Essential Hollywood Landmarks for Los Angeles Tourists

LAX car rental essential hollywood landmarks for los angeles tourists

Hollywood is perhaps the most famous area of Los Angeles. While its reputation as the center of Tinseltown is unchallenged, it has a lot more to offer for tourists. Hollywood is ethnically and culturally diverse, and it’s full of history. Tourists can grab a LAX rental car and spend a whole week just exploring this neighborhood.

Hollywood is overflowing with numerous attractions and landmarks that will excite any sightseer. Here are some of the most famous landmarks that are a must see for anyone visiting Hollywood:

The Hollywood Sign

The most recognized landmark in Los Angeles is the Hollywood sign. Originally conceived as an advertisement for local real estate development, the Hollywood sign become emblematic of Los Angeles’ bustling entertainment industry. This is quite the iconic landmark, with HOLLYWOOD spelled out in striking white letters. The entire sign is 350 feet long and each letter is an amazing 45 feet tall. Check out some of the most spectacular photographs taken of this iconic sign located in Griffith Park.

The Walk of Fame

While exploring fifteen bustling blocks of Hollywood Boulevard, you’ll discover more than 2,600 five pointed stars with the most famous names in Hollywood. Clark Gable, Katherine Hepburn, and Dr. Seuss are only a few of the charming and interesting celebrities featured on the Walk of Fame. You can spend the entire afternoon searching for your favorite stars and exploring Hollywood. If you’re lucky, you may even catch an upcoming Walk of Fame Star Ceremony.

Capital Records Building

A Hollywood tour wouldn’t be complete without seeing the Capital Records Building. This iconic thirteen-story tower was completed in 1956. It was  designed by Louis Naidorf to look more or less like a stack of records. If you thought you couldn’t get any more Hollywood than that, think again. Tthe blinking light atop the Capital Records Building spells out the word “Hollywood” in Morse code.

You can end your Walk of Fame tour at John Lennon’s star, located right outside of the building’s entrance. Capital Records produced albums from some of the most famous acts in music history, including The Beatles, Frank Sinatra, Tina Turner, Duran Duran and many more.

The Stahl House

The Stahl House is a lesser known attraction, but it’s considered an iconic piece of Modernist architecture. In 2013, Stahl House was listed in The National Register of Historic Places since it has been used in several famous films like Corrina Corrina, Why do Fools Fall in Love, and Galaxy Quest.

In the 1950’s, Buck Stahl paid about $50,000 for the land, house, and pool. Today, this house is worth at least 2 million dollars.  Rumor has it that Stahl’s widow has turned down offers of 15 million dollars for the landmark. Before you book your LAX rental car, be sure to explore the Stahl House interior virtually. You will get the chance to experience what it’s like to live in one of the most iconic houses in Hollywood history. You can make reservations and pay a small fee with the Stahl family, and even get a tour with Buck Stahl’s wife, Carlotta.

Chinese Theater

Located on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard, the Chinese Theater opened in 1927 with the premiere of Cecil B. DeMille’s film The King of Kings. It’s fun to watch a movie inside the theater, but the real action is outside on the sidewalk. You’ll find nearly 200 celebrity handprints, footprints, and autographs embedded in the concrete. It’s a fun place to poke around, and a good place to enjoy a break from your long walk down the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The theater is very crowded, so it pays to reserve tickets ahead of time if you want the full movie experience.

Take Your LAX Rental Car and Explore

Hollywood will probably be just one of many pit stops during your trip around Los Angeles. This city has a lot to offer for historic sites and landmarks. It’s fun and convenient to rent a car for daily driving while you’re in town. Value Rental Car makes it easy to rent a car for your vacation with two convenient locations, in Inglewood near LAX Airport, and in Pasadena.