Los Angeles

The Los Angeles area, which includes Hollywood and Beverly Hills, has often been called the land of make-believe and dreams, but one thing is certain: There's plenty to do and plenty of ways to do it. From the movie studios, to the beaches, to the Dodgers and Lakers, to enjoying the sunny weather on the golf courses, it does indeed seem to never rain in Southern California.

The area, which is the most populated in the state, is home to many famous attractions. There's Universal Studios in Hollywood, for example, or better yet, take a guided tour through Hollywood itself and follow the footsteps of your favorite movie stars to Grauman's Chinese Theater. There's plenty of live entertainment throughout L.A., with top notch entertainment performing at concerts, comedy clubs and other venues throughout the city. You can even join a studio audience to watch a live TV show. You could also take a tour of the stars' homes in Beverly Hills, or check out the other kind of stars at Griffith Observatory.

L.A., of course, is famous for its beaches, such as Malibu, Santa Monica and Venice, where you'll find Muscle Beach and the most interesting vendors and street performers in the world. And near those beaches are some pretty good golf courses, such as Trump National Golf Club, a Pete Dye design that the "Donald" rebuilt for a cost of $250 million. Of course, it will cost you dearly to play Trump National, but there are more affordable options such as the municipal Rancho Park Golf Course, which has hosted professional tour events on nearly every level during its long history. Stretching out to nearly 6,700 yards, this par 71 is located on the city's west side and includes a lighted driving range, but that's only a fraction of the public golf offerings in the area, which run the gamut from affordable to lavish.