LOS ANGELES CITY GUIDE - THINGS TO SEE AND DO See inside for details about getting around, sightseeing, shopping, nightlife and more The City of Los Angeles holds many distinctions. L.A. is the entertainment capital of the world, a cultural mecca boasting more than 100 museums, and a paradise of idyllic weather. The 75-mile Los Angeles County coastline is home to Southern California’s greatest beaches, stretching from Malibu to Long Beach. L.A.’s coastal regions boast some of the best surf spots, amazing oceanfront dining and trendy shops. Each seaside town is unique, offering distinctive landmarks such as Santa Monica’s famous pier, Venice’s iconic Muscle Beach, and Malibu’s stunning shorelines and Getty Villa. Some of the world’s best-known and most iconic landmarks and attractions call Los Angeles home: the Hollywood Sign; Griffith Observatory; the Getty Center; the Hollywood Walk of Fame; the TCL Chinese Theatre; Space Shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center; the Battleship USS Iowa located at the Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro; Air Force One at the Ronald Reagan Library and Universal Studios Hollywood, with its dynamic immersive experience, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™. Moving around – Transportation With so many historic landmarks, interesting neighbourhoods and exciting attractions, Los Angeles can be a bit overwhelming. Fortunately, there are a variety of ways to explore LA, whether it’s getting behind the wheel, using a bit of pedal power, or letting someone else do the driving. Hit the road and drive on legendary streets or along a scenic route. Metro’s subway trains, light rail and buses transport hundreds of thousands of daily riders, while LA bike paths welcome a growing number of bicyclists. For those with disabilities, Los Angeles is one of the best cities in the country in offering convenient access. Every day, The Metro efficiently transports hundreds of thousands of passengers throughout LA via subway trains, light rail and buses. Metro Rail, LA’s rapid transit rail system, has six lines, all named after different colours, serve 80 stations across LA County. You can basically get anywhere in LA County by Metro rail. Metro also operates about 200 bus lines across the city and offers three types of bus services: Metro Local buses (painted orange) make frequent stops along major thoroughfares throughout the city. Metro Rapid buses (painted red) stop less frequently and have special sensors that keep traffic lights green when a bus approaches, and commuter-oriented Metro Express buses (painted blue) connect communities with Downtown LA and other business districts and usually travel via the city’s freeways. One of the best ways to explore Los Angeles is to take in the sights by car. LA’s freeways are essential for navigating the city, so get to know major routes such as Interstates 405, 10 and 5. Expect them to be constantly busy though! Iconic Hollywood Boulevard and the legendary Sunset Strip are home to many of LA’s top landmarks, attractions, restaurants, clubs and hotels. Wilshire Blvd. stretches from Downtown LA to the Westside, while some of LA’s best views can be enjoyed on scenic drives along Pacific Coast Highway and Mulholland Drive. Los Angeles is known for its car culture, but its bike paths welcome a growing number of bicyclists. To help bicyclists explore LA, Metro offers options for riding on the Metro Rail and bus. Twice a year, CicLAvia opens miles of city streets to pedestrians and bicyclists. The area’s most popular bike path starts in the Pacific Palisades and continues to Redondo Beach. LA county’s longest bike path is the San Gabriel River Trail; other bike paths include Ballona Creek and the Sepulveda Dam Recreation Area. Theme Parks The Los Angeles area certainly has it’s share of theme parks: Disneyland Resort, Universal Studios, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Pacific Park and just a short drive away, Knotts Berry Farm. These are the places you’ve dreamt of visiting, that’s why year after year, families visit them in the 10’s of thousands, creating memories that last them a lifetime. The long standing Disneyland resort isn't just a set of theme parks: it's a spectacular piece of pop art that's as bright or as dark as you'd like it to be. Incorporating two parks—the 50-year-old, near-mythic Disneyland, plus the younger and less-celebrated Disney's California Adventure. Te resort calls itself "The Happiest Place on Earth." And if you bring the right mood with you, it'll likely live up to its nickname. Disneyland The original Magic Kingdom is packed with must-do attractions spread over seven 'lands,' all immaculately themed in every detail. Main Street USA embodies turn-of-the-19th- century America, while Frontierland takes on Westward expansion (the John Wayne version) and New