Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California is the second largest city in the United States and is the largest city on the west coast and west of the Mississipi River. Los Angeles is also very spread out, with an area of 469 square miles (1,215 km) and it is recognized as a very ethnically diverse urban area. It was founded by the Spanish in 1781, became a part of Mexico in 1821, and was part of the purchase made by the USA in 1848, and it was incorporate as a municipality in the State of California, the same year that it achieved statehood in 1850.

It is the home to the entertainment industry, with numerous film, television and stage productions being created or produced here, but also video game and music entertainment. Los Angeles also has a significant tourism industry presence, with a large number of tourist attractions in the area or nearby, such as the City of Beverly Hills, the Wall Disney Concert Hall, the beaches of Malibu, Santa Monica and Venice, the Getty Center, the Capital Records building, Hollywood Walk of Fame/Hollywood Boulevard, Graumann's Chinese Theater, the Bradbury Building, Watts Tower, Angels Flight, and the Hollywood Bowl.

Los Angeles also has a significant athletic presence, with major professional baseball, basketball, hockey, soccer, and teams in the area, and a significant number of college level teams playing at high levels in American Football and a number of Olympic sports, in landmark buildings such as the Rose Bowl (used multiple times for the 1994 World Cup) and the Los Angeles Coliseum (used for both the 1932 and 1984 Olympic Games). Additionally, it is the home of other major athletic facilities, some of which are frequently used to host other events, including concerts, such as Dodgers Stadium, the Forum, Staples Center, Weingart Stadium and the Home Depot Center.

Getting Here

Many airline companies fly into Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Once you've collected your baggage, walk outside to the curb and select one of the many forms of transportation available at the airport (taxis, shared vans, car-rental shuttles, etc.). If you do not have baggage, all ground transportation away from the airport is accessed via the lower level at LAX.

The Bob Hope/Burbank airport has five airline carriers, including two of the largest discount airlines, operating from this airport and it serves the east side of the San Fernando Valley and is in the City of Burbank near some of the entertainment studios, and Universal Studios.

The other significant airport is in the South Bay, in the city of Long Beach: the Long Beach Airport is served by four carriers, the most significant of which is Jet Blue, mostly serving the west coast, and a few other cities in the south west, north east and Texas.

Ground Transportation

All of these airports are served by ground transportation, including public transit from Burbank which leads to the Metro Red Line subway, connecting with both Hollywood and Downtown Los Angeles, and numerous other bus systems, including the Burbank and Glendale public transit systems, as well as the MTA (Metro). They are also served by other ground transit, as is LAX, information which is available on the website of each airport.

A taxi from from any airport to Downtown Los Angeles can cost upwards of $40 and take 30 minutes or longer in good traffic, but can be far slower (and more expensive) in heavy traffic. There are several options for ground transportation, including public transit, from LAX, depending on where you need to go, as well as rental car agencies, and shared ride vans (which can cost about half of what a taxi wil cost you), and all of these options can be found and are discussed in more detail at the airport website.

The FlyAway bus is a good alternative way to get Downtown. For $7.00 (which can be purchased in advance, on line, or is payable - cash only - only arrival at the Kiosk at Union Station), it can make the trip to Union Station in an hour or less, depending on time of day and traffic.

The FlyAway bus run on variable schedules, depending on destination. It is best to check the schedule on line, and/or to confirm the schedule via the toll-free number available on their website. To board from the airport, just look for the green signs indicating "FlyAway, Buses and Long-Distance Vans" and wait for the next bus. They are clearly marked and in a blue color bus. Confirm with the driver your desired part of Los Angeles prior to boarding.

In addition to Downtown Los Angeles, Union Station, there are two other destinations offered with this service: also costing $7, the FlyAway to Van Nuys will take you to the San Fernando Valley (this cost can also be paid on line). The FlyAway also has a Westwood route which services the areas of Westwood (UCLA), which is close to Santa Monica, and in the West Los Angeles area. No reservations are required for any of this destination.

