For details on local events, or tourist opportunities during your visit to Los Angeles, reference the City Travel Guide at:

http://destinations.usatoday.com/losangeles/attractions/

No single locale -- whether it be Malibu, downtown, Beverly Hills, or Burbank -- fully embodies Los Angeles. It's in the mix that you'll discover the city's character. Contrary to popular myths, however, that doesn't mean you have to spend all your time in a car. In fact, getting out of your car is the only way to really get to know Los Angeles. The city's Red Line Metro rapid transit system has a stop near the Universal Hilton Hotel that provides transportation to many key sites. http://www.metro.net/riding_metro/default.htm

Looking at a map of sprawling Los Angeles, first-time visitors are sometimes overwhelmed. Where to begin? What to see first? Begin by setting your priorities...

Movie and television fans should first head to Hollywood, Universal Studios, and a taping of a television show. Free Tickets to attend TV Show Studio Tapings - Order by phone: 818-753-3470 or order over the Internet: www.audiencesunlimited.com

Beach lovers and outdoorsy types might start out in Santa Monica or Venice or Malibu, or spend an afternoon in Griffith Park, one of the largest city parks in the country.

Those with a cultural bent could attend an outdoor concert under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl, go to a Broadway show at the Ahmanson, make a beeline for the Getty Museum in Brentwood, or head to the Griffith Observatory a beloved icon of Los Angeles and world leader in public astronomy.