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Known as Tinsel town, LaLa Land and the city of angels, Los Angeles rests on the Pacific coast of Southern California. The United States’ second largest city fills with dreamers, actors, singers, and performers all trying to make it in the business we call show. A city of dreamers at that, Los Angeles is home to Hollywood. From beaches to clubs, the angelic aspect to Los Angeles could be that it can make or break a person coming here for fame. If you just want to visit, the city may have a superficial exterior at first, but dig a little deeper and you have one of the most diverse cities in the United States.
Exploring Los Angeles can begin where it all was born. El Pueblo de Los Angeles remains a state historic park for LA was born here. A pueblo was established here in 1781 and today 27 historic adobe buildings note that time, all hailing from the 19th century. Running right through the area is Olvera Street. Decorated in mariachi bands, stalls and Mexican restaurants, the street is ideal of lending insight into old LA, before the celebrities and fame.
The Getty Center in Los Angeles boasts two enormous accolades. To begin, from its grounds, visitors can take in the spectacular views of Los Angeles, the mountains and the ocean. Step inside the unique building designed by architect Richard Meier and you will find the J. Paul Getty painting collection. The collection is extensive to say the least, detailing archaeology, culture, art history, and the humanities. One of the most notable works within is Van Gogh’s Irises. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, the Getty Center is the ideal place to spend a day in Los Angeles.
For more concentrated modern art, visitors head to the Museum of Contemporary Art while in LA. The red sandstone building holds the works of leading modern artists, from Piet Mondrian to Mark Rothko.
For a taste of old Hollywood glamour, visitors can head to the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel. The classic and iconic 12-storey hotel remains the oldest continuously operating hotel in Hollywood. Placed on the National Registry of Historic places, the Spanish colonial hotel was the site of one of LA’s most famous award shows. The Academy Awards began here on May 19, 1929.
Part film and TV studio and part theme park, Universal Studios lends that movie mystery and glamour. One of the city’s most popular attractions, Universal Studios Hollywood attacks visitors with scenes from Jaws and King Kong, while putting on stunt shows and rides. The theme park is an experience not just for movie and TV history, but also to see that history being made. Many popular American TV shows are filmed within that visitors can occasionally pop in on and see.
What began as an accidental trip into wet cement is now one of Los Angeles’ most buzzing tourist attractions. Grauman’s Chinese Theater and the Hollywood Walk of Fame began when actress Constance Talmadge fell into wet cement, starting the tradition of celebrities leaving their hand, foot, or even nose prints in this space. Located on Hollywood Boulevard, the theater adorns in an exotic oriental façade as visitors place their hands where anyone from Marilyn Monroe to Brad Pitt have left their mark.
When most have had enough of the city life of LA, they head to the nearby beaches of Malibu, Santa Monica, Venice Beach and Marina del Rey. Santa Monica may be the most accessible for its lax beachfront promenade, 5.5 kilometers of sand and the iconic Santa Monica pier.
From 5-hour traffic jams to star sightings, Los Angeles is not for the slow paced and wide eyed. If you arrive to LA as such, the city will mostly likely bring you back to reality. Despite being the home to Beverly Hills and a plastic surgery playground, LA is very real. You just have to figure out what reality that may be.
