LOCAL KNOWLEDGE:
TRIVIA INTEREST POINT:
In 1913 William Mulholland ensured the future of Los Angeles
by building an incredible aqueduct that to this day brings
water to the city. Farsighted indeed, considering water
is becoming such a major concern worldwide.
FLIGHTS: LAX has frequent connections from
all mainland Europe, Asia and internal cities within the
USA.
AIRPORTS:
Los Angeles is served by more airports than any other major
city in the world. It has 5 major commercial airports. The
largest and busiest is the Los Angeles International Airport
(LAX).
Plus: Ontario International (ONT), Bob Hope Airport (formerly
known as Burbank Airport), Long Beach Municipal Airport,
John Wayne Airport.
Also, Van Nuys Airport (VNY), world’s busiest airport
for general aviation.
The airport is served by efficient buses, car hire and taxi
services
TRANSPORTATION:
Roads: Los Angeles is known for its extensive freeway system,
including the famous Route 66.
Buses: The LA Transportation Authority and other agencies
also operate varied bus lines including The Orange Line.
The Greyhound Bus line has your ‘ticket to anywhere’
in the U.S.A.
Railways: Not such a well-known fact, there is also a major
rail system which includes a subway and light railway. These
are: The Red Line subway, The Green, Blue and Gold Light
rail lines.
Amtrak and Metrolink operate passenger services from historic
Union Station.
Car Hire: Major car hire agencies and many others serve
all city and inter-state requirements.
Limousine, Classical and exotic vehicles are all available.
Bike Hire: Choice includes: The famous Harley Davidson Motor
bikes to cycles and RV’s
VACATION IN LOS ANGELES
ACCOMMODATION:
L.A. offers a vast range of various accommodation possibilities
to suit everyone’s tastes and pockets.
From downtown L.A. t o Bel Air & Beverly Hills, beaches
and The Valley. From the celebrity glitz of famous 5 star
hotels such as the Beverly Hills Hotel, The Beverly Wilshire,
Four Seasons, to the eclectic St. James’ Club, Boutique
Hotels, Airport located hotels, Hotels catering for business,
beachside hotels, motels and beach houses in areas such
as Malibu, Zuma Beach, Venice Beach, Marina-del-Rey, Topanga,
Hermosa and more. Value plus 3 Star and 2 Star hotels (many
situated for easy access to places of interest). Aparthotels
like The Standard in Hollywood. Fully furnished suites such
as the Oakwood Group. There is a superb and varying array
of hostels for the student and back-packer alike. For instance,
the super hip and cool Vibe Hotel/hostel on Hollywood Boulevard.
Mobile homes, caravan parks and campsites accommodate the
huge number of campers and recreational vehicle travelers.
Some offer extremely high quality amenities.
SEASONS:
SPRING: April, May, June SUMMER: July, August, and September
AUTUMN: October, November, December WINTER: January, February,
March
SUNRISE/SUNSET: Longest sunshine days: June, July, August,
And September
CALENDAR HOLIDAYS: 2006
Jan. 1st New Years Day
16 Martin Luther King Day
Feb. 2 Ground Hog Day.
12 Lincoln’s Birthday
14 Valentine’s Day
20 Washington’s Birthday
Mar. 1 Ash Wednesday
17 St. Patrick’s Day
Apl. 2 Daylight Saving Begins
9 Palm Sunday
14 Good Friday
16 Easter
May. 5 Cinco de Mayo
14 Mother’s Day
19 Armed Forces Day
29 Memorial Day
June 14 Flag Day
18 Fathers’ Day
July 4 Independence Day/4th of July
Aug.
Sept. 4 Labour Day
Oct. 9 Columbus Day
29 Daylight Savings Ends
31 Halloween
Nov. 11 Veterans Day
23 Thanksgiving
Dec. 25 Christmas
FESTIVALS: EVENTS:
L.A. provides a cornucopia of events and parades that include
home grown American themes and many ethnic and exotic ones
also. From the famous American 4th of July parades, indoor
and outdoor concerts, rodeos, picnics and beach parties
to Brazilian, Latino, Mariachi, jazz and Reggae street festivals,
to performing arts, art & installation walks in places
such as Venice, Pasadena, including open studios and galleries
featuring sculpture, photography, art of all types, ceramics,
multi-media and more. Film festivals and celebrity events.
Harvest Home, The Mexican favourite, Cinco de Mayo Festival,
Earth Day, Hometown Fairs, Cherry Blossom, Lobster, Wine
tasting, Cowboy Festivals, and various Sporting Festivals
all contribute to a veritable tapestry of riches to choose
from.
HOLIDAY IN LOS ANGELES
SPECIAL INTEREST ATTRACTIONS:
SPACE TRAVEL: Visit the fascinating Jet Propulsion Lab,
home of the Mars Rover, situated in Pasadena.
MARINE PARKS: One venue in particular, Catalina Island is
a special day trip that offers not only observation of the
marine park, but wild buffalo, scenic walks and rides around
the island, water sports . Approached by boat, or helicopter,
it makes for a great day out.
MEDIA & ENTERTAINMENT: True to say, Los Angeles is
well established as the entertainment capital of the universe.
The entertainment industries of film, television, music
and the arts are well represented.
MUSEUMS & GALLERIES:
Landmark Cultural Centers and Museums include: The Getty
Center, The LA County Museum of Art, (LACMA) The Museum
of Contemporary Art (MOCA), The Museum of Tolerance, The
Natural History Museum, Science Center, The Latino and the
Japanese American Museums and more.
THEME PARKS: Of course the famous Theme Parks of Universal
Studios, Hollywood, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Hurricane
Harbour in Valencia, Raging Waters and Disneyland in Anaheim
offer fun for all ages.
