2.
A must-see while in Los Angeles is the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Surprisingly, this honor does not come without a price. A hefty $15,000! Since money plays a major role, many so-called celebrities have been able to buy their way onto the "Walk", so don't be surprised if you're unfamiliar with many of the names. But don't worry the great ones are still there.
3.
Hooray for HOLLYWOOD! Or is it Hollywoodland? Originally it was. In 1923, the famous sign's 50-foot-tall letters were used to promote a real estate development. It wasn't until 1949 that the "land" part was dropped. Over the years, the sign has been altered to spell out different words, including "Hollyweed," which noted the leniency towards marijuana in the '70s. In 1994, surveillance equipment was installed to deter vandals.
4.
Designed by famed architect Frank Gehry, the Disney Concert Hall is a sight to see if you're Downtown. The newest addition to the Music Center and home to the LA Philharmonic, visitors can take a choice of tours through the impressive structure as well as visit the Library of Congress/Ira Gershwin Gallery. Take a stroll along the aerial pathway through their beautiful garden.
5.
The largest municipal park and urban wilderness area in the United States makes its home in Los Angeles. Griffith Park has it all including four municipal golf courses, tennis courts, horse stables, a zoo, and more. The park, named after Griffith J. Griffith, a mining tycoon who donated the park's 3,000 acres to the city in 1896, has been used to film several movies, including Batman, Jurassic Park, and the classic Rebel Without a Cause.
6.
Lu-u-u-u-cy! It used to be that stars such as Lucille Ball would come out of their homes to wave at scores of large tour buses. Not anymore. The best place to star-gaze now is at public events. The local paper, by listing movie premieres and charity events, can help you "catch" a star. On the other hand, one sure-fire way to guarantee that you won't see a celebrity is to buy a souvenir map to stars' homes. These maps, sold along Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards, cost about $7 and are outdated and unreliable.
7.
When choosing a hotel, keep in mind that price, quality and location, location, location are very important. Stay in the area where you plan to spend the most time. The city and surrounding communities cover over 34,000 square miles (more than 1/3 the size of the entire state of Rhode Island) and has a population larger than that of 47 states in the Union.
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Need a little tummy tuck? With more plastic surgeons per capita than any other city in the world, LA offers plenty of scalpels to get the job done. Need to heal discreetly? At a prominent Westside hotel, an entire floor is secretly reserved for people recovering from plastic surgery.
9.
Drop by Chinatown and experience a slice of authentic Asian-American life. If you're around during the Chinese New Year, take part in the celebration with the giant dragons. Over 15,000 Chinese and Southeast Asians live in the area, and many more frequent the markets. While you're there, pick up a fortune cookie as a souvenir. It was in 1916 that a Los Angeles noodlemaker named George Jung invented the famous cookie.
10.
If you're flying into Los Angeles, you should have no problems. Ranked as the third largest airport in the world, in terms of passenger traffic, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is serviced by 75 airlines. And just to ease any tensions you may have, there's no need to worry about the Capitol Records Building being in your pilot's way. A red warning light atop the building flashes out the word "Hollywood" in Morse code about every 20 seconds.
