Sunbathing in Los Angeles

The weather in Los Angeles is a proverb. In fact, Southern Californians like to boast that they have no weather, just warm, sunny days year-round. That’s not entirely true: in January and February, this area gets its fair share of rain, but Los Angeles’ pleasant weather and endless list of attractions have drawn visitors to this massive city for decades.

It’s hard to mention Los Angeles without mentioning Hollywood, and this type of stargazing is part of the tourist culture. A trendy tour is the KODAK Theatre, where many movies are released. If you prefer to see wildlife, whale watching tours are also very popular. A cruise on the waters off the coast of Newport Beach or a visit to the Los Angeles Zoo are on many tourists’ agendas. Families with children may enjoy visiting LEGOLAND California, the California Science Center, or Universal Studios Hollywood.

Culture lovers will find much to admire in Los Angeles besides the palm trees. The Los Angeles Philharmonic and its new Music Director, Gustavo Dudamel, perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall. The Hollywood Bowl offers additional concerts. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art contains over 150,000 objects to delight the visiting artist, and MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) is nearby.

Nabbing a good deal in a city this size often comes down to a matter of choice: trying to decide which of dozens of sweepstakes to watch. Like many other major cities in the US, Los Angeles offers a GO Card. For a fixed price, from $60 to $160 (US) for adults and $50 to $120 (US) for children, guests can see more than 35 of the area’s top attractions. In addition, discounts are offered on shopping and restaurants. Covering 3, 5, or 7 days, these cards come with a 111-page guidebook.

Los Angeles airport, LAX, is busy and huge, with flights to all over the world. Traffic can be congested, but a stroll along the beach is a great way to unwind in this vibrant, sprawling city.