The big thing with the first rain is that all the driving surfaces, which have been building up oil and tire rubber for months without being rinsed away, suddenly gets moist and really slick.
Yah. Typical conversation with a tourist: "How far is it to X?" "About 2 hours." "Why are you telling me a time? I want to know the distance to X!" "Why do you want to know the distance to X?" "So I can figure out how long it will take to get there." "I already told you how long it will take. About 2 hours." "Yes yes. But what is the _distance_ ?" "About 20 miles." "Let's see, that is 30 KM. That will only take 30 minutes!" "No. You are in Los Angeles. It will take two hours."
Instead of LAX, fly into the Burbank, or John Wayne Orange County or Long Beach or my favorite, Ontario International airports. All much smaller and much more manageable and better experience than flying into or out of LAX.
Thinking about going to L.A. for a month, but didn't know was it as bad as portrait in the media, i.e. need to show vacine card to eat at restaurants and go into businesses in LA. is it as bad as the news report or should I be good. Anything you can tell me is a bonus.
@@kingvadervlog8280 It's not bad at all. There is just a type of person out there that has a giant boner for hating on LA. Most of them have never actually stepped foot in California, let alone LA. Even though I don't live there any more, we would make 1-3 trips a year down there to visit our old haunts, friends and family, and we never have any issues. People just get hung up on rumors and anecdotes. As far as the vaccine goes, you should just get it as you are 97 times more likely to die of covid without it. My wife is a hospice RN, and every single person that comes in with covid bad enough for her to be seeing them is unvaccinated.
Yeah I can say LAX is the cheapest if only option I have when I fly into L.A. despite the fact Burbank is a much more enjoyable experience and significantly closer to where I normally visit in L.A. most cities in the U.S. outside of more regional cities and major cities like New York, Dallas Miami only fly into LAX.
I visited a friend in LA once and yes, a drizzle is a freakout situation because since it never rains, engine oil on the streets and freeways builds up over time. Once a drop of water falls, it renders extremely slippery conditions that drivers aren't used to.
LA traffic is great training for patience. Memphis traffic is great training for dealing with real road rage. Portland (OR) is great for realizing that traffic doesn't necessarily need to be insane. The NJ turnpike is great training for war.
LA traffic just seems especially bad because there aren't a whole lot off alternatives in terms of both modes of transport and routes and the city is quite spread out, so it can feel like your wasting your life in traffic
Oh and . . . if you haven't had rain in a really really long time, the oil builds up on the asphalt. Then when the rain comes . . . it feels like you're driving on ice.
@@regan.8077 They exist only in the fever dreams of someone feeding from the trough of Fox News propaganda. I lived in LA off and on for half my life and never saw anything like that outside of two blocks of Skidrow. So unless she is moving to Skidrow, she'll be fine.
LA doesn’t say how many miles away something is. We say how many HOURS away something is. Because 10 miles away in any direction can vary drastically in time to get there.
This doesn't make sense. LA is the easiest city in the world to navigate through. Everything is on a cardinal direction grid, and the mountains are due north to orientate you. The only reason you wouldn't want to stick to the grid is to avoid certain neighborhoods.
Mark, you are spot on about all of these. The only exception, in my experience, is LAX. I've never found it difficult to get on the right bus to go to the parking lots or the rental car places. A person just has to ask the Information Desk at the airport and they will guide you to the right location to catch the bus you need.
I feel bad for any tourist who comes here in June. 9 times out of 10 we have "june gloom" it's ugly all month and then some! I would say best time to come is Jan-March. We have the most beautiful winters! Not a cloud in the sky right now!
On the East Coast, ocean currents bring warm water up from the Gulf of Mexico. But in California, the same ocean currents bring cold water straight down from Alaska. Think about it.
Water temp also doesn’t change easily. Makes a big difference whether it’s in summer or winter. If it’s a sunny 80 degree in January, water will still be frigid
Did you get the chance to get stuck in rush hour traffic? There's normal traffic around like noon and then there's the clusterfucks in the morning and in the afternoon/night - both those rush hours last for HOURS.
I grew up in LA County and moved out of state 3 years ago. This just gave me such anxiety. You're pretty spot on, although parking will cost you a small fortune almost anywhere you go.
I cannot stress enough to anyone visiting to L.A. If you're driving & looking for free attractions, be prepared to pay hefty parking lot parking fees if you cannot find street parking. If parking on city streets, your car will be ticketed or towed if parked illegally. Nothing is really free here.
So dank! Totally agree with all that you highlighted, brah! Also, quick tip for fellow travelers… don’t forget to tip your helpful Uber drivers. Those pros are beasts at navigating LA traffic. Safe travels 🤙🏻
If it has been a few months since it last rained, then the first rain can lift up the oil drips from the streets, making every bit of road like an oil slick. So even for expert drivers, that adds a real hazard to be aware of.
It's only a shock to get in it. You immediately get used to it though. And this is not the Caribbean, California beaches are not for lazy floating anyway. You should be boarding or at least body surfing the waves.
Swede here. People in LA are TOO friendly. Anyone can walk up to you at anytime just to strike up a convo or a friendship. As a Scandinavian this FREAKED me out. We don't even make eye contact here, never mind casual conversations. But yeah, Angelinos = very friendly and not shy haha.
