"Los Angeles" a Los Angeles Travel Page by CubsIn4

As my plane approached LAX, I was struck as I looked out my window by how familiar it all looked. This is a pretty bizarre feeling to have about a city you've never been to before. But this city has been featured in photos, TV shows and movies so often that it sometimes feels like you've seen it before even if you're a first-time visitor.
Of course, once you start to look around you realize that it isn't all that familiar at all. Love it or hate it, there's simply no place like it. For one thing, it defies the typical idea most of us have of a big city. Being a frequent visitor to both Chicago and New York, my idea of a big city consists of bustling sidewalks, supertall buildings, narrow streets and a generally fast-paced way of life. LA is none of these things. It is completely laid back; its streets are huge, its sidewalks virtually empty-in short, I never felt like I was in a huge city.
If you come to LA expecting it to be a certain way, you're bound to be disappointed. But if you come with an open mind, you'll end up with a much better understanding of the area. I can't promise you'll love it (as I did), but I can guarrantee you'll never visit another city like it.