One of the most daunting things about moving to LA is trying to figure out which neighborhood you want to live in and where exactly everything is located.  I had this same problem when I moved to LA six years ago.  I knew about the big “buzz” words/places like Melrose, the stars on the sidewalk on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, The Sunset Strip, Robertson Blvd., Hollywood & Vine, Downtown, but I had no idea where exactly they were located in relation to each other.  And more importantly, if I wanted to (or could afford to) live in these areas.

You know what I’m talking about.  You watch The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills hang out in Malibu, see Stassi and Scheana get their nails done on Melrose before heading to work at Sur, Kim Kardashian was just spotted by TMZ shopping at The Grove.  But where exactly are these places when you hop off the plane at LAX with a dream and a cardigan? Allow me to let you in on a fun little way to go apartment hunting…

When my family from Minnesota came out to visit a while back, they wanted to do all that touristy stuff that now as an Angeleno, I cringed at the thought of doing.  But they talked me into joining them on one of those “Hollywood Bus Tours” and I was amazed at how much of the city I saw.  It is a great way to get acquainted with the city, see a lot of it, and see where these big icons are located.

While you’re on the tour, take notice of how close/far things are from each other and what the neighborhoods are like that you’re driving through.  Look at the streets the bus is taking you down and see if there’s any place that you’d like to explore further – then grab lunch there after to get more acquainted with the neighborhood.  We’re sure you’ll be off to a great start in your apartment search after taking a quick tour of LA.

Also be sure to check out our posts on how to find an apartment in LA and what a 1 bedroom will cost you.  Happy hunting!

photo: city sightseeing