California - Los Angeles

L O S A N G E L E S , C A L I F O R N I A

Famed for its glitter, glamour, and Hollywood Royalty, Los Angeles puts stars into the eyes of many of its visitors. Featuring amusement parks, museums, beaches, and Hollywood hoopla, Los Angeles draws over 24 million visitors per year. The City of Angels is home to over 20.6 million people. Los Angeles is comprised of five counties, and, if just Los Angeles was a state, it would be the 4th most populous in the U.S! This huge city has something to offer everyone due to its size and diversity!

Brief History

True Los Angeles history begins with the Tongvas, who inhabited the area now known as the Los Angeles basin. In 1542, Juan Cabrillo (the first European to see the area) described it as, "the valley of smokes", because of the Tongva bonfires. The city itself was established in 1781 by a group of Spanish settlers. In 1822, Mexico won its independence from Spain and, also, the city of Los Angeles. In 1872, the Southern Pacific railroad came into Los Angeles from San Francisco - allowing the city to get in touch with the rest of the state. Throughout the rest of the 1870's the area around Los Angeles became a farming center, with industry and manufacturing only shortly behind. In the early 1900's east coast film

California

San Francisco

San Diego

Sacramento

San Jose

Los Angeles

makers descended upon Los Angeles - for the weather, and to escape patent legal trouble for using Thomas Edison's movie camera patent. The studios blossomed, and put Los Angeles on the map. In 1932, the Olympics were held there. During World War II, Los Angeles factories produced huge amounts of weapons, airplanes, and war machinery. Another boom in the Los Angeles economy was caused by the Cold War, which allowed the city's aerospace industry to flourish. The Olympics returned to Los Angeles in 1984. Even through the recession of the 1990's, L.A. continued to grow both in population and economic worth. Today it reigns as the queen of the entertainment industry, and continually generates fine products, and invents new technologies.

Main Attractions

Disneyland

For almost fifty years, Disneyland has been one of L.A.'s most popular attractions. Featuring theme park style rides, museums, restaurants, souvenir stands, and Sleeping Beauty's Castle, multiple generations of families can all enjoy the "happiest place on earth". While you're visiting Disneyland, you can also purchase a multi-ticket and enjoy Disney's California Adventure on the same day. The park is least busy in the winter time, especially on weekdays, but remember, on any holiday the parks will be jam packed with people waiting to see Mickey Mouse.

Universal Studios

Universal Studios is a theme park that exploded out of a simple tour. Featured attractions include: performing animals at Animal Planet live, a face to face visit with King Kong, an 8.3 earthquake, incredible theme rides, and visits to sets from movies like Psycho and Jaws. The Jurassic Park ride is located indoors and has an 80-foot drop over a waterfall. You could also try the E.T. Adventure, where you get to soar through the sky, or check out your future in the DeLorean at the Back to The Future exhibit. Universal Studios is filled with entertainment and fun!

Rodeo Drive

Arguably the most upscale shopping plaza in the U.S., Rodeo Drive is as glamorous as it gets! Perhaps the best time of year to visit Rodeo Drive is at Christmas. During the holiday season, the street is lit up with brilliant lights, and the stores are especially beautiful to encourage shoppers. Or, try Father's Day, when the street itself is closed for Concourse on Rodeo - a vintage car show that's free and open to everyone. Check out designer clothing shops like Armani, Gucci, and Coco Chanel, and see wonderful jewelry in the windows at Harry Winston, Cartier, and Tiffany's.

Venice Beach

Get tickets for all LA teams including the Lakers, Kings, and Dodgers.

If any place can eclipse the Pacific Ocean, it's Venice Beach. The sand and surf take a backseat to the incredibly interesting sidewalk culture. Shops abound where you can purchase anything from surf paraphernalia to specialty dog foods. You'll find bikini-clad rollerbladers, Hare Krishnas, chanters, and even belly dancers on your walk along the beach. Current California State Governor, Arnold Schwarznegger used to "pump up" at the famed Muscle Beach, and you can still see many body builders using outdoor gyms and working on their tans at the same time. Just stroll along the waterfront, and enjoy a microcosm of all the sights, sounds, smells, and kitsch that L.A. has to offer.

Real Estate

Real Estate has been hot in Los Angeles. Many people are planning on Refinancing their home in order to get equity out of the home since home prices have increase so much in value over the last 5 years. A refinance allows people to get cash out of their home to use to pay off debt or other bills.

Sports Teams

L.A. Dodgers

Dodger Stadium is home to one of the most renowned teams in baseball. Founded in 1890 as the Brooklyn Dodgers, the club has won 21 National League pennants in the last 100 years. The team made its historic move to the West Coast in 1958, to become the L.A. Dodgers.

LA Galaxy

The LA Galaxy have David Beckham, one of the world's most famous soccer players. Get a Beckham LA Galaxy Jersey online. They play at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles and try to get the most out of their new star - David Beckham.

L.A. Lakers

It's almost impossible to talk about professional basketball without hearing the L.A. Lakers mentioned at least once. The franchise boasts a string of wins and a stable of Hall of Famers barely rivaled anywhere in American sports. From Kobe Bryant, to Magic Johnson, to Shaquille O'Neal, the L.A. Lakers have some of the most popular players in the sport. From the first season (1947-1948) one thing has been consistent about the L.A. Lakers: winning. The Lakers have won eight NBA championships. Join the stars to root for the home team at Lakers Arena.

L.A. Kings

If you like professional hockey, you probably already enjoy watching the L.A. Kings. Founded in 1967 by a Canadian millionaire, the Kings have been a successful team for decades. While the team has yet to earn a Stanley Cup, fans still enjoy watching their slap shot antics at the state-of-the-art Staples Center.



