Los Angeles, California

The U. S. Census Bureau estimates that there are 3,971,883 people and 1,413,995 households in Los Angeles. Among the population, 75.5 percent have a high school degree or higher, and 32 percent have a Bachelor’s degree or higher. The median household income is $50,205, and the per capita income is $28,761.

There are 1,413,995 housing units in LA of which about 36.8 percent are owner-occupied. The median value of the owner-occupied housing is $471,000. With a mortgage, the median monthly housing cost is $2,454. Without a mortgage, the median monthly housing cost is $620. The median gross monthly rent is $1,209.

The familiar parks include Six Flags Amusement Park; Knott’s Berry Farm, the 12th most visited North American theme park in 2015; Universal Studios with its tram tour of the backlot; and Walt Disney’s original theme park, Disneyland, which now includes California Adventure Park that adds seven Disney and Pixar story lands to the original eight themed areas.

Although not technically an amusement park, Flightdeck, a lesser known attraction, offers one Boeing 737 commercial jet simulator, eight authentic military fighter jet flight simulators, classroom training, and in-flight instructions that enable even inexperienced members of the public to try flying a commercial jet or to attempt air-to-air combat and other aerial maneuvers in a fighter jet, but you will need a reservation. The Officer’s Club displays all the on-going action on large LCD screens.

The Grauman’s Chinese Theater with the adjacent Hollywood Walk of Fame; the Griffith Observatory and Park and the Hollywood Sign, which is on the observatory’s property; the La Brea Tar Pits and Museum; and the J. Paul Getty Museum at the Getty Center are better known landmarks.

The Packing District, a restored area of downtown LA, may not be as well known. It includes the old Citrus Packing House, the Farmer’s Park, the old Packard Building and Car Showroom, and the Backyard. The Packing House offers a community kitchen for private parties, more than 20 artisan restaurants, and live music on the Mezzanine Stage on weekends. The two-acre Farmer’s Park includes community gardens and a redwood boardwalk. The Packard Building dates back to 1925 and currently houses Umami Burger and the Anaheim Brewery. The Backyard, an outdoor venue, offers a fireplace and an orange grove.

Venice Beach is well known for the Muscle Beach Venice Gym, the skate plaza, the canals, and the 2.5 mile circus-like promenade with its mystics, artists, performers, and vendors. The Santa Monica Pier, which is surrounded by the 3.5 miles of Santa Monica Beach and which includes the Pacific Park amusement park, is also well known.

In addition, you’ll find the Oak Creek Nature Center and Yorba Regional Park.

Oak Canyon Nature Center is a 58-acre park with four miles of hiking trails covering three adjoining canyons with a stream that runs through the area.

At Yorba Regional Park, a 140-acre park with four lakes, you can rent a bike and ride bike trails that connect to the 20-mile long Santa Ana River Trail which leads to the Pacific Ocean. Within the park, you can rent kayaks or paddle boats, fish, or sail model boats. You’ll also find a physical fitness course, volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, two baseball diamonds, four reservable shelters, and picnic tables and grills.

Dodger Stadium, home to the LA Dodgers baseball team, features the Hall of Retired Numbers behind the outfield fence and the stadium’s two most distinctive features — the Dodger logo located on top of the 10-story elevator shaft behind home plate and the wavy roofline of the outfield pavilion.

The Staples Center is not only the only NBA venue to host two NBA teams, the LA Clippers and the LA Lakers, but it is also only one of two venues in North America to host two teams from the same league. It is also home to the WNBA’s LA Sparks and the NHL’s the LA Kings.

The NHL’s Anaheim Ducks make the Honda Center their home. The Center is also used for basketball, concerts, and theater events.

Angel Stadium has been the home of the LA Angels baseball team since 1965.

Although the Rose Bowl Stadium wasn’t built until 1922, the first Tournament of Roses Parade was held in 1890. The first football game played in the Rose Bowl occurred in 1923.