Los Angeles is a huge city with a population of over 10 million people. Visitors may be surprised at the city's sprawl, which spreads over 1,200 square kilometers. As a result, the best way to see Los Angeles is by car. There are some beautiful areas in Los Angeles and each one has something unique to offer. The beach areas have some nice bike paths and cute café's for people watching, while you can also see how the rich and famous live by driving through the ritzy neighborhoods of Beverly Hills. Originally just a dry desert city, the discovery of gold, followed by oil, the addition of an aqueduct to provide drinking water, and finally the influence of Hollywood on putting LA on the map, all played a part in making the city the large, bustling, congested, engaging, unique place that it is today.

Highlights of Los Angeles

Beverly Hills
Disneyland
Getty Center
Hollywood
Santa Monica Pier
Beaches of Malibu

Historical Sites

Disneyland
While many may not consider Disneyland a historical site, the fact is, this particular Disneyland was the original, opened by Walt Disney in1955 after only 12 months of construction. With a desire to make a place where "dreams could come true" Walt Disney designed different areas to the park which included Tomorrowland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Adventureland with a Main Street designed after a typical street found at the turn of the 19th Century. While this Disneyland may not be as grand as some other Disney locations (such as Disney World in Florida), it's still a fun place to visit for its amusement park rides and themed shows. The best time to go is in the evenings when the kids have all gone home and the lines are shorter. The only problem is that once you're there, you'll wish you had more time!

Getty Center
Covering 110 acres, The Getty Center is located in the Santa Monica Mountains and offers a wide variety of paintings, beautiful architecture, ever-changing garden designs, and some breathtaking views of Los Angeles and the ocean. Some of the artwork on display includes paintings by Van Gogh, Claude Monet, Rembrandt and Titian. The best part of all is that entry to the grounds and museum is free.

Hollywood
While this is probably the most famous spot in Los Angeles, it may also be one of the most disappointing. While you can see the trademark Hollywood sign on the hills above and have fun looking at the ‘walk of fame' bronze stars on the sidewalk below, there really isn't much else to see or do here. While today's Hollywood isn't as important as it once was to those in the movie world, it still symbolizes the glitz and glamour of that age. However, be prepared for the fact that glitz and glamour are not the first words that are likely to come to mind when you walk the area today. It's still an interesting place to visit though, if only to see for yourself what Hollywood is really like.

Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica is probably best known for its Pier, which was built between 1909 and 1916 and is the oldest pleasure pier on the West Coast. There are some excellent seafood restaurants on the Pier as well as a classic 1920's carousel. The Third St. Promenade in Santa Monica is a great place to stroll through as there are some nice bars and cafes, as well as movie theaters. This makes a nice afternoon stop, and if there is time, there are some modern art museums in the area that are worth visiting.

Activities

Beverly Hills
For those interested in driving by some of the homes of the rich and famous, Beverly Hills is the place you will want to go. Street corner vendors will actually provide you with a map showing you where the "Stars" live, so that you will know exactly what houses to stare at as you drive or walk through the streets of Beverly Hills. Once you are there, you will understand why it is known as a "city within a city" as the congested highways and city streets are suddenly replaced by pristine neighborhoods with impressive mansions, high-end shops, and beautifully manicured lawns. Don't miss a visit to Rodeo Drive while you're there, but don't plan on shopping unless you feel like spending a small fortune!

Museum of Tolerance
The Museum of Tolerance is a "high tech, hands-on experiential museum that focuses on two central themes through unique interactive exhibits: the dynamics of racism and prejudice in America and the history of the Holocaust - the ultimate example of man's inhumanity to man". The interactive nature of the museum makes it a truly unique and interesting way to confront issues such as bigotry and racism that still exist today. Additional information may be found at the Museum's website. ISE Cardholders will receive a discounted entrance price of $5.50.

Museum of Neon Art
This is a unique Museum that contains art which utilizes neon or electric light. Additional information may be found at the following website: www.neonmona.org. There is a special admission price of $3.50 for those with an ISE Card.

Malibu
Malibu has long been famous for its surf and its beautiful 27 miles of coastline. The Santa Monica Mountains provide spectacular views and many famous people such as Leonardo DiCaprio, Tom Hanks, and Sting have bought homes in the area. Some of the best beaches in Malibu include Las Tunas, Surf-Rider, Point Dume and Zuma. This is a great place to visit if you are interested in getting away to a more tranquil spot.

Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios is the world's largest movie studio. For those interested in getting a close-up tour of some of the sets or props from their favorite movies such as "Back to the Future", "Jaws" or "Psycho", Universal Studios Hollywood has a fun Studio tour which takes you through the area with a few thrilling surprises along the way! Universal Studios also has some other fun attractions to offer visitors including some thrilling theme rides and a fantastic special-effects show where "audience participation" takes on a whole new meaning.

