Visiting L.A. for a Vacation

Following on from the previous blog about Selling Sunset we take you on a guide on visiting the famous city of LA. Unfortunately due to the global pandemic, we are unable to travel to America at this time but this doesn’t mean we can’t plan for the future.

Los Angeles is a sprawling Southern California city and the center of the nation’s film and television industry. You will see the iconic letters of the Hollywood sign and near to this are the studios such as Paramount Pictures, Universal, and Warner Brothers offering behind-the-scenes tours. On the Boulevard, TCL Chinese Theatre displays celebrities’ hands and footprints, the Walk of Fame honors thousands of luminaries, and vendors sell maps to stars’ homes.

This county is one of Califonia’s originals, created at the time of statehood in 1850. It stretches from the coast to the state line of Nevada with sunshine nearly all year round. 75 miles of beaches and coastline await you with famous theme parks and a huge sprinkle of Hollywood movie magic.

Do you like a holiday that involves sightseeing, shopping, beaches, music, and art? LA is the one for you. You’ve seen it on the screen, so go experience it for yourself, you might even bump into a Hollywood A-lister while queuing for a coffee!

You might even get some ideas for your kitchen design.

Sightseeing around LA

You will recognise many of the hundreds of buildings in Los Angeles from films and TV shows.

The Hollywood sign

It’s more than just nine white letters spelling out a city’s name; it’s one of the world’s most evocative symbols. It represents ambition, success, and glamour – what Hollywood is known for. It has been tested throughout its time due to vandalism and neglect, but today the 45-foot-tall, 350-foot-long sign is in its best condition yet, thanks to the ongoing preservation efforts of the Hollywood Sign Trust.

There are many ways to see the sign

• Hiking trails – Griffith Park
• Horseback – Sunset Ranch Hollywood
• Helicopter
• DASH Observatory Bus
• Giffith Observatory
• Hollywood & Highland
• Barnsdale Art Park

How will you view the iconic Hollywood sign?

Bradbury Building

The Bradbury Building is the oldest commercial building that remains in the central city and one of Los Angeles’ unique treasures. It has a Romanesque exterior with a magical light-filled Victorian interior that rises almost fifty feet with open cage elevators, marble stairs, and ornate iron railings.

You might recognise this from the film Bladerunner.

Ennis House

Ennis House has over 80 screen appearances and is the last and largest of Wright’s four Los Angeles-area “textile block” houses. Perched atop a hill in the Los Feliz neighborhood, it is among the best residential examples of Mayan Revival architecture in the country.

The building rises in stages, with over 27,000 blocks arranged across a concrete platform and buttressed by a retaining wall.

The house was served as the backdrop in numerous films, commercials, and TV shows

• Mulholland Drive
• The Rocketeer
• Rush Hour
• Buffy the Vampire Slayer
• Predator 2
• Beverly Hills Cop II
• Blade Runner

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

This is the home of the USC Trojans and the Los Angeles Rams. It’s a sports stadium built in 1923 and has hosted many different sporting events. In 1932 and 1984, it hosted the track events and ceremonies of the Olympic Games.

Celeb spotting

Hollywood Walk of Fame

The world-famous Hollywood Walk of Fame features more than 2,500 terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalk along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street. You will see actors, musicians, directors, producers, and others in the entertainment industry.

You can attend a Walk of Fame Star Ceremony which is free and does not have assigned seating.

The TCL Chinese Theatre

Since 1927, the TCL Chinese Theatre has been the home to the most prominent red carpet movie premieres and special events. It’s where Hollywood’s biggest and brightest stars come to watch their movies. The Forecourt of the Stars, which features cement hand and footprints of major movie stars from past to present, makes this cinema place the most famous movie theatre in the world.

A visit to LA is not complete without a stroll through Hollywood cinema history.

Art and Culture

LA Philharmonic

The LA Phil is as vibrant as Los Angeles with an internationally renowned orchestra led by Music & Artistic Director Gustavo Dudamel performing more than 250 concerts a year. It is one of the world’s outstanding orchestras leading the way in groundbreaking and diverse programming on stage and in the community.

Los Angeles County Museum of Art

LACMA is the largest art museum in the western United States located on the Pacific Rim, with a collection of more than 142,000 objects that illuminate 6,000 years of artistic expression across the globe. This museum exhibits and interprets works of art from new and unexpected points of view that are informed by the region’s rich cultural heritage and diverse population.

J. Paul Getty Museum

Getty is a cultural and philanthropic institution dedicated to the presentation, conservation, and interpretation of the world’s artistic legacy and has thousands of pieces of art to look at. It pursues its mission in Los Angeles and throughout the world, serving both the general public and a wide range of professional communities.

Themeparks

Universal Studios Hollywood

This place is full of crazy stunts, incredible rides, and heaps of the film industry. You can watch movies delivered in high-tech elegance and chic sophistication at CityWalk. Embark on a journey through an unforgettable experience at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Explore the mysteries of Hogwarts castle, and visit the shops of Hogsmede, plus experience pulse-pounding rides and attractions that transport you into a world of magical thrills and excitement.

You can also visit 13 city blocks on four acres of a historic studio in the largest set construction project in studio history, even Steven Spielberg was involved.

Disneyland

Come and watch dreams come true at the happiest place on earth. There are so many lands to explore…

• Fantasyland
• Tomorrowland
• Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
• Adventureland
• Critter Country
• Frontierland
• Main Street, USA
• Mickey’s Toontown
• New Orleans Square

Los Angeles Zoo

This zoo is all about nurturing wildlife and enriching the human experience. It serves the community with an unforgettable experience, inspiring an appreciation of wildlife through exhibits and education, ensuring the highest level of animal welfare and support programs that preserve biodiversity and conserve the natural habitat. It is home to more than 2,200 mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles representing more than 270 different species, of which more than 58 are endangered.

The Beaches

Run along the beach in slow-motion, Baywatch-style. There’s a huge coastline that’s full of large, popular beaches and small, secluded coves.

Venice Beach

Soak up the beautiful rays across the sprawling sand beaches and shop for treasures. It has been known to be a hub of artistic inspiration and creativity.

Muscle Beach

Muscle Beach is known for hosting physical fitness buffs. Many of the ‘old timers’ from the golden era in the 1940s and 1950s still stop by.

Santa Monica Beach

This beach is full of activities, attractions, and a soft sandy beach.

Are you looking to design a truly bespoke handmade kitchen? Look no further than Nicholas Bridger Truly Bespoke Furniture. Contact us today about your perfect kitchen – we look forward to hearing from you.