Top Landmarks in Los Angeles
cc: photo credit: Dave Gorman
A trip to Los Angeles is an adventure that can come in many different flavors. You can take a scenic relaxing tour through the city, hitting the most laid back locales, or you can go the high adventure route and explore the most happening hot spots. Whatever your preference, Los Angeles is chock full of landmarks that are worthy of your attention.
Sit back and enjoy the sights with a tour of L.A. and the star’s homes. Los Angeles Sightseeing Tours is a great way to start your experience. Let these experienced and reliable tour guides take you through the highlights and give you insights that you’re not going to learn in the official tour books. Make note of the places you pass on your tour that spark your interest and return later to leisurely explore.
For the first time visitor a trip to Hollywood is almost a must. Here you can stroll the streets, do a little shopping, an check out restaurants and happening nightclubs, but probably the most famous part of Hollywood is the Hollywood Sign. The sign has come to mean more than the name of a town, it signifies a dream for many, and failed aspirations for others. Originally built in the 1920′s the sign first read HOLLYWOODLAND and was not meant as an homage to the city below but an advertisement for a real estate development. Over the years the sign has gone through many phases of vandalism and disrepair but now stands restored and revered as a symbol of hope for many fame-driven hopefuls.
And as long as you’re in the neighborhood, there are several other things worth taking note of in Hollywood, like the Walk of Fame. Since the first inscription of Joanne Woodward’s name on February 9th 1960, instant tradition began. Currently there are over 2000 people, animals fictional characters and some companies and buildings are honored on the approximately 3.5 mile walk. Nominations to be placed on the walk are submitted each May and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce makes the final decision on who will be honored and who will be forgotten.
While on your walk of the stars you’ll pass right by Grauman’s Chinese Theater, purportedly the most famous theater in the world. Originally established in 1927, the theater was the brainchild of Sid Grauman who knew how to create a spectacle. Rising 90 feet into the air, the roof commands attention of passersby. The exterior and the interior feature Chinese architecture and artifacts but the most noted feature is not Chinese at al. Grauman came up with the idea to have the stars put their handprints and foot prints in wet cement to immortalize them during publicized ceremonies in the Forecourt of the Stars. Pop culture historians will recognize Grauman’s Chinese Theater from its many appearances in film, television, video games, novels and songs.
Looking for a place to stay, how about the Roosevelt Hotel. Serving as host to such notable guests as Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and Montgomery Clift the hotel continues to draw Hollywood’s brightest stars and visitors alike. Originally financed by Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford, and Louis B. Mayer in 1927, the Roosevelt was home to the first Academy Awards ceremony two years later. This Spanish Colonial Revival building was declared a landmark in August of 1991 and is still reportedly haunted by Monroe and Clift.
Another stop that draws hoards of people for different reasons is Griffith Observatory. The Observatory opened in 1935 and became an instant success. In addition to space and scientific exhibits there is a planetarium, the Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon, Gottlieb Transit Corridor and the Samuel Oschin Planetarium Theater. If the science isn’t what drew you to the Griffith Observatory, maybe it’s the views. Located on the south facing slope of Mt. Hollywood, the observatory has spectacular views of the LA Basin, downtown Los Angeles, Hollywood an the Pacific Ocean. And if that doesn’t wow you then perhaps getting up close and personal with a location that has been featured in more than a dozen feature films including Rebel Without a Cause and The Terminator. It’s had a place of importance in just as many television series and pops up now and again in music videos, video games and comic books on occasion. If you still have time on your stop through Hollywood, be sure to visit the Wax Museum and the Kodak Theatre, or take your kids to visit Universal Studios.
For anyone with children a trip to the L.A. area isn’t complete without a stop at Disneyland Park. Walt Disney’s west side residence is actually the only theme park designed, built, opened and operated by the man himself. This adventure playland is the second most visited park in the world, second only to its eastside cousin, Disney World in Orlando, Florida. There is almost no end to the activities featured in Disneyland as guests can enjoy a variety of edible treats, thrill to spectacular theme rides, watch parades and fireworks, or sit and view a variety show or movie. And don’t forget about the shopping.
Another must see attraction is the famous Knott’s Berry Farm. If you find Disneyland a little tame, then you’ll love the rides at Knott’s Berry Farm, with over 165 world class rides and some really thrilling roller coasters. If you do have little ones along, be sure to make a stop at Camp Snoopy for rides specifically geared for the smaller set and themed fun. In addition, if the weather permits, the Wild Water Wilderness is a great stop for family fun and water themed rides. Check out their annual schedule as the farm hosts a number of exciting seasonal events.
If you seek these thrilling rides but your travels find your family north of LA, consider Six Flags Magic Mountain as an alternative to these amusement parks to the south.
And don’t leave the Los Angeles area without making a stop to the Santa Monica Pier. Whether you’re looking for a quiet stroll along the beach and a peaceful sunset or if you’re searching for more excitement, the Santa Monica Pier has it all. The pier offers dining, shopping, amusements rides at Pacific Park an attraction in itself, a 1922 carousel and interactive aquarium. And don’t forget the ocean. Take advantage of all that the Pacific Ocean has to offer with fishing, snorkeling, swimming, sandcastle building, sun bathing and of course surfing. In addition to the permanent fixtures at the Santa Monica Pier, there are the aforementioned sunsets, roaming performers and musicians and artists that make every visit to the pier a unique experience.
This California playland is accessible from several different airports, including the international LAX, Long Beach, Orange County and Burbank. Of course there are many places to stay, but if you’re in the market for a great hotel deal in LA, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Long Beach, Newport Beach, Orange County or Anaheim, check out Hotels Cheap. Don’t miss out on the fun!
Categories: Sightseeing
