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The Road Less Traveled: Your Guide to LA's Oddities

Lisa Fernandez

Been there?  Done that?  For those of you looking for a new twist on the LA experience, here are a few hints on some of the most peculiar attractions located in the Los Angeles area. 

MEGA MUNCHIES
On vacation, a great photo op is always in order.  How about taking advantage of our super-sized local legends?  Stop by Randy’s Donuts in Inglewood for a tasty pastry, and you may recognize the gigantic donut that sits atop the shop from various movies and the backdrop of Snoop Dogg’s music video Gin and Juice.  Sweet…

In the mood for one of baseball’s favorite treats, the all-American hot dog?  Then you must make your way on down to Pink's Hot Dogs on La Brea Blvd. in Los Angeles.  WARNING:  No matter what time of day it is, be prepared to take your place in line somewhere around the block.  No, seriously.  But don't worry... Pink's can take you from hungry to hot dog in less than 30 seconds.  Now that's what I call one hot dog.  Hold the mustard!

LALA LAND
Now, if you aren’t a “foodie”, perhaps an off-the-wall gift shop would tickle your fancy.  Since you’re already in “lala land”, famous faces are definitely on the mind.  At Baby Jane’s Collectibles in West Hollywood, you can find an array of genuine movie and television memorabilia.  Most of their inventory reflects the fabulous “gay icons” of both past and present.  Gay icons, you ask?  Well, let’s just say, Gene Autry and Burt Reynolds have it, while John Wayne and Jean Claude Van Damme do not. 

Since you're already in "lala land", famous faces are definitely on the mind.  And what is better than seeking out the famous?  Tracking down the infamous.  At Esotouric™, visitors can take a variety of bus tours into the neglected neighborhoods of LA.  The nitty gritty, if you will.  Ever wonder about the unsolved Black Dahlia murder of 1947?  Wanna take a snack break at Charles Bukowski's favorite liqour store?  Esotouric prides themselves on taking you on these kinds of eclectic adventures.

STRANGE-BUT-TRUE
Now, you can go on average sightseeing tours, but how about a tour of the Los Angeles Hyperion Treatment Plant, the sewer system that seems to have attracted so many guests?  Official tours are now available, just call 310-648-5363.

Or take a trip off the beaten path and visit the historical Watts Towers, a.k.a. Nuestro Pueblo, featuring an amazing handmade “town” built out of steel and various colored bits of everyday materials by Sabato Robia in 1921. 

SPOOKY SOUVENIRS AND SIGHTS
On Mission Road in LA, you’ll find the LA Coroner’s Gift Shop, a.k.a. Skeletons in the Closet, where you can grab everything your morbid little heart desires.  From body bag luggage to toe tag key chains, this is one place you can shop till you drop (dead). 

Maybe you’d like to pay homage to your favorite celebs that have since passed?  Thousands of famous faces from Jane Mansfield to Johnny Ramone to “Bugsy” Siegel have all made Hollywood Forever Cemetery their permanent resting place.  Creepy cool.

There you have it.  Just a few of the most unconventional places to visit on your trip to Los Angeles, home to the unusual and unique.


ESOTOURIC
: Bus Adventures in the Secret Heart of LA
Check out the latest fascinating tours offered by Esotouric.  And log on to esotouric.com for more information.
•  May 1: Pasadena Confidential
•  May 8: Blood and Dumplings
•  May 15: The Real Black Dahlia
•  May 22: The Birth of Noir: James M. Cain's Southern California Nightmare
•  June 5: Weird West Adams

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