Hello, welcome to the USA! Welcome to the City of Angels. You have just landed at one of the many terminals of one of the busiest airports in the world, in a city famous for celebrities, the film industry, bohemian life and surfing on endless beaches. Today will be more about organization (immigration control, picking up the car) and relaxing after a long flight, however, depending on your arrival time, it is possible to use this day meaningfully as well. Options are listed below.

Los Angeles is a city of film and celebrity, and your first day will be in that spirit. Take a stroll along the famous beachfront boardwalk and soak up the bohemian vibe with street artists and paintings. Sporty jeidnts can get fit at the open-air Muslce beach gym, popular with celebrity bodybuilders. Stroll along the fine sandy beach, soak up some sun and refreshment or surf the endless waters of the Pacific Ocean. Follow in the footsteps of the stars and find your favourite on the famous Walk of Fame. And since you're in Hollywood, don't forget the famous marker located in the hills above the city. Then end the day at one of the world's most visited observatories, where you'll have the City of Angels in the palm of your hand and bid farewell with a spectacular (almost cinematic) view of its downtown and sprawling suburbs with the Pacific Ocean in the background.

While exploring the beauty of this unique national park, you will admire the bizarre desert vegetation, led by the so-called "Joshua tree" or hairy cacti. During a drive through the landscape or on hiking trails, you will be surrounded by various rock formations, and you can invent names for them using your imagination. At some prominent rock formations, the park rangers have already done this for you, so you can see, for example, a rock with a human face, a skull, a heart, or an elephant.

In the morning and early afternoon, you'll say goodbye to Joshua with a last short walk surrounded by rock formations and all the strange trees and bushes here. Then you'll take a drive through sections of the legendary Route 66 through the inhospitable desert landscape on the border of California and Nevada, punctuated by a walk on the dunes and a look at the world's tallest thermometer. Later in the afternoon, you'll walk the salt flats at the lowest point on the continent with the highest temperature recorded. You'll also explore a few canyons and mountains created by the artist himself :) Welcome to Death Valley!!!

Today, in the inhospitable wilderness of Death valley, you'll look at the local "badlands" and see different coloured rock formations. You'll walk through several canyons where you can crawl over rocks or learn about geology. And since you're in the desert, you can't (and won't) miss the hot sand walk to the top of the dunes.

After a relatively long drive through the subtropical landscape of California, with a stop at a beautiful lake, you will arrive at Sequoia National Park. As the name suggests, this is the best place to admire the massive redwoods - the tallest trees in the world and symbols of California. But before you go full on hugging its massive trunks, walk through a tunnel made of fallen rock and take an adventurous trail through the canyon, at the end of which you'll find the cascading "Marble" Falls. Gaze upon slopes covered with charred tree stumps ravaged by forest fires. If you're lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a bear or other inhabitants of the local wilderness.

Today you can fully enjoy the beautiful redwoods by walking along the forest trails. Visit the famous Captain Sherman proudly towering in the middle of the old redwood forest. Take a walk through "nature's Congress" and see the Senate, the President, or Lincoln (of course we're talking about their "tree" versions). Enjoy the views of the beautiful Sierra Nevada and its interesting geological formations. Let yourself be carried away by the beauty and tranquility of the local mountain nature. If you're lucky, you might even spot a bear :)

Walk through the canyon to a wild waterfall to the sound of a raging mountain river. Enjoy views of dramatic mountain landscapes filled with rocky peaks and jagged valleys. Enjoy the pristine purity and serenity of local nature and gaze high into the canopy of giant sequoias.

Enjoy the wilderness in this beautiful part of the national park. Climb to the lookout points and look out over the distant mountain ridges and valleys. Indulge in a natural shower splashing water from a wild waterfall. Work up an appetite on one of the challenging treks through the mountain jungle. And if you're lucky, you might even stumble across the local king of the jungle - the baribal bear. Look for him on the ground and in the trees - he's a very skilled climber.

A visit to one of the most beautiful parks in the USA will start in style - with a postcard view from Tunnel view. Look out into the narrow glacial valley enclosed by granite walls and see local giants Half dome, El Capitan, Sentinel dome and other amazing formations. Stroll the river beaches in the mountain meadows and, if you're brave, take a dip in the clear mountain river. Test your physical fitness with a challenging climb up the legendary Glacier Point. You'll be rewarded with fabulously beautiful views with all the local symbols right in the palm of your hand.