As a local, Orange County beaches in my opinion are the best ...Laguna, Huntington, Newport; Balboa Peninsula, Corona del Mar, Dana Point Doheny...just be sure to take your garbage/trash with you when you leave after a fun beach day. The towns are lovely and if it's what you want, you may see more celebrities on the trails is true & at the beach doing their thing ..most locals don't care to bother them. Your traffic & rain assessment is on point 😄😎🤙✌
People say downtown LA is rundown but if you haven't been in LA for at least 30 years you'll know downtown LA has actually greatly improved. It's been gentrifying for about 25 years. Yes there is the homeless population in the area, but there's also the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Arts District, Union Station, the Broad Museum, Staples Center, Little Tokyo, and some of the best restaurants in the city. Also, it has some of the best bars in the country from Irish pubs, to tequila and mezcal bars, to craft cocktail bars, to breweries like Angel City, to hidden speakeasies. It's a nightlife thing though with the bars and clubs. But you have to accept the old still there gritty areas with the new trendy locales there. It's shiny new skyscrapers next to rundown high rises from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. My favorite thing to do is head to Little Tokyo karaoke rooms, eat some ramen or sushi, then do bar/club crawls there until 2am. Aside from that I agree Hollywood, especially the Walk of Fame are pretty worthless. However the Hollywood area and North Hollywood seems to also be gentrifying. There are better beaches than Venice Beach or Santa Monica--try Manhattan Beach or up near Malibu for cleaner beaches. For pristine beaches I would head a little farther south to next door Orange County beaches of Laguna Beach, Newport Coast, Corona del Mar, Dana Point, San Clemente, or Huntington Beach. For walkable areas with plenty of retail try Pasadena, Burbank, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Glendale (especially the Americana), and the Grove. Pasadena and Santa Monica have a lot of history as well.
@whatnowcomedy I'm an LA native too and know what I'm saying. DTLA has always been rough around the edges, but it's been increasingly polished compared to 30 years ago. Never been to Detroit, but have to NYC, and even by NYC standards, DTLA is a much more interesting an area. The Walk of Fame and Hollywood is touristy with cheap eats, chain restaurants, and the odd nightclub (not much different than Times Square). DTLA is full of unique bars for the more in the know crowd who enjoys quality imbibing (be it curated cocktails, craft beer, wine, etc.), or fine restaurants, and unique cafes. Plus public transportation is the best in this part of LA. Don't get me started on the amazing architecture new and old. I already mentioned that the capital of LA's cultural heart is in DTLA.
@@danmur2797 What places are worth visiting, and could you do it with the help of the Metro? If you could name 4-6, would be a great help! I don't mind walking. First time in LA and have 12 hours between planes. Thank you!
Definitely consider alternatives to flying into LAX - Burbank and Long Beach both have pretty good airports....hell even Ontario has a good airport, though it's a bit further east.
Two things I’ll add to the weather section as a resident: 1. The rain also makes the pavement on the freeways much slicker so you see more accidents and even more intense traffic on rainy days. 2. At night it gets much colder than people expect. We have very low humidity, so the air cools off without the sunlight. Even in the summer it can drop to the low 50s outside so bring a jacket! And a final note, Los Angeles the day AFTER it rains is super beautiful. The streets are much cleaner, the air is clear and crisp, and the plants and trees all smell terrific.
Great video Wolter! I think it’s good to also the add the shock of how high goods and service taxes are in California. I know I was shocked when I arrived there. It’s best for people to research that stuff beforehand especially for people like me who aren’t used to paying that much taxes on products back in their hometown
I'm fourth-generation Angeleno, and the one thing I always tell people about Los Angeles is about the weather. Yes, it is wonderful but, it is cool in the morning because of the Marine Layer, and it is cool in the evening because of the Marine Layer. Always carry a sweater or light jacket during these times. I love Los Angeles it was a wonderful place to grow up in.
Great presentation! I’ve lived here since 1960 and can’t agree more that traffic is busy to horrible now. Timing is very important when considering traveling by car. Also consider LA is not bicycle friendly nor particularly walking friendly. It’s common now to dodge bicyclists on the sidewalk. Beware……
“When it rains a little bit people lose their minds,” hahahah, YES we do! This last month we are so…confused about all this water dropping from the sky!
I'm an Angelino and approve all your messages! Especially LAX - Dante wrote about this airport in his "Inferno". We're a huge melting pot and it's reflected in the food variety, so spoiled for choice. Thanks Mark!
There is an In-N-Out Burger very close to LAX. Stop there on the way in or out. It’s also an excellent place for plane spotting. LAX is the busiest origin/destination airport in the world, meaning that a much smaller percentage of passengers are making connections there. The lack of connecting passengers means less need for food service in the airport. With a few exceptions, the only connections being made at LAX are passengers connecting to flights headed to Hawaii, Asia, and Australia/New Zealand.
Bad advice from dougbowers. Going East on Century Blvd out of LAX is heading toward high crime. The IN-N-Out there could well be like the location they are closing in Oakland. Go North or South on Sepulveda Blvd instead. There will many places to find all kinds of food and there are other In-N-Out locations all over.
I appreciate your discription of our city. Yes I agree most people here are cool and chilled. And yes we do have a homeless problem that hopefully will be solved one day. Overall great job!! Thank you for the love!!!
If you are going to LAX, just add an extra hour for parking, traffic, the HUGE security line, and anything else that can go wrong. Many times it has taken as much time to get home as it did to fly in.
I really do hope we put in some proper measures about our homeless situation soon. Too many luxury apartments going up and not enough affordable housing. We've always had issues but ever since the pandemic, it's gotten really bad. NYC has a whole program for their homeless population!
