California Dreamin’. I did that for two years but I finally made that dream a reality.

On my recent trip to Los Angeles, I not only strolled Rodeo Drive and checked out The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Hollywood, I also visited a few music-related sites.

If you’re going to California soon, here are a few places I visited that you might like too.

Laurel Canyon

The mountainous neighborhood in the Hollywood Hills was a center for the counterculture and home to many musicians in the 1960s. Mama Cass, Joni Mitchell, Frank Zappa, Linda Ronstadt, Jim Morrison, plus members of many bands including The Beach Boys and The Eagles, to name a few, all called Laurel Canyon home. 

I just loved the winding roads and the views from high up the hills were spectacular! I can see why the area served as inspiration for many popular songs of the time.

Whisky A Go Go

Although it was closed when we visited in the afternoon, it was still thrilling to stand outside the Whisky.  

Opened in 1964, the Club launched the careers of many bands.The Doors were the house band in 1966, and Janis Joplin, The Byrds, Led Zeppelin, and Fleetwood Mac all played there. In the ‘80s, bands like Motley Crue and Guns N’ Roses took to the stage. There’s soo much music history there!

Of special note, the Whisky is the first ever music venue to be inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame.

Amoeba Music

The independent music store chain that was founded in 1990 in Berkeley has a brand new location on Hollywood Blvd.  Of course I had to check it out.  The space was BIG and they carried LOTS of new and vintage vinyl plus movies, CDs, posters, Amoeba-branded merch, and all kinds of cute music-related stuff.  I didn’t have nearly enough time there to do the shopping that I wanted to do, but I did pick up a few fun rockabilly records and a T-shirt.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery 

You might think it’s kind of weird and morbid to visit a cemetery while on vacation but the Hollywood Forever Cemetery is not your ordinary cemetery. The site regularly hosts community events such as live music and summer movies.

Founded in 1899, it’s one of the world’s most visited landmarks, and the final resting place of hundreds of Hollywood legends including Judy Garland, Cecil B. DeMille, Rudolph Valentino, Mickey Rooney, Johnny and Dee Dee Ramone, Chris Cornell, and Scott Weiland, to name a few.  

I was able to find Johnny Ramone’s grave which was topped with a fantastic sculpture of him playing guitar.  I also found Chris Cornell’s grave which was much simpler than what I was expecting. 

Don’t know when I’m going back to Cali, but I want to experience the nightlife of the Sunset Strip; the Viper Room, The Roxy, the Rainbow, and of course, the Whisky. Also on my must-see list for next time are The Hollywood Bowl, the GRAMMY Museum, and the Capitol Records tower. Until then, I’ll be in Lansdowne!