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Tours

1. I Love L.A.!

   Tour of the Most Photographed Landmarks in Los Angeles

   Stops

   1. Hollywood Sign

      The Hollywood Sign has become a world-famous cultural icon. The sign, which use to read "HOLLYWOODLAND", is spelled out in 45-foot-tall letters and is 350 feet long. By the 1970s, the sign was in a severely dilapidated state. Fortunately, prominent donors such as Gene Autry, Hugh Hefner, Andy Williams, Warner Bros. Records, and Alice Cooper helped save and restore the sign, which can be seen across the entire city and has come to mean more than just nine white letters spelling out a city's name. It's one of the world's most evocative symbols; a universal metaphor for ambition, success, glamour, for this dazzling place, industry and dream we call H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D.
      
      Many are surprised to learn that it's illegal to get close to the sign, which is set behind restricting gates and protected by security cameras and Park Rangers. A Los Angeles Police Department officer is also stationed at the Sign 24/7.
      
      http://hollywoodsign.org/
      
      Los Angeles, CA 90068

   2. Griffith Observatory

      Located inside Griffith Park, the Griffith Observatory is the leader of public astronomy in southern California and around the world since it opened in 1935. More people have looked through Griffith Observatory's telescope than any other telescope on Earth. Its iconic facade has been featured in more than 300 films and television shows.
      
      The Observatory is a Los Angeles landmark and worldwide tourist destination for over a million visitors a year. Their mission, "Griffith Observatory inspires everyone to observe, ponder, and understand the sky," is realized each day in the exhibit halls and the Samuel Oschin Planetarium and each night as visitors gaze at the cosmos through the historical 12-inch Zeiss refracting telescope or their lawn telescopes.
      
      The building closed to the public in 2002, to begin a 4 year extensive renovation with substantial additions to the existing landmark structure. Renovations included a new planetarium theater, construction of a new underground "Leonard Nimoy Event Horizon" theater and the addition of 11,000 square feet exhibit space, new exhibits, an expanded book and gift shop, a cafeteria-style food service area, and completely revamped office, shop, and production areas. Another major component of the renovation was the historic fabric of the existing building and domes and restoration of the floors, interior and exterior wall surfaces, lighting fixtures, metalwork, and ceiling murals. New plumbing, air conditioning, and electrical services were also installed.
      
      Griffith Park has over 4,210 acres of both natural chaparral-covered terrain and landscaped parkland and picnic areas, making it the largest municipal park with urban wilderness area in the United States. On December 16, 1896, the civic-minded Colonel Griffith J. Griffith bequeathed 3,015 acres of his Rancho Los Feliz estate as a Christmas gift to the people of Los Angeles to be used as parkland. The enormous gift, equal to five square miles, was to be given to the city unconditionally "It must be made a place of recreation and rest for the masses, a resort for the rank and file, for the plain people," Griffith said on that occasion. " I consider it my obligation to make Los Angeles a happier, cleaner, and finer city. I wish to pay my debt of duty in this way to the community in which I have prospered."
      
      http://griffithobservatory.org/about/griffithobservatory.html
      
      2800 E Observatory Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90027

   3. Hollywood Bowl

      No trip to Los Angeles is complete without a trip to the iconic Hollywood bowl. The must not miss Hollywood Bowl's summer concert series which began in May, and run through the summer is full of the hottest outdoor performances. With over 1 Million visitors a year, the amphitheater is taking action to make each event its most environmentally conscientious summer concert season yet.
      
      The Bowl, which opened in 1922, is certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary because of its environmental plan to keep the venue as natural as possible to help the animal and plant species who live nearby feel at home. Since the Hollywood Bowl is located in such a natural setting, being environmentally conscientious is important for the owners, staff and attendees of the venue. If they continue to work on and promote various eco-friendly programs, the Bowl can continue to preserve the natural beauty it has had for nearly a century.  Nestled in Los Angeles' Hollywood Hills, the Bowl implements conservation programs that make a major difference.
      
      Here are just a few measure taken by the bowl: with limited parking space, the Bowl is teaming up with LA's Metropolitan Transportation Authority to give attendees an easy public transportation option, which takes them to the event. On the other hand, if visitors choose to travel to the venue by bike (admittedly a tough job if traveling uphill) they will receive the benefit of free parking. The Bowl also focuses on reusing any possible materials on the venue grounds to assist in its commitment to be green. There are recycling bins located throughout the grounds, and the staff works to go through waste bins to make sure as few recyclables are mixed with other waste as possible. Since 2007, the Bowl has housed waterless urinals and water-reducing toilets to help cut the use of water at the venue. Next to this, the Bowl also uses an irrigation system that tracks rainfall around the venue and irrigates accordingly. This means the grounds are not watered unless it is acceptable and necessary. To try to keep water as little affected by airborne pollutants as possible, there are stainless steel grates fixed at water intakes and special filters installed to clean the water used for irrigation.
      
      http://recyclenation.com/2014/06/hollywood-bowl-continues-eco-friendly-traditions
      