THE PERFORMING ARTS: Angelinos & visitors are spoiled
for venues including The Epcot Center, a one-of-a kin ‘must
see’. The Music Center of L.A. County, (The Dorothy
Chandler Pavilion – home of the LA Opera), The Hollywood
Bowl, Pantages Theatre, (now home to the Academy Awards),
The Kodak Theatre, and more.
MUSIC: Another benefit of the diverse culture of L.A. is
the extreme richness of the music. Renowned for its music
recording industry, sounds are alive. From the Golden Oldies
of the 60’s to Classical and in between - Rap, Rock,
Rasta, Jazz, Motown, Hip Hop, Soul, Rhythm & Blues ..
You name it. Outdoor, indoor concerts abound in and around
the L.A. area. Don’t miss the Playboy Jazz Festival,
held in Santa Monica in early June.
ARCHITECTURE: Architectural statements such as the Walt
Disney Concert Hall, Epcott Center, Bradbury Building, the
move to restore the downtown Los Angeles area as an arts
and entertainment center, offering interesting accommodation
and businesses amongst many a delightful hour spent enjoying
these and many more, such as the Frank Lloyd Wright houses.
CULTURE: Los Angeles is very much a “City of the World”.
Language. Apart from the American accented English, of course
Spanish is now the second language of America. With its’
large population of Mexicans and South Americans, the Latino
influence is very apparent. Other groups are also well represented
– apart from Chinatown; there is Koreatown, Little
Armenia, Little Tokyo, Thai Town, Little Ethiopia, and Filipinotown.
L.A. is vastly diversified with regard to many differing
religions. Churches of all denominations, Buddhist temples
and Self Realization Centres, Scientology Centres and Kabbalah
Centres reflect the open society found here.
SPORTS: Some of the most followed or participated- in sports
are: American football,( The Super Bowl), The L.A. Marathon,
Baseball, Basketball, Ice Hockey, Surfing, Windsurfing,
Hang Gliding, Equestrienne, Skiing, Car Racing, Bike Racing,
Skateboarding, Rollerblading, Hang Gliding, Scuba Diving
and Snorkeling, Hiking, Rock Climbing, Rodeo, Soccer, Lacrosse
.. Many world competitions are held in the various venues
available.
L.A. Has numerous sports venues, however, one of the most
interesting sports venues is the state- of- the -art STAPLES
CENTER. A mega-complex which includes sports, entertainment
and it hosts concerts, galas and major award events.
LOS ANGELES VACATION
CUISINE: ELEGANT CUISINE, SPECIAL INTEREST &
THEME RESTAURANTS,CAFÉ’S,COFFEE SHOPS, ICE
CREAM PARLOURS,KIOSKS,LOCAL STREET DELIGHTS:
Angelinos will tell you ‘think of a menu’ and
you will find it in Los Angeles. While celebrity chefs and
creative fusion restaurants cater for the well heeled in
Beverly Hills, at restaurants such as Chasens & Mr.
Chows, Robert DeNiro, Ridley Scott and Harvey Weinstein’s
AGO Restaurant, Justin Timberlake’s CHI Restaurant,
Jennifer Lopez & Jimmy Smits’ LA BOCA DEL, Ben
Affleck & Matt Damon’s THE CONTINENTAL, Arnold
Schwarzenegger’s SCHATZI ON MAIN (to name but a few),
novel restaurants such as Wolfgang Pucks Restaurants, The
Cheesecake Factory, the 60’s theme Ed Debeviks, Johnny
Rockets (burgers, fries, shakes and apple pie), The Stinking
Rose (Garlic recipes, including garlic ice cream), Mexican
styled eateries are plentiful, so too are Italian, Japanese,
Chinese, Louisiana Cajun spicy fare, American ‘sports
bars’ are extremely popular and diners enjoy varied
large portions of meat dishes that fall off the plate, accompanied
by copious fries and grits. Gladstone’s, specializing
in sea food is on the beach on the Pacific Coast Highway.
Celebrities inspire dishes named after them. Specialist
deserts are well catered for and who can forget the famously
successful Starbucks or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf with their
many creative blends of hot and cold coffees, tea fusions
and juices. Organic restaurants and natural juice bars such
as Jamba Juice are also extremely popular for those of the
‘healthy body, healthy mind’ set.. Ice cream
parlours, including the latest ‘Coldstone Creamery’
where your personal server makes up the ice cream and trimmings
of your choice on a cold slab of marble or granite. Shopping
malls offer many differing eateries as they cater for shoppers
and cinema goers. The restaurant directory for Los Angeles
is ‘large size’.
NIGHTLIFE: Hip clubs include Johnny Depp’s
Viper Room, Dan Ackroyd’s ‘House of Blues”,
Shag, Cindy Crawford & her husband Randy’s The
Skyroom. There are many clubs, winebars, and line dancing
karoke venues, exotica and more.
SHOPPING: DUTY FREE: Airport and downtown
centers provide a vast assortment of goods for the shopper.
CITY DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM: Suggested
Official site: California Travel & Tourism Commission.
Patron: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
www.visitcalifornia.com
Be sure to pick up your Los Angeles maps and guide book,
a copy of the California free visitors Guide, and a bona-fide
map of the Stars residences.
ENTRY VISA REQUIREMENT FOR THE UNITED STATES:
If you are traveling to the United States for 90 days or
less, traveling for business, pleasure or transit only,
United Kingdom citizens can travel on the ‘Visa Waiver
Programme’, providing they carry a British passport
that is machine readable and they do not have a criminal
record. Other exemptions do apply. The Visa Waiver Programme
form is supplied on-board the aircraft and is known as a
I-94W form.
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