Remember, if you are visiting LA and sometime on your trip it starts to rain that is big news. Some people might get caught of guard and be bothered by it but almost everyone will welcome it and say that it is great because we need the rain.
Weather: dont come to LA in Sept or Oct unless you like broiling in hundred degree heat every day. Taking the kids to Disney, Universal, and Knotts Berry Farm? Come in the winter or spring.
Another thing about the rain, we dont get a lot throughout California. It's not that we can't drive in rain (cuz some can't), but we literally _DON'T_ plan for rain.
6:55 Bro that's february. Everybody's in during summer, people like me send it spring through fall. Surfers go year round, wetsuits when it drops below high 60s.
Hollywood is such a huge disappointment when you visit for the first time, you expect all of this glitz and glamour, but you see a trashy neighborhood that you don't feel safe in. I lived in Orange County for 8 years, they have great weather, beautiful beaches, the people though are extremely materialistic!
Hollywood is perfectly safe as long as you avoid the alleys. It isn’t glamorous, it’s a tourist trap and those tourists are filthy. Those terrazzo sidewalks are pressure washed every night.
Seal beach is great! June gloom is not good! The Ghetty Museums are amazing, both of them! Runyan canyon is a great hike and it's true I've seen celebrities on that hike. Queen Latifah and her dogs were on that hike. A hidden gem is The Lake Shrine Meditations Garden in Pacific Palisades.
1. The sea temperature in summer is not "really cold." It usually approaches 70 degrees, I have been swimming in it for decades and never considered it to be too cold. 2. Downtown LA is very much worth visiting. Grand Avenue contains the Broad Museum, not to be missed, and the Disney Concert Hall, an architectural gem. From there you can ride the Angels Flight funucular to Hill St and visit Grand Central Market, which everyone loves. Then, there is the Fashion District, a 107 block area containing 4000 small shops sellling every type of clothing, leather, fabric, and accessories - there is nothing on the world like it. And the museums of Exposition Park just to the south. 3. Homelessness is indeed a severe problem, but one that needs some perspective. There are 90 cities that make up LA County, and the City of LA and to a lesser extent Santa Monica are the only ones where you are likely to encounter homeless individuals - not in Beverly Hills, or West Holkywood, or Pasadena, not the south bay Beach Cities. And within the City of LA, they are largly in 3 areas, Ve ice Beach ( which has been cleaned up), Hollywood (though encampments are kept out of the touristy areas near Holkywood & Highland) and Downtown LA ( rhe major area of homeless concentration, Skid Row, is in the esst, industrialzed side of downtown and of little interest to tourists). Enjoy the urban area with the greatest number of attractions which meet some reasonable level of "worthwhileness."
I was in LA this February and i was suprised on how clean the city is and i didn't saw so many homeless people, not even in downtown or venice i noticed many (even though everyone told me it has many homeless). The street quality in california was suprisingly high and i didn't saw mouch garbage on the ground, actually aomoat none. And im from Switzerland so that says alot about LA. I was just dissapointed by the water (even though the beaches were beautiful) and how small hollywood boulevard was. But outside of that it was really awesome
I love LA but damn LAX can be a nightmare. I flew over 2 days after LAXit opened and nobody had a clue what was going on, queues for hours, nobody knew who could still pick up kerbside and who had to pick up at LAXit. What a nightmare it was
Hey Mark, Spot with the shocks of LA. Another shock you could add . Public transit is not great and parking can be challenging. Harriet and I were there about a month ago. Always informative !! Hope you guys are doing ok.😍😍 Jim and Harriet
We did the 101 trip from la the San Fran during COVID shutdown. No traffic but also not much open so very few bathrooms. I wouldnt trade. I'd rather have fewer bathrooms and no traffic
One good activity for tourists (if they are willing to take the subway) is to take the subway to Union Station and then go on a walking tour to see the old Mexican Plaza, Olvera Street, and then have lunch in Chinatown. They are all within walking distance. I lived in L.A. for almost 30 years yet I only saw a handful of celebrities out in pubic. When I was five I met Clint Eastwood who was appearing at a supermarket opening, and also I saw Yoko Ono walking with her bodyguard headed to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.
Thank you for the tip! I am willing to take subway! What other places are worth visiting, using the Metro system? If you could name 4-6, would be a great help! I don't mind walking. First time in LA and have 12 hours between planes. Thank you!
You may very well see celebrities in Beverly Hills, I have. You probably won't, but you might. At the Versace store, jumping out of their car after they've parked, or behind them in line at a fancy grocery store. I have. Rarely.
Best tip for getting in the L.A. waters - rent a wet suit. NOT a surfing wet suit, a diving suit. You wont look TOO ridiculous, the suits are extremely buoyant, and you will be able to try body surfing.
I wanna add onto the celebrities you see on hiking trails. It’s true 100% my dad works near malibu trails and he will constantly see really big celebrities there, most people will not say anything so if you happen to see one it’s best to be polite for a picture because most of the celebrities that go there are there for some alone time.
If you can fly into Long Beach or Orange County. Those airports are much smaller and easier to navigate and enter and exit. You can also fly into Ontario but then you’ll have a longer drive to get into LA proper. Ontario is a bigger airport but it has large open parking and is not nearly as busy as LAX.
I mean if your going to LAX it’s a good place for plane spotting, but not a good place if you want to travel on a plane. So you can take a flight to Burbank Airport or John Wayne airport, those are better.