Today's topic of exploration of this beautiful park will be water. You'll see it in a calm state in the form of a shallow lake with the surface crushing the surrounding mountains. But you'll also see its wild side, not only in the form of the local predatory mountain streams, but especially the spectacular steep waterfalls mercilessly scraping the surrounding smooth rocks. You'll take an adventurous hike to them along a trail full of adventure and beautiful views of the area's natural wonders. 

Take a challenging climb to the upper Yosemite waterfall and challenge yourself with the rugged terrain. You will be rewarded with incredible views of the majestic upper falls, but also of the lower part of the falls when you find yourself above the spillway. This lower waterfall will then be revealed in all its glory on a short circuit leading directly below it. Say goodbye to Yosemite Valley with a view of the breathtaking El Capitan granite massif, and then move on to the old-growth redwood forest, where you will walk through a natural tunnel formed in the trunk of a giant dead redwood tree.

Today will be a roadtrip through the Sierra Nevada mountains on the border of California and Nevada. First, you'll drive across Yosemite on a high mountain scenic road and relax your hiking-weary body by a beautiful lake high in the mountains. You will walk through a meadow with typical alpine vegetation to a mineral spring. Climb up to the dog lake and the granite dome to enjoy the last sips of the beautiful landscape. You will come to the shores of a lake saltier than the sea itself, where you will see towers of volcanic dust rising above the surface. Finish the day at a huge mountain lake where you can enjoy beach activities, sightseeing or light hiking.

Today, you will enjoy a roadtrip that this time will resemble a journey down from the heavens, as you gradually descend from the Sierra Nevada mountains to the endless waters of the Pacific Ocean. You'll take one last walk through a forest of ancient giant sequoias before heading out into the Pacific. First, you'll gaze at its wide blue surface from the edge of a cliff, to plunge into it later (not from the cliff, but from the pleasant beach below). You'll finish with a sight familiar from postcards, paintings, puzzles and many movies - the legendary red Golden Gate Suspension Bridge spanning San Francisco Bay. And since your paths lead to San Francsico, you'll cross the bridge too!

Walk along the seafront promenade and let the atmosphere of the harbour district take you away. Watch the sea lions sunning themselves by the pier right in the centre of town. Take a ride on the legendary cable car up the local hilly streets. Stroll down the world's most scenic street and satisfy your palate with Asian cuisine at the local Chinatown.

Get on a ferry and be transported across San Francisco Bay to a mysterious island formerly inhabited by the worst criminals in the local dungeon. Enjoy views of the city, the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge from atop the local twin towers. Take a moment to relax and stroll in a city park larger than New York's Central Park itself. Say goodbye to beautiful and relaxed San Francisco on the beach with a view of the endless Pacific Ocean and tune in for the days ahead as you watch its bluish waters as you drive across the famous Pacific Coast Highway.

After a visit to the forested mountains and deserts, the last natural attraction that California is famous for - the ocean.

Your roadtrip on the famed Pacific Coast Highway is about to begin!! Drive up the rocky coastline with cliffs plummeting into the endless ocean waters. Look out over the blue Pacific in the distance and listen to the sound of the surf breaking on the sharp rocks. Watch sea lions, seals and ospreys on natural beaches and lonely rocks, as well as downtown on the pier. Head down to one of the natural beaches and splash in the waves, surf or no surf.

Continue your adventure as you roadtrip along the Pacific coast highway further south towards LA. Stroll the coastal park, gaze at the distant islands and relax on the beach. Descend the stairs to a beautiful beach hidden beneath the cliffs and explore its coastal caves. On your way to LA, be sure to stop in the luxurious resort town of Malibu, where, as well as surfing on the endless local beaches, you can admire the opulent mansions of the wealthy locals. And if you're lucky, you might meet one of the many local film, music or sports celebrities - Malibu is a promised land for them.

Your American adventure is over and all that's left is to get to the airport, check in and return home safely. Before that, of course, there's the return of the car and the formalities involved. Be sure to allow plenty of time - the formalities associated with returning your car, possible traffic jams, the check-in process, customs checks, etc. can take up a lot of your time. Depending on the time of your departure, you may have some time left for last minute visits to interesting places in LA. Before you choose one, consider the time spent visiting it, including transportation time there and then to the airport, so you are not stressed.

Departure Day Activities:

1) Visit downtown 

Downtown is the American term for the center of a city. Los Angeles' Downtown doesn't compare to New York's Manhattan (in size or number of attractions), but you can still spend a day or part of it here and you definitely won't get bored. LA is a huge city, or rather an agglomeration that has grown so much that it has swallowed up the surrounding cities and together they form one of the most contiguous urban settlements in the USA. It is also renowned for its cultural diversity, which is mainly due to its proximity to the Mexican border. The Hispanic community in particular is very strong here (after all, even the name of the city is Spanish). The multicultural nature of the city is also evident in Downtown itself, which is located around the main train station, Union Station. Here we find several neighbourhoods close together. Right around the station is the oldest part of the city, El Pueblo, with its main square, cathedrals and the historic LA City Hall. The LA Times building is also interesting. The predominantly Hispanic neighborhood is the birthplace of today's LA.

North of El Peueblo lies Chinatown - a place to soak up the atmosphere of far-off China with its Buddhist temples, street shops and, of course, the cuisine. Chinatown can be an ideal place to dine out (otherwise you'll probably eat more the American way - i.e. fast food) or shop for souvenirs. The Chinese have a fairly significant community in the US, and every major city has a Chinatown.

North of Chinatown lies the legendary Dodger Stadium, which is home to the local baseball team playing the famous Major League Baseball. A visit to this giant building might interest more than just baseball fans.

Just south of El Pueblo and Union Station, you can stroll through the Little Tokyo neighborhood, which is ravenous with its restaurants and street-side eateries.

Further south then lies the infamous homeless and drug-addicted Skid Row. In the US, homelessness and drugs is a hot topic. The truth is that the number of homeless people, drug addicts and the associated crime rate is at a high level here (certainly higher than one would expect in a comparably developed country in Europe, for example). Every American city has its infamous areas where people sleep on the street in tents and openly sell or directly use drugs. Skid Row is one of the largest such areas in the entire US. To a European, driving through the streets of Skid Row is shocking. If you decide to visit, it is not recommended to get out of your car and just drive through the neighborhood. There should be no inconvenience afterwards.

Steel skyscraper lovers, on the other hand, will wring their necks in the Finance District with its many high-rise office buildings, including LA's tallest building, the US Bank Tower, offering a view.

2) Universal Studios

Movie fans should not miss this opportunity. Hollywood and all of LA is known for its cinema, and Universal Studios is one of the oldest and most famous of such studios. It is still used for filming movies, but currently serves more as a magnet for tourists - it is a huge entertainment center where you can spend a whole day. Popular attractions include Harry Potter and Jurassic Park themed sections, a haunted castle, rollercoaster, etc.

Ticket prices start at $109 but vary according to different parameters (date, time and type of entry). Anyone interested in visiting this place should study the website - https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/web/en/us 

!!!ATTENTION!!! It is better to book the entrance fee in advance on the website

3) Disney resort

Alternative to the previous location, but quite a distance from LA airport and accommodations. It is located about 50 miles south of LA in the city of Anaheim. It's actually two connected parks - Disneyland to the north and Disney California Adventure across from it to the south.

Ticket prices start at $100, but vary based on various parameters (date, time and type of admission).

For those interested in this attraction, explore the website - https://disneyland.disney.go.com/

!!!ATTENTION!!! It is better to book the entrance fee in advance on the website

4) Paramount Pictures studio

What would it be to visit LA and the film industry-famous Hollywood if you didn't at least pass by one of the film studios. You'll know Paramount Pictures from the opening or closing credits of films - it's the oldest and one of the most profitable studios. It's part of the Big Five of the most famous movie studios in the US and the world - in addition to Paramount, it also includes Walt Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Universal Studios and Sony Pictures. It's located on the famed Melrose Avenue shopping and entertainment avenue, which can be an experience in itself.

Paramount Pictures studio tour:

Fans of the film industry can opt for a tour of the studio's former and current studios and prop warehouses. It's a good idea to book tickets in advance for a specific time; the last tour starts at 3:30pm and lasts 2 hours. The classic Studio tour option is described here, but there are longer and more lavish tours (the VIP tour is for 4.5 hours and costs $220). For those interested in a tour, explore the website below. 

web - https://www.paramountstudiotour.com/index.html

4) beaches

Venice beach and Santa Monica you probably managed on your first day in LA or on arrival, but these are beaches with a good atmosphere and easy access to the airport, so they can be visited repeatedly.

If you want to visit other beaches, there are some to the south of the airport - such as nearby Manhattan or Hermosa Beach with its surfer statue, or further south, the famous Long Beach with the harbour in the background. Even further south is the beautiful Laguna beach, but it is quite far away.