Founded in 1781  Established: Feb. 18, 1850  Land Area: 4,083.21 Square Miles  Elevation Range: -9 Ft. to 10,080 Ft.

The City of Los Angeles is part of Los Angeles County which includes the islands of San Clemente and Santa Catalina. The number one tourist destination in the United States is bordered on the east by Orange and San Bernardino Counties, on the north by Kern County, on the west by Ventura County, and on the south by the Pacific Ocean. Its coastline is 76 miles long. It has the largest population of any county in the nation, and is exceeded by only eight states. Approximately 29 percent of California's residents live in Los Angeles County. There are 88 cities within the County.  Port of Los Angeles is largest commercial port in nation with Los Angeles County responsible for 10 % of the nation's production, making Port of L.A. America's top port and important nationally for import and export of products and perishables.

While the City of Los Angeles numbers several million people, the great Los Angeles / Southern California area exceeds 15 million. Needless to say, when you visit L.A., your friends or attractions you want to visit can by miles away and take well over an hour to travel to. With that in mind, you'll need to plan your excursions according to rush hour traffic if you have such an option.  Tour buses and public transportation systems connect many cities with attractions such as Disneyland, Universal Studios Hollywood and San Diego.

Los Angeles contains interesting and diverse geography.  From the Pacific Ocean to the Santa Monica mountains, Los Angeles is not boring. You can enjoy dozens of world class museums, hundreds of sporting events, concerts, plays, conventions, theme parks, shopping, dining and so much more.

There are far too many points of interest in Los Angeles to include on this web but here are a few posted for your enjoyment.

