A coastal phenomenon known as "June Gloom" means days are often socked in with a thick, foggy marine layer. Late July through September, the weather tends to be sunnier and warm enough for a day at the beach, although the ocean is always cold.

Late summer months can get very hot as you travel further inland. Thanks to generally mild weather, air conditioning is not as widespread in Los Angeles as in many other parts of the country. As a result, August is usually hot and sticky.

Contrary to popular belief, it actually does rain in L.A. a little bit. Winter is the wettest time of year, with February getting the most rain. Winter precipitation also adds color to hills around the city; dry and brown in the hot summer months, these areas turn green when the rain comes.