Welcome to La La Land! Los Angeles is a city like no other - famous for Hollywood, celebrities, beaches, and endless sunshine. But peel back the glitzy veneer and you'll find a diverse, fascinating metropolis with plenty of quirks.

First things first - LA is not exactly a tourist's paradise. The public transport is abysmal, the traffic is soul-destroying, and the sprawl goes on forever. But armed with a car and a healthy dose of patience, you can have an awesome time. Just be prepared to spend half your vacation sitting in jams on the 405 freeway!

The best time to visit is May to October when the temperatures are warm but not blisteringly hot. Any later and you risk getting caught in the infamous Santa Ana winds that can whip up fierce wildfires. Speaking of which - if you see ash falling from the sky, don't panic. This is perfectly normal for LA.

How long should you stay? With so much ground to cover, I'd recommend at least 5 days to take in the highlights. A week would be ideal to explore further afield.

Despite its reputation, LA doesn't have to be wildly expensive. Budget travelers can find dorm beds for $30 a night and cheap tacos for $1.50. But you'll want $100 per day to be comfortable.

Some quirky facts about LA:

- There are more museums here than anywhere else in the US (over 300!)

- Hollywood Boulevard is the fakest place on Earth. Those "stars" on the Walk of Fame are installed by the artists themselves - for a cool $40,000.

- Angelenos are obsessed with juice. You can't walk half a block without bumping into a juice bar serving liquidized kale for $15 a pop.

- Forget sharks - LA's beaches are plagued by stingrays. So adopt the "stingray shuffle" when entering the water.

- Mexican food is life here. Burritos for breakfast? No problem! Taco trucks on every corner? Si, por favor!

- Don't be surprised to see peacocks roaming the streets in Arcadia. The exotic birds are allowed to wander freely in this LA suburb.

- There are now more creatives and techies living downtown than there are in Silicon Valley.

So come to LA with an open mind, a healthy sense of humor, and get ready for the ride of your life! Just don't forget to pack your hiking boots, sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen.