Los Angeles — and Hollywood in particular — still retains that aura of magic and mystique. Just step over to Grauman's Chinese Theatre and stroll through the "stars" that dot the pavement along Hollywood Boulevard. You can stand in the boot prints of John Wayne or step into the tiny footprints of Judy Garland. Or rub shoulders with the stars and star-makers along pricey Rodeo Drive, in the trendy nightspots that dot Sunset Boulevard or the posh hotels of Beverly Hills.

Of course, there is much more to Los Angeles than the movie business, but entertainment still seems to take center stage here. Think Universal Studios and Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm. For the culturally inclined, no other city sports as many museums — the Getty Center perhaps its most elite.

Natural beauty is a scene-stealer too. No one can mistake the palm-fringed boulevards, sun-soaked Pacific coastline or picturesque cliffs of nearby Malibu. Lush hills and sprawling burgs are sprinkled with lavish estates and historic mansions that once housed Hollywood's elite. Fragrant orange groves surround the city, sharing the fertile land with produce of every shape and color.

Los Angeles is known for its diverse cultural mix, not surprising given its earliest inhabitants were Native Americans, Africans, Spaniards, Mexicans and mestizos. Established by Mexican settlers in 1781, the village was christened El Pueblo de Nuestra Senora la Reina de Los Angeles (the Town of Our Lady the Queen of the Angels). Los Angeles came under Mexico's control in 1821 and was taken over by the U.S. in 1848. In the years that followed, the city has welcomed waves of immigrants from Mexico, China, Central America, the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Visitors to today's "City of Angels" will discover a fascinating array of cultures and cuisine, architectural and natural wonders, historic treasures and modern innovations. Life here may be fast and furious but it's definitely fun.