Leimert Park
11. Pay your respects. LA's cemeteries and memorial parks are as much a part of the celebrity world as footprints in cement. At the Hollywood Forever Cemetery, fans still gather every August 23 to pay homage to Rudolph Valentino. Cecil B. DeMille and Douglas Fairbanks Sr. also rest here.
Forest Lawn has two memorial parks worth visiting. In Glendale, the main attractions are the graves of Walt Disney, Clark Gable and Jean Harlow. At Forest Lawn in the Hollywood Hills: Liberace and Stan Laurel. At Westwood Memorial Park, Marilyn Monroe is buried in a simple wall crypt, number 24. Hugh Hefner has reserved the crypt next to Marilyn’s.
12. Walk through 200 years of history. El Pueblo Historical Monument is LA’s birthplace, the site of the original settlement in 1781. At Olvera Street, a bustling Mexican mercado is just to the north. Visitors shop, listen to mariachi music, watch folklore dances and dine at several authentic Mexican restaurants. Tour the Avila Adobe, the oldest existing house in LA. Other restored historic buildings include the Old Plaza Church and the Old Plaza Firehouse.
13. Visit Leimert Park Village. Located in the heart of the Crenshaw district, Leimert Park Village lures tourists with the distinct African American culture of its shops, art galleries, coffee shops, restaurants and jazz clubs.
14. Discover LA's wilderness. Los Angeles possesses a wealth of natural wilderness, which attracts avid hikers and bikers to such sites as Topanga State Park, Griffith Park and the Angeles National Forest in Los Angeles. Trails abound in the 65,000-acre Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, encompassing steep cliffs, lush rolling hills, canyons, meadows, waterfalls and sandy beaches, and providing a wilderness habitat for local wildlife. See more about Los Angeles hiking.
15. Step back in time 100 years. The Victorian era had its influence on local architecture, as evidenced by the homes in the 1300 block of Carroll Avenue in Angeleno Heights. The homes here have been restored to their original ornate splendor. The adjoining streets feature craftsman bungalows interspersed among the Victorians. Raised front lawns and old-fashioned street lamps complete this nostalgic picture, which is a favorite location for film crews. For a small fee, the Los Angeles Conservancy offers walking tours.
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