The warmth of the Southern California sun, the smell of the ocean and the feel of sand between your toes at the coast welcome all visitors to the City of Angels. While Los Angeles may seem to be more of a visual experience -- with its moviemaking and dazzling stars -- the visually impaired can also experience the riches of this California gem
Sound
- Los Angeles might not be the first city mentioned by fine arts aficionados, but its philharmonic led by Gustavo Dudamel sounds like silk, and the LA Opera, led by the incomparable Placido Domingo, is love at first hearing at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. For the ultimate in legendary acoustics, pack a wine and cheese picnic and head to the Hollywood Bowl for an evening in the crisp summer air and a night of standards from Tony Bennett or Natalie Cole. You can also join Hugh Hefner at the Bowl each summer for what the publishing magnate considers his most important achievement: the Playboy Jazz Festival.
Touch
- Imagine dipping your fingers in a pool of ocean water to feel the smooth bodies of one of the sea's most fascinating creatures. The 10,000-square-foot Shark Lagoon at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach features a touch pool brimming with gentler sharks and rays. Inquire about the aquarium's behind-the-scenes animal encounter tours, where you can help feed penguins and sea lions and don a wetsuit to climb in the shark pool to wade with the most famous residents.
- Smell
- Experience Los Angeles with your nostrils filled with the fragrance of sweet blooms. North of Los Angeles in La Canada Flintridge, the Descanso Gardens collect more than 3,000 roses across 5 acres, mingled with a variety of companion plants. The Japanese Garden comes alive each spring when fragrant cherry blossoms and plum trees burst into bloom, and the 8-acre California Garden is blanketed with the state's signature wildflowers. The Lilac Garden boasts more than 250 types of the purple buds, and Descanso's collection of camellias is the largest in North America. Visit the gardens any day you wish except on Christmas.
Taste
- A journey through the myriad cultures that comprise Los Angeles can be done with taste buds alone. Start on an empty stomach at the Farmers Market, a local staple since 1934, where you'll find fresh crepes and mouth-watering barbecue in addition to a cornucopia of California produce, spices, nuts, candies and scorching hot sauces. For a culinary trip through the Mexican heritage of the city, eat your way through the taquitos and churros on Olvera Street downtown. Don't forget Randy's Donuts in Inglewood, a landmark frequently seen onscreen but just as famous for its crullers and maple bars.