I'm heading to the LA area in June to stay with relatives. They live in Diamond Bar, so I'll be flying into Ontario. That said, I plan on visiting LA itself a few times while I'm down there.
Diamond Bar is quite far away from the touristy stuff but make sure to head into the city at like noon and come back home any time past 8 to avoid the most traffic
I have never seen a celebrity on a trail in my decades of living in this town. Neither have any of my friends. People should not expect to see any celebrities anywhere in LA when they come here.
I've actually seen a few walking about in the Fairfax district. And even more in Burbank (where the movie studios are located). I've seen a few sitcom actors (can't remember their names at the moment) and I saw Brad Pitt once in Century City right after he and Angelina split 😁
i will be back for vacation in july for a convention in DTLA. i cant tell if it'll be pack (last event was in 2019) like previous years but i've been a patient man!
Why does everyone have the same stereotypes engraved in there brain, I lived in pasadena for 18 years, there are very bad parts of la, THE WHOLE CITY IS NOT RUN DOWN
Most tourists really only hit up a few main areas: Hollywood, Venice, Santa Monica, etc. when I went last time I had a great time exploring some of the coastal cities (palisades, Manhattan beach, Malibu) as well as good chunks of the valley and the east side without seeing a single homeless person let alone encampments. Don’t get me wrong, I know many parts of LA are this way, but to act like the whole city is some wasteland just isn’t accurate. It has it’s nice parts, they just aren’t super touristy in most cases.
02:30 I lived in Hwd in the mid-70's and talk about being run down! The big difference is that the streets weren't full of the homeless then at least in the neighborhood I lived in, near Sunset/Highland. Another difference is that it was a super cheap area to live which I assume is not the case now.
The big thing with the first rain is that all the driving surfaces, which have been building up oil and tire rubber for months without being rinsed away, suddenly gets moist and really slick.
but it smells nice if it's the first rain in a while.
True but alot of drivers in LA don't know how to drive in the rain either
@@adventuretravels7340 works fine when it never rains.
Point A to Point B in LA is *never* referred to by distance by locals, it’s always a function of time
That's so true. I never even noticed I've been doing that till I thought about it just now lol.
Yeah 30 minutes in LA is closer to 2 hours
Yah. Typical conversation with a tourist:
"How far is it to X?"
"About 2 hours."
"Why are you telling me a time? I want to know the distance to X!"
"Why do you want to know the distance to X?"
"So I can figure out how long it will take to get there."
"I already told you how long it will take. About 2 hours."
"Yes yes. But what is the _distance_ ?"
"About 20 miles."
"Let's see, that is 30 KM. That will only take 30 minutes!"
"No. You are in Los Angeles. It will take two hours."
Yesss
Today I learned LA is in the Midwest.
Instead of LAX, fly into the Burbank, or John Wayne Orange County or Long Beach or my favorite, Ontario International airports. All much smaller and much more manageable and better experience than flying into or out of LAX.
Often cheaper too.
Thinking about going to L.A. for a month, but didn't know was it as bad as portrait in the media, i.e. need to show vacine card to eat at restaurants and go into businesses in LA. is it as bad as the news report or should I be good. Anything you can tell me is a bonus.
@@kingvadervlog8280 It's not bad at all. There is just a type of person out there that has a giant boner for hating on LA. Most of them have never actually stepped foot in California, let alone LA. Even though I don't live there any more, we would make 1-3 trips a year down there to visit our old haunts, friends and family, and we never have any issues. People just get hung up on rumors and anecdotes.
As far as the vaccine goes, you should just get it as you are 97 times more likely to die of covid without it. My wife is a hospice RN, and every single person that comes in with covid bad enough for her to be seeing them is unvaccinated.
Thanks, but for transatlantic flights, LAX is the only option.
Yeah I can say LAX is the cheapest if only option I have when I fly into L.A. despite the fact Burbank is a much more enjoyable experience and significantly closer to where I normally visit in L.A. most cities in the U.S. outside of more regional cities and major cities like New York, Dallas Miami only fly into LAX.
I visited a friend in LA once and yes, a drizzle is a freakout situation because since it never rains, engine oil on the streets and freeways builds up over time. Once a drop of water falls, it renders extremely slippery conditions that drivers aren't used to.
The man ain’t lying, the food at LAX is pitiful. If possible I fly into Long Beach or Burbank just to not deal with the hassle of lax
If you can survive the LA traffic, you can survive traffic anywhere
I guess you have not been in other parts of the world, try Mexico city or Medellin Colombia, just to name a few big cities with heavy traffic.
@@MrCarloszeca guess you haven’t been to Atlanta, Paris, Milan or other parts of the world
LA traffic is great training for patience. Memphis traffic is great training for dealing with real road rage. Portland (OR) is great for realizing that traffic doesn't necessarily need to be insane. The NJ turnpike is great training for war.
LA traffic just seems especially bad because there aren't a whole lot off alternatives in terms of both modes of transport and routes and the city is quite spread out, so it can feel like your wasting your life in traffic
Lol Mate, Go to Indonesia... lol You've never seen traffic until you been there
Probably the best place I’ve ever visited. And the whole coast from Ventura until LA is amazing to. Hope I can go back there one day.
Another shock is how ethnically diverse LA is. You can practically taste the world in LA County.
Well duh we are haha
Oh and . . . if you haven't had rain in a really really long time, the oil builds up on the asphalt. Then when the rain comes . . . it feels like you're driving on ice.
