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This is a mock New England seaside village geared to catering to tourists. A cobblestone walkway links a variety of shops selling crafts and kitsch. There are also several restaurants, many of them with harbor views. Dine on platters of fresh shrimp, fried calamari rings, and whatever has been freshly caught that morning. For closeup views of supertankers and cargo and cruise ships, join a harbor cruise, which departs from the village. Whale-watching cruises operate from January to March.

On its maiden voyage in 1936, the Queen Mary was the most luxurious liner ever to sail the seven seas. Each crossing carried famous faces, along with thousands of regular vacationers and immigrants. During World War II, she whisked as many as 15,000 soldiers per trip from the USA to Europe. The elegant vessel retired in 1964 and became a tourist attraction three years later. Much of the Queen Mary, which also contains a hotel, can be explored on self-guided and guided tours (see Ghost & Legends Tour).

In 1784, Manuel Nieto, a corporal in the Spanish army, was granted 300,000 acres of land in recognition of his services. The land was later divided into five ranchos, including Rancho Los Alamitos and Rancho Los Cerritos. The ranch houses are some of the state’s oldest structures.

Pasadena’s most famous landmark, the Rose Bowl draws worldwide attention every New Year’s Day when two top-ranking college football teams battle it out for the Rose Bowl Game Trophy. College football first became part of the Tournament of Roses in 1902 when Stanford was trounced 49-0 by Michigan. Architect Myron Hunt’s originally horseshoe-shaped structure was later converted into an elliptical shape and enlarged to its current seating capacity of 93,000.

LA’s only surviving winery is tucked away in the industrial area north of the Los Angeles River. It’s hard to imagine that this bleak area was once blanketed with vineyards. When the founder of San Antonio, Santo Cambianica, arrived in 1917, he faced stiff competition from over 100 wineries. Prohibition put most out of business, but Santo survived making sacramental wine. Even today, fermentation continues to take place here. Taste the wines; the restaurant is a popular lunch spot (see Maddalena Restaurant).

For a variety of entertainment, visit Santa Monica Pier. Where else can you hop on to a historic carousel, visit an aquarium, or ride a roller coaster? California’s oldest amusement pier (built in 1908) also marks the western terminus of Route 66. Its oldest attraction is the 1916 Hippodrome, a merry-go-round that has made many movie appearances. Its newest is Pacific Park, a compact amusement park, anchored by a solar-powered Ferris wheel. Tucked beneath the pier, the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium is a small, family-oriented facility where you can observe and pet local marine life.

Pet a sea cucumber, take to the skies in a Ferris wheel, or watch local fisherfolk reel in their latest catch at this pier. These are just some of the activities on California’s oldest amusement pier, whose attractions draw over three million people a year. During summer, be sure to make it to the popular free concert series that takes place on Thursday nights.

The twin neighborhoods of Silver Lake and Los Feliz constitute one of Los Angeles’s oldest movie colonies with bohemian-chic dining, shopping, and nightlife scenes. The hills are studded with Modernist masterpieces such as Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1924 Ennis-Brown House and the Lovell House built by Richard Neutra.

This state-of-the-art Jewish cultural center was named after its main benefactor, Jack Skirball (1896–1985), a rabbi and producer of Hitchcock films. Open since 1996, the complex hosts a lively events schedule and has a multimedia museum. Exhibits explore the parallels between the Jewish experience and the principles of American democracy. After a major expansion, expected to be completed in 2004, the Skirball will host a major exhibition on Albert Einstein.