Day Trips From LA: Catalina Island
The Neighborhoods Of Los Angeles
The Neighborhoods of LA
Los Angeles is one of the most diverse cities on earth, both in terms of population and geographic layout. The city is home to close to 4 million inhabitants in a sprawling area that encompasses the mountains, oceans and valleys.
LA is one of the only cities in the world to have a mountain range slice right down the center. Known as the Santa Monica mountains, they begin in Malibu and travel all the way inland to near downtown. Aside from the Himalayas in China, no other range in the world has an east-west orientation. This range is also known as the Hollywood Hills and has hundreds of multi-million dollar estates perched on its sides giving home owners spectacular views of Los Angeles and the ocean. Famous Mulholland Drive runs at the very peak and length of the range for about 30 miles. On the south side of this range are the areas known as Brentwood, Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, West Hollywood, the beaches, Downtown and the Pacific Palisades. On the north side of the mountain is what is known as the San Fernando Valley and is home to Sherman Oaks, Encino, Studio City, Universal Studios and Burbank to name a few.
When visiting Los Angeles, most of the sights and neighborhoods worth seeing are south of the Santa Monica Mountains. While the cities of Santa Monica, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills are their own cities surrounded on all sides by LA, the likes of Brentwood, Bel Air, Hollywood and Venice are just nick names to certain geographical areas of the city that carry LA postal addresses and are covered by city services such as the LAPD.
The majority of the neighborhoods to see when visiting LA start at the ocean with Santa Monica and Venice and extend inland to downtown. When plotted on a map this area of the city roughly makes up a rectangle and encompasses all the main attractions of LA (Santa Monica, Venice, Beverly Hills, Sunset Strip, West Hollywood and Hollywood). Although LA extends up to 30 miles to the north and south of this rectangle, most areas outside of the places recommended to see here are heavily industrial and residential and do not offer too many things in the way of sights or attractions.
Beverly Hills
Known all over the world for its elegance, luxury, shopping, celebrities and homes, Beverly HIlls is its own city surrounded on all sides by the city of LA. Home to sights such as Rodeo Drive, the shopping areas of Wilshire Blvd, luxury hotels and spas and of course multi million dollar estates.
Brentwood/BelAir
Located on the "Westside" of LA and about 3 miles inland from the beach, are the upscale neighborhoods of Brentwood and BelAir. Both famous for being preferred neighborhoods of celebrities and high profile people. Greenery and trees line the streets of both areas and Brentwood is known for its dining and boutique shopping.
Century City
Adjacent to Beverly Hills is Century City, a mini high rise business, shopping and dining district that is home to the executive offices of some of the world's biggest talent agencies, music publishers and entertainment attorneys. The neighborhood is named after 20th Century Fox whose sprawling studio lot is centrally located here.
Downtown Los Angeles
Home to the tallest high rises west of the Mississippi, a bustling financial district and the roots to where LA was founded is Downtown. Active mostly during the work week, this area offers a variety of sights including the historical Olivera Street, the Orpheum Theatre and Disney Concert Hall.
Hollywood
No visit to LA is complete without a stop in Hollywood. Once the home of everything movies, today the area is full of shrines and monuments devoted to everything film and tv. It is here that you will find Grauman's Chinese Theatre, Walk of Fame and the Hollywood and Highlands Complex.
Malibu
Up the coast from Santa Monica along the Pacific Coast Highway, Malibu may only be less than 30 minutes away from LA, but it feels like its worlds away. Quiet, serene and beautiful Malibu is wedged between the Santa Monica Mountains rising from the sea and lined with boutique shopping, restaurants and beachfront homes.
Santa Monica
Santa Monica is known for its many shopping opportunities, dining options and Ocean Avenue where hotels and spas line the Ave with hundreds of palm trees lining either side and a backdrop of the Pacific Ocean and white sandy beaches.
Venice Beach
Just south of Santa Monica and along the beach is Venice. Known for Ocean Front Walk where everything funky, artsy and counter culture can be experienced while the Pacific is steps away. Adjacent to Venice Beach is Marina Del Rey housing hundreds of exclusive private yachts and sailboats
West Hollywood
Squeezed between Beverly Hills and Hollywood, West Hollywood is the neighborhood that has something for everyone. There is the swanky and busy Sunset Strip, extensive shopping choices of Robertson Blvd and Beverly Center and the world re known LGBT strip on Santa Monica Blvd-all this with unlimited dining options.
Westwood
Home to the ULCA bruins, Westwood Village is a college town complete with Spanish European architecture, a forest of palm trees and edgy shopping and dining choices. The landmark FOX theatre is located here and hosts weekly movie premiers where all the big stars come out to walk the red carepet. Located between Bel Air and Beverly Hills.
San Fernando Valley
Known as "The Valley" by LA locals, this area of LA is located north of Mulholland Drive and the Santa Monica Mountains. Home to Ventura Blvd and the neighborhoods of Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, Studio City and Burbank to name a few. It is this area of LA that is home to Universal, Warner Brothers and Disney Pictures Studio back lots.
