One of the most rewarding ways to visit Los Angeles is to explore some of the many places to see off the beaten path. Not only will your experience be unique, but you will visit places that are not always advertised in the typical tourist brochure such as Lake Shrine, home to the cremains of Gandi
Places to see Off The Beaten Path In LA
Lake Shrine
The ten acres of Lake Shrine are highly conducive to introspection. According to reliable sources, Elvis Presley drew inspiration from his frequent visits there. All who enter pass through the Golden Lotus Archway which is a trellis-style framework adorned with gold lotus blossoms. A stone burial container is the resting place for Gandi’s ashes. Sunday worship services have been conducted in the Dutch Windmill Chapel since 1950. Adorned with symbols of all major religions, the entryway is known as the Court of Religious. Another highlight of Lake Shrine are life-like statues of Christ and St. Francis of Assisi.
Cabazon Dinosau
Dinosaur lovers are sure to enjoy the Cabazon Dinosaur display fashioned by Claude Bell, an artist of Knotts Berry Farm fame. Bell created these creatures in an effort to drive traffic to an eatery he opened in 1958. The original dinosaur, Diny, is the result of an 11 year artsy/crafty project using construction scraps. This 45-foot-tall, 150-foot-long creature is actually a building that is entered from his tail and among other rooms contains a gift shop. Although not accessible by the public, the structure contains a tunnel for the purpose of replacing the lights in Diny’s eyes. A second dinosaur, 65-foot-tall T-Rex, provides companionship for Diny. T-Rex’s gigantic dentures afford visitors a unique way to look out of a window.
In a city replete with museums of all genre, Los Angeles is home to a most unique museum, Heritage Square Museum, which is not just a museum but a work in progress. The overall mission of this museum is to chronicolize the development of LA beginning in the 1850s. In an effort to preserve pre-1900s history, several structures including an octagonal house, a Pasadena church and a Century City train depot have been carefully relocated to the grounds. Heritage Square features a very unusual tour opportunity referenced as The Mourning Tour. Costumed guides are always ready to acquaint guests with the grief, death and mourning rituals practiced in the Victorian age.
LA Police Museum
An interesting experience awaits law enforcement enthusiasts at the LA Police Museum. Housed in an original precinct structure dating back to 1925, exhibits include booking information and photos of mass murder, Charles Manson. In recent years, paraphernalia used during a 1997 Bank of America heist including masks and other items used by the actual criminals have become a very popular display.
It has been estimated that a total of 16,000 guests have scheduled a private appointment for free admission to The Bunny House. Located between LA and Pasadena, this museum is actually the home of a couple who began exchanging rabbit gifts with each other in 1992 .From floor to ceiling, the rooms are adorned with over 25,000 rabbit items ranging from stuffed specimens of every shape, size and description and medium including ceramics to live rabbits eager to be cuddled by guests. The entrance to this unique home is guarded by a bunny rabbit topiary. In 1999, with a mere total of 8,437 items, Bunny House garnered a listing in the Guiness Book of World Records as the site of the largest collection of bunny items in the world.
