It’s a tourist destination - most definitely. The Walk of Fame is a big draw; but if a tourist were to lift their eyes up off the pavement for a while they’d notice that they are surrounded by offices - commerce is the new star of the neighborhood.
While most of Los Angeles tends to follow the paradigm of always chasing something new, Pasadena differs in that it loves to look back at history. It loves tradition, and this show sin some of the old neighborhoods, and in the shopping district, and the annual Rose Parade. The city is diverse, and you’ll find bungalows on one side of the freeway, and modern condos on the other. There are museums, theaters, markets, and stores, and the population ranges from affluent retired people to young singles looking to get their first start in life.
Head to Long Beach and it’s a different picture entirely. As you move south towards Whittier, you will find that this neighborhood is another one of those that is home to people who want to commute to other areas to work. It’s a nice, relaxing suburb, and it offers easy access to Orange County and Central Los Angeles, so it;s a great compromise, but it’s not somewhere that people would flock to other than for the convenience. It has good public transport routes, and it has a nice middle-class population, but it is far more homely than many of the other neighborhood, which will require more office movers. Whittier, in particular, epitomizes suburban life, with its farmer’s markets and family fairs.
As you can see, Los Angeles is incredibly diverse. Whatever you’re looking for, you can expect to find it in one of the cities. The trick is figuring out which one.