All of these buses will also accept payment at departure, but only with Visa, MasterCard or American Express credit or debit cards. feature cushioned seats, luggage bays, and wheelchair lifts.

Orientation

Finding A Couch

Los Angeles is fairly large and quite spread out, with numerous districts and neighborhoods, causing confusion and frustration to the first-time visitor. When looking for a host to surf with, you may want to clarify exactly where he/she is located and how easily you can access public transportation during daytime work hours. There are many hosts throughout Los Angeles and you should contact several people directly two weeks before your intended arrival. Mass emailing is not appreciated and may not receive any replies. Try to personalize your request and take some time to read up on your host. If you still cannot find a host, contact the city ambassador or post an emergency couch request on the Los Angeles Last Minute/Emergency Couchsearch board. As a general rule for Couchsurfers, no matter which country you are in, it is highly recommended that you have a hostel/hotel in mind as a backup plan in case your host cannot accommodate you or a problem arises. Use common sense and be prepared as you would be if on your own.

Getting Around

Public Transit (Bus/Subway System)

Public transportation in Los Angeles is a bit hard to figure out since each district has its own bus system. Metro is the main system for downtown Los Angeles but reaches out into the surrounding neighborhoods. On the Metro website, you can search for public transit routes by entering your current location (i.e main intersection) and your destination. There is a limited subway and light rail system as part of the mass transit options, but most of the Los Angeles area is served by bus service.

Bus drivers do not carry change, so you should have the exact cash fare when you board. A Day Pass costs $6. If you do not want to use any form of public transportation, car rentals are recommended since taxis can be fairly expensive, especially during rush hour or high traffic.

Regional Passenger Train

Metro Link is the regional passenger connection system, a train system connecting Los Angeles with adjacent counties which goes as far south as San Diego County, as far east as San Bernadino and Riverside Counties and as far north as Ventura County. A central hub is Union Station and major destinations it would connect you to include Anaheim (Disneyland), San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente in Orange County, just north of the San Diego county line, the Burbank-Bob Hope Airport and the Irvine-John Wayne Airport

Union Station

Union Station is an architecturally significant building that was place of the national historic registrar in 1980, and is featured in a number of films, music videos and television productions, and even the video game, Grand Theft Auto.

In addition to MetroLink, Union Station is also a central hub for the Metro subway system, and a number of Metro and regional connector bus systems, as well as Amtrak for passenger train service to other parts of the USA. Amtrak has service up the west coast to Seattle, and east, to the upper mid-west, Chicago, and the south-east, New Orleans.

The MegaBus express bus passenger network also currently boards and drop off passengers at the Patsaouras Plaza Bus Bay locations (at street level) with service from Los Angeles to San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and Sacramento in California, as well as to and from Reno and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tips

If you plan on staying in L.A. for at least a month, consider buying a SIM card or a pay-as-you-go phone. You can purchase one at Target for as cheap as $20 USD which includes a SIM card, a charger and the phone.

Wireless Internet / Hotspots

These are all free options for internet and wifi access in the Los Angeles. Some are open 24 hours or access is available outside the buildings after hours.

• City of Burbank public libraries [1]
• City of Glendale public libraries [2]
• City of Los Angeles public libraries [3]
• City of Santa Monica public libraries [4]
• County of Los Angeles public libraries [5]

• Most hotels and hostels, some larger malls/shopping centers

• Vons, Pavillions, Ralph supermarkets (certain locations) and Whole Foods supermarkets

• Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf (may require purchase), most McDonald's (with and without purchase), and nearly all stand-alone Starbucks

Events

Couchsurfing

Check the Los Angeles County Group on CS to keep up to date with L.A. CouchSurfer activities. It is a good idea to contact one or two active members personally to know if there is anything going on. Do not post couch requests in this group.

