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2 0 1 5 T R A V E L G U I D E T O C A L I F O R N I A 103 » The Music Center Celebrating its 50 th anniversary, this 22-acre, world-class performing arts center in downtown Los Angeles includes the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Mark Taper Forum and Ahmanson Theater. Take free docent-led tours of all four venues. During the summer, dance, drum or sing with locals at one of the many free events in The Music Center. › musiccenter.org » Venice Boardwalk Hang out with surfers, skateboarders, body builders, street basketball players, buskers, fortune-tellers and artists at the Venice boardwalk on Ocean Front Walk, a 1.5-mile pedestrian-only promenade. Don't miss the Venice Public Art Walls featuring graffiti art on the sand, west of the bike path between Windward Street and Market Street. › venicebeach.com › veniceartwalls.com » Olvera Street Browse lucha libre (Mexican wrestling) masks, Day of the Dead figurines, piñatas and other souvenirs in this block-long Mexican mar- ketplace. Located in Los Angeles Plaza Historic District, this section of LA was the town center during the colonial era under Spanish and Mexican rule through most of the 19 th century. Many vendors are the descendants of the original merchants in this marketplace that was established in 1930 to preserve and bring back "old Los Angeles" and its customs. Try a churro from Mr. Churro's or a taco amidst the street stalls and old structures. › olvera-street.com » West Hollywood Design District Anchored by the Pacific Design Center, this area is a great place to celebrity-watch at favorite power-lunch spots to the stars and a shopping mecca for interiors and top fashions such as Balenciaga, Christian Louboutin and Rag & Bone. This art, design, beauty and fashion destination includes Melrose Avenue, Robertson Boulevard and Beverly Boulevard. › westhollywooddesigndistrict.com » Getty Museums in LA and Malibu Prepare to be as awestruck by the views as by the treasures within the museums. The Getty Center in Los Angeles houses mostly European and American art, whereas the Getty Villa in Malibu focuses on arts and cultures of ancient Greece, Rome and Etruria. › getty.edu/visit PLAYING ON THE BEACH by the Ferris wheel at Santa Monica Pier, above; Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, opposite. The entertainment industry is an integral part of the local economy, annu- ally contributing $47 billion to the region. For decades, the name Holly- wood has been synonymous with the movie business, but today, most studios have moved into neighboring suburbs such as Burbank and Culver City. Some of the better-known areas in LA County aren't even cities but rather dis- tricts or neighborhoods within Los Angeles, such as Hollywood, Silver Lake and Venice. In contrast, Beverly Hills, home to the most expensive residences in the world, and West Hollywood, a diverse mélange of gays, Russians and musicians, are cities but completely sur- rounded by the city of Los Angeles. Seventy miles of beaches run along LA County's southwest border. Malibu, an exclusive seaside community, has some of the most beautiful beaches in the area. To the north of the city of LA, hikers and mountain climbers can explore trails in the Santa Monica Mountains. To the east, the San Gabriel Mountains rise up to more than 10,000 feet above sea level. City & Town Los Angeles, the second largest city in the nation, dominates the county. Writer Dorothy Parker once quipped, "Los Angeles is 72 suburbs in search of a city." Now, well over 100 neighborhoods in LA form a rich cultural stew. Meander around downtown LA's Chinatown, Little Tokyo, the Art and Fashion Districts, the Latino enclaves around Echo Park, Hollywood's Laurel Canyon, Little Armenia, Thai Town or Melrose District where hipsters shop. When in LA, do as the celebs do and start the day in downward dog at Bryan Kest's Power Yoga studio in Santa Monica. Go shopping at Fred Segal, an LA institution known for cult beauty and makeup brands. Need an outfit for an awards show? Head over to Decades on Melrose Avenue, a couture vintage store where many stylists choose red-carpet gowns for their star clients. Hungry? Eat at The Ivy, a Beverly Hills institution known for its casual chic atmosphere and the steady flow of celebrities lunching there. Or chow down on a Chili dog at Pink's in Hollywood. MUST DO SEE, »