I'm moving to Los Angeles in like 2 months, so thank you for uploading these vids, these would definitely help
Good luck.
Welcome!
You will enjoy everything LA has to offer, and a perfect weather all year round.
@@MrCarloszeca what about the poop and heroin needles everywhere?
@@regan.8077 They exist only in the fever dreams of someone feeding from the trough of Fox News propaganda. I lived in LA off and on for half my life and never saw anything like that outside of two blocks of Skidrow. So unless she is moving to Skidrow, she'll be fine.
Before driving anywhere, know exactly how you are going to get there.
LA doesn’t say how many miles away something is. We say how many HOURS away something is. Because 10 miles away in any direction can vary drastically in time to get there.
This doesn't make sense. LA is the easiest city in the world to navigate through. Everything is on a cardinal direction grid, and the mountains are due north to orientate you. The only reason you wouldn't want to stick to the grid is to avoid certain neighborhoods.
My fiancee was shocked by how narrow the lanes of traffic are on the freeways and how close the cars are to each other
Mark, you are spot on about all of these. The only exception, in my experience, is LAX. I've never found it difficult to get on the right bus to go to the parking lots or the rental car places. A person just has to ask the Information Desk at the airport and they will guide you to the right location to catch the bus you need.
Yea, I don't get that criticism either. I've never had any issues at LAX.
I feel bad for any tourist who comes here in June. 9 times out of 10 we have "june gloom" it's ugly all month and then some! I would say best time to come is Jan-March. We have the most beautiful winters! Not a cloud in the sky right now!
I just noticed that this week! there are days where there are slight overcasts but by around noon it's pretty, clear, blue skies!
I love the fall here like sept - October. Depending on where u go, it can be fire season, but beaches are warm and sunny and water isn’t bad yet
Allisen B I noticed that and the temperature is perfect!Nice and warm xxx
On the East Coast, ocean currents bring warm water up from the Gulf of Mexico. But in California, the same ocean currents bring cold water straight down from Alaska. Think about it.
Water temp also doesn’t change easily. Makes a big difference whether it’s in summer or winter. If it’s a sunny 80 degree in January, water will still be frigid
The terrible driving on SoCal was our biggest shock. Even being from a large city, we could not believe how different it was from home. Terrifying 🥴
Did you get the chance to get stuck in rush hour traffic? There's normal traffic around like noon and then there's the clusterfucks in the morning and in the afternoon/night - both those rush hours last for HOURS.
I grew up in LA County and moved out of state 3 years ago. This just gave me such anxiety. You're pretty spot on, although parking will cost you a small fortune almost anywhere you go.
I cannot stress enough to anyone visiting to L.A. If you're driving & looking for free attractions, be prepared to pay hefty parking lot parking fees if you cannot find street parking. If parking on city streets, your car will be ticketed or towed if parked illegally. Nothing is really free here.
Parking is hell. Figure out Uber. It will cost you less in the long run.
I recall we parked for free just 2 blocks from the walk of fame
@@kabouterwesley83 You got very lucky then.
So dank! Totally agree with all that you highlighted, brah! Also, quick tip for fellow travelers… don’t forget to tip your helpful Uber drivers. Those pros are beasts at navigating LA traffic. Safe travels 🤙🏻
If it has been a few months since it last rained, then the first rain can lift up the oil drips from the streets, making every bit of road like an oil slick. So even for expert drivers, that adds a real hazard to be aware of.
I grew up near the Pacific Ocean. It always felt nice to me. I didn't know the water was considered cold until I heard from people from other areas.
It's only a shock to get in it. You immediately get used to it though. And this is not the Caribbean, California beaches are not for lazy floating anyway. You should be boarding or at least body surfing the waves.
@@LividImp spot on. you get used to it in about 10 secs
Another great vlog of So Cal. Perfect you nailed it. Traffic is not by the miles it is by time hahaha
Swede here. People in LA are TOO friendly. Anyone can walk up to you at anytime just to strike up a convo or a friendship. As a Scandinavian this FREAKED me out. We don't even make eye contact here, never mind casual conversations. But yeah, Angelinos = very friendly and not shy haha.
Don't go to Missouri then. They're the friendliest people I've ever met. 😊
As a local, Orange County beaches in my opinion are the best ...Laguna, Huntington, Newport; Balboa Peninsula, Corona del Mar, Dana Point Doheny...just be sure to take your garbage/trash with you when you leave after a fun beach day. The towns are lovely and if it's what you want, you may see more celebrities on the trails is true & at the beach doing their thing ..most locals don't care to bother them. Your traffic & rain assessment is on point 😄😎🤙✌
Rain can also make the highways VERY slippery. Oil builds up for months at a time, then you get it wet with rain, can be like stopping on ice.
People say downtown LA is rundown but if you haven't been in LA for at least 30 years you'll know downtown LA has actually greatly improved. It's been gentrifying for about 25 years. Yes there is the homeless population in the area, but there's also the Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Arts District, Union Station, the Broad Museum, Staples Center, Little Tokyo, and some of the best restaurants in the city. Also, it has some of the best bars in the country from Irish pubs, to tequila and mezcal bars, to craft cocktail bars, to breweries like Angel City, to hidden speakeasies. It's a nightlife thing though with the bars and clubs. But you have to accept the old still there gritty areas with the new trendy locales there. It's shiny new skyscrapers next to rundown high rises from the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. My favorite thing to do is head to Little Tokyo karaoke rooms, eat some ramen or sushi, then do bar/club crawls there until 2am.
