Los Angeles Hotels

1. If you want to rub elbows with the stars, head to Madame Tussauds Hollywood. As the top wax museum in town, Madame Tussauds lets you see all kinds of celebrities – without having to camp out with the paparazzi!

2. But if you do want a dose of reality, walk down to the famed Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on the Hollywood Walk of Fame where you can see the signatures, footprints and handprints of celebrities old and new and even get up close and personal with celebrity lookalikes!

3. Of course, no trip to Tinsel town would be complete without checking out the Hollywood sign. You can even hike up to the top to get an unforgettable view of the city!

4. For some fun in the sun, head to Venice Beach. There you can surf, sunbathe, and check out an amazing array of people going by.

5. Whether you’re with the kids or not, a trip to Disneyland is also a must. Located in Anaheim – about 30 miles from Los Angeles – you can hang out with Mickey and all his friends. Remember, there’s a reason they call it the “happiest place on earth"!

Los Angeles is a great holiday spot for families and kids of all ages.

Disneyland: It’s hard to deny the appeal of this world-class theme park. Your family will be transported into an alternate universe where every detail has been engineered to help you lose yourself in the illusion. Costumed greeters who never break character, beautifully manicured lawns and gardens, pastel coloured sidewalks, music everywhere, great live shows, some of the world’s best thrill rides, and more - this whimsical world is hard to resist.

Universal Studios: Older kids love the action and drama of Universal Studios, not to mention the tie-ins to some of their favourite television shows and movies like King Kong, Spongebob, Shrek, Terminator, Curious George, and The Simpsons. You can also take a studio tour, go shopping, or catch a live show or 3D film.

Santa Monica: For a change of pace, head to the Santa Monica Pier. The quaint, old-fashioned boardwalk overlooking the Pacific features more laid-back attractions like an antique carousel, a solar-powered Ferris wheel, and a hands-on aquarium.

L.A.’s food scene varies widely from super-trendy upscale eateries favoured by the stars to low-key dives and cafes preferred by the locals. One of the hottest trends on the Los Angeles culinary landscape, though, is the food truck.

The once-humble “roach coach" has enjoyed a major transformation and renaissance in recent years. No longer an easy way to get a cheap - though often questionable - meal, the food trucks in L.A. now serve up an impressive array of gourmet snacks and bargain eats. There are nearly 200 trucks patrolling the streets of the city.

Kogi is a popular spot for Korean-Mexican fusion cuisine, offering grilled Korean meats in traditional Mexican dishes like tacos and burritos. Nomnom serves up Vietnamese roast pork sandwiches, while Ta Bom presents Brazilian specialties. For delicious barbecue food, try to find one of Barbie’s Q trucks, or seek out the latest location of the Grilled Cheese Truck for some inventive versions of the classic toasted sandwich.

Food trucks tend to cluster around office buildings in downtown Los Angeles or outside popular nightspots in hip neighbourhoods like Silver Lake and Venice Beach. You can also check the web for a listing of current food truck locations or just ask around - the locals will know where the best on-the-go eateries are parked.

Hollywood is so much more than the glitz and glamour of the movies. You’ll find plenty of highbrow culture and entertainment in the City of Angels.

The Museum of Contemporary Art features fantastic special exhibits and a permanent collection with works from nearly every major international artist from the 1940s to today. Visit the main exhibit space or one of its branches: the Geffen Contemporary in Little Tokyo or the MoCA Pacific Design Centre in West Hollywood.

The Getty Centre is a triple-threat, offering visitors a brilliant collection of art, fantastic architecture by Richard Meier, and lovely seasonal gardens by Robert Irwin. On clear days you can see gorgeous city and Pacific views.

One of Los Angeles’ most unique cultural sites is the Heritage Square Museum. Comprised of eight beautifully restored Victorian homes, visitors can tour the grounds or take park in guided tours of the home’s interiors on the weekends.

Los Angeles is home to a number of impressive theatres – obviously - but one of the most spectacular is the Los Angeles Theatre. Built in 1931, the structure has a soaring lobby, a glittering hall of mirrors, a three-tiered fountain, crystal chandeliers, and a vast central staircase leading to the opulent auditorium where special screenings and events are still held.

The Hollywood Bowl is a famous amphitheatre where the Los Angeles Philharmonic has its summer home. You can also catch plenty of major rock, blues, pop, and jazz acts here. Alcohol is allowed at the popular pre-show picnics.

The natural beauty of Los Angeles and the surrounding area is unquestionable. With mountains, forests, parks, and the ocean so close by, one of the best ways to escape the grit of the city is to head outdoors to soak up that famed California sun.

At Sand Dune Park, you’ll get a great workout as you walk or run the 100-foot sand dunes. The park is hidden in a residential neighbourhood near the intersection of Rosecrans Avenue and Highland Avenue. Not for the faint of heart, the dunes are steeper than they look so be prepared to work up a sweat.

The popular Canal Walk is located north-east of the Washington Boulevard and Pacific Avenue intersection. Escape the roar of L.A. traffic and stroll down the tree-lined streets overlooking Venice’s old canals. You’ll spot ivy-covered bungalows, dog-walkers, surfers, families, and active-minded locals along the terribly sweet walkways and bridges.

Small yet rugged, Will Rogers’ State Park stretches across ranch land once owned by Hollywood’s most famous cowboy, Will Rogers. The Oklahoma-born humorist, movie star and radio personality traded in his Beverly Hills estate for this sprawling ranch in the late 1920s and lived here until his tragic death in 1935. The 31-room ranch house has been extensively renovated, and guided tours offer exclusive glimpses of Rogers’ impressive collection of Native American and traditional Western artefacts.

Because it’s one of the world’s biggest cities, there are countless Los Angeles hotels, in every corner of the city. You can get everything from 5-star luxury to discounted cheap Los Angeles hotels. If you have a bigger budget, opt for Los Angeles hotels on the beach, or even in Beverly Hills. If you’re looking for a good deal, the downtown area has plenty of them.