OT: Opinions on Los Angeles as a city?

[Gunner24]

I'll be traveling to the USA for the first time next year and will be staying in Los Angeles for a few days.

For those of you who have been there or live there, whats it like? I've always thought the city looked amazing, however my close friends tell me its not all that great. High crime rates, rude/arrogant people, poor public transport etc.

I've always thought it looks like such a nice place with lots to do and see, but my friends seem to think otherwise and didn't enjoy their stay. There are so many things that interest me there (Beaches, Hollywood, Malibu, Staples Center, nice weather, celebrities etc.).

Is Los Angeles a nice city? Are the surrounding areas nice as well?

[Wavy Q]

Ok Los Angeles is **** huge, so painting it with 1 description is impossible to do. LA Live is sweet, as well as the majority of beaches minus Venice (unless you're into that sort of thing). Almost all of eastern Los Angeles is useless and would be better off not existing. (looking at you, San Bernadino). High crime rates is only important to you visiting if you're extremely poor and are for whatever reason deciding to visit the hood.

Random people in LA are the WOAT. The public transportation is literally hitler.

Hollywood is cool for about 3 minutes then you get bored. Malibu is sweet if you're rich. Staples Center is always fun. Weather is mostly consistent except for whatever reason during the winter on certain days it'll get cold as balls. Celebrities are irrelevant unless you have some sort of inside hooks to party with them.

All in all i give LA a 6/10 unless you're rich then its like an 8/10

[crazyeights]

So many different pockets. It's the most diverse city in human civilization. Everything bad you hear about LA is absolutely true, but then again it's a damn special place. Will be pretty difficult to access the city just as a tourist. Sure there's Yelp or whatever, but like any big city, takes a local to really show you around.

[Beethoven]

From a tourist stand point not sure you'll get much just driving around or taking pictures. But you'll need to have an agenda planned out or have a friend or relative who knows the place to how to around and do things together. There's a lot of great and fun things to do but lot of it is hidden or just doesn't come in a good package looking from the outside you got to know where to go and such.
And you'll need a car.

[Tiesto_Lakers]

Downtown LA...absolute mess.

Outskirts of LA...very high class and impressive.

[Kangaroohop]

Download the app Lyft if you haven't already, I spent 2.5 weeks in La from down-under myself that app made my holiday. Skateboarding along all the beaches is the absolute beez-knees! I'd recomend the Santa Monica area loved it, the food, the sights, the ladies perfect week well spent. Enjoy your travels !

[SashAlex]

Santa Monica is a beautiful place. There is an alley, which name a forgot, with people all-around the world doing different stuff, like acrobats from Russia/Ukraine doing some stunts, some others singing, painting etc. etc.
When I was there, it was summer, so I don't know how is it gonna be now. The Hollywood blvrd. in the night time, the Avenue of the stars to be more precise. There is also the Madamme Tussauds wax museum if you wanna have a pic with some semi-real TV stars. Malibu looks funky. Venice is nice. But again, in the summer. Enough money can take you to the beautiful Catalina island, or to a helicopter tour around LA. The Downtown area looks more fun nowadays. It's a pitty they don't allow you inside the Staples Center Arena, or do some tours. At least there's the shop.

And do not use public transports. I mean, this is the worst thing in LA, along with mile-long traffic-jams and some other weakpoints.

[Cyrusman122000]

Ok Los Angeles is **** huge, so painting it with 1 description is impossible to do. LA Live is sweet, as well as the majority of beaches minus Venice (unless you're into that sort of thing). Almost all of eastern Los Angeles is useless and would be better off not existing. (looking at you, San Bernadino). High crime rates is only important to you visiting if you're extremely poor and are for whatever reason deciding to visit the hood.

Random people in LA are the WOAT. The public transportation is literally hitler.

Hollywood is cool for about 3 minutes then you get bored. Malibu is sweet if you're rich. Staples Center is always fun. Weather is mostly consistent except for whatever reason during the winter on certain days it'll get cold as balls. Celebrities are irrelevant unless you have some sort of inside hooks to party with them.

All in all i give LA a 6/10 unless you're rich then its like an 8/10

This was a perfect post! I live in Orange County and been to L.A 1000x. I'm not crazy about it. Downtown L.A is boring compared to other cities downtowns. It's the buisness distract of L.A. South L.A is just ugly, dirty, and ghetto, East L.A is AWFUL, and the crime is really bad, and the air quality sucks.

North L.A consists of the Valley. It's okay, but not much to see. Mainly residential

Places to see: Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Hollywood, West Hollywood, Wilshire Blvd, Sunset Blvd. Although unless you have a lot of money to spend you'll be just walking around. These areas are expensive. Especially Beverly Hills, and Santa Monica.

The beaches are really nice though like Malbu, Venice, Santa Monica, Manhattan Beach.