Aside from that I agree Hollywood, especially the Walk of Fame are pretty worthless. However the Hollywood area and North Hollywood seems to also be gentrifying. There are better beaches than Venice Beach or Santa Monica--try Manhattan Beach or up near Malibu for cleaner beaches. For pristine beaches I would head a little farther south to next door Orange County beaches of Laguna Beach, Newport Coast, Corona del Mar, Dana Point, San Clemente, or Huntington Beach.
For walkable areas with plenty of retail try Pasadena, Burbank, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Glendale (especially the Americana), and the Grove. Pasadena and Santa Monica have a lot of history as well.
Great information. Thanks.
@whatnowcomedy I'm an LA native too and know what I'm saying. DTLA has always been rough around the edges, but it's been increasingly polished compared to 30 years ago. Never been to Detroit, but have to NYC, and even by NYC standards, DTLA is a much more interesting an area. The Walk of Fame and Hollywood is touristy with cheap eats, chain restaurants, and the odd nightclub (not much different than Times Square).
DTLA is full of unique bars for the more in the know crowd who enjoys quality imbibing (be it curated cocktails, craft beer, wine, etc.), or fine restaurants, and unique cafes.
Plus public transportation is the best in this part of LA. Don't get me started on the amazing architecture new and old. I already mentioned that the capital of LA's cultural heart is in DTLA.
@@danmur2797 What places are worth visiting, and could you do it with the help of the Metro? If you could name 4-6, would be a great help! I don't mind walking. First time in LA and have 12 hours between planes. Thank you!
Definitely consider alternatives to flying into LAX - Burbank and Long Beach both have pretty good airports....hell even Ontario has a good airport, though it's a bit further east.
I’ve noticed that USA doesn’t have good public transportation like Europe to decrease the traffic issue
they do but its just a lot of cars, people dont like public transportation here unless its a must, Americans LOVE to drive..
We just prefer to drive, it is part of our culture.
@@ILOVEBACONBOY2018 but seriously there’s no metro in a city like LA??
@@johnathin0061892 I understand but be sure it’s a plan between the government and local car companies lol
@@willileo2373 There is a subway system, but L.A. is insanely spread out.
Two things I’ll add to the weather section as a resident:
1. The rain also makes the pavement on the freeways much slicker so you see more accidents and even more intense traffic on rainy days.
2. At night it gets much colder than people expect. We have very low humidity, so the air cools off without the sunlight. Even in the summer it can drop to the low 50s outside so bring a jacket!
And a final note, Los Angeles the day AFTER it rains is super beautiful. The streets are much cleaner, the air is clear and crisp, and the plants and trees all smell terrific.
Great video Wolter! I think it’s good to also the add the shock of how high goods and service taxes are in California. I know I was shocked when I arrived there. It’s best for people to research that stuff beforehand especially for people like me who aren’t used to paying that much taxes on products back in their hometown
Fortunately, I am one of those strange people that can have a good time in metro LA rush hour traffic.
Can you share what you do to have a good time?
I'm fourth-generation Angeleno, and the one thing I always tell people about Los Angeles is about the weather. Yes, it is wonderful but, it is cool in the morning because of the Marine Layer, and it is cool in the evening because of the Marine Layer. Always carry a sweater or light jacket during these times. I love Los Angeles it was a wonderful place to grow up in.
Only you, showing LA beauty
Great presentation! I’ve lived here since 1960 and can’t agree more that traffic is busy to horrible now. Timing is very important when considering traveling by car. Also consider LA is not bicycle friendly nor particularly walking friendly. It’s common now to dodge bicyclists on the sidewalk. Beware……
“When it rains a little bit people lose their minds,” hahahah, YES we do! This last month we are so…confused about all this water dropping from the sky!
I'm an Angelino and approve all your messages! Especially LAX - Dante wrote about this airport in his "Inferno". We're a huge melting pot and it's reflected in the food variety, so spoiled for choice. Thanks Mark!
I'm shocked that you review was so positive. The photography especially Hollywood boulevard really makes it look nicer than it is.
There is an In-N-Out Burger very close to LAX. Stop there on the way in or out. It’s also an excellent place for plane spotting. LAX is the busiest origin/destination airport in the world, meaning that a much smaller percentage of passengers are making connections there. The lack of connecting passengers means less need for food service in the airport. With a few exceptions, the only connections being made at LAX are passengers connecting to flights headed to Hawaii, Asia, and Australia/New Zealand.
Bad advice from dougbowers. Going East on Century Blvd out of LAX is heading toward high crime. The IN-N-Out there could well be like the location they are closing in Oakland. Go North or South on Sepulveda Blvd instead. There will many places to find all kinds of food and there are other In-N-Out locations all over.
When we came into LAX last summer, we had to wait for 20 minutes to get a bus to our car rental location!
I love the grunginess of LA
Just returned to UK after a 3 week visit and he is right about everything!
I appreciate your discription of our city. Yes I agree most people here are cool and chilled. And yes we do have a homeless problem that hopefully will be solved one day. Overall great job!! Thank you for the love!!!
If you are going to LAX, just add an extra hour for parking, traffic, the HUGE security line, and anything else that can go wrong. Many times it has taken as much time to get home as it did to fly in.
Going to L.A. later this month for the LA Galaxy NYCFC game, it'll be my first time. Should be fun.
