Blog of Berlin

by Jacqueline Priebe

Travel

LOS ANGELES – SECRET PLACES

This year was the first time I went to the City of Angels and Los Angeles. It was an exciting and thrilling time that I will never forget. The city has a lot to offer and corners that perhaps not everyone knows or that can be found immediately in the travel guide. You probably know some of them but maybe some not 😉  So here are my secret places and hidden gems for and in Los Angeles. Have fun with it

1.Hollywood Sign Walk & The Wisdom Tree

The Hollywood Sign is the well-known lettering in the Hollywood Hills. But it’s not that easy to reach the famous Hollywood sign. The inhabitants of Beverly Hills sometimes put up fake street signs to confuse and mislead tourists and to have their peace in front of them. In order not to be disturbed they supposedly block off the streets themselves, so that there are signs with “Do not cross” or something similar, which aren’t valid at all and which they ignore themselves.

To reach the Hollywood Sign, the best way is to enter the following address: “The Last House on Mulholland, 6101 Mulholland Hwy” and run from there. You can either walk up the paved road or take the more uncomfortable, steeper and a bit more dangerous but also more exciting way up the sandy and stony mountain 😉 We chose the second option because we also wanted to make a detour to the famous Wisdom Tree which is on almost the same altitude but on the other side of the Hollywood Sign.

The story of the Wisdom Tree:

Legend has it that the Wisdom Tree was the only one still standing after a wildfire burned through the Hollywood Hills in 2007, including Cahuenga Peak. According to LA Weekly, a man named Mark Rowlands discovered the tree while flying a helicopter and finally placed a magazine box under the tree a few years ago. He put some notebooks and pens in it. Gradually the visitors and explorers filled the empty pages with memories, greetings or wishes. Whoever is up there should immortalize himself on one of the pages.

There is even a website where you can find published photos of notes taken by hikers on the wisdom tree.

The Hollywood sign is fenced in, so there is no better view than we had. From the very bottom, the walk takes a good two hours. You should dress lightly and loosely, take a lot of water with you and have good motivation, endurance, because the way is really not to be underestimated and very exhausting. Sore muscles pre-programmed 😉 Nevertheless one of the most beautiful views I ever had !

2. The Hidden swing at Elysian Park

Parks in downtown Los Angeles are a rare find, but Elysian Park is a hidden jewel and an underestimated park. The secret swing is a perfect place to take pictures or have a picnic and swing along the 110 motorway. Don’t miss to look at it and be a good walker, because you can’t avoid climbing up a mountain to find the secret swing. There are plenty of parking spaces nearby.

Elysian Park Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90012, USA

3. The Last Bookstore

The Last Bookstore is California’s largest used and new book and record store. The name was chosen with irony, but seems more appropriate every day as physical bookstores die out like dinosaurs due to the rapid impact of Amazon and e-books. Among the over 250,000 new and used books on two floors, including the new Arts & Rare Book Annex, the shared space includes tens of thousands of VINYL RECORDS and GRAPHIC NOVELS, a huge mezzanine with the Labyrinth Above the Last Bookstore, Gather Yarn Shop and Spring Arts Collective Gallery Shops. Really something for everyone. I was enchanted and overwhelmed by the bookstore from the first second on. You have to see it even if you’re not a bookworm 😉

453 S Spring St – Ground Floor Los Angeles, CA 90013 Main Store

4. Melrose Avenue & Art District

Some of the “famous walls” are located on Melrose Avenue, a shopping street in the heart of Hollywood. That’s why it was clear that I would go there one day. The wings of the really great artist Collette Miller, the Made in L.A. Wand and the Pink wall – all this can be found by walking along the shopping street. But also in L.A.’s Art District you can find incredibly beautiful painted walls and creative works of art. There is also a great shop where different artists and creative minds offer their fashion and accessories for sale

453 Colyton St, Los Angeles, CA 90013 (you will find two angel wings here)

Weitere Angel Walls findet ihr hier: 

Arts District at Angel City Brewery (Traction and 2nd) & St. Regis Wine & Liquor, 8401 West 3rd Street, Los Angeles

Made in L.A. Wall

The Made in L.A. Wand is perfect for Instagram – or fashion bloggers or anyone who just wants a cool photo. The grey wall is located on the side of Cisco Home in West Hollywood and has been a popular backdrop for photographs since its release in 2013.

The store has a Melrose Ave address, but the wall is actually located on the west side of the building, along the Laurel Ave. There is limited street parking, but along Melrose or the side streets parking can be found. You may have to wait your turn or compete with others to get the photo you want, but just be patient and it will pay off 🙂

Cisco Home, 8025 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood

Paul Smith Wall

Many might have seen this famous Instagram spot in their feed before: The “Pink Wall” of the Paul Smith building in Los Angeles on Melrose Avenue has been voted one of the most photographed spots of the city several times.

Paul Smith Pink Wall: 8221 Melrose Avenue

5. Beverly Hills Hotel

Beverly Hills is one of the most famous neighborhoods in Los Angeles and the epitome of luxury and style, as well as known for Rodeo Drive, its high quality real estate and numerous references in film and television. The glamour and attraction of the city is marked by the magnificent and sumptuous villas of many stars as well as the well-known Beverly Hills Hotel. The Beverly Hills Hotel offers the glamorous ambience of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Located on 12 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, this Five-Star, Five Diamond Hotel has been a celebrity hot spot since it opened in 1912. The legendary hotel continues to welcome celebrities, kings and executives from around the world with luxurious accommodations, exemplary service and unparalleled beauty. Visited by generations of film industry icons from Marilyn Monroe to Elizabeth Taylor, the Beverly Hills Hotel offers 210 guest rooms and suites, including the 23 famous bungalows. Definitely worth a visit if you are in L.A..

jagger move

9641 Sunset Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

This blog post does not include paid cooperation, but is still advertising (personal recommendations).

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.