TOP 10 THINGS TO DO IN GAY LOS ANGELES

From Hollywood to Venice Beach and Bel Air to Brentwood, Los Angeles is world-famous as a capital of culture, glamour and entertainment. It's also a sprawling city with many unique and distinct neighborhoods and bordering municipalities with their own character and flavor. While West Hollywood and Silver Lake take the spotlight for gay-friendly destinations, don't ignore Hollywood, Beverly Hills and Santa Monica. The San Fernando Valley and Westwood are also on the map of places worth checking out, and Downtown L.A. is very up-and-coming these days, with new restaurants, museums and ethnic hotspots.

Los Angeles tends to be dry and hot, but the winter months will be slightly cooler with more precipitation. Having a car is recommended, although the subway accesses some of the more popular areas.

In early March, it's Oscar Week, a great time for celebrity-spotting. In mid-May, Long Beach hosts its Gay Pride while L.A.'s Pride is in early June. Mid-June brings the L.A. International Film Festival and mid-July features OutFest, Southern California's gay film festival. In October, AIDS Walk Los Angeles takes place and around Halloween, the West Hollywood Halloween Carnival is a gay celebration of the costume holiday.

Besides the places listed below, additional cultural attractions include the L.A. County Museum of Art, the Norton Simon Museum of Art, the Hollywood Entertainment Museum, the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the One Gay and Lesbian Archive. Outdoor sights include the La Brea Tar Pits, Santa Monica Pier, Catalina Island, Universal Studios Hollywood, Disneyland and legendary Venice Boardwalk. Beaches in Santa Monica, Venice and Long Beach are some of the state's best. The well-known Hollywood Walk of Fame awaits you on Hollywood Boulevard and yes, you can still buy maps to celebrities' homes in Beverly Hills.

This guide will give you an idea of the Top 10 things to do in Los Angeles whether you are going for the scenery, the studs or the stars.