As part of our Amtrak tour we were given vouchers for a tour of Hollywood. We were booked on the LA City, Celebrity Homes & Beaches tour. We weren't sure what to expect. A bus collected us from the hotel and took us to their central office where we got onto a smaller bus.
We were told by some other tourists that we were on the best tour. And, it was the best tour. It lasted for about 7 hours and we saw so much of LA and our guide and driver was entertaining and knowledgeable.
We drove to Beverley Hills an past about 20 celebrities homes, cant remember most of them though. We got to walk along Rodeo Drive past all the high end shops, that were open but they keep the doors locked. You cant just wander in. We drove down Mulholland Drive. We saw famous hotels such as the Chateau Mamont and the hotel from the movie Pretty Woman. Famous restaurants such as The Ivy.
We drove down Sunset Strip, and Bel-Air and then on to Santa Monica where we had an hour of free time.
We bought some lunch from one the many food trucks lining the street and sat the in park overlooking Santa Monica beach. Afterwards we walked along the pier to see the End of Route 66 sign. It was extremely hot and very crowded being a long weekend so we soon wandered back to the meeting point and sat in the shade.
Our tour then continued on to Venice Beach which is full of crazy people, people on skateboards and bicycles and lots of homeless people. There are lots of stalls all along the boardwalk selling t'shirts and souvenirs.
We went for a short walk along the beach and our driver told us about a great coffee shop selling really good coffee. We just had to go and check it out as coffee is dreadful in this country. As soon as we walked in the door the delicious aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted over us and we knew we were about to have a great coffee.
After Venice Beach our tour took us to the downtown area where we saw the Disney Theatre, the Microsoft theatre and the Staples Centre, buildings that host the many award ceremonies in LA. we went past many of the museums as well.
Our final destination was Olvera Street, a mexican marketplace on the birthplace of LA. There was a vibrant mexican market and food stalls as well as people dancing the salsa and a band playing.
We were told by some other tourists that we were on the best tour. And, it was the best tour. It lasted for about 7 hours and we saw so much of LA and our guide and driver was entertaining and knowledgeable.
We drove to Beverley Hills an past about 20 celebrities homes, cant remember most of them though. We got to walk along Rodeo Drive past all the high end shops, that were open but they keep the doors locked. You cant just wander in. We drove down Mulholland Drive. We saw famous hotels such as the Chateau Mamont and the hotel from the movie Pretty Woman. Famous restaurants such as The Ivy.
We drove down Sunset Strip, and Bel-Air and then on to Santa Monica where we had an hour of free time.
We bought some lunch from one the many food trucks lining the street and sat the in park overlooking Santa Monica beach. Afterwards we walked along the pier to see the End of Route 66 sign. It was extremely hot and very crowded being a long weekend so we soon wandered back to the meeting point and sat in the shade.
Our tour then continued on to Venice Beach which is full of crazy people, people on skateboards and bicycles and lots of homeless people. There are lots of stalls all along the boardwalk selling t'shirts and souvenirs.
We went for a short walk along the beach and our driver told us about a great coffee shop selling really good coffee. We just had to go and check it out as coffee is dreadful in this country. As soon as we walked in the door the delicious aroma of freshly brewed coffee wafted over us and we knew we were about to have a great coffee.
After Venice Beach our tour took us to the downtown area where we saw the Disney Theatre, the Microsoft theatre and the Staples Centre, buildings that host the many award ceremonies in LA. we went past many of the museums as well.
Our final destination was Olvera Street, a mexican marketplace on the birthplace of LA. There was a vibrant mexican market and food stalls as well as people dancing the salsa and a band playing.
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| Me on Rodeo Drive |
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| Colin ordering our lunch from the food truck |
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| Me at Santa Monica beach |
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| End of Route 66 on Santa Monica Pier |
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| Muscle Beach on Venice Beach |
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| Venice Beach |
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| Olvera Street mexican market |
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