			L O S A N G E L E S , C A L I F O R N I A Famed for its glitter, glamour, and Hollywood Royalty, Los Angeles puts stars into the eyes of many of its visitors. Featuring amusement parks, museums, beaches, and Hollywood hoopla, Los Angeles draws over 24 million visitors per year. The City of Angels is home to over 20.6 million people. Los Angeles is comprised of five counties, and, if just Los Angeles was a state, it would be the 4th most populous in the U.S! This huge city has something to offer everyone due to its size and diversity! Brief History True Los Angeles history begins with the Tongvas, who inhabited the area now known as the Los Angeles basin. In 1542, Juan Cabrillo (the first European to see the area) described it as, "the valley of smokes", because of the Tongva bonfires. The city itself was established in 1781 by a group of Spanish settlers. In 1822, Mexico won its independence from Spain and, also, the city of Los Angeles. In 1872, the Southern Pacific railroad came into Los Angeles from San Francisco - allowing the city to get in touch with the rest of the state. Throughout the rest of the 1870's the area around Los Angeles became a farming center, with industry and manufacturing only shortly behind. In the early 1900's east coast film
California San Francisco San Diego Sacramento San Jose Los Angeles
			makers descended upon Los Angeles - for the weather, and to escape patent legal trouble for using Thomas Edison's movie camera patent. The studios blossomed, and put Los Angeles on the map. In 1932, the Olympics were held there. During World War II, Los Angeles factories produced huge amounts of weapons, airplanes, and war machinery. Another boom in the Los Angeles economy was caused by the Cold War, which allowed the city's aerospace industry to flourish. The Olympics returned to Los Angeles in 1984. Even through the recession of the 1990's, L.A. continued to grow both in population and economic worth. Today it reigns as the queen of the entertainment industry, and continually generates fine products, and invents new technologies. Main Attractions Disneyland For almost fifty years, Disneyland has been one of L.A.'s most popular attractions. Featuring theme park style rides, museums, restaurants, souvenir stands, and Sleeping Beauty's Castle, multiple generations of families can all enjoy the "happiest place on earth". While you're visiting Disneyland, you can also purchase a multi-ticket and enjoy Disney's California Adventure on the same day. The park is least busy in the winter time, especially on weekdays, but remember, on any holiday the parks will be jam packed with people waiting to see Mickey Mouse. Universal Studios Universal Studios is a theme park that exploded out of a simple tour. Featured attractions include: performing animals at Animal Planet live, a face to face visit with King Kong, an 8.3 earthquake, incredible theme rides, and visits to sets from movies like Psycho and Jaws. The Jurassic Park ride is located indoors and has an 80-foot drop over a waterfall. You could also try the E.T. Adventure, where you get to soar through the sky, or check out your future in the DeLorean at the Back to The Future exhibit. Universal Studios is filled with entertainment and fun! Rodeo Drive Arguably the most upscale shopping plaza in the U.S., Rodeo Drive is as glamorous as it gets! Perhaps the best time of year to visit Rodeo Drive is at Christmas. During the holiday season, the street is lit up with brilliant lights, and the stores are especially beautiful to encourage shoppers. Or, try Father's Day, when the street itself is closed for Concourse on Rodeo - a vintage car show that's free and open to everyone. Check out designer clothing shops like Armani, Gucci, and Coco Chanel, and see wonderful jewelry in the windows at Harry Winston, Cartier, and Tiffany's. Venice Beach Get tickets for all LA teams including the Lakers, Kings, and Dodgers. If any place can eclipse the Pacific Ocean, it's Venice Beach. The sand and surf take a backseat to the incredibly interesting sidewalk culture. Shops abound where you can purchase anything from surf paraphernalia to specialty dog foods. You'll find bikini-clad rollerbladers, Hare Krishnas, chanters, and even belly dancers on your walk along the beach. Current California State Governor, Arnold Schwarznegger used to "pump up" at the famed Muscle Beach, and you can still see many body builders using outdoor gyms and working on their tans at the same time. Just stroll along the waterfront, and enjoy a microcosm of all the sights, sounds, smells, and kitsch that L.A. has to offer. Real Estate Real Estate has been hot in Los Angeles. Many people are planning on Refinancing their home in order to get equity out of the home since home prices have increase so much in value over the last 5 years. A refinance allows people to get cash out of their home to use to pay off debt or other bills. Sports Teams L.A. Dodgers Dodger Stadium is home to one of the most renowned teams in baseball. Founded in 1890 as the Brooklyn Dodgers, the club has won 21 National League pennants in the last 100 years. The team made its historic move to the West Coast in 1958, to become the L.A. Dodgers. LA Galaxy The LA Galaxy have David Beckham, one of the world's most famous soccer players. Get a Beckham LA Galaxy Jersey online. They play at the Home Depot Center in Los Angeles and try to get the most out of their new star - David Beckham. L.A. Lakers It's almost impossible to talk about professional basketball without hearing the L.A. Lakers mentioned at least once. The franchise boasts a string of wins and a stable of Hall of Famers barely rivaled anywhere in American sports. From Kobe Bryant, to Magic Johnson, to Shaquille O'Neal, the L.A. Lakers have some of the most popular players in the sport. From the first season (1947-1948) one thing has been consistent about the L.A. Lakers: winning. The Lakers have won eight NBA championships. Join the stars to root for the home team at Lakers Arena. L.A. Kings If you like professional hockey, you probably already enjoy watching the L.A. Kings. Founded in 1967 by a Canadian millionaire, the Kings have been a successful team for decades. While the team has yet to earn a Stanley Cup, fans still enjoy watching their slap shot antics at the state-of-the-art Staples Center.