Life in Los Angeles
Los Angeles is situated on a coastal plain 40 miles from north to south and 30 miles from east to west.It is rimmed by mountains to the north and east and the Pacific Ocean to the south and west. The city itself is 400 square miles, one of the largest in the world.
The coastal plain is dotted by low-lying hills. Los Angeles is comprised of a number of distinct areas and there are eight separately incorporated cities within the Greater Los Angeles area.
The climate in Los Angeles is considered to be Mediterranean, that is, sunny days and cooler nights, although on occasion it can become extremely warm and dry in the winter due to the Santa Ana winds from the desert. There are on average 340 days of sunshine during the year. Although Los Angeles is technically the second largest city in the United States, its vast geography makes it different than other large cities – it is more a collection of smaller communities, each with its own style and identity.
Members of individual communities tend to socialize and interact within their own community to a larger degree than in other cities because there really is no identifiable “center”. There are numerous different communities for residents to live in. This deserves special consideration when moving to the LA area.
Rental prices vary widely within different areas of the city and it is difficult to stratify the different areas according to price. Residents who are renting can pay anywhere from $700 to $2000 for a one-bedroom apartment.
Downtown L.A.
Downtown L.A. comprises many fascinating and historic districts. There are jewelry, fashion, toy and warehouse districts, the historic (and delicious) Little Tokyo, Chinatown, an open air food market, historic theatres, the L.A. symphony, the LA Museum of Modern Art, and a host of cool hotels and groovy new nightclubs.
So conveniently close to the Medical Center, an increasing number of residents are choosing to live the new urban lifestyle that a gentrifiying Downtown L.A. has to offer.
Pasadena
Among the most popular areas are Pasadena and South Pasadena, which lie north of the Medical Center, at the base of the mountains surrounding the Los Angeles Basin. Pasadena is probably most famous for the Rose Bowl and its annual Tournament of Roses Parade.
It is also home to the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Pasadena boasts a long and interesting cultural history and is home to many estates built during America’s Craftsman period. It also is home to the world class Norton Simon Museum.
The Huntington Library and Gardens in adjacent San Marino is famous for its massive cactus collection, authentic Japanese garden and its collection of fine art, which includes the Blue Boy by the English master Gainsborough. The downtown area in “Old Town” Pasadena is vibrant, with trendy restaurants, shopping and theatres. It is also a young scene, with students of several area colleges and schools taking it to the streets along with the tourists and other visitors that Pasadena attracts.
Pasadena is only minutes away from LAC+USC Medical Center, and access is by both the historic Arroyo Seco freeway as well as by surface streets (important during times of heavy traffic). The surrounding and nearby areas of the Alhambra, Altadena and Monterey Hills have the advantage of being close to the hospital and offer similarly safe, quiet neighborhoods. They also offer somewhat cheaper rents.
Beach Cities
The beach areas, starting with posh Malibu to the north and encompassing Santa Monica, Venice, Playa del Ray, Marina del Ray, Redondo, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach and Hermosa Beach, are further from the Medical Center but still very accessible via the 10, 710 and 105 freeways.
It may take anywhere from 25 minutes to over an hour to commute to these areas, depending on traffic conditions, but with the off-hours schedules DEM residents often work, this doesn’t necessarily create a problem.
Many residents choose to live near the beach for its laid-back atmosphere and culture. Santa Monica and Venice are both heavily touristy, with Santa Monica being more upscale and conservative and Venice being famous for its eclectic mix of people from all over the world.
Santa Monica encompasses a large area, and many properties advertised will be some distance from the beach. The southern beach communities of Playa del Ray, Manhattan, Redondo and Hermosa are smaller and somewhat quieter.
Rents in all of the beach areas are generally higher than other areas that are popular among residents.
West Los Angeles
There are many different areas in the west end of Los Angeles that attract a small number of residents. The areas of Beverly Hills, Westwood and Brentwood are upscale and well manicured. There tend to be less affordable rental properties in these areas and the commute times are roughly similar to that of Santa Monica and beach areas.
That said, there are pockets throughout West Los Angeles that afford reduced rents. Westwood Village serves a predominately college crowd and offers a variety of night life. Many Hollywood stars can be seen dining or shopping in the upscale sections of West Los Angeles.
Hollywood Hills
These are areas relatively close to the hospital and accessible by both the 101 freeway and surface streets. There are a good number of houses and duplexes as well as apartments for rent.
These are beautiful neighborhoods, with thousands of properties scattered in the hills around Griffith Park, a protected wilderness that separates the Los Angeles basin from the San Fernando Valley. Commute times are in the 15 minute to 25 minute range.
This area offers a distinctive sense of community with local amenities, culture and nightlife.
Things to Do in L.A.
Although residents make a substantial time commitment to the hospital and to the residency, there will be ample time to explore the various cultural and recreational opportunities in L.A. It is often said that because the city is so spread out, it is not immediately obvious where some of its “jewels” lie. As one would expect of a world-class city, L.A. has all of the amenities, restaurants, museums, ethnic diversity, athletics and cultural activities to suit almost everyone’s needs.
Information on all of these activities and features is readily available from the Internet and other sources. Newcomers to the L.A. area are likely well aware of its famous nightlife and the Hollywood scene. Many are not aware of the outstanding outdoor opportunities in the area.
The Santa Monica Mountains, which taper eastward to form the Hollywood Hills, are filled with hiking and biking trails. The San Gabriel Mountains, which form the northern and eastern borders of L.A. County, are the largest wilderness area in close proximity to a city larger than 1 million people in the United States.
They include peaks over 10,000 feet, three ski areas, superb rock climbing and hundreds of miles of hiking trails (including the Pacific Crest Trail). Mountain biking, camping and fishing are all readily available and true wilderness animal encounters are not unusual, including bear and mountain lion.
There are also dramatic waterfalls (Switzer’s and Buck Horn), sweeping vistas and extremely variable microclimates ranging from desert to high alpine to redwood riparian zones.
Snow skiing and boarding are available during the winter and spring months at numerous local spots. The drive to world class Mammoth Mountain is only 6 hours and is a great place to get away for the weekend. During the off season, Mammoth transforms into a mountain bike lovers and hikers dream.
Activities that local residents enjoy include diverse beach sports (surfing and windsurfing), jogging, bicycling, swimming, and health club memberships. Los Angeles is one of the few locals where you can jog along the beach in the morning and snow skiing in the afternoon. This is because of its close proximity to the mountain ranges which surround the LA basin.
There are numerous tourist attractions within an hours drive from LA. Popular sites include Disneyland, Knot’s Berry Farm, Magic Mountain, and Long Beach’s Aquatic Centre. Other activities enjoyed by locals and tourists include an evening under the stars picnicking and listening to the LA Philharmonic Orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl, the Dodgers stadium, uncountable museums, libraries, malls and theatres.
Los Angeles is just an quick drive to neighboring towns such as Ventura and Santa Barbara. Both coastal towns offer quaint communities, bed and breakfasts, beach activities, wine tasting, shopping and hiking.
San Diego and Mexico are just a couple of hours south of LA and offer unique opportunities as well. Many people enjoy spending a weekend in San Diego and driving across the border for an afternoon of shopping.