There are over 300 public parks in the Santa Monica Mountains, spanning 65,000 acres, including the refreshing Malibu Temescal Canyon hike.
LA's western border is made up of 60 miles worth of connected beaches and beach towns. In fact, it's been said that LA is really a bunch of beach towns connected by a freeway than a real city!
Malibu Beach is a haven for celebrities, Santa Monica has great shopping and Venice Beach is where you go for some fun and liveliness.
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It may be clichéd, but you can't visit LA without gawking at the mansions in Beverly Hills and taking a stroll along Rodeo Drive.
Silver Lake is the place to find art galleries, hip bars and music venues.
LA is 469 square miles, which includes beaches, hills, wetlands, mountains and rivers.
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LA is home to a number of exotic flowers, including the Bird of Paradise, Jacaranda, Hibiscus and Bougainvillea.
East LA and South Central are neighborhoods to avoid at night, as is the area around the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
LA is the second largest city in the United States, according to a 2005 census, with a population of about 3.8 million.
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The average temperature for April is between 54 and 71 degrees Fahrenheit (12-22 C); in July, it's between 63 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit.
The average temperature in October is between 59 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit; January is between 49 and 67 degrees.
LAX is LA's primary airport. There, rental car centers are all off-site, but each company has its own shuttle which will take you to the center.
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Try to avoid 405 Freeway and Santa Monica Boulevard. Also, try to avoid driving during rush hour, from seven to nine in the morning and four to seven in the late afternoon.
LA really is spread out, public transport isn't there things and the city really has been designed with the car in mind, so you're best off hiring a car for the duration of your visit.
The country's two iconic amusement parks, Disneyland and Hollywood Studios, are located in LA.
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If you're bent on getting a glimpse of a celebrity, try hanging out the Chateau Marmont. 8 of 10 celebrity interviews mention that they took place at the Chateau.
The La Brea Tar Pits and its Page Museum Laboratory are the venue for viewing fossils from the Ice Age; the ancient tar pits lured many an animal over the years, because in the sunlight they deceptively look like water holes.
The Museum of Contemporary Art has three locations: South Grand Avenue, North Central Avenue downtown and Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood. Entrance is free from 5 to 8 p.m.
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The Glen Ivy Natural Outdoor Hot springs and Day Spa in Orange County has decently priced spa facilities. For just $35, you can have access to the hot spring pools, saunas, steam rooms, red clay mud bath, Roman baths and Wafa.
The best places to stay are in either Santa Monica, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Downtown also has some lovely, more reasonably priced hotels.