Home to a vibrant collection of tourist attractions, West Hollywood is one of the most visited areas of Los Angeles. Connecting the famous Hollywood Hills to the glitzy studios of Sunset Boulevard, this area is home to movie and TV icons, LA arts culture and of course, gorgeous hotels like the Beverly Terrace in Beverly Hill Hotel in California’s most famous locale.
A stay in Hollywood means you’re in the heart of the media capital of the USA, so there are of course plenty of tourist attractions you can explore. Whether on foot or with a tour, your map to the stars will always begin with the progressive spirit and glittering sunshine of West Hollywood. Here are just a few of the landmarks, attractions and activities you can enjoy when visiting this glamorous neighbourhood of Los Angeles.
What To Know About West Hollywood
Once part of the European colonies of California, West Hollywood evolved into a prominent part of the state due to what is now known as the Sunset Strip’s use as a main connecting road between the many ranches of the Los Angeles area. In the 20th century, West Hollywood increased its popularity due to the prolific Moses Sherman, one of the chairmen of the Los Angeles Pacific Railroad’s decision not to incorporate the area into the city of Los Angeles. Untethered by the laws of Los Angeles city, West Hollywood became a hub for alcohol licensees and casinos, all retaining their legality. This, in turn, led to West Hollywood becoming a major tourist attraction for locals and travellers.
Mulholland Drive
Made famous by its celebrity residents and David Lynch of the same name, Mulholland Drive stretches 21 kilometres across the back end of LA and into Ventura County. Easily reached by guests at accommodation in Beverly Hills CA, Mulholland Drive is perched atop the hills of West Hollywood, a road trip along Mulholland Drive will gift you with beautiful views of the city, as well as the Los Angeles Basin, Hollywood sign and San Fernando Valley.
Greystone Mansion And Park
From a troubled beginning as the setting for former owner Edward Doheny, the son of an influential oil tycoon, to it’s present as harbouring one of the msot famous staircases in Hollywood filmmaking, the 1928 built mock Tudor Greystone Mansion is available for tours and visits. The land surrounding the 55 room mansion is also open to visitors, comprising 16 acres of public parkland.
Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation
Frederick R. Weisman began collecting art in the 1940s’, and using his wealth decided to create an art foundation for it. Famous for its focus on “living with art” rather than the formal gallery setting, the house is open to the public, not only presenting modernist European works from Picasso and Cezanne but also displaying beautiful interior design.
Franklin Canyon Park
Built of hiking trails, lakes and stunning canyons, the Franklin Canyon Park is a public park in what is generally considered to be the geographical heart of Los Angeles. Here you’ll find 605 acres of land, duck ponds and birdwatching hubs.
Santa Monica Boulevard
Spanning 23 km, Santa Monica Boulevard is best known by tourists for its nightlife and shopping centres. Easily reachable from many hotels in West Hollywood, Santa Monica intersects with the famous Sunset Boulevard and ends with the famous Santa Monica Pier.
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