What can you see in Travis Newport Beach? The Balboa Peninsula is a neighborhood in Newport Beach named after the famous Spanish explorer, Vasco Nunez de Balboa. Sometimes referred to as “the Peninsula” or as “Balboa,” it is a residential neighborhood with many attractions and events. The three mile stretch of land is bordered on one side by the harbor and on the other side by sandy beaches and the Pacific Ocean.
It might seem morbid for a cemetery to feature in a list of must-visit sights, but the Hollywood Forever Cemetery is undoubtedly one of LA’s top attractions. This cemetery is known for its famous permanent residents, including director Cecil B DeMille, actress Judy Garland, and The Beatles’ George Harrison. Johnny Ramone of The Ramones was cremated after his death in 2004, but a bronze statue stands as a memorial to the musician in this cemetery. The burial ground comes into its own in the summer when Hollywood Forever regularly hosts concerts, film screenings and other events for the living to enjoy. Designers Charles and Ray Eames – the husband-and-wife duo who gave us the Eames chair – built the Eames House in 1949 as part of the Case Study House Program. The couple lived in this home (also known as Case Study House No 8) until their deaths in 1978 and 1988, respectively. Since 2004, the Eames Foundation has managed this landmark of mid-20th-century modern architecture. Visitors can see the home’s striking exterior for $10 (reservations required 48 hours in advance) from 10am to 4pm daily, with the exception of Wednesdays and Sundays. Interior tours are $275 for up to two people.
Balboa Island is a manmade island that is located between the Balboa Peninsula and the mainland of Newport Beach. The island started as a mudflat surrounded by swamps. Dredging of the bay began in the early 1900s and the sand and silt that was brought up from the floor of the bay was deposited at a place that would eventually become Balboa Island. If you are wondering what to see in Newport Beach, Balboa Island is a great place to visit. The island is connected to the mainland by a bridge on the northeast and the Balboa Island Ferry runs between the island and the Balboa Peninsula which lies to the south. Find extra information on Travis Newport Beach.
While the Natural History Museum has numerous galleries and an extensive permanent collection that covers a range of topics, it is best known for its collection of dinosaurs. The 14,000-square-foot Dinosaur Hall has an awesome display of dinosaur skeletons, including a series of Tyrannosaurus rex fossils, known as the growth series, featuring three full skeletons that range from baby to adult. Also on display are a Triceratops and a Stegosaurus. The museum deals with the natural history of California and areas throughout the world. Becoming Los Angeles, which explores the past 500 years of history in Southern California, is another must-see exhibit. The Age of Mammals offers a look at evolution, climatic changes, and shifting continents. Mammals are further explored in exhibits that focus on specific continents. The Discovery Center offers hands-on experiences and is particularly interesting for younger visitors.
A pool of black tar in the middle of a green city park is an unexpected sight in Los Angeles, but the famous La Brea Tar Pits have provided a treasure trove of archeological finds for the nearby George C. Page Museum. Excavations of the prehistoric site have resulted in one of the largest collections of Ice Age fossils in the world. The oldest of the approximately 100 tons of bones hauled out of the pits date back 38,000 years. Complete skeletons of animals like saber-toothed cats, dire wolves and mastodons are on display in the museum. In the Paleontology Laboratory, visitors can watch scientists working on the latest finds.
Tour the Los Angeles Central Public Library: The Los Angeles Central Public Library reflects the Egyptian-style architecture mania that swept the country in the 1920s, after the discovery of King Tut’s tomb. Discover fossil fun: At La Brea Tar Pits in Hancock Park, the site of the richest discovery of Ice Age fossils in the world, more than 100 tons of fossilized bones representing 200-plus species of mammals, birds, reptiles and fish have been unearthed from pools of sticky asphalt dating back to prehistoric time. This is a uniquely favorite point of interest for sightseeing in L.A. Discover extra info at Travis Newport Beach.