Thank you We Are Very Nice people 💋🐾♥️🙋♀️🙋♀️Thank you Sir, 4 making this video
I really do hope we put in some proper measures about our homeless situation soon. Too many luxury apartments going up and not enough affordable housing. We've always had issues but ever since the pandemic, it's gotten really bad. NYC has a whole program for their homeless population!
Remember, if you are visiting LA and sometime on your trip it starts to rain that is big news. Some people might get caught of guard and be bothered by it but almost everyone will welcome it and say that it is great because we need the rain.
Weather: dont come to LA in Sept or Oct unless you like broiling in hundred degree heat every day. Taking the kids to Disney, Universal, and Knotts Berry Farm? Come in the winter or spring.
Another thing about the rain, we dont get a lot throughout California. It's not that we can't drive in rain (cuz some can't), but we literally _DON'T_ plan for rain.
A GREAT, BRIEF explanation of a city on my bucket list👍
Spot on
I just returned a week ago
Great insight
6:55 Bro that's february. Everybody's in during summer, people like me send it spring through fall. Surfers go year round, wetsuits when it drops below high 60s.
Thank you, CBG.
Hollywood is such a huge disappointment when you visit for the first time, you expect all of this glitz and glamour, but you see a trashy neighborhood that you don't feel safe in. I lived in Orange County for 8 years, they have great weather, beautiful beaches, the people though are extremely materialistic!
Hollywood is perfectly safe as long as you avoid the alleys. It isn’t glamorous, it’s a tourist trap and those tourists are filthy. Those terrazzo sidewalks are pressure washed every night.
The shock of LA for me? The smell and general cleanliness of Hollywood, I thought being a tourist hub the city would keep it clean and tidy. Nope!
You can see celebs in hollywood outside jimmi kimmel theatre, on a movie premiere if you stay along red carpet
As a local Angeleno this is another excellent video! Spot ok Mark 🤙🏽
LA is my second i been so many times but for me Laguna beach is heaven
Seal beach is great! June gloom is not good! The Ghetty Museums are amazing, both of them! Runyan canyon is a great hike and it's true I've seen celebrities on that hike. Queen Latifah and her dogs were on that hike. A hidden gem is The Lake Shrine Meditations Garden in Pacific Palisades.
1. The sea temperature in summer is not "really cold." It usually approaches 70 degrees, I have been swimming in it for decades and never considered it to be too cold.
2. Downtown LA is very much worth visiting. Grand Avenue contains the Broad Museum, not to be missed, and the Disney Concert Hall, an architectural gem. From there you can ride the Angels Flight funucular to Hill St and visit Grand Central Market, which everyone loves. Then, there is the Fashion District, a 107 block area containing 4000 small shops sellling every type of clothing, leather, fabric, and accessories - there is nothing on the world like it. And the museums of Exposition Park just to the south.
3. Homelessness is indeed a severe problem, but one that needs some perspective. There are 90 cities that make up LA County, and the City of LA and to a lesser extent Santa Monica are the only ones where you are likely to encounter homeless individuals - not in Beverly Hills, or West Holkywood, or Pasadena, not the south bay Beach Cities. And within the City of LA, they are largly in 3 areas, Ve ice Beach ( which has been cleaned up), Hollywood (though encampments are kept out of the touristy areas near Holkywood & Highland) and Downtown LA ( rhe major area of homeless concentration, Skid Row, is in the esst, industrialzed side of downtown and of little interest to tourists).
Enjoy the urban area with the greatest number of attractions which meet some reasonable level of "worthwhileness."
Good video sir. I wanna do west coast and Texas by bus and train and as cheap as possible? Any tips thanks
Just rent a car (: it'll be the easiest to go anywhere you want to go
The Griffith observatory and Griffith park are awesome and also free
I was in LA this February and i was suprised on how clean the city is and i didn't saw so many homeless people, not even in downtown or venice i noticed many (even though everyone told me it has many homeless). The street quality in california was suprisingly high and i didn't saw mouch garbage on the ground, actually aomoat none. And im from Switzerland so that says alot about LA. I was just dissapointed by the water (even though the beaches were beautiful) and how small hollywood boulevard was. But outside of that it was really awesome
Lol are you sure you were in LA ? NO HOMELESS ?????
@@skatelisa “so many homeless” read again.
Can I ask why did you visit Hollywood blvd? No local goes there. We hate it.
The thing about the rain made me laugh...because it's true xD
Downtown Los Angeles has the garment district, which is an incredible place to go to. So before you say no to downtown, give it a try.
Los Angeles is a wonderful city to visit and live: The best part about living in LA is the chance to meet a famous celebrity every day
I love LA but damn LAX can be a nightmare. I flew over 2 days after LAXit opened and nobody had a clue what was going on, queues for hours, nobody knew who could still pick up kerbside and who had to pick up at LAXit. What a nightmare it was
You have to alter your mindset to survive and even thrive in LA Traffic. If you plan on 70 MPH with 10 feet of space between cars you will be fine.
Hey Mark, Spot with the shocks of LA. Another shock you could add . Public transit is not great and parking can be challenging. Harriet and I were there about a month ago. Always informative !!
Hope you guys are doing ok.😍😍 Jim and Harriet
Awesome video
I’ve lived in L.A. since 1969. Accurate!
