Last updated on November 15, 2021
I didn’t know that the Hollywood Walk of Fame concept extended to Rock Walk of Fame at the Guitar Center on Sunset Boulevard.
Right there in front of the doors to the Guitar Center are the handprints of rock legends, icons of the music industry who left an imprint on the world with their music and were asked to leave an imprint in the concrete to solidify their presence for the coming generations. And I never knew it existed.
When I passed through LA in June for a friend’s wedding I found myself casually walking down Los Angeles’ Sunset Blvd in the building afternoon heat, sweating, my hat and sunglasses in place and my eyes scanning building names and architecture. I smiled at strangers and took long looks at all of the characters strutting, hobbling, clicking, and jogging by as I meandered down the sidewalk.
This was the first time that I had ever walked Sunset without an immediate purpose. Though I toiled through two long years in the city, I never walked through Hollywood unless parking was impossible… and then it was an inconvenience so I spent my days rushing past the buildings, ignoring others and using my pre-printed Google with my exact destination.
It took a year an a half for my travel eyes to apply to the US but I discovered on my summer tour from California to New York City, Washington DC, and Florida that I have fresh eyes on my former homes. Fresh eyes on the cities I once thought I knew just because I could drive the roads with familiarity and find my nearest supermarket with ease.
For the first time, I approached Los Angeles, Orlando, St. Pete, and others with a mind toward traveling through them just like I travel foreign cities all over the world.
I walked everywhere.
Or rode a bike.
I stopped and asked for directions rather than printing a map.
I carried my camera and looked around for the visually appealing; the neat; the weird.
I tried new restaurants.
I entered shops and chatted up the sales clerks.
I asked for discounts at inappropriate times and bargained in appropriate places.
I smiled at the actors moonlighting as superheroes on the touristy part of the Hollywood Walk of Fame and wondered about their stories—their goals—why they chose this job.
I traveled through Los Angeles and found a new coffee shop (that isn’t a Starbucks!).
I traveled through Orlando and a friend showed me the best vegan and vegetarian eats I somehow missed in college.
I traveled through St. Petersburg and rented jet skis with my Florida friends for the first time ever, ending the day with lunch at a local fish shop I’d never seen before, even though I lived in St. Pete for more than 18 years.
I simply continued my travels even though I was home.
Give it a try! What are your home touristy experiences? Do any of the above tips and you’re bound to discover something you never knew existed right around the corner from your house :-)
These are great ideas, Shannon! I think we all become blind to the charms of our hometowns after awhile.
Too true, it's easy to accept a hometown begrudgingly when really they have
a lot more to offer us than the grocery store we frequent ever week :-)
Shannon-I have been viewing Boston and Cape Cod, near where my parents live, with a totally different perspective since our trip RTW for 11 months. It’s been awesome to be a tourist in my own town. The city seems cleaner, the people nicer and the weather fantastic. It is so much fun and my photos are great. Just recently re-walked the Freedom Trail with friends and had a blast.
That rock star walk looks awesome!
I thought so too! I couldn't believe I had driven by so many times and never
known it was there! No tourists really go there much so it's easy to miss
:-)
Your post is so true! It's great to discover things in your own home town that you never really saw before. And like Claire said, it usually takes a visit from out-of-town friends before you notice things.
Your post is so true! It's great to discover things in your own home town that you never really saw before. And like Claire said, it usually takes a visit from out-of-town friends before you notice things.
The out-of-towners def help, I think that not having a car to use this time
around really altered the experience too…I couldn't just hop over to
friends whenever I want, I had to ride my bike, which led to a lot more
exploring!
It took a visit from out-of-town friends to point out how beautiful my hometown is before I really started appreciating it!
That will definitely do it! I have invited so many people on my travels to
come visit that it wasn't until this visit home that I actually discovered
some of the things I would do with them if they ever take me up on the
offer! :-)
This post makes me wonder how much I missed out on during my last trip back to the US! It's excellent that you're now able to see 'home' through your traveler's eyes…clearly it makes a difference and changes the entire meaning of a trip home.
It's too easy to just break into a “I already know this place” kind of mentality when we are home and that leads us to not only avoid trying anything new, but keeping our eyes out for new things as well.
I think the fact that I didn't have a car to use this time around really
forced me to look at the city different, it was actually a lot of fun – part
of it was also being able to explore and see it all as an adult, I left my
hometown at 18 for college and everything after that was a lot more sporadic
and focused on visit family rather than places! :-) You have some work cut
out for you next time you venture home!
So true! Traveling opens up my mind and my perception. Having a travel blog pushes me to travel in a different way than I have been before.
I giggle at your observation on the Hollywood Walk of Fame actors in superheroes costumes. We were one of their customer. :)
And as you should have been with the two little ones! When my nephew came
out to LA to visit he nearly had a heart attack at seeing Spiderman in real
life…my only beef with that was, we were driving away later and the actor
was walking home without his mask on but still had on the rest of the
costume – my nephew said “Wow, look, it's Peter Parker!” :-) Kids def make
LA more fun :-)
My city doesn't have much to offer tourism wise. However, from time to time I'll go downtown with my camera and snap some pictures of the downtown skyline and random buildings. My favorite touristy thing to do here is to visit our Budweiser Brewery. It's a free tour and you get 2 free beers at the end. Winner!
I like your style! You can't complain about 2 free beers – as for your
city…it can be tough in some areas, my hometown has the beach, which is
the only thing going for it because it's mostly a retirement community! :-)