Los Angeles is steeped in fame and glamour, but it doesn't take a lot of cash to have a great time in the city. There are several sites and landmarks that visitors on a budget can see for free. Whether it is culture, art, entertainment, history, or a glimpse of fame you're seeking, you'll find it all in Los Angeles.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame has been a major attraction since it opened in 1958, with millions of people visiting every year. Audrey Hepburn, Drew Barrymore, Matt Damon and Dean Martin are just a few of the names you'll see on the walk. There are more than 2,400 stars on the walk, which stretches 2.4 miles down Hollywood Boulevard. Ceremonies are held each time a new star is awarded, and they are usually announced just a week before the event. You may see a major movie star unveiling her spot on the walk as you stroll past.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street
Los Angeles, CA
323-469-8311
hollywoodchamber.net
One of the cultural treasures of Los Angeles is also free to see. The Getty Center boasts a collection of Western art dating back to the Middle Ages. The museum's setting itself is also something to see: It's located on a hillside in the Santa Monica Mountains, and the dramatic buildings, designed by architect Richard Meier, are surrounded by lush gardens. The Getty Center also offers sweeping views of Los Angeles. Admission to the Getty Center is free, but parking before 5 p.m. costs $15.
Getty Center
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049
310-440-7300
getty.edu
The white Hollywood sign has become an international icon in the worlds of cinema, fame and pop culture. The original sign, which read "Hollywoodland," was erected in 1923 to symbolize Hollywood's emergence as a film and entertainment hub. In 1949, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce removed the last four letters, making it the Hollywood sign known the world over. Situated in the Hollywood Hills, the grounds are off limits to the public, but there are spots around the city that provide ideal views. Drive up to Beachwood Canyon, along Canyon Drive or N. Beachwood Drive, to take a peek. You can also head to the Hollywood & Highland Complex next to Grauman's Chinese Theatre for a closer look. Another viewing point is from Gower Street, north of Franklin Avenue.
Hollywood Sign
Mt. Lee at Griffith Park
Los Angeles, CA 90027
213-469-8311
hollywoodsign.org
Hollywood & Highland Complex
6801 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
Visit the site where thousands of Hollywood actors and actresses, including Marilyn Monroe and John Travolta, have placed their handprints and footprints. Nearly 200 prints are stamped in cement in the courtyard outside of the theater. The theater holds two to three induction ceremonies per year that the public is invited to view.
The building itself is a working movie theater. It opened in 1927 with the premiere of famed director Cecille B. DeMille's film "The King of Kings." Today, the theater still hosts premieres of major motion pictures. The exterior mimics a traditional Chinese pagoda and has a jade-green bronze roof. Inside, the design has Chinese influences, too, from authentic Chinese artwork to rich red fabric concealing the screen and gold-leaf pagodas printed on the walls.
Grauman's Chinese Theatre
6925 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323-464-8111
manntheatres.com/chinese
The La Brea Tar Pits are home to a collection of excavated prehistoric fossils. Located in Hancock Park, the La Brea Tar Pits display more than 100 tons of fossilized bones from almost 400 species of mammals, reptiles, birds and fish. The park gets its "tar pits" name from the fossils, which were dug up from pits of sticky asphalt present during the Ice Age.
La Brea Tar Pits at Hancock Park
5801 Wilshire Blvd. (parking at intersection of S. Curson Avenue & W. 6th Street)
Los Angeles, CA 90036
tarpits.org
