Los Angeles, America's Pacific megacity, sparkles in the sunshine and hums with creativity. The art, food, and fashion scenes are abuzz, and you bump into Hollywood celebrities at the farmers' market. To get a handle on all this energy can be dizzying, especially if you only have a Friday through Sunday to explore.

Luckily, this new city guide in Taschen's best-selling travel series with The New York Times distills dining, drinks, and experiences into perfectly packaged 36-hour itineraries, so you can transform each weekend into an adventure in L.A. and beyond. From swinging through glamorous night spots to tucking into the tastiest tacos in Santa Barbara or chasing the sunset in Malibu, take off with a travelogue of cool and quirky inspirations.