I’d been to L.A. once before as a child, and have vague but happy memories of riding trams near a beach, going on rides in Disneyland, and putting my hands in Shirley Temple’s handprints at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (I used to watch Bright Eyes on repeat, and must have driven my parents up the wall with my renditions of The Good Ship Lollipop). So when my husband suggested we move to L.A., I didn’t feel the need to do huge amounts of research. I’ve been to L.A., I thought. I know what to expect! I was wrong. Here are five things I wish I’d known before I got here, so you don’t spend your first few days here scrambling to get up to speed:
1. There Is More to L.A. Than The City of Los Angeles
L.A. is shorthand for both the City of Los Angeles and the County of Los Angeles, so it’s important to know which one we’re talking about. The County of L.A. is BIG. I really can’t emphasize this enough. My childhood memories of trams, Disneyland, and the walk of fame clearly neglected to include the long car rides we had to make to get to the various attractions. The County has a population of almost 10 million, an area of 4,083 square miles, and is home to 88 incorporated cities. These include the City of Los Angeles, the beach cities such as Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach, valley cities like Burbank and San Fernando, and, of course, West Hollywood. If you are planning a trip spanning attractions in multiple cities, you’re probably going to need a car. Although…
2. You Don’t Have to Drive Everywhere
“Walkin’ in L.A.,”
“Walkin’ in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.”
“Walking in L.A.” by the band Missing Persons drummed this chorus into the general consciousness in 1982, and L.A. has struggled to shrug off this reputation ever since. Contrary to the lyrics, people do walk in L.A. – and it’s actually very pleasant, even when you’re not on one of the beach-side boardwalks. Walking tours abound both in downtown L.A. and in the other cities. I have a spot booked on Vintage Venice Tours, and would recommend hunting out walking trails wherever you end up. Quite a number of L.A. streets are cyclist-friendly, too. I cycle to work most days from Marina Del Rey to Santa Monica, and there are bike lanes on even the most intimidating of roads. Cars tend to give cyclists a wide berth, and I’ve seen both rollerbladers and skateboardists make use of the road (though that is certainly not for the faint-hearted!) Bicycle and rollerblade rental shops are everywhere, particularly near the coast – so if you don’t have too far to go, and aren’t in any rush, bite the bullet and trade your four-wheels for two! Just remember to wear a helmet.
3. If You Do Need to Drive, Plan Ahead
Parking in LA can be hard to find, and confusing when you find it. Luckily, the websites of the local transport authorities offer lists and maps of public parking, and often prices as well, and apps like ParkMe help you find parking on the go. Make sure you look out for signs which tell you when you can park, and for how long – and pay attention to the color of the curb you’re parking next to. Never park next to a red curb – towing is not just an empty threat!
4. People Are Friendlier Than You Think
Los Angelenos get a lot of bad press (ranked last in terms of friendliness in a 2011 survey), but much of it is undeserved. Like most other city dwellers, the residents of LA lead busy lives, so may not go out of their way to be friendly – but smiles at strangers are often returned, and requests for help are rarely turned down. Complimenting their dog (and there often is at least one dog) is a guaranteed ice-breaker, and once they get talking, the locals are almost unfailingly more than happy to tell you where best watering-holes and food places are. Many Los Angelenos are relatively new arrivals themselves, so go on, talk to strangers – they may be less strange than you expect!
5. There Really Is Something For Everyone, So Do Some Research
Whether you plan to hit up the most visited tourist attractions, spend time surfing and enjoying the beach, go hiking, or increase your cultural capital, LA has it all: Disneyland and Hollywood, Venice Beach and Manhattan Beach, Solstice Canyon and Topanga State Park, the Getty Museum and the Huntington Library… work out what you would like to do, and plan an itinerary. Most visitor attractions have their own website, with suggestions of how long you might like to spend there, and Google Maps is a great way of working out how long it will take to get between attractions.
Los Angeles has a mind-boggling amount of things to offer, so do your research, don’t be afraid to go off the beaten path, and you’ll have an amazing time!
This is a guest post sent in from LA Transplant, Valerie Everington who moved to Los Angeles with her husband.
What lessons did you learn during your time in L.A.? Share your experience in the comments section below!