Monthly Events

• ArtWalk - second Thursday each month

Festivals and Holidays

February - Chinese New Year

April - Thai New Year

May - Cinco de Mayo

June - LA Pride

July - Independence Day

Listings

• LA Weekly - a free newspaper featuring a large listing of cultural events and leisure activities in Los Angeles.
• Yelp LA
• Gridskipper LA

Things to do

L.A. In 24 Hours

When CouchSurfers have only one or two days to spend touring Los Angeles, it's usually recommended to them that they select from the landmarks on this list:

• Olvera Street (El Pueblo)
• Venice Beach Boardwalk
• Santa Monica Pier and 3rd Street Promenade
• LACMA - LA County Museum of Art, and the La Brea Tar Pits
• Melrose Blvd. for shopping and people watching (daytime).
• The Getty Center
• Universal Studios
• Griffith Observatory
• Corner of Hollywood and Highland, and the Chinese Theater

Sightseeing

L.A. has some interesting places to hang out and get to know other people:

• The Farmers Market at Fairfax and 3rd
• Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica
• Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills - famous upscale shopping district
• Thai Town
• Hollywood Forever - cemetery of celebrities, including Mel Blanc who provided the voice for Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck
• Watts Towers

Hiking

There are lots of hiking trails around Los Angeles. North of Santa Monica near the Pacific Coastal Highway, Topanga State Park (parking $6) has an easy 3.5 mile loop with an outlook at Eagle Rock. Will Rogers State Park and Temescal Canyon are also located nearby. For the best view of the city, Runyon Canyon is an off-leash dog park that is popular amongst screenwriters and actors. It is only a 45-minute hike and the entrance is located two blocks west of the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Another place of interest is Catalina Island, which is great for camping or you can visit it for a full-day trip.

Museums

There are many interesting museums located around Los Angeles. The Los Angeles County Museum of Art is quite popular and is open every day except Wednesday. Conveniently located next to LACMA are the La Brea Tar Pits. The Getty Center is another popular art museum located near Westwood off the 405 freeway. The Center is open every day except Monday and admission is free. The Getty Villa in Malibu, however, requires reservation but is also free to the public. Parking at both facilities costs $15.

Theme Parks

Six Flags California/Magic Mountain, Disneyland, Universal Studios and Knott's Berry Farm are popular theme parks for tourists.

Volunteering

• Food Not Bombs - Serving healthy, vegan meals to the homeless every Thursday and Sunday at Pershing Square
• Food On Foot - Feeding the homeless around Hollywood every Sunday
• Tree People
• Habitat Work - Weekend backpacking trips mainly involving the removal of invasive plants on the Wind Wolves Preserve in Los Padres National Forest.

Places to Eat

Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants

Here are some of the Los Angeles Couch Surfers' favorite vegetarian/vegan restaurants...

San Fernando Valley:

• Follow Your Heart (vegetarian and vegan) - 21825 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA

• Leonor's Restaurant (vegetarian) - 11403 Victory Boulevard, North Hollywood CA

• Madeleine Bistro (organic vegan) - 18621 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, CA

• Vegetable Delight (vegetarian "mock meat" Chinese) - 17823 Chatsworth St., Granada Hills, CA 91344

Westside:

• Real Food Daily (organic vegan) - 514 Santa Monica Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90401

West Hollywood:

• Real Food Daily (organic vegan) - 414 N. La Cienega Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90048

• Veggie Grill (vegan) - 8000 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Silverlake:

• Cru (vegan and raw food) - 1521 Griffith Park Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Los Angeles:

• Pure Luck (vegetarian) - 707 N Heliotrope Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90029

• Mani's Bakery (vegetarian and vegan options) - 519 S. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90036

El Segundo:

• Veggie Grill (vegan) - Plaza El Segundo 720 Allied Way, El Segundo, CA 90245

Redondo Beach:

• Happy Veggie (Asian vegetarian) - 709 N. Pacific Coast Highway Redondo Beach, CA 90277

Late Night Eats: Open All Night or 24 hours

Hollywood:

• Kitchen 24 (diner, open late) - 1608 N. Cahuenga Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028

• Fred 62 (diner, always open) - 1850 N. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Silverlake:

• Astro Family Restaurant (diner, open late), 2300 Fletcher Drive, Los Angeles, CA

Los Angeles:

• Canter's Delicatessen (deli, always open) - 419 North Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, California 90036

Downtown:

• The Pantry Cafe (diner, always open) - 877 S. Figueroa St. Los Angeles, CA 90017

Manhattan Beach:

• The Kettle (diner, always open) - 1138 Highland Avenue Manhattan Beach, CA 90266

Resturant Reviews

• Yelp

Getting Away

Transportation

Flights to San Francisco or San Diego can easily be purchased online from SouthWest Airlines or use BookingBuddy to compare prices. Trains and connecting buses on Amtrak or Bus lines such as Greyhound are also options. You can also check the Craigslist Rideshare page or post a request on the CS California Ride Share Group.

