Los Angeles
One of the most famous cities in the world, everyone dreams
of going to Los Angeles at one time or another. A certain romance is attached to
this city, the "city of angels." Even children on remote islands
thousands of miles away can describe Los Angeles to a certain degree. They will
tell you of glorious beaches, beautiful women, fabulous weather all year long,
and how easy it is to meet real life movie stars. The incredible part is that
this kind of lifestyle is true for many of the city's inhabitants. A region of
tremendous size and magnitude, Los Angeles is a marvelous place to visit. The
variety of activities and opportunities for diversity is practically
unparalleled.
Speaking in relative terms, Los Angeles is a remarkably new
city, a cultural center unlike anywhere else. Los Angeles fascinates historians
because its history is so exciting and easy to track, and because its growth has
been so amazing. The Spanish officially founded Los Angeles in 1781. The area
had been inhabited by Native American tribes prior to that, and was under
Spanish rule until 1821, when they relinquished their power, and the Bear Flag
Republic was then proclaimed in 1846. In 1850 California became the 31st
state of this new Republic, The Santa Fe Railroad finally reached Los Angeles in
1875, and from there the expansion began. However, it wasn't until 1911 that
Los Angeles really started to take off; it was at that time when the first
Hollywood studio was established. Just one year later, there were already 16
motion picture companies located in Hollywood. So began the history of the movie
capital of the world. Since then, Los Angeles has been the pioneering force
behind everything in entertainment and film, in particular.
Los Angeles is a region where you can drive to the mountains
and ski in the morning, then travel to the beach and surf in the afternoon. It
is truly an unbelievable city, with miles of glorious beach, gorgeous mountains,
interesting cultural centers and museums, extraordinary amusement parks, and of
course, plenty of movie studios. The Staples Center, just opened to the public
in 1999, is a state-of-the-art sports and entertainment facility, where the Los
Angeles Lakers, Clippers, and Kings play their respective professional sports
games. Concerts and marvelous events are held here as well, and this is only the
beginning of this diverse haven; a city that has been designed with the intent
to entertain.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a wonderfully scenic region that has vacation opportunities everywhere you look. The dining is splendid, and the shopping and nightlife are abundant. There are a number of high quality stores, and friendly nightclubs and bars are plentiful. One of the most enjoyable spots in the city is the BC Sports Hall of Fame Museum. Here you can observe the history and highlights of athletics in British Columbia, while testing your own might by actually participating in sporting events. The result is a lively afternoon that is sure to capture your mind and heart. Other fine museums exist in the city as well, such as the Museum of Anthropology and the Vancouver Art Gallery.
When you aren't too busy visiting all of the exquisite galleries and museums, you should take some time to notice the intrinsic beauty of the area. The city has some dazzling spots that are amazing no matter what time of the year you may be visiting. The air is fresh and the view out to the sea is inspiring, making for a lovely experience as you stroll along the port. The skyscrapers and new age buildings provide a certain contrast to the sparkling waters and clear skies. The Vancouver Harbour Center in the downtown portion of the city overlooks the beach and the heart of the city, depending on which way you are facing. This rotating landmark demands comparison to the Space Needle in Seattle, except that it is much smaller. Nonetheless, it still provides an opportunity to observe the goings on of this spectacularly unique city.
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