Los Angeles

Los Angeles needs 3 days: Hollywood and the Walk of Fame on one, Santa Monica and Venice Beach on another, and a third for the Getty Center or Griffith Observatory. March-May avoids summer smog and winter rain. It's expensive, though more affordable than New York or San Francisco for lodging, though a car (nearly mandatory) adds extra cost. It's the world capital of entertainment, with more film and TV studios than any other city, and its over 120km of coastline make it unique among major US metropolises.