Venice Beach
This area of Los Angeles is a great place to visit for some great people watching. Along the wide, ocean-front sidewalk, there are jugglers, musicians, joggers, roller-skaters, and just about anybody or anything else you could possibly imagine. The beach atmosphere adds to its appeal and it's a nice place to wander through as there are also some nice shops in the area.

Places to Stay

Best Western
Information about Best Western hotels in Los Angeles may be found at: www.bestwestern.com. ISE Cardholders will receive 10-15% off of the rack rate at all Best Western Hotels. In addition to showing an ISE Card, each Best Western Hotel requires that cardholders mention the corporate ID number, 00140160, in order to obtain the discounted rate.

Hostels
There are a wide variety of places to stay in Los Angeles. To search for hostels online with full descriptions, photos and availability features, please click here. The $2 reservation fee will be waived when booking through this site.

Places to Eat

Shakey's Pizza Restaurant
1114 Gayley Avenue
Phone: 310-824-4111
ISE Cardholders will receive 30% off of certain menu items

Johnny Rockets
7507 Melrose Ave.
Phone: 323-651-3361
A great place for a burger.
Those with an ISE Card will receive 20% off

Melrose Cantina
7164 Melrose Ave.
Phone: 323-937-7788
ISE Cardholders receive a 20% discount

Thai Bamboo
11755 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 70
Phone: 310-473-0047
For those in the mood for Thai….
10% off for those with an ISE Card

Getting Around

Walking
Los Angeles is not a city for walkers; however, there are a few places that are a little more pedestrian-friendly such as some parts of Downtown LA, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and central Hollywood. Of course, most all of the beaches can be walked or biked as there are wide sidewalks and bike paths available.

Car
While there are a wide variety of rental car agencies in LA (especially at LAX), here are two that offer a discount to ISE Cardholders:

Galaxy Rent-a-Car
ISE Cardholders receive 10% off of the rental rate (must be at least 18 years old).

Los Angeles Rent-a-Car
Located at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). This company provides a wide variety of rental vehicle options. Additional information may be found at their website. ISE Cardholders receive 15% off of rental charges.

Bus
Los Angeles has four bus operators: The Big Blue Bus serves the Western LA area, The Culver City Bus services Culver City and the West side, DASH, a minibus that runs four routes through the Downtown area, and MTA, which covers most of the city routes.

Shuttle Bus
If you fly into LAX, there are free shuttle buses between terminals that will eventually take you to the LAX Transit Center. Once at the Center, you can catch one of the city buses to take you downtown. There are also private shuttle buses available that will take you directly to your hotel.

Taxi
LA taxi's can be expensive as the distances to get from one place to another can be quite far and the traffic can be very slow at times. For those interested in hiring a taxi, it's best if you call for one as they are not accustomed to stopping for people in the street. However, there are usually cabs lined-up at hotels, bus stations, train stations or airports if you can't find a phone.

Train
The "Metro Rail" trains run between Redondo Beach and Norwalk, Downtown LA and Long Beach, and between Union Station and Western Avenue.

Moving On

Los Angeles is serviced by a variety of airports, the biggest of which is the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The nearby domestic airports include Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport (BUR), Long Beach Airport (LGB), John Wayne Airport (SNA) and Ontario International Airport (ONT). There is a departure tax, but it is included in the price of your airline ticket.

Car
While there are a wide variety of rental car agencies in LA (especially at LAX), here are two that offer a discount to ISE Cardholders:

Galaxy Rent-a-Car
ISE Cardholders receive 10% off of the rental rate (must be at least 18 years old).

Bus
Since Greyhound is the only nationwide bus company in the US, it is probably the best option for those planning on traveling out of LA by bus. The main depot is east of the Downtown area, just south of Little Tokyo. It has been said that the area where the station is located is a bit rough, but the station is supposedly safe inside. Additional LA bus stations can be found in Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Anaheim. ISE Cardholders that keep their Greyhound bus receipts will be reimbursed 10% off the ticket price (walk-up tickets only). Receipts must be sent to ISE.

Taxi
Taxis are convenient but expensive. Usually there is a line of taxis at the airport if you are interested in this option.

Train
For those interested in leaving by train, Amtrak has routes that run north and south along the California coast as well as to destinations across the US from LA. Trains can be caught at Union Station in Downtown Los Angeles. ISE Cardholders will receive a discount of 15% off of their Amtrak ticket by calling Amtrak at 1-800-835-8725 (in the US) to make their reservation and then calling 1- 800-255-8000 to give their reservation number and information to ISE to receive a rebate check.

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