Millions of visitors arrive each year in Los Angeles eager to experience for themselves the epitome of the American Dream: to find the self-indulgent living soap-opera lifestyles, experience firsthand the images that are strangely-familiar thanks to the 'big screen', and walk in the footsteps of the stars. The fantasy worlds of Disneyland and Hollywood, the famed extravagance of Beverley Hills and Malibu, and the sun-soaked beach culture are just some of the attractions within this 'City of Angels'.

Los Angeles is not really a city but rather a sprawling metropolis constituting more than 80 smaller city areas woven together by a daunting network of traffic-congested freeways without a clearly defined centre. LA is just one of these cities with Downtown at its heart, and lying outside the city limits is the surrounding conglomeration of cities that comprises LA County.

Los Angeles offers a dazzling variety of attractions and world-famous amusements. Downtown is a mixture of cultures and local communities: the traditional herbalists of Chinatown's Bamboo Lane; Little Tokyo with its sushi bars and Japanese gardens; and the narrow Latino-influenced Olvera Street. Los Angeles County is endowed with a rich diversity of backgrounds and is a mix-and-match of people from 140 countries speaking 96 different languages, of those who have left home to seek acceptance for ideas or unconventional lifestyles not tolerated in the more conservative parts of the country, and would-be stars with dreams of fame and fortune. West Hollywood is the focal point of gay and lesbian culture, and the posh beachside resort of Santa Monica and body-builders at Muscle Beach, as well as the childhood fantasy of Disneyland are all a part of the diversity, although not always a harmonious one. There are exciting museums, cinemas featuring every conceivable production, swanky boutiques with the latest fashions, comedy clubs, poetry readings and coffee house recitals, and music of every kind played in various venues throughout the city.

Underneath the huge 'Hollywood' sign on the crest of the Hollywood Hills, the high energy and pleasure-seeking atmosphere, bold billboards, sexy sun-bronzed people, bright lights and fancy cars are images of a city that everyone loves to hate; but whether one likes what one finds or not, Los Angeles must be experienced at least once in a lifetime.

Hollywood

Address: Los Angeles

Admission: Mann's Chinese Theatre movie tickets $12.75. Guinness World Records Museum and Wax Museum $15.95 each. Ripley's ‘Believe It or Not!' Museum $14.95. Concessions are available. The Guinness World Records Museum opens daily 10am to midnight; Wax Museum daily 8am to midnight; Ripley's ‘Believe It or Not!' Museum open daily 10am to 11pm (until midnight on weekends)

Telephone: Grauman's Chinese Theatre (323) 461 3331, Walk of Fame (323) 469 8311, Guinness World Records Museum (323) 463 6433, Wax Museum (323) 462 5991, Ripley's ‘Believe It or Not!' Museum (323) 466 6335

Universal Studios Hollywood

Address: 100 Universal City Plaza, University City Los Angeles

Admission: $74 (adults), $66 (children smaller than 48 inches/122cm). Combination tickets are available. Universal CityWalk has free admission. Opening times vary according to season and visitors are advised to check beforehand. Generally open daily in summer 8am-10pm (June to September), and in winter 10am-6pm (September to June).

Telephone: (818) 622 3801

Warner Bros Studios

Address: 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank Los Angeles

Admission: Two-hour tours are $45 per person. Open for tours from Monday to Friday between 9am and 6pm (9am-3pm in winter). Reservations are required.

Telephone: (818) 954 3000

Disneyland Resort

Address: 1313 Harbour Boulevard, Anaheim Los Angeles

Admission: One-day passes start at $76 adults, $68 children under 10. Both parks are open daily, but opening hours vary according to days and seasons; check their website for up to date information.

Telephone: (800) 225-2024 (bookings)

West LA

Address: Los Angeles

Beach Communities

Address: Los Angeles

Los Angeles Zoo

Address: Griffith Park Los Angeles

Admission: $14 (adults); $9 (children) Open daily from 10am-5pm. Closed December 25th.

