Hollywood, California, a district of the city of Los Angeles, is best known as a haven for movie studios and a home for the most famous people in the motion picture and music industries. Anyone who is visiting or has just moved to Los Angeles makes a beeline for Hollywood hoping to spot Johnny Depp coming out of the cricket club or P. Diddy walking down the street. However, there are more reasons to visit Hollywood than just the usual celebrity stalking. Let us tell you about some other things you can do there.

Barnsdall Art Park

Art is pervasive in our society. You see it in museums, painted on sidewalks, even adorning mass produced cell phone accessories. Barnsdall Art Park was created to celebrate art and the cultural diversity of the artists. Surrounded by historic buildings, some of which were designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the art park has great views of downtown LA. The park also has an arts center and a theater as well as revolving displays of modern art, from photography to performances.

Griffith Park and Observatory

Think the only place you can relax around palm trees is at a day spa in Fort Lauderdale? Then you haven't been to Griffith Park. This rugged park showcases the mountains and canyons in the terrain of Los Angeles and contains several theaters, trail systems, amusement parks, museums, and sports facilities within its 4,000 acres. There's also an astronomical observatory perched on Mount Hollywood that's open to the public.

Ripley's Believe it or Not!

Almost as popular with American kids as hockey camps are to young Canadians, Ripley's Believe it or Not showcases the wacky, weird, and wonderful. Inside the museum known as an Odditorium, you can read about incredible true events, see the results of wacky record setting attempts, and interact with the exhibits.

Runyon Canyon Park

Need somewhere to romp with your four-legged friend? This rugged Hollywood park allows dogs to be off leash for nearly 2/3 of its area.

Christmas Parade

Taking place the weekend after thanksgiving, the Hollywood Christmas Parade is an event you won't want to miss if you're in town on the right day. Hosted by celebrities and broadcast on television, groups go all out to create their floats for this parade. The excitement level in the crowd is comparable to if they had all learned they could win a car just by showing up.