Los Angeles is a big city. And considering I have just travelled across America, when I say big city I really do mean big!

I had already been warned about this before I even boarded my flight from San Francisco to LA but until I had a map in front of me and saw that from my hostel on Hollywood Boulevard, it was a four hour walk to Venice beach did I realise what I was taking on. Fortunately, as there is in every tourist attracting city, there was the city sight seeing bus. Thanks to this creation I was able to get myself to Beverley Hills, Santa Monica and Venice beaches and Rodeo Drive. Sadly no celebrities though!

I definitely had what felt like a real geek moment whilst staying in Hollywood and it was when I saw the Hollywood sign in the distance. I happened to be walking to the cinema on Sunset Boulevard and as I was looking to cross the road, I saw the big white letters staring at me from their hillside home. When I say I had a geek moment, I mean I actually gasped when I saw the sign and for a moment forgot what I was supposed to be doing as I stood in awe of such a globally recognised icon. A few days later when I had the chance to walk up the hills to see the sign up close, it felt even more surreal to be in the knowledge that I would now see that sign in TV and films and know that I stood right in front of it.

I may not have been able to bag a starring role in a movie or see any celebrities but I have seen that LA is a big city with a lot of character. There's the exclusive Beverley Hills where you need to be invited to visit one designer store on Rodeo Drive and there's the hippy infested Venice Boardwalk next to the beach where many artists and stoners hang out. I was under the impression that San Francisco was the place to be for hippies but Venice Beach bustled with more of a 60's/Summer of Love vibe in my eyes.

If I was to give advice to anyone who wanted to visit LA, I'd say your visit would need to be aided by a vehicle of some sort otherwise you will have very long walks ahead of you. But if you get yourself to the Hollywood Hills you'll be in for a treat as you also get a great view of Los Angeles as well as the famous sign.