Visiting Los Angeles, The City of Stars

California

Our First Visit to the City of Stars

On our first day in Los Angeles, we started with the must-see attractions in Hollywood, Los Angeles’s famous neighborhood. We started at the Griffith Observatory to see the fantastic views of this enormous city and the Hollywood Sign.

We also walked the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where thousands of celebrities from the music, film, television, radio, and theater industries are remembered via personal tiles. One tile was unofficially dedicated to Bas van Toor, obviously a joke from a Dutch visitor.

We enjoyed a quick lunch at restaurant 25° in the historic Hotel Roosevelt, where the first Academy Awards ceremony was held in 1929. Many celebrities have been guests here.

Another famous landmark on Hollywood Boulevard that we visited was the TCL Chinese Theatre. This historic movie theatre has a unique Chinese-style architecture! I loved the handprints and footprints of famous celebrities on the cement in front of the theater! My favorite was, of course, Dr. Spock’s Vulcan salute!

From Hollywood's History ...

Our second day in Los Angeles, CA, was a journey from the historic heart of Hollywood to the hippy soul of Venice Beach. We started with a quick glimpse of the famous Paramount Pictures Studio gates, then took a contemplative, serene stroll through the hallowed grounds of Hollywood Forever Cemetery, the resting place of many famous Hollywood stars!

... to Venice's Vibrancy

Afterward, we embraced the opposite energy of the Venice Beach Boardwalk. The scene with artists and crowds captured the city’s spirit as an entertaining melting pot of mixed cultures and diversity.

A Taste of LA Glamour, From Melrose to Beverly Hills

This third visit included an exploration of Los Angeles’s most fashionable and exclusive neighborhoods. At Melrose Place, a trendy shopping and dining area, bodyguards stood in front of the buildings! Apparently, even here, some shoppers and dining guests need to be reminded to pay their bills! We did not take a selfie at Paul Smith’s Pink Wall Mural, but got a picture of this iconic spot in LA.

The glamour continued as we explored Beverly Hills Park, a beautiful oasis with giant trees and public artwork in the heart of bustling LA. We admired the playful artwork, steel origami animals in Mondrian colors on Rodeo Drive, a famous shopping street with various luxurious stores.

Santa Monica's End of the Road

Santa Monica Pier was another famous landmark in LA, where we roamed around. We skipped the Ferris wheel, amusement park, stores, restaurants, and musicians and only walked to the end of the pier to have another view of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Cruz Island.

We also learned that Route 66 ends here! We have driven many miles on Route 66, but now we had at least been to the start (in Chicago) and the end of this famous Mother Road. And after buying a Route 66 pin for my traveling collection, we headed back home to the Airbnb.