Los Angeles Tourist Trap Tips by marinarena

Tourists galore are here, yet there is much of a local feeling here as well, which is good to experience. There is of course a strong Chinese atmosphere here, but don't think that you will satisify your love of what's "Chinese". Go to China for this! What you see here is Chinese-American or oriental style American version!

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At Least Do This: Do take advanage of shopping (for some things) here. Buy bamboo and other plants and fashionable jewelry, clothes and shoe here of which their clones are often more expensive when buying them in the malls of suburbia. beware of the counterfeit items sold here- that is, if you prefer the authentic brands. Of course, I don't mind getting the Dooney Burke purse here for $30 instead of $300 one at Saks Department Store!

at the historic Angel's Flight rail in downtown, by 4th and Hill streets. This is because since 2001, the short rail trip in the world has been closed, due to an unfortuante fatal accident in that year. I see that some sites do not have this updated information on this landmark, so here I give you the 411.

It's too bad L.A. cannot restore this unique attraction. I mean, leaders can build the Staples Center and hundreds of pricey lofts, why not the Angel's Flight. Oh, the wonders of city progress!

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At Least Do This: Pay your respects at the site, as I do !

Read about the history of the Angel's Flight here:
http://www.westworld.com/~elson/larail/angelsflight.html
Alternative: Go on the Metro Red Line for a 40+ min subway rail, with a stop nearby at Pershing Square.

(OK, do you get the "Lost" connection in the title? If you don't ,forget about it!)

Well, here is a different kind of tourist trap- a place that gives a favorable impression but ends up being false or opposite. Hawaiian Gardens is not the California's version of Hawaii- like how LA's Koreatown is to Korea. In appreance, HG cannot be more further from the paradise of Hawaii. To sum up, HG is a little hell, and I do mean little, as she is the tiniest city of LA county with abour 14,000 residents.

Legend says that the town was named after a drink served at a refreshment stands back in the 1920s. Hehe...some locals would joke that it was probably a cheap drink :-) I wouldn't do that, of course. Being somewhat within my vicinity throughout my life in California, I have been through HG enough to know that it is a dump of a place yet I will admire the humble side of it. You really should not stay here and be a bit more on guard at night here than in other places- that is, if you just happen to be in the area. Though, she has been not extremely dangerous, just know the higher tendencies of trouble here. Still, you may happen to come here if you like to...

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At Least Do This: ...gamble!!

Go to the Hawaiian Gardens Casino to play card games (no slots!),The casino is at 11871 Carson St
Alternative: Go and explore in the bordering city of Long Beach!!

Here's yet another beautiful, trendy outdoor plaza in the Euro style. The Grove is just so pretty but oh so crowded. Well, if you want to do the typical tourist thing or to be seen, come here. It is perhaps the ultimate meeting place on the westside. It is almost always crowded during any part of the day, save Christmas Day perhaps?

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At Least Do This: The shops here are very commercial. If you want a more unique shopping experience, explore a few streets away on Melrose , 3rd or Fairfax Ave.

Officially, the Bev Center is in (West) Los Angeles but I like to consider it Beverly Hills also. This is a better place for shopping if you make a modest living. Definitely it is cheap compared to Rodeo Drive, although there are plenty of high-end stores.

People just love to shop here. I stil get a little excitement when I am in the area. The feeling is really hard to grasp why. Maybe I'm just a shopping junkie :-)

This multiple level mall is a good spot for catching celebrities. On my last visit, I saw a TV star of the 80s, Mackensie Phillips who was on One Day at a Time. She was right by me eating with, presumeably, her mother.

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Alternative: If the Beverly Center is too much for you go across the street and shop the the Beverly Connection a lesser mall but nevertheless worth spending time.