City of Angels : Los Angeles, CA

There is nothing better than a Red Carpet Sunday and a night at the Academy Awards. What else could be better to plan a trip to the City of Angels during this high fashion time for celebrities? My perfect escape for this week would have to be Los Angeles, CA as I gaze into the television watching beautiful celebrities walk down the red carpet in preparation to win the infamous award called an Oscar.

LA is a gorgeous and lively city located in Southern California and has been ranked the fifth most powerful and influential city in the world, behind only New York City in the United States. There are millions of things to see and do while your here but because it is Oscar Sunday I think it is important to start with Hollywood and the Kodak Theater.

 

Located in the center of Hollywood on Hollywood Boulevard, the Kodak Theatre is the home of the annual Academy Awards (The Oscars).  In a fashion reminiscent of Hollywood's movie-making process, the building is dressed before the ceremony with the famous large red carpet. It is said that the theater is rented to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for weeks before the Oscar night. During the rest of the year, it host numerous live concerts, award shows, symphony performances and others.

While you're in Hollywood, another must see attraction would have to be the Hollywood Sign of course! Created as an advertisement in 1923, the Hollywood Sign originally read HOLLYWOODLAND. Its purpose was to advertise the name of a new housing development in the hills above the Hollywood district of Los Angeles. It is a great place to take pictures and look out over all of LA.

Some more must see landmarks in Los Angeles are:

1. Griffith Observatory
2. Capitol Records Tower
3. Crauman's Chinese Theatre 
4. Staples Center
5. LA Live
6. Dodger Stadium
7. Walt Disney Land
8. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

After seeing all those attractions, my next stop would be 90210 - most commonly known as Beverly Hills. While you are here the two most important things to do are to stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel and to shop Rodeo Drive. Having visited this part of LA this past January for the TCU Rose Bowl, I instantly feel in love. The shopping in this part of LA is fabulous and I highly suggest anyone who loves to prance around in luxury (even if you are not willing to drop 2K on fashionable items like me) to still check out this exceptional areas of LA.

Being as though LA is also home to American Idol I thought I would introduce you to one of my fellow friends, class mate, and role model - Tim Halperin - who has currently made it to the Top 24 on this season of American Idol. I want to leave you with a video of his and ask you to vote for him Tuesday night at 9:30 ET/8:30 CT here.

Until next time, vote Tim Halperin for America's next IDOL!!