Orleans Square is just like its namesake, only without the floods, the poverty and the booze. Adventureland offers thrills of the jungle variety. Tomorrowland is a kitschily charming look into the future; Critter Country is the wooded home of Winnie the Pooh and Brer Rabbit; and Fantasyland is where Disney's animated films come to life. As for the iconic mouse, you're most likely to find him scurrying about with his pals in Mickey's Toontown. The secret of Disneyland's charm lies in its special history. Unlike the company's other parks, Disneyland was largely designed by Walt himself, and it's the only one in which he ever set foot. As a result, Disneyland is practically a biography of its creator's life, if you know where to look. Try reading the names in Main Street's upper-level windows; you'll find many of Disney's collaborators and artists listed. The Walt Disney Story features artifacts from Disney's entertainment career. And in Frontierland, you'll find the petrified tree Walt once gave his wife as an anniversary present. But most people, of course, are here for the rides… Among the best are Space Mountain (located in Tomorrowland), a legitimately thrilling indoor rollercoaster ride through 'deep space’. The epic Indiana Jones Adventure (in Adventureland), based on the Spielberg adventure movies. Pirates of the Caribbean (in New Orleans Square), the basis for the hit Johnny Depp film franchise and one of the most detail- packed and atmospheric rides in the park and the Matterhorn (in Fantasyland), a breakneck bobsled ride around and through a scaled- down replica of the Swiss peak. If anything defines Disneyland, it's the human touch that's so obviously been lavished on many of its featured rides and attractions. Certainly, it's difficult to imagine anything as charming as the It's a Small World boat ride (you'll be singing the theme song for weeks afterwards, whether you want to or not) or the fabulous Enchanted Tiki Room. Disney's California Adventure Located in a former car park, this decent little enterprise is no match for Disneyland in terms of size or attention to detail, but it does a decent job of celebrating the geography, culture and history of its namesake state. Also, unlike Disneyland, it serves alcohol, and has done so since opening day. While DCA doesn't have anything as engrossing as Pirates of the Caribbean, it does feature some decent rides. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, a special effects-packed 'drop'-ride based on the classic TV show and housed in the Hollywood Land section of the park, is worth a look, as is Soarin' over California, a beautiful flight simulator located in the Condor Flats section, which pays homage to the state's aeronautical accomplishments in the 1940s-1960s. The highlight of the Paradise Pier section, meanwhile, is the California Screamin' rollercoaster, the tallest and fastest coaster ever built in a Disney park. Not every ride is suitable for kids of all ages, but very young children are welcome in A Bug's Land. Though the rides lack both Disneyland's charm and the sheer terror inspired by Six Flags Magic Mountain, Universal Studios Hollywood's hillside theme park offers some worthwhile thrills fueled by silver-screen memories and an illusion of Hollywood glamour. Rides and Attractions Soar Above Hogwarts™ With Harry Potter™ -Located in The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™ Enter through the towering castle gates and make your way down the familiar passageways and corridors of Hogwarts™ School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Visit iconic locations such as Dumbledore’s office, the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, the Gryffindor™ common room, the Room of Requirement, and more. Then get ready to soar above the castle grounds as you join Harry Potter™ and his friends on an unforgettably thrilling adventure, coming face-to-face with an array of magical creatures. Jurassic Park® The Ride - it’s Lunchtime And You're On The Menu Take this thrilling river raft adventure, based on Jurassic Park, the inspiration for the hit movie, Jurassic World, where you’ll see dinosaurs in their natural jungle habitat. And hold on tight as you narrowly escape a 50- foot T-rex as your raft makes an exhilarating 84-foot plunge to safety. Fast & Furious – Supercharged Hold on tight Ride along with the all-star cast from the hit movies on an exhilarating high-speed chase that exceeds 120 miles per hour and catapults you into the high-stakes underworld of fast cars and international crime cartels. You’ll be engulfed in a world of cutting-edge, hyper-realistic special effects, including 3D- HD imagery projected onto the world’s most expansive 360-degree screens! The Walking Dead Attraction -Beyond Your Wildest Screams Enter the post-apocalyptic world of AMC’s “The Walking Dead” in a year-round attraction.