Weather is amazing. mid 60s-low 70s for day time high at this point of the year,

Oh and you need a car. Southern California doesn't know what public transportation is. And prepare for some of the worst traffic of your life! Traffic is AWFUL in L.A Avoid the 405 at all costs

[The Laker Kid]

Which part of LA are we talking about? The culture between Beverly Hills and San Fernando Valley, for instance is worlds apart. Downtown LA is also a different beast. It's really hard to sum it up in one sentence.

Traffic, for the most part, is BAD. Especially during weekdays. Avoid the 405 and take the canyons or side streets.

Rude/arrogant people? Only in places like Beverly Hills where people drive fast cars and cut people off. You rarely see these in the Valley. In the valley, people are more of the stupid types rather than aggressive. They're the kind who drive 20 mph on a 35 while BH drivers drive 60 on a 35.

For the most part, LA people are ok. Just don't expect the kind of "heyyyy how are you doinnnnnn" kind of friendly response like you'd see from Montana or Wyoming. People here are more into "themselves" like, they're on a cellphone all day and have a "don't bother me" attitude.

If you're visiting here, you gotta narrow down your itineraries and don't waste your time finding your way around. Driving will EAT UP your time here. Plan accordingly and use your time wisely.

As for the weather, we're at 75 degrees right now, so no snow anytime soon. If you want snow, Mtn High is about 45 minutes away. When you're done, drive back to Santa Monica and chill at the beach where it's 75. You can do all these in half a day.

If you ask me, I'll say stay away from LA. There's nothing here but traffic and douchebags. Go up north to Santa Barbara, Big Sur, or even San Fran where people are more chill. San Diego has its share of douchebags but not as bad as LA, and they have better scenery.

If you're into club scene, drinking, partying, or hitting up on chicks then LA is great for that.

[The Laker Kid]

Santa Monica is a beautiful place. There is an alley, which name a forgot, with people all-around the world doing different stuff, like acrobats from Russia/Ukraine doing some stunts, some others singing, painting etc. etc.

3rd street promenade

Avoid it. Parking is bad. Too many d-bags. Dirty, too crowded.

[Edrees]

As a tourist I'd recommend you stay west of the 405 and never cross it. You will love your time here. Once you cross it, you will hit the smog, more of the traffic, the dirt, the crimes, and all the other stuff. I guess you can visit LA live and staples center for a couple of hours, since you are a Lakers fan, but I wouldn't recommend doing much else in downtown. However, downtown is cleaning itself up and there are a few streets with some cool bars on it, but it's nothing compared to what other cities have. I've been to 21 countries and hundreds of cities, so I can compare LA very well, and west LA is as awesome as any place in the other, but other parts of LA are not.

Of you are here for an extended period of time I strongly recommend a 2 day trip to Seqouyah National Park. Best part of Southern/Central California.

[iamworthy]

depending on your age and what you are trying to do Los Angeles is off the hook. The club scene is hot, women are hot, and the food is great. Your experience will probably be affected by who you know. the diversity in Los Angeles is crazy good.

[LUUUKE]

Oh god don't get me started. Your friends who disliked it were right. Especially if you only stay here for a couple days. LA itself is a pretty crappy city. Traffic is hell but youre still going to have to drive everywhere because the public transportation sucks like others have mentioned. Hollywood is trashy and every time I visit I feel like I need to shower for 2 days afterwards. Overall, the city is just dirty and grimy. However, Southern California is an amazing place. I would try to travel OUTSIDE of LA asap. Visit Newport Beach, head to disneyland, etc. Heading south is a good idea because Malubi is really the only major city north of LA.

[sp6r=underrated]

I loved the gardens at the Huntington Library during my recent visit.

[Doormatt]

Ok Los Angeles is **** huge, so painting it with 1 description is impossible to do. LA Live is sweet, as well as the majority of beaches minus Venice (unless you're into that sort of thing). Almost all of eastern Los Angeles is useless and would be better off not existing. (looking at you, San Bernadino). High crime rates is only important to you visiting if you're extremely poor and are for whatever reason deciding to visit the hood.

Random people in LA are the WOAT. The public transportation is literally hitler.

Hollywood is cool for about 3 minutes then you get bored. Malibu is sweet if you're rich. Staples Center is always fun. Weather is mostly consistent except for whatever reason during the winter on certain days it'll get cold as balls. Celebrities are irrelevant unless you have some sort of inside hooks to party with them.

All in all i give LA a 6/10 unless you're rich then its like an 8/10

this **** doesnt even live in LA disregard all of the above

[crazyeights]

There are amazing restaurants downtown, Koreatown, little spots all around neighborhoods like Silver Lake, Echo Park, Los Feliz...the West Side is for families and the beach. So I'd definitely spend time at the beach, but also make your way east. You can find great little spots anywhere, like a tiny karaoke bar in Little Tokyo...tbh we should know more about your age/aims while you're here, because there's great stuff to check out.