      2301 Highland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90068

   4. Dolby Theatre

      Formerly known as the Kodak Theatre, it opened in late 2001, the crown jewel of the giant Hollywood & Highland project, and of the Hollywood renaissance in general. Built at a cost of $94 million, this 136,000 square foot theatre, with 3,400 seats, was custom-designed for the special needs of Oscar Night and other live TV broadcasts has been the permanent home of the Academy Awards since 2002 bringing the Oscars officially back to the city of Hollywood.
      
      http://www.dolby.com/us/en/about/dolby-theatre.html
      
      6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood CA

   5. Grauman's Chinese Theatre

      Landmark formerly known as Mann's Chinese with star footprints in front and a historic cinema inside. The TCL Chinese Theatre is the most iconic movie palace in the world. With over 50 events a year, including movie premieres, imprint ceremonies, and film festivals, the theatre continues to make Hollywood history every day.
      
      Many thousands of Hollywood's elite have graced the halls of the TCL Chinese Theatres at the movies, red carpet premieres and ceremonies. But only a select few have been invited to join the exclusive society known as the Forecourt of the Stars. From Marilyn Monroe to George Clooney, from Betty Grable's legs to Jimmy Durante's nose, Sid Grauman is timeless tradition helped ensure Hollywood would leave its impression on not only Los Angeles but on the world for generations to come.
      
      Reopening after extensive renovations in September 2013, the TCL Chinese Theatre proudly became the first, and currently only, IMAX® theatre in Hollywood, California. providing moviegoers visiting this historic site with one of the world's most immersive cinematic experiences. Honored as a Los Angeles Historical Landmark in 1968, the TCL Chinese Theatre continues to preserve the integrity and timeless cultural heritage of the Theatre, evolve the cherished venue back to a new height of Hollywood glamour reminiscent of when showman-founder Sid Grauman first opened the Chinese Theatre in 1927, and ensure the storied movie palace's exciting new lease on life: to allow theatre-goers a much improved, truly world-class cinematic experience.
      
      http://www.tclchinesetheatres.com/tcl-chinese-theater-history/
      
      6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028

   6. Hollywood Walk of Fame

      The world-famous 1.3-mile Hollywood Walk of Fame recognizes the biggest names in entertainment and remains one of the most popular tourist attractions in Los Angeles, with nearly 10 million visitors annually. Comprised of over 2,500 stars, the Walk takes up 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard honoring icons from motion pictures, music, television, and more. To this day, about two stars are added to the Walk of Fame every month.
      
      http://www.walkoffame.com
      
      7018 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

   7. Crossroads of the World

      The first outdoor shopping mall in America. Located on Sunset Blvd and Las Palmas and features a central building that resemble an ocean liner surrounded by a small village of cottage-style bungalows. It is currently a historic landmark that offers unique office space. It has been featured in many films, including "L.A. confidential" and "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane", as well as TV shows.
      
      http://www.crossroadshollywood.com/
      
      6671 Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood, CA

   8. Capital Records Building

      Design by Welton Becket and construction completed in 1956. Capitol Records was the first record company based on the West Coast, and promoted such acts as The Beatles. The Capitol Records Building is a 13-story tower located just north of the famed intersection of Hollywood and Vine. The tower, which resembles a stack of records, was the world's first circular office building and is the site of the historic Capitol Studios, where Frank Sinatra and many other music legends recorded classic tracks. The 90-foot rooftop spire is topped by a red light that blinks the word "Hollywood" in Morse code.
      
      http://www.capitolrecords.com/
      
      1750 Vine St.Hollywood, CA 90028

   9. Union Station

      Iconic Union Station opened its doors in 1939 and was at one point owned by a private firm before being bought by Metro in 2011, who also purchased the surrounding 40 acres.
      
      Los Angeles Union Station (LAUS) is the region's primary transit hub, connecting Southern California counties that have a combined population in excess of 21 million. With over 75,000 daily travelers and commuters access the station's transit providers, resulting in more visitors than a sold out game at Dodger Stadium. As Measure R provides funds for Metro's transit system expansion, LAUS's role as the key connecting/activity center for Los Angeles will also expand. LAUS is expected to see upwards of 100,000 passenger boardings per day by 2020 and close to 197,000 trips by 2040, a number that does not include passenger boardings from future high-speed rail service.
      
      Although Union Station currently only services the southern part of the state, California has plans for an even bigger endeavor, thanks to voters who in 2008 approved $9.95 billion in bonds for a high-speed rail system that will eventually connect major metropolitan areas with light rail systems that already exist in San Francisco and Los Angeles, connecting to rural stops along the way.
      
