Los Angeles

Los Angeles County is the most populous county in the United States, which contributes to its strange contrast to ritz and glamour side by side with poverty and crime. But LA is more than just a moshed pit of economic statuses. Botoxe movie stars and make-it-big dreamers share space with laid-back surfers along the coast, working-class Angelenos and a vibrant immigrant community. The coastal communities, including Santa Monica and Venice Beach radiate an easygoing surfer vibe, with travelers seeking out the great beaches and the eclectic Venice Boardwalk, trendy restaurants and boutiques along Venice's Abbott-Kinney neighborhood, or the carousel at the Santa Monica Pier. Inland, culture seekers flock to Hollywood's club scene, check out music along the Sunset Strip, and seek the hipster indie clubs in Silverlake. If you can hack your way of the traffic, you'll reach the populous San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys, but also the serenely beautiful Angeles and Los Padres national forests and Mojave Desert. Art and pop culture are king here: the unique Hollywood Bowl outdoor concert venue, the art mecca of the Getty Center and Getty Villa in Malibu and the live music venues that dot the county.