Tinseltown. La La Land. Los Angeles is easily reduced to cliché. But it doesn't take much to discover there's so much more than the glitz and glamor for which it's renowned. Miracle Mile is home to some of the United States' very best museums, including the LA County Museum of Art and the fascinating La Brea Tar Pits. Downtown LA has enjoyed a resurgence in recent years, with a wealth of excellent new restaurants and bars. Then, of course, there's the beach: Options for an afternoon chilling on the sand are plentiful, from Santa Monica to Redondo. More active types can escape the smog by exploring some of LA's canyon and hills on a network of superb hiking trails.