There are places in Southern California that offer views that help make sense of the region. A place to see the whole city. A place to figure out where you are and get some context. Often these are hillside places such as the Griffith Observatory, but sometimes they are man-made such as the Hollywood and Highland complex in Hollywood where the picture below was taken. To see the proximity and connection to downtown is helpful especially to tourists who find themselves overwhelmed by the sprawling nature of the city. When you see it this way it can sort of start to makes more sense.
