Tinsel town rightly deserves its reputation as the glamorous home to movie makers and celebrities. The Hollywood Walk of Fame, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and Hollywood and Highland can all be accessed by the Holly Trolley, which, for US$1, runs every fifteen minutes from Thursday to Saturday. But, taking a leisurely stroll to see the sites can be hard to manage in the sprawling city.
Walking in Beverly Hills
Glitz and glamour shine from the immaculate store windows along Rodeo Drive. Easy to navigate on foot, the surrounding area also makes for star-studded walks. Tree lined streets, dotted with luxurious mansions and world famous hotels, seem a world away from the hustle and bustle of Sunset Boulevard. Manicured gardens spill out onto wide streets, joggers pass by and a sense of relaxation and charm fills the up-scale residential area.
Navigating Downtown
While getting there means a bus, subway or taxi ride, much of the downtown district can be easily conquered on foot, with some planning.
Hundreds of women’s wear stores can be found on Los Angeles St between Olympic and Pico Boulevards, and on 11th street. Men’s and children’s clothes are clustered in surrounding streets. Once in the right spot, getting lost is part of the fun amongst the bargain buys. Find 8th street to stumble on the jewellery district and Grand Central Market, bursting with fresh-food options, is close by along Broadway.
Los Feliz
Teeming with up-coming artists, actors and writers, Los Feliz retains a village feel with its vintage bookstores and original boutiques. A perfect place to wile away a lazy afternoon, stroll to Skylight Books or Bigfoot Lodge bar to rest weary feet.
The Best of West Hollywood
While the streets appear to go on into the far off horizon, a day’s walk can comfortably encompass North Robertson Boulevard, into Santa Monica Boulevard and back up to West Sunset Boulevard; with comfortable walking shoes.
The boutiques lining Robertson Boulevard are celebrity spotting havens. A good rest spot, before trekking to Santa Monica Boulevard, is the Abbey bar, housed in a trendy, gothic monastery.
Brightly lit at sunset, Santa Monica Boulevard’s wide footpaths, stylish eateries and stores make for an interesting afternoon stroll, before hitting the restaurants and nightclubs of infamous Sunset Boulevard.
In a city where hiring a car is almost compulsory for tourists, exploring destinations on foot is still possible with some planning, offering the opportunity to stumble across local hangouts, unique shopping – and perhaps even the all important celebrity spotting.
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