We did the 101 trip from la the San Fran during COVID shutdown. No traffic but also not much open so very few bathrooms. I wouldnt trade. I'd rather have fewer bathrooms and no traffic
One good activity for tourists (if they are willing to take the subway) is to take the subway to Union Station and then go on a walking tour to see the old Mexican Plaza, Olvera Street, and then have lunch in Chinatown. They are all within walking distance. I lived in L.A. for almost 30 years yet I only saw a handful of celebrities out in pubic. When I was five I met Clint Eastwood who was appearing at a supermarket opening, and also I saw Yoko Ono walking with her bodyguard headed to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.
Thank you for the tip! I am willing to take subway! What other places are worth visiting, using the Metro system? If you could name 4-6, would be a great help! I don't mind walking. First time in LA and have 12 hours between planes. Thank you!
You may very well see celebrities in Beverly Hills, I have. You probably won't, but you might. At the Versace store, jumping out of their car after they've parked, or behind them in line at a fancy grocery store. I have. Rarely.
Best tip for getting in the L.A. waters - rent a wet suit. NOT a surfing wet suit, a diving suit. You wont look TOO ridiculous, the suits are extremely buoyant, and you will be able to try body surfing.
Wet suits are for weak people
you are so right, I live here for 40 years and if possible not go to LAX.
There’s LOTS of amazing places to go in Downtown. You just have to know where to go.
We just went to somewhere an hour north of San Diego it took 3 hours to go to LA which was about 90 miles
Probably Santa Barbara
I wanna add onto the celebrities you see on hiking trails. It’s true 100% my dad works near malibu trails and he will constantly see really big celebrities there, most people will not say anything so if you happen to see one it’s best to be polite for a picture because most of the celebrities that go there are there for some alone time.
If you can fly into Long Beach or Orange County. Those airports are much smaller and easier to navigate and enter and exit. You can also fly into Ontario but then you’ll have a longer drive to get into LA proper. Ontario is a bigger airport but it has large open parking and is not nearly as busy as LAX.
Had a group of Crips give me directions to Tito’s tacos 🌮 had a fantastic time people are super chill in LA is not an understatement
I plan to move to Los Angeles to work in the Hollywood film industry. This helps. Thanks.
I was surprised how nice drivers were at letting you on to the freeways. This was quite a few years ago.
for us finns we dont think that coldest month like 15 degrees celsius is bad because we got like 5
Sweet axe throw. That was cool that you captured a military helicopter plane fly bye
LA needs a metro.
I don’t care how many headaches LAX gives ya, it’s NOTHING compared to Chicago O’hare lol at least from my experience
Atlanta is even worse
Oh man I love O Hare-great restaurants and lounges and the terminal train is back now! LAX feels like walking in a horror movie set 😬
Nah man O’Hare has its problems but at least you can get a break and get out of it peacefully unlike LAX
I hear East LA has the best tacos ever. Could someone confirm? I need to go there when I go to LA. Thanks!
Southeast LA has the best tacos
@@larabrenda95 Could you recommend a certain restaurant or taco truck?
Which restaurant can you get the egg topped pizza on 10:11?
I mean if your going to LAX it’s a good place for plane spotting, but not a good place if you want to travel on a plane. So you can take a flight to Burbank Airport or John Wayne airport, those are better.
I randomly meet Adam Sandler at the In n Out in Palmdale. Super friendly guy.
Want to see famous people? Got to upscale supermarkets in the expensive neighborhoods. For example Gelsons in Studio City.
I'm heading to the LA area in June to stay with relatives. They live in Diamond Bar, so I'll be flying into Ontario. That said, I plan on visiting LA itself a few times while I'm down there.
Diamond Bar is quite far away from the touristy stuff but make sure to head into the city at like noon and come back home any time past 8 to avoid the most traffic
@@gumerzambrano I'll keep that in mind.
Lots of Asians in Diamond Bar so be prepared to eat Asian food
You gotta be really careful in downtown. Broadway is scary. Do not walk by yourself a lot
I have never seen a celebrity on a trail in my decades of living in this town. Neither have any of my friends. People should not expect to see any celebrities anywhere in LA when they come here.
I've actually seen a few walking about in the Fairfax district. And even more in Burbank (where the movie studios are located). I've seen a few sitcom actors (can't remember their names at the moment) and I saw Brad Pitt once in Century City right after he and Angelina split 😁
I’ve seen a few in WeHo & Beverly Hills
i will be back for vacation in july for a convention in DTLA. i cant tell if it'll be pack (last event was in 2019) like previous years but i've been a patient man!
I just never had a tourist that don't disappoint about LA.
“Free, free, and free” is exactly what my mom wants
Why does everyone have the same stereotypes engraved in there brain, I lived in pasadena for 18 years, there are very bad parts of la, THE WHOLE CITY IS NOT RUN DOWN
Most tourists really only hit up a few main areas: Hollywood, Venice, Santa Monica, etc. when I went last time I had a great time exploring some of the coastal cities (palisades, Manhattan beach, Malibu) as well as good chunks of the valley and the east side without seeing a single homeless person let alone encampments.
Don’t get me wrong, I know many parts of LA are this way, but to act like the whole city is some wasteland just isn’t accurate. It has it’s nice parts, they just aren’t super touristy in most cases.
Because tourists don't know of nice cities East of Downtown unless a local tells them
02:30 I lived in Hwd in the mid-70's and talk about being run down! The big difference is that the streets weren't full of the homeless then at least in the neighborhood I lived in, near Sunset/Highland. Another difference is that it was a super cheap area to live which I assume is not the case now.