[DelaneyRudd]

As a tourist I'd recommend you stay west of the 405 and never cross it. You will love your time here. Once you cross it, you will hit the smog, more of the traffic, the dirt, the crimes, and all the other stuff. I guess you can visit LA live and staples center for a couple of hours, since you are a Lakers fan, but I wouldn't recommend doing much else in downtown. However, downtown is cleaning itself up and there are a few streets with some cool bars on it, but it's nothing compared to what other cities have. I've been to 21 countries and hundreds of cities, so I can compare LA very well, and west LA is as awesome as any place in the other, but other parts of LA are not.

Of you are here for an extended period of time I strongly recommend a 2 day trip to Seqouyah National Park. Best part of Southern/Central California.

West of the 405 or north of the 10, with Culver City at the corner being ok if you have a reason to go there.

[EArl]

Ok Los Angeles is **** huge, so painting it with 1 description is impossible to do. LA Live is sweet, as well as the majority of beaches minus Venice (unless you're into that sort of thing). Almost all of eastern Los Angeles is useless and would be better off not existing. (looking at you, San Bernadino). High crime rates is only important to you visiting if you're extremely poor and are for whatever reason deciding to visit the hood.

Random people in LA are the WOAT. The public transportation is literally hitler.

Hollywood is cool for about 3 minutes then you get bored. Malibu is sweet if you're rich. Staples Center is always fun. Weather is mostly consistent except for whatever reason during the winter on certain days it'll get cold as balls. Celebrities are irrelevant unless you have some sort of inside hooks to party with them.

All in all i give LA a 6/10 unless you're rich then its like an 8/10

this **** doesnt even live in LA disregard all of the above

[Kalidogg24]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion about the city of Los Angeles.

We have the Best Weather in the World. An that's fact.
Los Angeles and New York is by far the most diverse cities in America.
Best beaches. ( Yes I'm aware some of our beaches are dirty but we still have the best beaches in the US hands down better than South Beach as well)

Best Freeway system regardless of the traffic.
Just don't be a bonehead an decide to go places during rush hour and you'll be fine.
( 6 Am-9:30 Am & 4 Pm to 8 PM)
You can get from the OC to Downtown in like 20 minutes with no traffic.
Thats like 40 miles but with the 5 Freeway and no traffic you cut right through.
New York or Florida don't got that type of freeway system. It's pretty much the 95 and that's it.

No offense to outside members who chimed in about how bad the traffic is. You guys are tourist and you don't know your ways around Los Angeles. An sorry just because you spent a couple weeks at a Embassy Suites touring DisneyLand and Hollywood Blvd doesn't mean you know the complete ins and out of Los Angeles. ( No Pun intended to In N Out Burger , but seriously go eat at In N Out Burger its life changing lol)

An plus Los Angeles County is over 4,700 square miles. So if your saying if you go "outside LA" to Culver City, or Santa Monica, or Gardena you guys need to realize those cities are still considered LA.

[NOODLESTYLE]

The Greater Los Angeles area has a lot of places to visit, especially if you go around the right time to avoid crowds and traffic. The older areas might appear more "ghetto" but there are a lot of nicer rich neighborhoods. It's very spread out, so it depends on where you go and what you prefer.

Santa Monica and Venice beaches itself aren't as clean because of all the tourists, so if you just want a cleaner beach then check out Malibu like you already mentioned. There's also a number of beaches that might have less crowds including Zuma, Huntington, Newport, Laguna, etc. If you have time, check out San Diego.

If you like shopping but are on a tighter budget, there's plenty of Outlets.

Examples:

http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=20

http://www.simon.com/mall/ontario-mills


Malls with more high-end stores:

http://www.southcoastplaza.com/
http://www.westfield.com/topanga/

Disneyland/California Adventure for family theme parks. Magic Mountain in Valencia, if you prefer roller coasters.

There's tons of variation in ethnic foods as well. Got a particular taste? Yelp it.

In-N-Out is a must try, but I would recommend customize the meal to your liking. I usually get my fries lightly well, also add a side of chilies to my meal.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yx9bAjV5LmM[/youtube]

Don't like In-N-Out? No problem. We also got that East Coast hype Five Guys here too. In addition, other burger joints including The Hat, The Habbit, The Counter, etc.

There's plenty of more burger selections including Father's Office and Umami Burger.

Just for fun, try some of the Food trucks.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jmZjj2y4w0[/youtube]

If you like ethnic foods, there's plenty of that, especially Asian (Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Filipino...you name it)

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3n3HQ9uge0g[/youtube]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GemWZNor8tE[/youtube]


Want to watch a movie where you can reserve seats and order alcohol?

https://www.arclightcinemas.com/