      Although still in its infancy, Union Station's 3-phase master plan is aimed to optimize transit operations, enhance the historic site, attract visitors and bring new development and activities to the site. The ultimate goal of course is creating a world-class transportation facility, while preserving the station as a historic landmark.
      
      https://www.metro.net/projects/sustainability/
      
      http://www.museumofthecity.org/project/los-angeles-union-station-an-engine-of-urban-renewal/
      
      800 N Alameda Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012

   10. Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels

       The Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels is the third largest cathedral (195,000 square feet) in the world and the first Catholic cathedral built in the Western United States in over 30 years. Representing the largest use of exposed architectural concrete in California, this landmark cathedral is the first seismically base isolated major new religious structure Spanish architect, Professor José Rafael Moneo has designed a dynamic, contemporary Cathedral with virtually no right angles. This geometry contributes to the Cathedral's feeling of mystery and its aura of majesty. The challenge in designing and building a new Cathedral Church was to make certain that it reflected the diversity of all people. Rather than duplicate traditional designs of the Middle Ages in Europe, the Cathedral is a new and vibrant expression of the 21st century Catholic peoples of Los Angeles. Just as many European Cathedrals are built near rivers, Moneo considered the Hollywood Freeway as Los Angeles' river of transportation, the connection of people to each other. The site is located between the Civic Center and the Cultural Center of the city.
       
       http://www.olacathedral.org/
       
       555 W Temple St, Los Angeles, CA 90012

   11. Music Center of Los Angeles County

       The Music Center (officially named the Performing Arts Center of Los Angeles County) is one of the largest performing arts centers in the United States. Located in downtown Los Angeles, The Music Center is home to the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, Ahmanson Theater, Mark Taper Forum and the Walt Disney Concert Hall. Each year, The Music Center welcomes more than 1.3 million people to performances by its four internationally renowned resident companies: Los Angeles Philharmonic, Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Master Chorale, and Center Theatre Group (CTG) as well as performances by the much celebrated dance series, Glorya Kaufman Presents Dance at The Music Center. The center is home to on-going community events, arts festivals, outdoor concerts, participatory arts activities and workshops, and educational programs.
       
       http://www.musiccenter.org/
       
       135 N Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012

   12. Walt Disney Concert Hall

       One of the greenest buildings in Los Angeles that is not actually a LEED certified building, with its emphasis on urban development, sustainable architecture, and its rooftop patio garden, from it's striking façade in the iconic shape of silver sails , and curving stainless steel skin to it's innovative interiors, the WDCH is an architectural marvel iconic to the LA city scene.
       
       True to it's purpose, the building is emblematic of it's main focus, which is that of bringing music and people together. Get to know the Frank Gehry masterpiece as designed "from the inside out". Simply stated, it is a symbolic bridge between everyday life and the inner sanctum, it is not just a destination for concertgoers but the center of civic activity.
       
       http://wdch10.laphil.com/wdch10/wdch/architecture.html
       
       111 S. Grand Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90012

   13. The Broad Contemporary Museum

       L.A.'s newest contemporary art museum continues to draw large crowds ever since it opened last year. The Broad is a contemporary art museum in Downtown Los Angeles. The museum is named for philanthropist Eli Broad, who financed the $140 million building which houses the Broad art collections. The museum offers free general admission to its permanent collection galleries. It opened on September 20, 2015.
       Broad Architecture: The Broad is designed by world-renowned architectural firm Diller Scofidio + Renfro in collaboration with Gensler. With its innovative "veil-and-vault" concept, which consists of over 2,470 intricate, honeycomb-shaped pieces of GFRC.  Behind the steel lattice supporting the veil is the cast-in-place structure of the "vault" which is a 120,000-square-foot building & features two floors of gallery space to showcase the Broad's 2,000 work collection and is the headquarters of The Broad Art Foundation's worldwide lending library. Dubbed "the veil and the vault" the museum's design merges the two key components of the building: public exhibition space and collection storage. Rather than relegate the storage to secondary status, the "vault" plays a key role in shaping the museum experience from entry to exit. Its heavy opaque mass is always in view, hovering midway in the building. Its carved underside shapes the lobby below, while its top surface is the floor plate of the exhibition space. The vault stores the portions of the collection not on display in the galleries or on loan, but DS+R provided viewing windows so visitors can get a sense of the intensive depth of the collection and peer right into the storage holding. The vault is enveloped on all sides by the veil, an airy, honeycomb-like structure that spans across the block-long gallery and provides filtered natural daylight.
       
       NOTE: Most Local museums in LA offer free charging stations for electric vehicles thanks to a program called Adopt a Charger.
       
       http://thebroad.org
       
        221 S Grand Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90012

   14. Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites

       An architectural landmark comprised of sleek glass towers, The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites has become an international symbol of Los Angeles. As one of the most photographed buildings in the world, The Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites is widely recognized as a masterpiece in contemporary hotel design. Construction began in 1974, and was completed in 1976. The 34th floor of the Westin Bonaventure is home to a revolving cocktail lounge; where one can unwind while gazing at commanding views of the city. This magnificent hotel was designed and built by the Portman Cos., headed by John Portman the architect. 
       
       Often referred to as a "City-within-a City," the hotel features a six-story atrium with myriad specialty boutiques and international restaurants, 1,354 guest rooms and suites with spectacular city views, and over 110,000 square feet of meeting space, including the largest hotel ballroom in Los Angeles. Here, we have consistently gone to great lengths to provide the ultimate urban oasis.
       
       www.westin.com/bonaventure
       
       404 S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90071