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The Draw
- All the vitality and diversity of a megametropolis, but with a palmy, glitzy, Latino, laid-back spirit
- From Hollywood flash to scenic beach and mountain retreats, it's all a short (well, sometimes) drive away.
- A downtown scene that has morphed from business-only into a nexus of activity, bringing fabulous restaurants, hip bars and culture both high and low
The Scene
Sure, there's some truth to L.A.'s oft-stereotyped image: plastic surgery and perennial tans, clogged freeways and palm-tree-dotted urban sprawl. But year-round sun isn't the only thing that keeps Angelenos' romance with their city alive. They love the varied landscape: wide sandy beaches, clifftop dinners, secluded mountain hikes and golf courses galore. They devour L.A's eclectic, world-class cuisine that rivals New York's. And they adore the city's vibrant, underrated cultural life, where Essa-Pekka Salonen leads the L.A. Phil in its brand new Gehry-designed home; Placido Domingo heads the increasingly revered L.A Opera; and there exists one of the largest and most flourishing theater scenes in the world. They browse galleries at Bergamot Station for a glimpse at a cutting-edge art world -- this is, after all, the town that international art superstars Bill Viola, Ed Ruscha and Mike Kelley call home. A patchwork of different cities, settings and lifestyles, L.A. truly has something for every mood -- the challenge is figuring out where to go. And, of course, how to drive there.
To Be Seen
- Malibu. Here's where the ocean-loving A-listers live and jog. You'll find 27 miles of beaches to suit all types, whether you want wide sandy stretches, rugged cliffs or secluded coves.
- Beverly Hills and Bel-Air. Classic or clichéd, Rodeo Drive is still the glamorous center of luxury shopping, with glittering stores as elegant as the objects they sell. These neighborhoods are where Hollywood's old money lives.
- West Hollywood. The center of L.A. gay culture, We-Ho includes the Sunset Strip, as well as a pedestrian-friendly stretch of Santa Monica Boulevard packed with great restaurants, bars and galleries.
- ld Town Pasadena. This is the closest L.A. gets to an East Coast-style town center; head here when you're dying to ditch the car and take a pleasant walk. Pasadena is said to have more restaurants per capita than any other city in the world, so competition is fierce. Drop by the 150-acre Huntington Botanical Gardens, a classy oasis, or see the Norton Simon Museum's well-selected European art collection.
For the VIP
- Charter a yacht and sail down the spectacular coast to San Diego and back. Or rent yourself an exotic convertible and head in the other direction, up Pacific Coast Highway toward scenic, Spanish-style Santa Barbara and the nearby wine country.
- Enjoy panoramic ocean views as you play a round at the lavish new Trump National Golf Club. Open since January 2006, this is the most expensive golf course ever built, costing more than $250 million.
- Lunch at the Ivy is the quintessential Hollywood experience. Featured in Get Shorty and L.A. Story, this is the power lunch mecca for A-listers, agents and studio execs. You are almost guaranteed to see someone you recognize from the screen sitting out on the patio. Despite all the deal making, the restaurant exudes French country charm.
Overrated
- Santa Monica Pier. Grungy, crowded and loaded with carnie rides and trolling teens. You'll find better, cleaner beaches if you head north to Malibu or south to the myriad locations in the O.C.
Underrated
- Downtown. The crown jewel of L.A.'s revitalized city center is Frank Gehry's breathtaking Walt Disney Concert Hall, styled after his Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. In addition to a proliferation of great new restaurants nearby, you'll also find the Museum of Contemporary Art and Little Tokyo, where you can sample some of the city's best sushi.
Don't Miss
- The Getty Center. Opened in 1997, this gleaming hilltop museum complex designed by Richard Meier required the import of 16,000 tons of Italian travertine stone. Here Getty's collection of primarily European art is housed in a setting both sleek and serene, with natural gardens and a dramatic view. If you're looking for antiquities, check out the old site of the Getty instead, the Getty Villa in Malibu. Reopened in 2006 after nine years of renovations, the museum is modeled after a first-century Roman country house.
When to Go
Anytime. L.A. is sunny (though often smoggy) year round, but if you plan to take a dip in the ocean, late spring through early fall is best.Page 1 of 1
