A Heavenly Escape to the City of Angels

This is the fourth in a series of features sponsored by Hilton. To ignite your own memorable moments, discover top gay destinations and experience the most exciting LGBT-centric events of the season, visit GoOut.Hilton.com.

The nights are getting longer, the sun is getting weaker and blustery weather has begun buffeting much of the nation. Except for Los Angeles that is. Late autumn offers ideal conditions for getting out and about in the City of Angels with sunny skies and temperatures that hover in the 70s as the daily standard. Tourist crowds have thinned out too, so you won't be elbow-to-elbow as you soak up the rays in these hot spots:

Hiking, Horseback Riding and Boffo Gay Beaches

With 15 million residents, many of them engaged in creative industries, and a thriving cultural scene, it's not surprising Los Angeles is home to one of the country's most thriving LGBT scenes. Surf-and-sand-loving members of the gay community have flocked to Santa Monica's Will Rogers State Beach for decades, dubbing it "Ginger Rogers Beach." Hit it up to watch the hard bodies smack volleyballs, or head over to West Street Beach, Laguna's gay beach for locals.

Griffith Park's iconic observatory is a magnet for visitors, but residents especially dig the 4,210-acre park's 53 miles of trails. Consider hiking from the observatory parking lot to the Mount Hollywood summit for spectacular views of the city, or let an equine do the work with a guided trail ride from Sunset Ranch.

Still want a work out? Mike Stommel, LA PRIDE's communications consultant, recommends taking a turn around Runyon Canyon Park. "Situated just north of Hollywood Boulevard, Runyon is a great spot for celeb spotting and muscled boys," he notes. "If you're looking for a more challenging hike, continue up the road, which will lead you to a higher hiking path."

Universal Good Times

Of course getting out in the Los Angeles sun doesn't have to involve exertion. Universal Studios Hollywood boasts enough thrills to keep visitors in chills for days. Universal's theme park features rides and shows based on your favorite flicks, like Jurassic Park The Ride, where you come face to face with a 50-foot T Rex and take a 84-foot raft plunge. Or, go behind-the-scenes on the magical studio tour.

And don't forget Universal Studio Hollywood's CityWalk, with more than 30 shops and just as many eateries. There are even five nightclubs, a 19-screen IMAX theatre and a state-of-the-art concert venue, where music's best come to play.

LGBT-Centric Can't Misses

Los Angeles is host to a wealth of great gayborhoods, from West Hollywood (technically an independent city), site of June's spectacular PRIDE celebration, to Silver Lake and the Downtown district, "one of the hottest areas for both LA locals and visitors," according to Stommel. "There's a great downtown population of LGBT residents and all of the new bars are affectionately called the Pink Triangle."

Among the nightspots Stommel recommends are Redline and Bar Mattachine for great cocktails and the rock n' roll-themed Precinct.

Located not far from the Pink Triangle on the University of Southern California campus, ONE National Gay and Lesbian Archive is the world's largest archive and research library dedicated to LGBT history and regularly presents exhibitions, art shows and film screenings.

No trip to Los Angeles would be complete without a sightseeing excursion and Starline Tours is now offering a special LGBT itinerary. Part of the company's hop-on, hop-off service aboard its ubiquitous double-decker red buses, the tour features stops at spots like famed gay bar The Abbey and the Mark Taper Forum, where "Angels in America" was first performed. Of course, there are also visits to quintessential LA sites like the Walk of Fame, Chinese Theater and Rodeo Drive.

Where to Stay: Location, Location, Location!

With so much to do and see in such a wide-ranging city, picking the right hotel is critical for getting the most bang for your LA buck. Want to explore the Pink Triangle? Bunk at the DoubleTree by Hilton Los Angeles Downtown. Nestled in Little Tokyo, the hotel indulges guests with a sleek, modern interior highlighted by Japanese d�cor. Take in the stunning skyline from the blissful half-acre rooftop Kyoto Gardens or score some new threads at the nearby Fashion District.

If Universal Studio Hollywood's pleasures entice, no other hotel is more perfectly suited than Hilton Los Angeles/Universal City, located a block from Universal's entrance. Don't miss a minute of epic Universal Studios Hollywood attractions by waiting in lines. Get the celebrity treatment and move to the front of the line with the "Universal Studios Hollywood Front of The Line" package. Create havoc with your favorite Minion at the Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction, get swept up at the Transformers ride and fasten your seatbelts for the new Fast & Furious-Supercharge. The full package includes: