Santa Monica, CA

Home to Hollywood and its famous celebrities, Los Angeles is often dubbed the “Entertainment Capital of the World”. America’s second largest city, Los Angeles is situated in southern California within the surroundings of valleys, mountains and the stunning Pacific Coast. Commonly referred to by its initials L.A., Los Angeles is a leading world centre for motion picture films, music recordings and television productions. From the Santa Monica Pier and the Getty Centre to the Universal Studios in Hollywood, Los Angeles truly has it all. A large, cosmopolitan city comprised of numerous ethnic neighbourhoods and districts, L.A remains a favourite destination for its ample sunshine and mild climate year-round.

Although it’s a small town, Beverly Hills offers enough to do to fill up a leisurely weekend. If within your budget, indulge in the best-known Beverly Hills holiday activities of dining, shopping and enjoying the numerous luxury hotels in the city. If not, marvelling at million dollar mansions and designer stores is something you can do for free during your holiday in Beverly Hills. But if you are to do only one thing in Beverly Hills, let it be driving down Rodeo Drive, the most exclusive three blocks of Southern Californian shopping. A visit to the Beverly Hills Farmers Market on Sundays will bring you face to face with sixty farm stalls and prepared food vendors. Foodies can sample some Southern Californian fare as well as sign up for cooking classes. Thereafter a stroll through the Beverly Gardens Park will take you past a lovely rose garden, cactus garden, fountain and large collection of public art installations.

If your Hollywood holiday plan was to explore every nook and cranny, it would take days to see all of it. But if you only have one day for your holiday in Hollywood, it’s still possible to enjoy the very best of what it has to offer. Universal Studios has a theme park with thrill rides, while other studios offer an authentic, behind-the-scenes tour that will take you through demonstrations on how movies are made. The Farmers Market close by is a great venue to enjoy an inexpensive meal. Early risers can kick off their day with a heavy breakfast, or go in the early evening to have a meal at one of the award-winning food stands. A visit to Hollywood is not complete without seeing the Hollywood Sign. Fortunately this is easy to do from many spots around Los Angeles. A drive up Mulholland Drive will reward you with some amazing city views, as well as a glimpse of life in Hollywood Hills.

Affectionately known as WeHo, West Hollywood’s club scene dominates on Santa Monica Boulevard and Sunset Strip with genres such as hip hop, punk, grunge and rock ‘n’ roll. Sunset Strip is the Mecca for rock ‘n’ roll at which pilgrims come to pay homage to famous acts that got their start at many of the live music clubs here. Visitors on holiday in West Hollywood can take in a live music show, enjoy a meal or drink at any of the landmark establishment and learn about the significance and history of the businesses here. The other dominant scene in WeHo is design. From fine art, to fashion and interiors, this is just the place to find it all. The Pacific Design Centre features over 130 showrooms for interior design and public galleries for both designers and shoppers to enjoy. Art lovers taking West Hollywood holidays can enjoy the Museum of Contemporary Art which displays art works produced since 1940.

Fans of bargains, swap meets and flea markets on holiday to Anaheim will find their niche at the Orange County Marketplace. This is a shoppers’ paradise with more than 1,500 vendors selling used and new items, including shoes and clothing, antiques and furniture, and even prefab houses. The Marketplace is also the venue for a variety of holiday celebrations and concert series. The City National Grove of Anaheim is a live performance venue that hosts concerts, comedy acts and other pop culture events. The Bowers Museum hosts travelling exhibits that are internationally renowned including one of Southern California’s best California Indian collections, while the Muzeo doesn’t have a permanent collection but instead hosts a variety of travelling cultural exhibits. Old Towne Orange comprises a cluster of quaint antique shops, soda fountains and old-time diners surrounding a traffic roundabout. This is a pleasant spot to browse around during Anaheim holidays, especially for antique lovers or fans of historic home restorations. Any holiday in Anaheim would of course be incomplete without visting the original Disneyland Resort.

The ideal periods for a fulfilling visit to the “City of Angels” are from March to May and from September through to November. This is when the air is much more breathable and the crowds less oppressive.

During these periods, the average temperatures remain in the 60s and 70s, thereby making it more comfortable to walk around and visit outdoor attractions. The heat of summer sends residents and tourists alike to the oceanside neighbourhoods. For the best deals, consider a wintertime trip to Los Angeles. Just be sure to pack an umbrella as you are certain to encounter some rainfall.

Spring Poppies

Spring is the best time to visit Los Angeles as the crowds are fewer and the weather less stifling. Average high temperatures linger in the comfortable mid-70s, without the prevalent rain of winter or the overwhelming smog of summer. A springtime trip to Los Angeles will have you there just in time for an assortment of festivals and events. Visitors can attend the California Poppy Festival, the UCLA Jazz Reggae Festival or even participate in the Los Angeles Marathon.

Summer Fests

June to August marks Los Angeles’ peak tourism season. If you can handle the sweltering temperatures, this will have you in Los Angeles just in time for a diversity of fun festivals and events. The LA PRIDE takes place in June, while the Outfest follows in July. Film buffs will find their niche at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival held in June and the Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles which is held in July.

Autumn on the Beach

Autumn marks a sweet spot for holidays in California. The cooling weather disperses the crowds, making holidays to Los Angeles a more manageable vacation spot. Plan a couple of weeks in advance to enable you to score a few beach days. Various festivals and events are held during autumn in Los Angeles which are well-deserving of a slot in your itinerary. The Orange Street Fair takes place in August, while the Los Angeles International Tamale Festival is held in November.

Winter Parades

Although rain is prevalent during the months of December to February, one shouldn’t rule out a winter holiday to Los Angeles. Average high temperatures at this time are far better than the freezing cold experienced by many other major American cities. But the cold weather isn’t enough to keep the citizens of L.A. indoors and inactive. Join them at the LA Art Show in January, as well as the Chinese New Year and Golden Dragon Parade in February.