LOS ANGELES COUNTY BEACH CITIES:
AVALON - CATALINA ISLAND is located 22 miles across the sea but is part of the City of Los Angeles. High speed boats depart daily from San Pedro, Long Beach, Newport Beach and Dana Point daily for the island. The boat trip takes 50 minutes to 1 hour 10 minutes. Helicopters from Long Beach are available for a quick flight.
HERMOSA BEACH is located in South Bay and features surfing, volleyball, shopping and dining.
LONG BEACH  /  BELMONT SHORE / NAPLES is the southernmost beach area in Los Angeles County. It includes Long Beach Airport, a shipping port, Queen Mary ship, Aquarium of the Pacific, gondola rides, historic ranchos and unique architecture in many residences. Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific. Built by the same architects who created the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium - Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, 310 Goldenshore, Suite 300, Long Beach, CA 90802; telephone (562) 590-3100. Internet: www.aquariumofpacific.org  Queen Mary Ship  telephone (562) 435-3511. Internet: www.queenmary.com Buy the package ticket and also see The Russian Scorpion Submarine.
MALIBU / PARADISE COVE is located north of Santa Monica. Framed by the beautiful Santa Monica mountains, Malibu includes 27 scenic miles of beaches.
MANHATTAN BEACH is located in South Bay region. It includes a pier with the Roundhouse Aquarium. Surfing, volleyball, roller blading, shopping and dining are popular in Manhattan Beach.
MARINA DEL REY is home to a huge marina with shops and boat excursions such as Hornblower Dinner Cruises.
PLAYA DEL REY is located near the Ballona wetlands and features a small, beautiful beach and public parks with lagoons.
RANCHO PALOS VERDES is home to Royal Palms State Beach and beautiful Ocean Trails Golf Club that was recently purchased by Donald Trump.
REDONDO BEACH is a South Bay city that includes a scenic pier and harbor. Surfing, fishing, boating, dining and shopping are popular activities.
SAN PEDRO is home to the Port of Los Angeles, a maritime museum and historic Fort MacArthur that contains the bunkers used to defend the coast during WWII. There's a harbor, an aquarium, cruise ship port and historic lighthouse, Point Fermin. Port of Los Angeles for Luxury Cruises, San Pedro's Maritime Museum, Point Fermin Lighhouse and Korean Freedom Bell.
SANTA MONICA is located north of Los Angeles Airport with the Getty Center in view. Santa Monica's 3rd Street Promenade, the pier with a solar powered Ferris wheel, rides, games and fun, beautiful beaches and lots of dining are a few of its attractions.
TORRANCE includes a beautiful beach located between Redondo Beach and Rancho Palos Verdes.
VENICE BEACH includes a beautiful beach with a pier and scenic canals close by.
LOS ANGELES COUNTY CITIES - NO BEACH
BURBANK is the media capital and home to Warner Bros., Walt Disney Studios and NBC Studios.  There are several studio tours available.
CALABASAS is located on the eastern slopes of the Santa Monica mountains, not far from Pepperdine University. Its climate is warmer and dryer than the beach cities.
CULVER CITY is the inland community next to Venice Beach. It is home to the historic Culver Studios that were recently purchased by Sony.
HOLLYWOOD is home to the Walk of Fame, Mann's Chinese Theatre, Capitol Records and the famous HOLLYWOOD letters perched on a hill above the city.
LOS ANGELES is a huge city that includes many unincorporated communities. Los Angeles has many things to see and do. Here are a few:
The Autry Museum of Western Heritage 4700 Western Heritage Way    Los Angeles, California    Phone: 323-667-2000   Gorgeous displays from the movies and western history with a fabulous gun collection (all mint condition), stage coach,  children's wing, gift shop and restaurant. Next door to the L.A. Zoo. You'll love it!   www.autry-museum.org
Los Angeles Zoo  5333 Zoo Drive, Los Angeles, CA, 90027; telephone (323) 644-6400. Internet: www.lazoo.org 
Six Flags Magic Mountain. Six Flags Theme Parks has once again added to its monster coaster arsenal with Goliath-an all-steel mega coaster with pure attitude. It's big, it's bad, it's FAST! Towering 255-feet above earth, the massive steel superstructure has one of the world's tallest drops-and at speeds of 85 miles per hour, it's one of the fastest roller coasters of modern day. Six Flags Magic Mountain, P.O. Box 5500, Valencia, CA, 91385; telephone (661) 255-4111.
Skirball Cultural Center.  2701 North Sepulveda Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90049-6833; telephone (310) 440-4500. Internet: www.skirball.org 
The Getty Center, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 400, Los Angeles, CA, 90049; telephone (310) 440-7300 for parking or group reservations. So fabulous and yet, it's free!  Internet: www.getty.edu/museum 
PASADENA is best known for The Tournament of Roses parade televised and seen by millions of people throughout the world on January 1st.
SAN MARINO is a beautiful community of perfectly manicured homes and the stately Huntington Library and Gardens, once owned by the late Henry Huntington. The Huntington Library, Art Collection and Botanical Gardens. features statues to inspire you, artwork such as Remington in the Virginia Steele Gallery, Huntington's mansion for touring and rare manuscripts such as a Gutenberg Bible.  The Huntington Library, Art Collection and Botanical Gardens, 1151 Oxford Road, San Marino, CA, 91108; telephone (626) 405-2141. Internet: www.huntington.org. 
SIGNAL HILL is the only city in the United States that's surrounded 360 degrees by only one other city. The city's name alludes to a time when native Americans signaled to their relations living 26 miles away on Catalina Island.
UNIVERSAL CITY is home to Universal Studios Hollywood. On a clear day, the hilltop tram views from the Studio tour are simply stunning. Universal Studios includes a shopping and dining attraction called City Walk. Universal Studios Hollywood sits high atop the hill at Universal City. It an amusement attraction that  includes rides, backlot tours and behind the scene views of film and movie productions in Los Angeles. Also includes CityWalk with shops and restaurants. 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, CA, 91608; telephone (818) 622-3801.

Century City Plaza Hotel & Spa
Holiday Inn-Brentwood/Bel Air 
Le Meridien
Westin Bonaventure Hotel
 Cafe Pinot Restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles