Does Los Angeles have the greatest location of any city in the world?

[Westsidelife]

I seriously think it does. Here's why...

• Only major metropolitan area in the world that has mountains, beaches, deserts, and islands. That diverse topography is well integrated into the local lifestyle. For instance, there are a host of beautiful 5-star resorts along the coast like Terranea in Rancho Palos Verdes, the Montage in Laguna Beach, and the St. Regis in Monarch Beach. Winter getaways like Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead, and Wrightwood offer skiing and snowboarding. The Coachella Valley is a popular desert getaway where one can go golfing, hiking, horseback riding, and gambling. Catalina Island is just an hour off the coast and is somewhat reminiscent of Capri.

• Just a few hours away are Santa Barbara (the American Riviera), San Diego (America's Finest City), San Francisco (America's Favorite City), and Las Vegas (America's Playground). Not to mention wonderful destinations like Pismo Beach, Monterey, Pebble Beach, Carmel, Wine Country, Big Sur, Mammoth, Yosemite, etc.

• Almost exactly equidistant between London (the gateway to Europe) and Tokyo (the gateway to Asia).

• In the continental United States, the closest to Hawaii, French Polynesia, and Australia/New Zealand.

• Nearly perfect weather year-round with over 300 days of sunshine.

[Solopop]

Though you say that but they also suffer severe drought.

Is it that perfect? There are also bushfires... So no it dosn't have the greatest location.

[Westsidelife]

^ I never said it was perfect. There is no perfect location.

[alex3000]

I thought San Diego also had "mountains, beaches, deserts, and islands."

[alex3000]

Although, I think you meant snow-covered mountains, right?

[Westsidelife]

Originally Posted by alex3000

I thought San Diego also had "mountains, beaches, deserts, and islands."

San Diego does not have islands. None of the Channel Islands belong to San Diego County. As for deserts, part of the Colorado Desert runs through San Diego County, but it's almost completely barren. There's nothing like the Coachella Valley.

[Westsidelife]

Here are the videos that inspired me to create this thread, though this topic has been on my mind for quite some time now...

Big Bear


Lake Arrowhead


Catalina Island


Wrightwood


Palm Springs


Newport Beach


Laguna Beach


Montage Laguna Beach

[Kenny]

I was just discussing that in Latinscrapers about our city, how blessed it is that we have the beaches, forests, deserts, snow, and mountains at hands reach....ah, and almost perfect weather year round. That makes it one of the most ideal places in the world, but its not the the only place.

[milquetoast]

Originally Posted by Solopop

Though you say that but they also suffer severe drought.
Is it that perfect? There are also bushfires... So no it dosn't have the greatest location.

Anyone suffering? (nevermind, I E!) Name a place better, pop!

[kalibob32]

well the question is really subjective (and biased - post it in the urban discussion forum haha)

i think the answer is yes (everything i love about life i can find in & around LA)
and for many many ppl, LA would probably be near the top

[VZN]

There was a thread a while back on City-Data (I lurk there from time to time...) about which city was best to vacation in. Many posters pointed out that L.A. arguably had the most versatile environment to accommodate individuals who had different interests.

If you wanted to do a beach vacation, you could do that.

If you wanted to do the outdoors/hiking/mountain skiing thing, you could do that.

If you wanted to explore L.A. and it's urban amenities (museums, nightclubs, shopping, sports... etc.), you could do that.

If you wanted to do the theme park thing, you could do that.

What makes it possible for L.A. to offer all of these things to people is it's weather and location. A lot of cities simply can't compete with that.

Is L.A. the only city to offer those things? No... but there aren't a lot of cities in the world that can't do them all the same time with perfect weather. That's what sets L.A. above and beyond the pack and we are truly fortunate to have such amenities here.

Although no location is 'truly' perfect (we have water shortages and earthquakes, let's keep it real)... we kind of come close.

[pesto]

Every visit to LA I make it a point to go to biking or the beach, to the opera or theater or art gallery, and to a pro or college sport. I really don't believe there is anywhere you can do those sorts of things at the same level of quality, during most of the year.

[Westsidelife]

Again, just to clarify, I'm not saying LA's geographic location is perfect or the most ideal; earthquakes and wildfires certainly make it unappealing to some people. I know there are plenty of other cities in the world that are surrounded by some amazing natural beauty (San Francisco, Vancouver, Rio de Janeiro, Sydney, etc.). But when you're talking about the diverse topography and the recreational activities they provide along with the fact that they are all located within a few hours of one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world, I really don't think there is another city that can say the same thing.

[Westsidelife]

Distance from Los Angeles to London: 5,448 miles
Distance from Los Angeles to Tokyo: 5,478 miles

That's a 30-mile discrepancy! And besides, you're still within the boundaries of Greater Tokyo if you travel 30 miles less.

[Westsidelife]

I didn't even know Palm Springs had an aerial tramway, let alone the largest in the world! LA never ceases to impress/surprise me. This is really one of the greatest places on Earth. Forgive me, I'm having a moment...

[LosAngelesSportsFan]

its all good, we all have these moments! after all, we live in the best place in the world.

all that i would say has already been said. for someone like me that loves the mountains, the beaches, the city lifestyle, LA is perfection.

[Westsidelife]

^ To some people, LA is hell. To others, it's heaven. It can be the worst place on Earth, or it can be the most amazing thrill you've ever experienced. That's really what LA is all about. It's what YOU make of it. This is a city that epitomizes what it means to have no boundaries/limits. You can be whoever/whatever you want to be. Some people will never understand it and that's okay. It is not meant to be fully understood, not even by those who are blessed to call it home.

[PragmaticIdealist]

The oil, cars, and freeways are the things that prevent southern California from offering the best quality of life on the planet.

[PragmaticIdealist]

I would have loved to see the place when my grandparents came in the '40's. Just imagine what it would be like if we had kept the trains and the Pacific Electric Red Cars.

[heywindup]

LA is in a great geographical location. The city itself is quite unfortunate though.