CALIFORNIA, EUREKA... I HAVE
FOUND IT!
BY CLAY
LARROY
People
in general consider traveling
as their personal interests. Traveling
can quickly became an interests simply because it is such an enjoyable
experience. When you travel around the world and you will see a variety of
different cultures and people. There
are two things to remember while traveling. The first thing is to be
open-minded about people and their culture. The second thing and the most
important, is to respect other cultures no matter how different. When you want to plan a vacation contact me!
Los Angeles, “City of Angels”
Los Angeles History
LA dates back as
early as 8,000 BC when Native Americans hunted along the California coastline.
However, modern LA started in 1781 when the Spanish officially founded Los
Angeles by building missions and forts across California.
The city became
a battleground during the Mexican-American War of 1846, eventually reaching a
peaceful conclusion that signed California over to the US.
Over the
centuries, LA grew from a Gold Rush community to a major oil producer, fueled
by the railroads. LA was redefined in the 1920s, when the fledgling film
industry decamped from New York in search of sunshine and Hollywood was born.
In the golden
age of studio pictures in the 1920s, 30s and 40s, movie stars set up home in
the hills as LA became a true movie town. Today, all the major studios remain,
and the city is still the undisputed king of film-making.
The post-WWII
era brought some dark times to LA with Communist witch hunts and ethnic unrest
fuelled by right wing politics. The latter led to the Watts race riots in the
city in 1965.
By the 1960s,
the music industry turned its sights west and a number of performers got their
starts in clubs along West Hollywood's Sunset Strip, including the Troubadour
Club, the Roxy and the Whiskey A-Go-Go. The Doors, Frank Zappa, Led Zeppelin,
James Taylor and The Eagles all played shows here.
The hippie
counter culture led musicians to make their homes in the leafy LA canyons such
as Laurel and Topanga Canyons. Los Feliz, Echo Park and Silver Lake are now the
new alt-vibe communities for artists and musicians.
Capitol Records
founded its famous round HQ building, designed to look like a stack of records
on a turntable, near Hollywood and Vine in the 1950s.
After a rather
shabby period in the 1970s and 80s, Hollywood has undergone something of a
regeneration, especially with the building of the Kodak Theater complex,
current home of the Oscar ceremony, which allows LA to proudly call itself the
‘entertainment capital' of the world again.
Did you know?
- In 1959, Los Angeles became the home of the first daily monorail in the western hemisphere. It ran as part of Disneyland.
- Director Stanley Kramer was the first person to have his star installed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 28th March 1960.
- In 1904, the sale of alcohol was banned in Hollywood, except for medicinal purposes.
- In 1959, Los Angeles became the home of the first daily monorail in the western hemisphere. It ran as part of Disneyland.
- Director Stanley Kramer was the first person to have his star installed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 28th March 1960.
- In 1904, the sale of alcohol was banned in Hollywood, except for medicinal purposes.
Tours & Excursions
Tourist Information Centers
LA Tourism & Convention Board Visitor Information Center
Website:
http://www.discoverlosangeles.com
Excursions
Santa
Barbara
The
sophisticated Spanish-influenced town of Santa Barbara is a two-hour drive
north of LA. Take time to explore the historic Spanish mission, stroll the
smart shopping and dining area, and try some fresh fish from a restaurant on
the pier. With superior beaches and stylish surroundings, Santa Barbara proves
a popular day trip from LA.
http://www.santabarbaraca.com
Long
Beach
The city of Long
Beach is directly south of Downtown LA, an easy drive on the Long Beach
freeways (I-710). Must sees include the Queen Mary, a 1934 luxury liner that's
now a floating hotel; the Aquarium of the Pacific, which is home to more than
550 species of marine animals in a variety of ocean habitats; and Shoreline
Village, a pleasant marina-style complex with shops and restaurants including
Parker's Lighthouse.
http://www.visitlongbeach.com
Tours
Boat tours
With an extensive coastline, visitors to LA can pick from harbour
cruises, whale and dolphin watching excursions, kayaking tours along the Venice
canals, and Gondola rides in Newport Beach. Cruise Newport Beach's dinner,
brunch and sunset cruises along the southern beaches of Newport and Huntington
are also popular.
http://www.gondola.com
Walking tours
Los Angeles Conservancy Tours run walking tours of Downtown Los
Angeles. Their insightful expeditions cover landmark buildings and historic
areas, such as Pershing Square, Broadway theatre district and Little Tokyo.
Meanwhile, Red Line Tours takes visitors behind the glitz and glamour of Tinsel
Town with a sprinkling of A-lister stardust. Each person is given a headset
playing live commentary and tours offer rare access to the interiors of
buildings.
http://www.laconservancy.org
Things to do in Los Angeles
Activities
Go
wine tasting in the O.C
Upmarket Orange County boasts a long history of winemaking, a
legacy of the French vintners who decamped here in the 19th century and brought
their skills with them. Although the large establishments exist, most vineyards
are small and the owners will happily invite you in for a wine-tasting session
for a small fee. OC Winery Tours (tel: +1 949 203 3891; www.orangecountywinetours.com)
can take thirsty tourists to the county's best.
Learn
to surf
Thanks to its lengthy coastline and balmy days, surfing has become
staple part of the Los Angeles lifestyle. Venice Beach and Santa Monica both
have great surfing beaches, as does Malibu, where Malibu www.malibumakos.com)
offer lessons. Surfboard hire and professional tuition is also available.
Hike
in Death Valley
The magnificent mesas and arid dunes of Death Valley (www.nps.gov/deva)
once provided the backdrop for Western films. Today, it is home to a network of
hiking trails, many of which take you close to the park's memorable rocky
outcrops. Go early in the summer – it can get unbearably hot later in the day.
Explore
the Los Angeles Stairs
LA wasn't always a city of cars and it has a network of hidden
staircases that are now largely overlooked, despite their very starry pedigrees.
One, in Silver Lake, was made famous by Laurel and Hardy while others once
housed thriving street communities. Street Stairs LA (www.secretstairs-la.com)
run interesting tours to visit the best of them.
Visit
carless Catalina Island
Just 35km (22 miles) across the ocean from Long Beach is Catalina
Island (www.catalinachamber.com), a peaceful retreat where cars
are banned. Start at Avalon, the island's capital, which boasts the imposing
Catalina Casino building, now a museum, before earning a bird's eye view of the
island courtesy of a zip line eco tour.
REFERENCE SITES:
I love living in Los Angeles.
William Shatner
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