Spanning some 467-square miles, a visitor interested in getting out to explore all there is to see and do in Los Angeles (L.A.) might be a bit overwhelmed. After all there's downtown, West L.A., Hollywood, the San Fernando Valley and coastal communities, not to mention smaller communities such as Beverly Hills and Pasadena that reside within or adjacent to L.A.'s boundaries.

Taken as a whole, this region is too large to see in just a few short days. In bite-size pieces, L.A. is more manageable and visitors can more readily connect with the distinct personalities of each. For instance, downtown is a world away from West L.A., while the coastal neighborhoods are 180 degrees from Hollywood.

Downtown
Skyscrapers, upscale hotels, subway and light rail hubs, cultural attractions, this is downtown L.A. - urban with all the amenities. This locale provides even more reasons to visit with the concert and sports venue - STAPLES Center. It is the home for the National Basketball Association’s Lakers and Clippers and the National Hockey League’s Kings. Four subway and light rail lines converge downtown, taking passengers to and from Hollywood, Long Beach, Pasadena, Redondo Beach and other parts of the city.

Nowadays downtown encompasses condominiums, apartments and lofts, attracting residents who, just a few years ago preferred commuting. The upshot is a living, breathing city core that continues to buzz after 5:00 p.m. with high-end restaurants, hot nightclubs and live performances at the Frank Gehry-designed Walt Disney Concert Hall. This modern architectural masterpiece anchors the Music Center - Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County.

Besides the Music Center, culture seekers can go to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). With more than 5,000 objects, it holds one of the United States most comprehensive collections of American and European art created since 1940. MOCA is comprised of three venues - the main Grand Avenue museum designed by Arata Isozaki, the Geffen Contemporary in Little Tokyo and the Pacific Design Center.

Neighborhoods like Little Tokyo, Olvera Street (Mexican), Chinatown and Koreatown are nearby showcasing their own ethnicity in their museums, authentic shops and restaurants.

Downtown's older side is abuzz, too. Just east of the skyscrapers are the old financial district's historic buildings. Today, they are part of the garment, toy and jewelry districts, as well as the L.A. Flower Mart. Some of the grand movie palaces that line Broadway in the old theater district have been restored to their former glory.

The 11-story Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, designed by José Raphael Moneo, is the third largest cathedral in the world, with stunning austere lines soaring high above the city. Located near the Music Center, its coloration was designed to match those of early-day Spanish missions.

West L.A.
L.A.'s trendy west side is actually comprised of several cities and communities that stretch from Wilshire Corridor to Brentwood. All have their own unique style.

The Wilshire Corridor's claim to fame is “Museum Row” with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Peterson Automotive Museum and the Page Museum at the Rancho La Brea Tar Pits, the largest and most diverse collection of extinct Ice Age plants and animals in the world.

The part of West L.A. that lies just east of the 405 Freeway includes Century City, a mini-metropolis with its own cluster of skyscrapers, as well as upscale shopping and dining options. Westwood Village surrounds the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) with a variety of eateries and boutiques.

Just west of the 405 is the affluent Brentwood. Its own local flavor can be found along Montana Avenue. High atop the Santa Monica Mountains, north of Brentwood, is the spectacular Getty Center, a post-modern castle. Designed by Richard Meier, it is the world's most comprehensive arts, conservation and education institution. The Getty Villa, on a Malibu hilltop overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Based on the Villa dei Papiri, a first-century Roman country home, it houses the Getty’s extensive collection of ancient Greek, Roman and Etruscan art.