meltwaterfalls:
LA is now looking like a very likely destination for us but perhaps I can focus on trying to get to know the city properly
Yeah, I saw your review of Yosemite where you mentioned LA is one of your least favorite cities. I am sorry to hear that! It really is a great city, but it is without a doubt one of the LEAST visitor friendly metro areas in the US. It takes time to "get to know" the city.
You can only truly see the city if you have a car. Secondly, traditionally many cities have a "main" area, LA is really a series of neighborhoods/districts/cities. While crime in LA is down to historic lows, it is easy to accidently wander into a neighborhood that you may not feel comfortable.
Pros:
- Modern Architecture (Wright, Neutra, Greene & Greene, Gehry, Schindler, Naïve Art, Art Deco, Movie Palaces, Spanish Colonial)
- Museums/Galleries (Getty Center, Getty Villa, The Huntington, LACMA, Norton Simon, MOCA)
- Revitalization of Downtown (Art Walk, Summer Concert Series, Rooftop Lounges, Grand Park Events, Coffee Shops)
- Hiking (Griffith Park, Runyon Canyon, Santa Monica Mountains, Eaton Canyon - Angeles National Forest, Vasquez Rocks)
- Beaches/Coastline (Point Dume State Beach - Malibu, Ranchos Palos Verdes)
- Islands (Catalina Island, Channel Islands National Park)
- Food (The diversity of LA makes food a real treat)
Cons:
- Traffic
- Concrete and Pollution (air quality is however the best its been in decades)
- Urban Sprawl
- Metro Rail (Small, but rapidly expanding)
- Summer Tourism Crowds
- Overrated tourist destinations (Hollywood BLVD, Disneyland, Universal Studios, Venice Boardwalk, Santa Monica Pier)
- Parking can be difficult
- City is not walker friendly (at least bike lanes have been installed everywhere)