Los Angeles and Westwood

In Los Angeles, four million people power one of the world’s largest economies. The area of downtown L.A. alone is home to more than half a million jobs.

L.A. residents enjoy buying fresh produce and other fare from local farmers’ market, which happen on different days of the week around town. This one is near campus in Westwood Village.

One of L.A.’s most famous cultural landmarks, the Hollywood Sign has become a worldwide symbol for ambition, success and glamour. Fans take nearby hiking trails to see it up close.

The nearby San Gabriel mountains are often dusted with snow in the winter, even when the city is experiencing warm, sunny days. Skiing and other winter sports are just a car ride away.

Visitors from around the world stroll along Olvera Street, a block-long Mexican market full of shops, mariachis, restaurants, cafes, museums, street vendors and more.

An iconic Ferris wheel jutting out over the Pacific, a historic carousel, a rollercoaster, arcade, aquarium and trapeze school are just a few of the fun attractions at the Santa Monica Pier.

The Watts Towers are the work of Simon Rodia, a construction worker by day, artist by night. He spent 34 years building his mortar-covered-steel masterpiece using just simple tools.

One of many iconic old cinemas in L.A., the Bruin Theatre opened in Westwood on New Year’s Eve in 1937. It was designated a Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument in 1988.