Los Angeles travel guide — Los Angeles tourism and travel information

Los Angeles travel guide

about Los Angeles

The City of Los Angeles is a large coastal metropolis in Southern California in the western United States. The city is the county seat of Los Angeles County. Los Angeles is the largest city in California, and the second most populous city in the United States, with a population of 3,694,820 as of the 2000 census. A July 1, 2002, Census estimate shows the city's population at 3,798,981.

Initially founded on September 4, 1781, as part of New Spain, the settlement was named by its Franciscan founders as El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula ("the town of Our Lady, Queen of the Angels at the Little Portion). The "little portion" referred to the tiny property (or porziuncola in Italian) on which St. Francis of Assisi lived in the 13th century in a ruined chapel. After St. Francis' death, the chapel became a place of pilgrimage with a fresco being painted on the wall behind the altar depicting the Virgin Mary surrounded by angels. Hence the chapel became known as "Saint Mary of the Angels at the Little Portion" , and the Californian settlement took its name from that original Franciscan chapel.

Los Angeles was incorporated as a city in the U.S. state of California on April 4, 1850.

The Los Angeles metropolitan area (frequently termed the "Southland") consists of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties, and is home to more than sixteen million people of diverse ethnic and economic backgrounds. The Greater Los Angeles area is sometimes inaccurately referred to as Southern California, but geographically that term more properly includes both the Los Angeles metroplex and Imperial, Kern, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

Los Angeles geography

The city is situated in a semitropical Mediterranean climate zone.

L.A. has a total area of 472.08 square miles. The extreme north-south distance is 44 miles, the extreme east-west distance is 29 miles, and the length of the city boundary is 342 miles.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1,290.6 km² (498.3 mi²). 1,214.9 km² (469.1 mi²) of it is land and 75.7 km² (29.2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 5.86% water.

The highest point in Los Angeles is Sister Elsie Peak, 5,080 feet at the far reaches of the northeastern San Fernando Valley, part of Mt. Lukens. The city is mostly at sea level elevation or a few feet above.

The major waterway of Los Angeles is the Los Angeles River, and water rights and battles have been a major part of the city's history.

Los Angeles history

The history includes earthquakes, riots, mudslides, movie stars, oil rigs, aerospace pioneers, surfers, politicians and palm trees.

Near cities to Los Angeles

• Glendale travel guide 11 km
• Inglewood travel guide 13 km
• Beverly Hills travel guide 14 km
• Pasadena travel guide 14 km
• Burbank travel guide 16 km
• Downey travel guide 17 km
• Compton travel guide 17 km
• El Monte travel guide 20 km
• Paramount travel guide 20 km
• Whittier travel guide 21 km

Near webcams to Los Angeles

• Los Angeles webcam 1.5 km
• Los Angeles - Skyline webcam 1.5 km
• Hollywood webcam 7.2 km
• Hollywood webcam 8.3 km
• Hollywood webcam 8.3 km
• Los Angeles - 7th & Broadway Avenue webcam 15 km
• Santa Monica webcam 22 km
• Mount Wilson Observatory webcam 26 km
• Laguna Beach webcam 74 km
• Tehachapi - RailCam webcam 120 km

back to top

Los Angeles travel services

cheap flights to Los Angeles

• book cheap flights to Los Angeles »
• book cheap flights to USA »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of four main cheap airline tickets and cheap flights online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap airline tickets Los Angeles, cheap flights Los Angeles, also available cheap airline tickets to USA and to the whole world. Up to date cheap flights Los Angeles deals also available.

cheap Los Angeles hotels

• book cheap hotels to Los Angeles »
• book cheap hotels to USA »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap hotels and accommodation online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap hotels in Los Angeles, USA hotel guide and cheap hotels and accommodation in lot of other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Los Angeles hotel deals and discount accommodation tips also available.

cheap Los Angeles vacations

• book Los Angeles vacations »
• book USA vacations »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main cheap vacations online booking systems. We are happy to offer cheap vacations in Los Angeles, USA vacation rentals and cheap vacations in lot of other destinations world-wide. Up to date Los Angeles vacation deals also available.

cheap car rentals in Los Angeles

• book cheap car rental in Los Angeles »
• book cheap car rentals in USA »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of main car rentals online booking systems. We are happy to offer car rentals in Los Angeles, car hire in USA and cheap car rental in lot other world-wide destinations. Up to date cheap Los Angeles car hire deals also available.

Los Angeles travel insurance

• Los Angeles cheap travel insurance »
• cheap travel insurance for USA »

City Travel Guide is exclusive partner of Essential Travel Ltd., leading online travel insurance company, we can offer you health travel insurance for Los Angeles, accident health Los Angeles travel insurance, all using our online Los Angeles travel insurance form. We also offer travel insurance for other cities in USA. This offer is available for UK residents only.

Los Angeles real estate

• Los Angeles real estate guide »
• real estate listings in USA »

City Travel Guide comes with Los Angeles real estate guide with several tips on home valuation, realtors comparison, secrets on finding the "right" home, loans guide and other helpful real estate advices. Our partners also maintain Los Angeles property for sale and rental listings, real estate laws and reviews. We will try to help you with buying property in USA, choosing real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Los Angeles.

back to top

Los Angeles travel books

Los Angeles travel guide books

• Los Angeles travel guide books »
• USA travel guide books »

Los Angeles maps and atlases

• Los Angeles maps and atlases »
• USA maps and atlases »

back to top