The best views of Los Angeles
the neighbors of hollywood hills they are tired of the number of tourists and hikers who pass in front of their houses every day to get to the hollywood sign . The community has been fighting against the influx of people for years and they have obtained several surprising achievements, such as Google hiding the routes to get to the sign.
How to get to the Hollywood sign (an almost impossible mission)
The noise What do visitors do? traffic and the problems for find parking is what has led the residents of this community to place illegal billboards with indications diverting tourists to wrong routes . In other cases, these posters are more direct: “Tourists gone” . Not a pleasant situation. And while the city seeks solutions for this community to live in peace and harmony, we have found the perfect route to get to the sign, despite the obstacles in our way.
The first thing we have to make clear is that you have to follow this guide to the letter , since on your way you will meet several traffic signs that will try to divert you.
If you have a rental car, finding parking is going to be a complicated task , since one of the victories obtained by the neighborhood is that a special permit is required to park in the area. Therefore, if you want to reach the Hollywood sign, it is recommended that you do it during a daily day, if possible . This way you will have more luck when it comes to finding a place to park.
fake posters
If you search for “Hollywood Sign” in Google Maps you will see that the location of the sign appears, but the route to get there is somewhat suspicious. Google acknowledged having changed the addresses after pressure from neighbors, so the best option is to put the following intersection in your GPS: Franklin at N Beachwood Drive . Beachwood Drive is the famous street from which you can take a photo with the sign in the middle of the road, but we do not recommend it: avoid being run over and hike for about 40 minutes to get a better photo . Find parking at this intersection and start walking N Beachwood straight ahead.
On your way you will come across several signs that will warn you that "Through that street you don't get to the Hollywood sign." It's false , continue along Beachwood Drive until you come to a gate advertising horseback tours of the Hollywood Hills (yes, you can also ride near the Hollywood sign on horseback, a good alternative) . Go through this door without fear, since it is not closed and the route begins. Getting there will take you a few 10-20 minutes , depending on where you parked. From this moment on, the journey to the back of the sign will take about 40 minutes. Don't forget to take one water bottle , although the path is simple and light intensity.
In the path
As soon as you enter the park you will find an ideal place from which you can take a photo with the Hollywood letters. Our second stop will place us just behind the sign, with panoramic views of the city.
When you reach the highest point you can see the vastness of los angeles and capture good photos. We warn that the poster is protected by fences and it is difficult, but not impossible to access it. However, this activity is totally prohibited . The place is constantly guarded by dozens of cameras . If you try to get around the fence, a whole security deployment will be activated to prevent you from getting close to the letters. The police send a helicopter from which they ask the intruders to leave the protected area . If they catch this intruder: arrest and fine.
Descending to return to the car will be an easier task. If you don't have a rental car, the best option to get directly to the departure gate is to take a Uber . This application, currently banned in Spain, allows you to request a private car that will detect your location, pick you up and drop you off at your destination.
Simply ask the driver to take you to Franklin at N Beachwood Drive and continue your journey along this last street until you find the entrance door. The best thing about Uber is that it allows you to split the expenses between several friends, through the same application, and it is extremely cheap. Taking an Uber from downtown Hollywood, for example, to N Beachwood Drive, can cost between 8 and 15 dollars.
horseback riding
HOLLYWOOD AND HIGHLAND
Most tourists are content to take a simple photo from the Hollywood and Highland Mall, located next to the Dolby Theater . From one of the catwalks of this shopping center you can see the sign, but it is more difficult to get a good photo . Just remember that the Hollywood letters aren't lit up at night, so get there before 5pm.
The Metro Red Line will take you to the Hollywood and Highland Center stop.
Beachwood Drive
A MORE INTIMATE PLAN: LAKE HOLLYWOOD PARK
There is yet another way to enjoy the Hollywood sign from a lesser known and more intimate location. It is called Lake Hollywood Park, a secluded place that is reached by car and that offers us beautiful views of the city. We recommend going at night . Taking a photo will be more difficult, but the views of the city with the billboard in the background will reward you. Getting to this point is easy if you have a rental car, since all you have to do is enter “Lake Hollywood Park” on your GPS.
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