LA

Los Angeles is the heart of the second largest metropolitan area in the U.S. While it's most famous for Hollywood, the center of the film and television industry, that is just one aspect of this sprawling and highly diverse city.

The Los Angeles metro area has been a "boomtown" since the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1876 and has long been a gateway of immigration from throughout the Pacific Rim and Latin America. L.A. is a sprawling megalopolis including smaller cities, such as Santa Monica, Burbank, Pasadena and Long Beach, which retain distinct identities. Geographically, there is very little logic as to what is part of the city of L.A. For example, Hollywood is not a separate city, but adjacent West Hollywood is.

You can find some of the biggest tourist attractions in the city on Hollywood Boulevard: the Walk of Fame for its stars; Grauman's Chinese Theater, with its celebrity hand and foot prints; the Hollywood/Highland Plaza for shopping and entertainment; the Wax Museum; and Ripley's Believe It or Not. All of these attractions are accessible from the Hollywood/ Highland Metro Red Line station.

Griffith Park is the second largest park within a city in the entire country and is a great place for hikes or picnics. The hiking trails lead up to Mulholland Drive and provide stunning views of the city. Visitors can also enjoy the beaches, several excellent museums (such as the Getty Center, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Tolerance) and root for a number of pro sports teams.

This fun area is located in Universal Studios and connects all the Universal City attractions. It opened in 1993 and is an open-air street featuring retail stores, movies, bars and restaurants for every taste. The Universal City cinemas show all the latest movies. Credit cards acceptance vary by store.

The Walk of Fame is very much a tribute to Johnny Grant, a former mayor of Hollywood and relentless promoter of Tinsel Town. There is no mistaking what town you are in when you gaze down at the sidewalk and see these world famous gold stars. Encompassing a stretch of Hollywood Boulevard near the intersection of Hollywood and Vine, more than 2500 bronze-inlaid stars commemorate some of the most famous individuals in movies, radio, TV, recording and theater. Celebrities are added frequently, so give the Chamber of Commerce a call to see if you can catch one of the actual ceremonies and witness a star becoming immortal.

Many people visit this theater not to see first-run motion pictures, but to gaze at the famous hand and footprints outside. It's a quintessential L.A. tourist ritual and well worth the trip. The theater itself is one of the oldest and largest in town. The screen is massive and the sound is top-notch. Enter the Pagoda-like structure of this theater with dragons and lions welcoming you into the premises. Check out the exotic interiors and revel in the glory of days gone by. Mann's has the distinction of being the venue for the world premier of the much-loved movie The Wizard of Oz, and has also hosted the Academy Awards. Featured in TV shows and movies, it has been an integral part of Hollywood. Outside you will find various tour guides and kitschy souvenirs. There is no charge to wander around the open-air patio that contains the famous hand-prints.

This structure, located atop Mt. Lee in Griffith Park, is perhaps the most enduring symbol of Hollywood. The nine 50-foot (15 meter) letters can be seen from all over the L.A. basin, and occasionally even from passing aircraft. Originally constructed in 1923 and reading "Hollywoodland," it was actually a promotional tool meant to draw attention to housing developments in a nearby section of the Hollywood Hills. By the 1970s, however, the letters were in pretty bad shape, so the city decided to reconstruct it and began promoting it as a tourist attraction.

This 3 and a half mile round trip walk was created in 1958. At Hollywood Walk Of Fame, you can see all the stars as you walk it down. It is a dedication to film, radio, television, theatre and the recording artists who have made significant contributions in the Hollywood industry. The celebrities names are embossed on star-shaped figures. You would be amazed to find the awesome display of 2,000 stars listed here. There is also a small souvenir shop on the street where you can buy tiny shot glasses with your name in a star. Go famous!

The J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center is a museum you can't miss. With lofty skylights and original architecture, it is one of the best museums in Los Angeles. Getty stores a multitude of art, sculpture and photographs from Europe and America. You can also check out old manuscripts and decorative arts here. Highlights of the year consist of Italian Manuscripts from the Middle Ages and Renaissance, Rembrandt's Late Religious Portraits and Shrine and Shroud: Textiles in Illuminated Manuscripts, to name a few. Set aside a day for this museum, its Central Gardens and popular restaurant, which are sure to leave you breathless with their beauty. Admission is free.