Sightseeing in Hollywood, CA - what to see. Complete travel guide

Hollywood is an incredibly popular district of Los Angeles that is widely known around the world due to its tight connection with cinema industry. Initially the territory of Hollywood was nothing but a rancho. Then the owners of rancho created a main street that steadily filled with big houses, turning the street into a prosperous and prestigious place for living. The owners started charity activities and expanded the territory of the rancho, building churches, schools and libraries.

The first Hollywood movie was made in 1911 in the old tavern of the town. That was the beginning of the glorious history of Hollywood as the most famous area in cinema industry. Movie making was fast developing and this led to creation of numerous clubs, restaurants, banks and other organizations. Living quarters of the town were replaced by commercial buildings, which architecture reflected the trends of that time – craving for success, making building look quite playfully in combination with decorative elements.

Nowadays Hollywood is a so called movie making factory where are located numerous film studios, conducted movie award ceremonies and festivals. This is a town where is created the famous Fame Valley. Starting from 1960 the names of best actors and actresses are engraved on it. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

In Hollywood, there are many interesting cultural institutions. One of the most unusual is the Grauman’s Chinese Theater. This is a historical cinema, the opening of which took place back in 1927. It is attractive for its unusual appearance. Also, in front of the cinema, there is an interesting square, on which world famous celebrities left their fingerprints. Interesting excursions are conducted in the cinema for tourists, during which they can look into its most hidden corners. Also in the cinema are shows around the clock, in a variety of which everyone can choose the right one for himself.

A symbol for the area is the Hollywood Hills symbol HOLLYWOOD. It was installed in 1923 and served as an advertisement. Many years later, this temporary advertisement was never reconstructed. Now there are no excursions to this symbolic monument, but travelers can choose several places from which on it opens an excellent panoramic view. One of the most attractive viewing platforms is next to the Hollywood Reservoir, and another on Mulholland Drive.

A place that will be interesting for a family excursion is the Griffith Observatory. This is one of the few cultural institutions in Hollywood, which you can visit for free. Every day in the observatory, interesting events dedicated to astronomy and space are conducted. Another attractive feature of the observatory is that, on its roof is the best viewing point in Hollywood.

All fans of Jim Morrison in Hollywood must find the house in which the musician lived with Pamela Courson for several years. This house is located on Rothdell Trail. It was built in 1922 and is an important historical landmark. Currently, the historic mansion is privately owned, therefore it is necessary to agree on an excursion in advance.

World-famous Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum is located in Hollywood. It contains more than 300 incredible exhibits. Some of them are genuine, and some are forgeries. Museum visitors decide themselves which objects to believe in. It is important to note that studying the exhibits presented here is not recommended for people with weak psyche.