Like Las Vegas, the allure of L.A. -- for better or for worse -- is undeniable. Los Angelenos know their city will never have the sophisticated style of Paris or the historical riches of London, but they cheerfully lay claim to living in the most entertaining city in the United States, if not the world. It really is warm and sunny most days of the year, movie stars actually do live and dine amongst the commoners, and you can't swing a cat by its tail without hitting a roller-blading blond in Venice Beach.

This part of the L.A. mystique -- however exaggerated it may be -- truly does exist, and it's not hard to find. In fact, it's fitting that L.A. is home to the world's first amusement park, because it regularly feels like one, as the line between fantasy and reality is often obscured. From the unattainable, anachronistic glamour of Beverly Hills to the vibrant street energy of Venice, each of the city's diverse neighborhoods is like a mini-theme park, offering its own kind of unique adventure. Drive down Sunset Boulevard and you'll see what I mean: the billboards are racier, the fashions trendier, the cars fancier, the bodies sexier, the sun brighter, and the energy higher than anyplace you've ever been. Darlin,' you're not in Kansas anymore -- you're in LA-LA land now. Let's go play.