Spring, summer, and fall, enjoy tennis, hiking, biking, camping, water skiing, fishing, sailing, and if you are young at heart, take a plunge in the lake. Some claim the lake temperature actually warms up to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Cross over to the Nevada side of the lake and enjoy the excitement of gambling and world-class entertainment featuring Hollywood's top performing stars and recording artists at the many glamorous casinos. Along with major radio and television companies, this area has grown from being one of large cattle ranches and agricultural concerns into a major entertainment center. The metro area includes many well-known beach and coastal areas, such as Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice and Marina del Rey.
Water sports abound and nearly all beaches are open to the public.
Inland city names are just as easily recognized Beverly Hills, Universal City, Hollywood, Burbank, and Pasadena. Theaters, large and small, offer classical to contemporary dramas, The Music Center presents opera, musical comedy, symphony productions and more. Tourism is the area's number one economic interest, although in the past, fishing, whaling, and sardine harvesting played important roles. Today conservation and preservation of the area's natural beauty and resources are most important. This can be witnessed at the Monterey Bay Aquarium with its more than 500 species of marine life and over 100 exhibits.