Destinations Near Los Angeles

Los Angeles is a great launch pad for your next destination. Orange County is next to Los Angeles and home of Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, and some of the most expensive real estate and coastline in the world. Other places to visit within 200 mile / 350 km is Palm Springs, Coachella Valley and Joshua Tree National Park are east of Los Angeles and can be reached via Highway 10. Towards the northwest, Santa Barbara and Solvang can be reached via Pacific Coastal Highway 1. Also known as Highway 1, it is a famous scenic seaside route that extends into and through The Big Sur. In the southeast, Temecula is a great place to go wine tasting. From there, you can visit the Salton Sea and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, close to San Diego. To reach San Diego directly from Los Angeles, you can drive south for two hours via Highway 5. Tijuana, a small city on the border of Mexico, is also popular with tourists.

Emergency Services

Info-Line(Information & Assistance) 24-hours/day - 7 days/week	1 800 339 6993
Fire/Police/Ambulance (Emergency)	911
Rape Treatment Center – Santa Monica, UCLA Medical Center (24-hour)	310 319 4000
Los Angeles County Disaster Hotline	800 980 4990

Non-Emergency & Advisory Services

Embassies & Consulates

Use the Department of State's website for full listings of all embassies and consulates in the United States. A commercial website offers information on Consulates and Embassies for Los Angeles here but there is no way of knowing how complete or accurate this information may be.

Last-minute Accommodation

Hostels & Hotels

Agencies Unlike small compact cities such as San Francisco, Los Angeles is a large sprawling metropolitan area that blends into surrounding cities and counties. Even by car, it can take two hours to get from one end to the other. When selecting a hostel, check that it's in the area you want to explore.

http://www.twizi.com/losangeleshostels.htm Includes an over all map of where all their hostels are located.

http://www.lahostels.org/ They have hostels in three areas of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, South Bay and Fullerton (Orange County). There also have a "Travel Store" with classes for new travelers, Eurorail and Amtrak passes, and shuttles around the southwest.

http://www.hostels.com/los-angeles/usa

http://www.hostelbookers.com/hostels/usa/los-angeles/

http://www.usahostels.com/hollywood/

Many hostels listed with an agnecy may also have there own website. You may wish to check the individual website to see if the price is any better.

Individual Hostels

Hosteling International Santa Monica Good location in Santa Monica and close to Venice Beach. Lots of shops, pubs and is next to the beach. Third Street Promenade is also close.

The LA Adventurer Not in a prime location but have clean and spacious rooms. Living room, small kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. Dorm options available as well. Free 24-hour shuttle from airport, free wireless. Access to pool and restaurant, including free continental breakfast and afternoon tea. Free champagne and appetizers from 5-6 pm.

Vibe Hotel Situated on Hollywood and Vine, close to Hollywood attractions. Very modern and clean.

Orbit Hotel/Hostel Rooms are not impressive but are typically dorms. Free parking. The staff is friendly and helpful. The location is quite nice, especially for people who travel alone or are more concerned with general safety. Good walk to various destinations. Located at Melrose and Fairfax.

Venice Beach Hotel The location is close to the beach and Venice boardwalk.

Surf City Hostel Prime location but noisy and busy neighborhood espeically during weekends. Artsy atmosphere and sits above a local bar/club. Right next to the beach and the Hermosa Beach Pier. Live music, DJs in the surrounding area.

Orange Manor Hollywood Quiet, great location for Hollywood sightseeing and close to Metro.