DK Travel : Los Angeles : Places of interest

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Cinerama Dome

A Hollywood landmark and site of many a movie premiere, this white dome of interlocked triangles is LA’s most unusual movie theater. The world’s only concrete geodesic dome was built by Welton Beckett in 1963 to show Cinerama movies, a revolutionary wide-screen technique requiring three 35 mm projectors. Today, it is part of a brand new complex that also includes the ArcLight movie theaters (see ArcLight Cinemas & Cinerama Dome).
City Hall

LA’s tallest building for over four decades, the central tower of this 1928 shiny white downtown presence was three times higher than the then height limit. A recent renovation has made it possible for the public to admire its marble-columned rotunda once again. City Hall has been immortalized on celluloid countless times, most famously as the headquarters of the Daily Planet in the Superman TV series. It was also attacked by Martians in The War of the Worlds (1954).
Colorado Street Bridge

The graceful arches of this recently restored 1913 bridge straddle the Arroyo Seco (Spanish for “dry brook”), a natural ravine that comes down from the San Gabriel Mountains. The imposing 1903 Vista del Arroyo Hotel overlooking the bridge is presently home to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
Crafts & Folk Art Museum (CAFAM)

This small museum is dedicated to showcasing handicrafts and folk art from around the world. The brainchild of folk art collector Edith Wyle, it was originally launched in 1965 as “The Egg and The Eye,” a gallery space and omelet restaurant. Apart from its changing exhibits, which reflect the multi-layered culture of Southern California, CAFAM is best known for its annual International Festival of Masks held in October.
Crossroads of the World

The centerpiece of this unique architectural metaphor is a shiplike Art Deco building that “sails” into a courtyard flanked by cottages in styles ranging from Spanish Colonial to German gingerbread. A quiet office complex, it was built in 1936 by Robert Derrah, who designed downtown’s Coca-Cola Bottling Plant.
David Orgell

A Rodeo Drive fixture since 1958, this luxury emporium is famous for its antique silver, unique jewelry, and limited edition designer watches.
Disneyland

Half a century after it first opened, the “Magic Kingdom” continues to be right on top of most children’s must-see lists. A one-, two-, or three-day visit is guaranteed to delight, amaze, and exhaust the kids, especially since recent expansions have added a second theme park, Disney’s California Adventure, and the Downtown Disney entertainment district to Disneyland (see Disneyland® Resort).
Dodger Stadium

For many, spring wouldn’t be the same without baseball. The pilgrimage to Dodger Stadium to watch the “Boys in Blue” fight it out is an annual ritual for thousands of fans. Hunkered in the bleachers, munching on the famous Dodger Dogs, they watch their team (LA Dodgers) in action. The stadium opened in 1962 and is often called one of USA’s most beautiful ballparks. It has hosted eight World Series, many concerts, and even a papal mass.
El Pueblo de Los Angeles

This historic district near LA’s 1781 founding site comprises buildings dating back to the early 19th century, when the city was little more than a scruffy outpost under Mexican rule. Its main artery, Olvera Street, has been restored to a lively lane lined with Mexican trinket shops and restaurants.
Farmers Market

In 1934, two entrepreneurs asked landowner E.B. Gilmore for permission to start a produce market on a vacant parking lot on his property. Soon after, a group of farmers started selling fresh fruit, flowers, and vegetables from trucks. Many of the 150 stalls of Farmers Market, such as Magee’s Nuts, have been in the same families for generations. Scouts from nearby CBS TV City roam the market in search of game show audience members.