DK Travel : Los Angeles

The myth, the velocity, the edginess in creative and technological fields – this is Los Angeles, where the multicultural future that awaits the rest of the country is already a firm reality. In little more than 200 years, LA has grown from a dusty Spanish outpost into one of the world’s largest and most complex cities offering top venues for everything from archaeology and the arts to food. The birthplace of Mickey Mouse and Hollywood, LA has shaped the imaginations of millions.

Music Center

This three-venue arts center represents LA culture. The LA Opera, directed by Plàcido Domingo, makes its home at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, while cutting-edge plays are presented at the Ahmanson Theater and the Mark Taper Forum.
Musso & Frank Grill

Steaks and chops dominate the menu of Hollywood’s oldest (since 1919) restaurant. It was a major hangout for celebrities such as Hemingway and other literary giants.
Naples & Belmont Shore

Naples is an Italian-flavored peninsula in Alamitos Bay, which is connected by a causeway to Belmont Shore with its many shopping and dining options. Long Beach’s poshest neighborhood, Naples was dreamed up by Arthur Parsons in 1903, around the same time Abbott Kinney conceived of Venice (see Santa Monica Bay). Enjoy an authentic Venetian gondola ride (see Gondola Getaway).
Natalee Thai

Peruse the entertaining menu, then choose from various Thai classics that are served family-style.
Nate’n’Al

This modest kosher deli has been catering to the stars since 1943. Regulars swear by the huge sandwiches served on chunky rye bread.
Natural History Museum

It’s easy to spend a day exploring this engaging museum, the nation’s second largest of its kind. The dinosaurs always draw huge crowds, as do the dioramas of African and North American mammals, and the grisly 14.5-ft (4-m) long megamouth, the rarest shark in the world. The Gem and Mineral Hall contains a huge gold exhibit and a dazzling walk-through gem vault. Cultural exhibits explain and highlight the traditions of Native and Latin American civilizations. Children love the hands-on activities in the Discovery Center and the Insect Zoo.
Natural History Museum

This engaging museum pays homage to the entire animal kingdom, including extinct species such as the perennially popular dinosaurs. Special child-oriented facilities include the Discovery Center stocked with puppets, storybooks, and a fossil-rubbing station; and the Insect Zoo, home to a host of creepy crawlies, creatures as diverse as tarantulas, centipedes, and ants.
NBC Tour

This tour offers an affordable look at the inner workings of a major TV production studio. A highlight is a visit to the set of Jay Leno’s The Tonight Show . Call in advance or check the website to find out how to be part of the studio audience.
Necromance

If the sight of freeze-dried ducklings gives you the creeps, you should probably avoid this “little shop of horrors.” Budding sorcerers and those in search of decorations for their own haunted mansions will find delightfully macabre stuff to buy.
New Otani Hotel & Garden

This Little Tokyo hotel offers an exotic experience, especially if staying in the Japanese rooms where you sleep on tatami mats. The spa and the beautiful third-floor Japanese gardens are great for winding down.

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Hotel price categories

For the cheapest standard double room per night (without breakfast), taxes, and extra charges.
- under $100
- $100–$150
- $150–$250
- $250–$350
- over $350
Restaurant price categories

Price categories include a three-course meal for one, a glass of house wine, and all unavoidable extra charges including tax.
- under $25
- $25–$50
- $50–$80
- over $80