Intended for everybody, visitors and locals alike, who would like to explore the city in depth, this guide seeks to dispel the misguided image of a megalopolis that is often superficially dismissed or even disliked. But it can also be read as a declaration of love for the City of Angels.

To the untrained eye, Los Angeles may seem like a spectacle of glitz and glamour, freeways and traffic snarls. But beneath those superficial impressions hides a richly complex and diverse city teeming with quirky art, dazzling buildings, hidden histories, strange spectacles, and inspiring cultural landmarks. Secret Los Angeles guides you to the hidden gems that make the city and surrounding county truly sparkle. Discover the story behind the featherbrained “Statue of Liberty of L.A.” and the butterflies of an abandoned oceanside neighborhood. Stroll along the other walks of fame and drive along a musical road. Explore a historic movie palace hidden in the Jewelry District and find the inspiration for Disneyland nestled within Griffith Park. Find the secretive locations of Prohibition-era speakeasies and sip top-notch booze at a Willy Wonka-like distillery. Experience a reenactment of the Great Los Angeles Air Raid and uncover the history of Central Avenue’s jazz legacy. Local author Danny Jensen directs you to under-the-radar destinations that are often overlooked, even by locals, yet offer fascinating insight into a place that captures so many people’s imagination. Whether you’ve recently arrived or lived here all your life, this book will help you see and understand L.A. in a completely new way and inspire you to explore further.

Containing walks and detailed maps from throughout the city, Secret Stairs highlights the charms and quirks of a unique feature of the Los Angeles landscape, and chronicles the geographical, architectural, and historical aspects of the city’s staircases, as well as of the neighborhoods in which the steps are located. From strolling through the classic La Loma neighborhood in Pasadena to walking the Sunset Junction Loop in Silver Lake, to taking the Beachwood Canyon hike through “Hollywoodland” to enjoying the magnificent ocean views from the Castellammare district in Pacific Palisades, Secret Stairs takes you on a tour of the staircases all across the City of Angels. The circular walks, rated for duration and difficulty, deliver tales of historic homes and their fascinating inhabitants, bits of unusual local trivia, and stories of the neighborhoods surrounding the stairs. That’s where William Faulkner was living when he wrote the screenplay for To Have and Have Not; that house was designed by Neutra; over there is a Schindler; that’s where Woody Guthrie lived, where Anais Nin died, and where Thelma Todd was murdered . . . Despite the fact that one of these staircases starred in an Oscar-winning short film—Laurel and Hardy’s The Music Box, from 1932—these civic treasures have been virtually unknown to most of the city’s residents and visitors. Now, Secret Stairs puts these hidden stairways back on the map, while introducing urban hikers to exciting new “trails” all around the city of Los Angeles.

"When people criticize LA, they are usually afraid of exploring, and probably too used to easy cities where you don't have to fight to find beautiful things" - Moby Access a secret Malibu beach, relax at a gigantic Korean spa open 24/7, watch Tarantino's movie collection, eat your burger the Californian way, meditate at Elvis and George Harrison's peaceful getaway, shop a vinyl and a vintage dress in the same spot. Soul of Los Angeles was written by Emilien Crespo, a writer and entrepreneur that has lived and explored Los Angeles for a decade. He carefully picked the gems that make him love Los Angeles. To bring them to life, he worked with two immigrant residents, the Spanish photographer Pia Riverola and the French illustrator Clara Mari. The "Soul of" collection is a new approach to the art of traveling that consists of vagabonding around, chance encounters, and unforgettable experiences. Guides for those who want to unlock the hidden doors of a city, feel out its heartbeat, plumb every last nook and cranny to uncover its soul. Each guide in the "Soul of" collection includes: - the 30 best experiences a city has to offer - interviews with those who give the city its spirit - illustrations by a local artist

Thoroughly updated, this handbook spotlights over 1,000 of America's most overlooked must-see destinations in a state-by-state, A-Z format. 300 color photos.

"Sacred Sites honors the power and beauty of our indigenous heritage and homeland. By knowing our history we better understand the present and our journey into the future."---Anthony Morales, tribal chair, Gabrielino Tongva Council of San Gabriel --