La Brea Tar Pits

Address: 5801 Wilshire Blvd Los Angeles

Admission: $7 (adults), $2 children; free on the first Tuesday of each month. Monday through Friday, 9:30am-5pm, Saturday and Sunday 10am-5pm

Telephone: (323) 934-7243

Griffith Park and Observatory

Address: 2800 East Observatory Road Los Angeles

Admission: Free 5am-10:30pm daily

Telephone: (213) 473-0800

Walt Disney Concert Hall

Address: 111 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles

Admission: Free

Magicopolis

Address: 1418 Fourth Street, Santa Monica Los Angeles

Admission: Evening shows $29; Matinees $24 Monday to Friday, 11am-8pm; Saturday and Sunday 11am-10pm

Telephone: (310) 451 2241

Castle Park

Address: 3500 Polk Street, Riverside Los Angeles

Admission: Ride Park: $21.99 adults, $14.99 kids under 48 inches (122cm).

Telephone: (951) 785 3000

Peach Tree Pottery

Address: 3795 Boise Ave. Mar Vista Los Angeles

Admission: $45 and up

Telephone: (310) 567 2708

Camp Monkey Muffin

Address: Sunkist Park, Culver City Los Angeles

Admission: Classes vary in price, check the website. Saturdays 1-3pm.

Telephone: (310) 560 5013

Anaheim

Address: Los Angeles

Knott's Berry Farm

Address: 8039 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park, CA Los Angeles

Admission: Full day regular: $56.99 (age 3 – 61 years and taller than 48 inches); Full day Junior: $24.99 (age 3 and up and under 48 inches) Opening times vary according to season. Check the park's website for current information.

Telephone: (714) 220 5200

Six Flags Magic Mountain

Address: 26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia Los Angeles

Admission: Adults $59.99; children under 48" $34.99. Discounted tickets and season passes available from the website. Hours vary according to season. Check the website for specific dates.

Telephone: (661) 255-4100

Getty Villa

Address: 17985 Pacific Coast Highway in Pacific Palisades, California, one mile (1.6km) north of Sunset Boulevard and approximately 25 miles (37km) west of downtown LA. Los Angeles

Admission: Free. An advance, timed ticket is required. Login to the website to book. Parking is $15 per car or motorcycle; free for all evening public programming. Daily 10am to 5pm, closed Tuesdays

Getty Center

Address: 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90049 Los Angeles

Admission: Free; parking: $15 per car although free after 5pm Tuesday - Friday 10am to 5.30pm, Saturday 10am to 9pm, Sunday 10am to 5.30pm, Monday closed

Telephone: (310) 440-7300

Tournament of Roses Parade

Where: Rose Parade: Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena. Rose Bowl Game: Rose Bowl Stadium, Pasadena,Los Angeles

When: 1 January annually

Doo Dah Parade

Where: Pasadena Old Town,Los Angeles

When: 30 April 2011

Port of Los Angeles Lobster Festival

Where: Ports O'Call village, Harbourfront, San Pedro,Los Angeles

When: 16 - 18 September 2010

Whale Watching

Where: ,Los Angeles

When: January to March annually

Chinese New Year Festival

Where: Chinatown,Los Angeles

When: February 2011 TBC

Academy Awards

Where: Kodak Theatre, Hollywood,Los Angeles

When: 26 February 2012

Cinco de Mayo

Where: Various,Los Angeles

When: 5 May annually

Summer X-Games

Where: Staples Center and Home Depot Center,Los Angeles

When: 28 - 31 July 2011

Campanile

Address: 624 South La Brea Avenue (Miracle Mile) Los Angeles

Food Type: Local

Spago Beverly Hills

Address: 176 North Canon Drive, Beverly Hills Los Angeles

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

Valentino Santa Monica

Address: 3115 Pico Boulevard, Santa Monica Los Angeles

Food Type: Italian

Patina

Address: 141 S. Grand Avenue, Downtown LA Los Angeles

Food Type: French

Nobu Matsuhisa

Address: 129 North La Cienega Boulevard, Beverly Hills Los Angeles

Food Type: Japanese

Water Grill

Address: 544 South Grand Avenue, Downtown Los Angeles

Food Type: Seafood

Chinois on Main

Address: 2709 Main Street, Santa Monica Los Angeles

Food Type: Chinese

Border Grill

Address: 1445 Fourth Street, Santa Monica Los Angeles

Food Type: Tex-Mex

Café Pinot

Address: 700 West Fifth Street, Downtown LA Los Angeles

Food Type: French

Cicada

Address: 617 S. Olive Street, Los Angeles Los Angeles

Food Type: Italian

Beachcomber Cafe

Address: 23000 Pacific Coast Hwy, Los Angeles, CA 90265 Los Angeles

Food Type: American

Le Bouchon

Address: 235 North Canon Drive, Beverley Hills, CA 90210 Los Angeles

Food Type: French