Los Angeles, California, USA

From the “stars” that line Hollywood Boulevard to the miles of pristine Pacific coastline and near-perfect weather, Los Angeles County is one of the most diverse and desirable locales in all of sun-drenched Southern California. Its signature city of Los Angeles, the City of Angels, is the second most populous in the U.S. and offers plenty of cosmopolitan culture, fashion and entertainment expertly delivered in a distinctive West Coast style.

Given its breath and scope (the county is 4,700 square miles and the city is 500 square miles), L.A. neighborhoods are distinct. Some of the most desirable can be found hugging the shoreline west of Hollywood and the city’s downtown grid. That said the “Westside” beach cities of Santa Monica and Malibu are famous for their exquisite lifestyles. Here mansions, villas, Spanish-style haciendas, beach condos and sprawling estates all compete for space while million-dollar ocean and mountain views can be savored poolside. Residents are not shy about surrounding themselves with the elegant essentials that make the good life very good.

With streets framed by tall palm trees and fragrant eucalyptus, L.A.’s elite neighborhoods offer close proximity to posh country clubs and lush parks, while gated estates and communities ensure privacy. Just north of Santa Monica lies Brentwood whose quiet winding roads eventually lead to the Getty Center, a world-class cultural destination, and the laid back and tiny neighborhood of Pacific Palisades. Both are favorite addresses of the rich and famous.

Los Angeles County also has two offshore islands, San Clemente and Santa Catalina, which are known for their many yacht clubs.

Classic neighborhoods of old and new Hollywood such as Beverly Hills and Bel Air have not lost their dazzle. Beverly’s Hills’ Rodeo Drive is still one of the premier shopping meccas in the world and the evening view of glittering downtown L.A. from a magnificent Bel Air mansion sets a tranquil scene on a balmy Southern Californian night.