Walkable WeHo: A guide to exploring West Hollywood on foot

By sophieharrison

The City of West Hollywood is known as “Walkable WeHo” for good reason.

Having been consistently rated as California’s most walkable city, the city’s seemingly not-so big 1.9 square miles gets you further than you think, with the chance to people-watch on Sunset Strip, sightsee on Santa Monica Boulevard, and dine at a café or restaurant on Melrose Ave … all on foot!

Whether you’re arriving in the “Heart of L.A.” on holiday to shop at the gorgeous boutiques of the West Hollywood Design District, or get a glimpse of the Hollywood Sign by hiking along Wonder View Drive, there are some easy alternatives to getting around without wheels.

Here’s a list of a few unmissable hot-spots to best begin your exploration of L.A.

Five Unmissable Trails to “Follow the Stars”:

1. Get wild on Sunset Strip!

The Sunset Strip has been the most infamous stretch of road in California. Running from the coast to the end of Hollywood, it is distinctly West Hollywood. And how could it not be? Though it has often been portrayed in movies like “Sunset Boulevard,” visitors say that nothing compares to seeing The Sunset Strip up close and in person. So why not walk-the-talk?!

Bordered on the west by Beverly Hills at Sierra Drive and on the east by Hollywood at Havenhurst Drive, this iconic strip of Sunset Boulevard has a vast array of world-class hotels, nightclubs, restaurants, shops and spas which fill the 2.4km strip. See legendary music venues like The Roxy Theatre, Whisky a Go Go and The Viper Room, and swank hotel bars such as Tower Bar at the Sunset Tower Hotel and Skybar at Mondrian.

Sunset Strip

2. Must-see museums and cultural landmarks

The City of West Hollywood arguably has more art per square mile than any other City in the country! Therefore, there’s no better way to stand side-by-side stunning public art installations and world-class private collections than on foot in “the creative city.”

Dozens of private art galleries call West Hollywood home. 101/exhibit, De Re Gallery and Gallery Go display challenging exhibitions of contemporary art and the iconoclastic Wall Street Gallery hosts a collection of populist street art as examples.

In fact, you see the city’s public sculpture collection entirely on foot! One visual art program, Art on The Outside, installs rotating temporary artworks on West Hollywood’s medians and parks.

Let a Thousand Flowers Bloom, by Chinese artist Mei Xian Qiu, on the ground floor of the West Hollywood Park parking structure, through until July 2017.

3. In the mood for a hike?

While the Hollywood Sign can be seen clearly from many parts of the city, notably the Griffith Observatory, to reach the sign itself you’ll need to hike Mount Lee, where the sign is located. Although hiking in Los Angeles can be dangerous, particularly during the summer, if you follow these steps to the summit of Mount Lee we can guarantee you will find yourself directly placed behind the Hollywood sign…

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Without a car, the easiest trailhead to reach is the Wonder View trailhead to Cahuenga Peak. Firstly, you will need to take a bus east to Highland Ave from Sunset Boulevard (Click here for details on bus routes).

Once at Wonder View Drive, hike until you reach the gate at the top. Continue along Wonder View Trail, turning right at the fork. At the second fork, you can turn left to reach a shade tree (popularly known as the Wisdom Tree) with a stunning view of Burbank and Hollywood, or turn right to continue directly along Cahuenga Ridge.

Hollywood Sign_Flickr - Shinja Suzuki

4. And when it’s Wine O’Clock?

From trendy hotspots, historic restaurants and beloved neighbourhood diners, make sure to get a taste for the delicious variety of Southern California’s food scene on a “DIY West Hollywood food tour.” Wine not?

Not only is Mel’s Drive-In on the Sunset Strip open 24 hours a day, this famous restaurant sports a heavy retro theme and is truly a blast to the past, including it’s All-American menu comprising burgers, shakes and fries. You may recognise it from several TV shows (including Entourage) and chances are likely you might spot some sunglassed/baseball-capped celebrities forking up some late-night bites.

One of the best places to grab a late night-bite in West Hollywood, Mel’s Diner

Calling all seafood lovers! Hot ‘n Juicy Crawfish is coming your way, or looking for a signature West Hollywood dish? Veal Scaloppine Florentine at Dan Tana’s, celebrating its 50th anniversary last year, is one of the oldest restaurants in West Hollywood.

Interior view of Hollywood locale favourite, Dan Tana’s

5. Shopping your way through L.A…

One of the best ways to spend the afternoon is strolling through The West Hollywood Design District, the centre of West Hollywood art, fashion and design. Located at the crossroads of Melrose Avenue, Robertson Boulevard and Beverly Boulevard, this district is highly walkable. Go from showroom to showroom for an enjoyable neighbourhood shopping experience and shop world-class retailers, including Alberta Ferretti and Stella McCartney, or local brands like The Elder Statesman and H. Lorenzo.

stella mccarntey shopfront

As we’ve seen, one of the best ways to experience a destination is to simply spend an ordinary day living the way its residents do. Why not take a coffee break between purchases and visit a few local favourites. To psyche yourself for your evening debauchery, Verve Coffee, Alfred (In the Alley), or celebrity hotspot Urth Caffe, are favourites and can easily be reached on foot. Then, it’s time to walk it off with a trip to Sunset Plaza. Tucked away in its own little part of The Sunset Strip, in this cosy neighbourhood, you may even rub shoulders with some Hollywood favourites who have often been seen doing some shopping at the Plaza’s many stores.

Verve Coffee Roasters on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood's Design Destrict

Verve Coffee Roasters on Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood’s Design District

For more information, click here to visit Excite Holiday’s WeHo Agent Portal.

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