Any cemetery that houses the remains of such celluloid luminaries as Cecil B. DeMille, Judy Garland and Mel Blanc was bound to become a tourist attraction. But there’s more to Hollywood Forever than posthumous celebs (and Cinespia, a Day of the Dead festival and concerts): It’s a serene oasis in an industry-dominated part of town, with paths fit for head-clearing walks, stately mausoleums and a perfectly-framed view of the Hollywood Sign. Oh, and if you see shadowy figures perched atop headstones near sunset? Don’t worry, they’re just the resident peacocks.
In basically-always-dry Southern California, you can find a persistent source of greenery in a pretty unexpected place: a graveyard. In fact, there are some cemeteries in Los Angeles that are so beautiful that they practically double as contemplative parks—just a bit more haunted, if you believe in that sort of thing.
Unlike some of the most beautiful cemeteries elsewhere in the U.S., in L.A. you won’t find weathered tombs draped in Spanish moss or colonial era headstones covered in lichens. Instead you’ll often find a very Hollywood approach to burial grounds: Recreations of architectural styles from around the globe surrounded by luxuriously sprawling lawns that often feature the final resting places of late celebrities.
Despite their stylized appearances, its important to remember that these are still places to mourn for and reflect on the lives of real people who’ve since passed; they’re not haunted houses, so you should treat them with quiet respect during your visit. With that in mind, we think these beautiful cemeteries in L.A. are particularly worth a reverential visit.
