| So you're finally making the road trip (or the flight) to | | | | crowded and hectic on weekends. The bright side is |
| Los Angeles, California to visit the city the entire world | | | | it's right next to the Santa Monica Pier, a well-trafficked |
| has heard of. You'll definitely enjoy the weather, the | | | | amusement park area where you will find an |
| people and the history, and while you're at it, you'll | | | | abundance of food, entertainment and more costumed |
| probably find a pretty good souvenir or two to show | | | | performers. This beach can be found along Ocean |
| off to your friends. | | | | Avenue in the vicinity of Colorado Avenue in Santa |
| Here's a short list of some of the big stops you almost | | | | Monica. For a more relaxing beach hangout, Manhattan |
| have to hit if you're visiting from anywhere further than | | | | Beach is about 30 minutes south, where a paved |
| 100 miles away. | | | | walkway makes it good for sightseeing. Or you can |
| 1. Visit Hollywood. It was called Tinseltown for a reason | | | | go about 40 minutes north to get to El Matador Beach |
| -- the main attraction in this movie buff's paradise is | | | | near Malibu for a more secluded, scenic beach. |
| Hollywood and Highland, the famous intersection where | | | | 4. Go to a Dodger game. Catching a baseball game is |
| nearly everything is designed to glamor visitors. From a | | | | a great way to spend a sunny afternoon, and the local |
| towering complex of designer stores to a crowd of | | | | team is there to entertain visitors and rabid fans alike. |
| costumed street performers, to a giant Tyrannosaurus | | | | Baseball fans can find Dodger Stadium at 1000 Elysian |
| Rex poking its head through the roof of the Ripley's | | | | Park Ave, and the area's public transport is an easy |
| Believe-It-Or-Not museum, this area can provide a | | | | way to get there without paying for parking. Ticket |
| busy afternoon. Especially if you venture further south | | | | prices range from $9 for upper-deck seats to around |
| and west to check out the area's vintage stores (like | | | | $70 for most other seats, for full-priced adults. More |
| Wasteland), cult restaurants (Pink's Hot Dogs) and | | | | ticketing information can be found on the Dodgers |
| historical attractions (the La Brea Tar Pits). The | | | | Web site (Dodgers.com). Just watch out, because |
| numerous shops and tourist attractions along | | | | Dodgers fans are fiercely passionate about their team, |
| Hollywood Blvd add to the fun, as do the holiday | | | | and they also like to drink huge cups of beer. |
| decorations of you come in December. | | | | 5. Go to Disneyland. It's what every major athlete does |
| 2. Go to Universal Studios. Not far from Hollywood, this | | | | after scoring a touchdown or hitting a home run. |
| hive of fun tourist activity (100 Universal City Plaza, | | | | Disneyland (1313 S Harbor Blvd, Anaheim) isn't just for |
| Universal City) combines amusement park rides and a | | | | kids (even though it tends to send them into ecstatic |
| carnival atmosphere with a movie-studio feel that | | | | spasms), as the park offers the biggest, brightest and |
| almost puts you inside your favorite flicks. On the | | | | most complete amusement park experience you'll find |
| famous Backlot Tour, you can take the Jaws ride to | | | | outside of a dream. The rides last longer, the |
| see "Bruce" (the shark's nickname) charge out of the | | | | park-wandering characters are happier, and even the |
| water at you, see the New York set where | | | | customer service folk are more helpful than any other |
| Manhattan-based movie scenes are filmed, and see | | | | park, despite the crowds. Explore the park's many |
| how a heavy rain storm is created. Or you can go on | | | | themed "lands," see the light parade and jump onto the |
| rides designed after your favorite movies, where you | | | | newest rides, as well as the nostalgic classics like |
| can be taken up and swept along with the plot, then | | | | Pinocchio and Small World. Of course, Pirates of the |
| probably dropped from a staggering height. | | | | Caribbean never ceases to amaze - watch out for |
| 3. Hit the Beach. Santa Monica State Beach offers a | | | | Captain Jack Sparrow sightings, which can seem |
| nice, tourist-friendly getaway, though it can get | | | | surreally lifelike. |