LA gets a bad rap.  I remember living back in Minnesota, and the idea of LA came up.  I never imagined living here.  That’s where the celebrities lived, that’s where the beaches were.  I thought it’d be too much.

But what I wasn’t prepared for was how awesome it truly has become to me.  So, since it’s Whimsical Wednesday, I thought I would focus in on LA.

For me, the top 10 reasons to visit LA are:

1) The Beaches.   (I’ll be honest, I prefer the San Diego area beaches, but LA has some nice ones.)

2) The Museums.   From the Getty to LACMA to MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) to The Tolerance Museum to the Autry museum, there are a plethora of museums to choose from.

3) The Art Walks

From the brewery art walks that happen during the Spring and Fall, to the San Pedro art walk that happens the first Thursday of each month and is walking distance for me, to the Downtown Art Walk that happens the second Thursday each month to the Venice Art Walk that happens the third Thursday of each month.  The galleries open up, and you can see all the art you’ve ever wanted.  A great experience.

4) The Sunsets.

Nothing beats the sun going down into the Ocean.  It makes for a beautiful site, and for a beautiful evening.

5) The People.

There are so many different kinds of people in Los Angeles.  I’ve literally kept tracked of all the license plates I’ve seen since moving here.  I’ve seen 48 State License plates.  I’ve seen also a plate from Mexico and Canada.  Every one does come to California.  It is a melting pot of different cultures, and there is an energy unheard of here.  The people are what make a place.

6) The Different Cultures.

I’ve never lived in a place that honored so many different cultures.  As January marks the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr to the end of the Month when the Japanese Festivals and the start of the Chinese New Year begins to festivals that occur throughout the year, the cultures are truly celebrated throughout the area of Los Angeles.

7) The Opportunities.

There are so many people here with Entreprenial Spirit.  There are so many wonderful website startups, and so many people going after their dreams here. It is an energy and it can easily be caught.

8) Beverly Hills

There is truly a beauty in walking this area as you admire the window displays, as you admire the stores, the atmosphere, the area.

8) The Hiking Opportunities.

There are a bunch from the area of Malibu to the Canyons around Pasadena to the hiking paths of Palos Verdes.  There is something for everyone, and sites unheard of as you look across the Ocean.

9) The Botantical Gardens

There are a lot of outdoor beautiful Gardens in the Los Angeles area.  From the Huntington Library in Pasadena to the La Arboreteum in Arcadia to Descanso Gardens to the Japanese Gardens in Van Nuys to The South Coast Botantical Garden in Torrance.  They are everywhere, and each one is truly worth the trip to spend the day in.

10) The Farmer’s Markets.

If you wanted to go to a Farmer’s Markets each day of the week in Los Angeles, you could.  There is literally one happening every day throughout the week as you drive around town.  However, to me, nothing beats the Original Farmer’s Market in the heart of Los Angeles off of 3rd and Fairfax.

Those are my 10 reasons as to why I have fallen in love with Los Angeles.  What are some of yours? =)