Hub and spoke: Southern California

Greater Los Angeles is larger than life and it’s packed with wondrous places to explore, sights to see and interesting people to rub elbows with. Its five-county area covers 34,149 square miles, has 88 incorporated cities and is home to one of the world’s most culturally diverse populations. The region’s landscape reaches from posh desert oases and alpine recreation areas to the Pacific Coast with its 81 miles of pristine beaches. The climate is ideal throughout the year and many of the state’s and country’ most familiar icons are found here.

Los Angeles is the ideal destination for a hub and spoke itinerary. There are 27
major freeways which crisscross the region and travel over 600 miles. By selecting a favorite home base, groups can easily take daily excursions that are
within reasonable driving distances and be able to spend a full day sailing to
Catalina Island, golfing in Palm Springs, “star”-gazing in Hollywood or culture
shopping at NOHO.

Check out the neighborhoods of Los Angeles. The area is divided into seven
large districts that encompass smaller neighborhoods. Each has its own distinctive personality, icons, attractions, areas of interest, accommodations, dining and shopping options. Follow the special interests of your travelers and scope out each of the districts for the right combination of itinerary features.

If it is a group’s first visit to the area, the places that should be a must are a trip to the beach, a tour of a film studio, sightseeing in the star’s homes neighborhoods, a visit to some of the region’s art museums and high profile area attractions.

Downtown: This is the heart of Los Angeles and the center of the region’s commerce, city and country government and historic roots. It is also a lively theater, entertainment and dining center, and a hub for shopping, ranging from
boutique to retail centers.Also downtown are the LA fashion district, Flower Market and Grand Central Market.

Hollywood: This district has “star power” and is a center for art and design. The
film industry is celebrated at the Hollywood & Highland Entertainment Complex, home of the Academy Awards. There are the classic Egyptian and Grauman’s Chinese Theaters, the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and the Hollywood Entertainment Museum. Also here are the Sunset Strip, Avenues of Art and Design which include the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Pacific Design
Center and more than 30 art galleries.

Beach Cities: The beach area begins in the Northwest at Malibu, site of the recently re-opened Getty Villa Museum. South on the Pacific Coast Highway are
more than twenty communities, each having its own distinctive personality
and style. Some popular stops are Santa Monica for a walk on the pier and
a ride on its historic carrousel and to browse the Third Street Promenade.
Neighboring Venice’s boardwalk is great place for a stroll and to watch body
builders in training, one of that city’s most well-known icons. At the southern
end of the beach district is Long Beach, the Queen Mary and Aquarium of the
Pacific. In neighboring Orange County is the artist community of Laguna Beach,
host of the annual Laguna Festival of the Arts and Pageant of the Masters (July 5-Sept. 1) and the Sawdust Festival (June 30-Sept. 3).

Westside: Many of LA’s most exclusive residences are here, as well as several
ethnic communities including Korea Town, Thai Town and a hub for African-
American culture. In this district you find the Museum of Tolerance, CBS studios
filmings, the historic Farmers Market, Peterson Auto Museum, LA County Art
Museum and the La Brea Tar Pits. Westwood is home to UCLA and the
Armand Hammer Museum of Art and Culture and in Brentwood is the 110-
acre Getty Center and the Skirball Cultural Center.

San Fernando Valley: The roots of many culture trends hail from the valley. NOHO ArtsCenter features theater plus visual, dance, music TV, film and literary
arts. There are 20 theater companies located here as well as a plethora of
dining options and art galleries. Other highlights in the Valley are Universal
Studios Hollywood and Universal Citywalk. It is also the main gateway to
Griffith Park and the LA Zoo and Botanical Gardens and the Autry
National Center with its Museum of the American West and the Southwest
Museum of the American Indian. Other options include antique shopping in
Ventura and visiting the Ronald Regan Library in Simi Valley.

San Gabriel Valley: This area is packed with gracious gardens, grand houses
and art museums. Some of the mustsee attractions include the Huntington
Library’s art collections and botanical gardens, Descanso Gardens, the historic
San Gabriel Mission District, Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic
Garden, Norton Simon Museum and the Gamble House, one of the nation’s finest
examples of American Arts and Crafts

Neighboring Regions: To the south is Anaheim, where you find Disneyland and Buena Park with Knott’s Berry Farm, Movieland Wax Museum and several dinner theaters. To the east is Yorba Linda where the Richard Nixon Library &
Birthplace is located and further south is Temecula, greater Los Angeles’ wine region. East of the San Gabriel Valley is Riverside with its Mission Inn, and further along is the Coachella Valley, home to the Palm Springs desert communities. Two popular activities here are a ride on the Palm Spring
Aerial Tramway and attending a performance of the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies.

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Courtesy of leisuregrouptravel