Los Angeles Official Visitor Guide 2008 - (Page 9) Photos (left to right): Los Angeles Zoo and Botanical Gardens; Hiking in Griffith Park; Grauman’s Chinese Theatre; Malibu; The Grove ©LA INC./Stephen Berkman, iStockphoto.com/David Livingston, iStockphoto.com/rarpia, LA INC./John Paul Iacoangelo, iStockphoto.com/Lee Pettet • Spending Spree: Westside shoppers flock to Farmers Market, Beverly Center and the city’s newest shopping destination, The Grove, where stores like American Girl Place mix entertainment and shopping under one roof. • A City Within a City: Just east of the 405 Freeway lies Century City, a minimetropolitan area with its own cluster of skyscrapers, upscale shopping and dining options. • Back to School: Westwood Village is a college community that surrounds UCLA with a variety of eateries and boutiques. • A Village for the Elite: The affluent community of Brentwood is located west of the 405, offering its own villagelike area along Montana Avenue. It’s also home to the spectacular Getty Center, which sits high atop the Santa Monica Mountains, overlooking Brentwood. • Home to the Glitterati: Beverly Hills is known for its high-end shops on Rodeo Drive, such as Gucci and Bvlgari; department stores, such as Sak’s Fifth Avenue; and top-rated restaurants, such as Cut and Crustacean. • After-hours Action: Hip, edgy West Hollywood is home to the famous Sunset Strip, lined with long-standing nightclubs and live music venues. coastal communities LA has a reputation for being a beach lover’s paradise, and rightly so. There are more than two dozen beaches in the LA area, in addition to marinas, famous piers and other coastal community diversions. The Coastal Bike Path stretches 22 miles from Pacific Palisades to Redondo Beach and connects most of the communities. • Flying High: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is located in close proximity to some of Southern California’s most famous and beautiful beaches. LAX is currently undergoing a major renovation with the largest construction contract ever awarded for an individual project in Los Angeles City history. • Ahhh, Venice: Known for its Ocean Front Walk, Venice Beach is where you’ll find an eclectic array of street performers along with shops and stalls selling everything from incense to socks. A few blocks inland is Abbot Kinney Boulevard, with upscale, eclectic vendors. • LA’s Marina: With slips for 5,000 vessels, Marina del Rey is the world’s largest man-made small-boat harbor. Several yachts are available for charter, and restaurants and bars can be found all along the waterfront. • Malibu: North of Santa Monica is Malibu, a more rural community offering 27 miles of beaches, as well as hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and other outdoor activities in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. Malibu is also home to the recently renovated Getty Villa. • Santa Monica Dreamin’: The urban resort city of Santa Monica offers a pleasure pier complete with an amusement park, as well as entertainment districts such as the bustling Third Street Promenade and burgeoning Main Street. It’s also home to more than 90 galleries and art museums. • Come Sail Away: South of LAX, San Pedro is home to LA’s World Cruise Center, the busiest passenger cruise port on the West Coast. Charter a boat for fishing, enjoy whale watching (seasonal) and even take a cruise. Or, stay on land and wine, dine and unwind at Ports O’ Call Village before learning something new at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, the perfect destination for family fun. The Los Angeles Maritime Museum is another can’t-miss attraction in San Pedro. LA’s regions sparkle with character. Visitors can have breakfast in the San Fernando Valley, peruse a museum in the Wilshire Corridor, dine on the Westside, see a performance at the Music Center in Downtown or dance the night away at a Hollywood club — all in one day! For more information about LA neighborhoods, visit our Web site at www.discoverLosAngeles.com. 9
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