Glendale, California is a beautiful city nestled at the foot of the breathtaking Verdugo mountains. This established community includes a fantastic downtown shopping district, historic buildings, theater, arts, concerts and countless attractions in the surrounding region. The largest city in Los Angeles County spans over 30 square miles next door to Burbank, not far from the Los Angeles Zoo, Autry Museum, Griffith Park and Pasadena Rose Bowl. Downtown Los Angeles can be seen on a clear day (see vertical photo left), and Universal Studios isn't far away. Burbank includes offices, a shopping center and three theater performance venues—Alex Theatre, the Centre Theatre and A Noise.

The rolling hills of Glendale were once part of ranches, orchards and farms deeded in land grants. In March 1887 the map of the Town of Glendale was recorded by the County Recorder. By the turn of the century Glendale embarked on a campaign to advertise itself to attract residents and bring the Los Angeles Interurban railroad from Los Angeles. The tracks were laid in 1904 for the Pacific Electric and by 1906 when Glendale incorporated as a city, it became known as the fastest growing city in America.

Citrus orchards and vineyards were subdivided, giving way to homes built in the popular California Bungalow and Spanish Colonial Revival styles. Grand Central Airport and the Southern Pacific train depot connected Glendale to other communities and to the growing film and aviation industries.

Today Glendale is a fantastic place to reside for those working in the Los Angeles area. There's a great shopping district, huge mall shopping, business opportunities and amenities such as theater, theme parks, arts and so many great attractions just a short drive in surrounding Hollywood and Los Angeles.

Forest Lawn Cemetery where celebrities are both married and buried, is located on the verdant hills of Glendale. Forest Lawn is open to the public at 1712 S. Glendale Avenue,  Glendale, CA. (323) 254-3131.  Most of its burial plots have names such as Sweet Memories and Dawn of Tomorrow. Packages for burial range tens of thousands of dollars a minimal fee. The cemetery contains a number of reproductions of famous art sculptures such as Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper and Michelangelo's David and Moses. There are three non-sectarian chapels that have been the location of weddings, including Ronald Reagan ceremony to Jane Wyman at the ‘Wee Kirk o' the Heather’ in 1940. Regis Philbin was also married at Forest Lawn. A quarter of a million people are buried at Forest Lawn; there are over a million visitors each year including thousands of local schoolchildren on field trips.

Some of the inspiration at Forest Lawn is patriotic rather than pious, such as the Court of Freedom, with its large mosaic of the Signing of the Declaration of Independence, and a 13 ft (4 m) high statue of George Washington. The Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery is a second park solely dedicated to the preservation of American history. Forest Lawn contains 300 acres of landscaped grounds and thematic sculptures. Photographs taken at Forest Lawn are prohibited from being published and the information office doesn't disclose the burial locations of famous people. But for your edification, here are some names you may recognize: Gracie Allen (and George Burns; husband & wife comedy team); Clara Bow, actress; Nat King Cole, singer; Sammy Davis, Jr., entertainer; Walt Disney, film studio and entertainment park founder; Don Drysdale, baseball great with the Los Angeles Dodgers; W. C. Fields, comedic actor; Larry Fine, actor, Three Stooges; Errol Flynn, actor; Clark Gable, actor; Samuel Goldwyn, legendary film producer; Huntley Gordon, actor; Sid Grauman, Hollywood entertainer and theater owner; Alan Hale, Sr., actor; Jean Harlow, actress; Edith Head, costume designer; Alan Ladd, actor; Louis L'Amour, author; Harold Lloyd, comedic actor; Carole Lombard, actress; Jeanette MacDonald, actress; Chico Marx, comedic actor; Gummo Marx, comedic actor; Jack Pickford, actor, Hollywood's first Bad Boy; Mary Pickford, actress, businesswoman, co-founder of United; David O. Selznick, movie director ; Red Skelton, comedian; James Stewart, actor; Robert Taylor, actor; Jack Teagarden, jazz trombonist; Keenan Wynn, actor; Robert Young, actor - "Father Knows Best".

Glendale Galleria - With 5 department stores and 250 of the country's top selling specialty stores, the Glendale Galleria is a fantastic place to visit and purchase your tourist gifts, dine on a meal or buy buy something for yourself.  Here is a sampling of the store, shops and restaurants:

Abercrombie & Fitch  (818) 550-7492; Aerosoles (818) 246-2455; American Eagle Outfitters (818) 956-1893; Amy's Hallmark (818) 246-5959; Ann Taylor (818) 246-0350; Asia Noodle Café (818) 240-9401; Aveda  (818) 246-3680; Baby Gap (818) 550-9138; Bailey Banks & Biddle (818) 242-8800; Banana Republic (818) 543-1455; Bath & Body Works (818) 502-0810; BEBE (818) 551-0887; Beyond The Beach (818) 638-8611; Bombay Company (818) 246-1682; Bose (818) 241-2673; Bread Winner,  (818) 500-8899; Brookstone (818) 247-0442; Casual Corner (818) 243-4291 Champs Sports (818) 547-4808; Charlotte Russe (818) 545-0486; Children's Place, The A 2 (818) 507-1085; Coach (818) 551-0772; Color Me Mine (818) 265-1414;  Crabtree & Evelyn (818) 500-1354; Daphne's Greek Cafe (818) 548-8321; Devon Becke D 2 (818) 507-1888; Disney Store (818) 247-0222; Easy Spirit (818) 246-5099; Eddie Bauer (818) 240-7273; Edo Japan (818) 246-9308; Foot Locker (818) 956-5801
Footaction USA  (818) 247-9007; Glendale Federal ATM; Glendale Police Substation (818) 548-4033
Gloria Jean's Coffee Bean (818) 240-1200; Godiva Chocolatier (818) 545-7282; Haagen-Dazs (818) 500-0944; Hawaiian BBQ Express (818) 242-7768; Hot Dog on a Stick; In-N-Out Burger Out; JC Penney Anchor (818) 240-8700; Jessica McClintock (818) 242-7196; KB Toys (818) 244-3812; Lane Bryant (818) 246-2516; Le Prestige  (818) 243-5900; LEGO B 2 (818) 549-0733; Lenscrafters (818) 552-4440; Lucky Brand Jeans (818) 291-0034; Macy's A (818) 240-8411; Mervyn's (818) 502-9900
Naturalizer (818) 241-1630; New York & Company  (818) 246-9869; Nine West  (818) 291-0086; Nordstrom  (818) 502-9922; Papyrus  (818) 247-8274; Payless ShoeSource (818) 243-9714; Photo Perfections (818) 247-1577; Picture People (818) 247-2100; Red Robin Burgers & Spirits Emporium  (818) 551-0191; Ritz Camera (Kits Camera One Hour Photo)  (818) 246-1454; Robinson's May  (818) 247-2600; Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory  (818) 500-1051; See's Candies (818) 247-2433
Suncoast Motion Picture Company  (818) 246-6386; Sunglass Hut (818) 247-7228; Swarovski (818) 244-9866; Talbots (818) 242-3759; Vans (818) 662-9606; Verizon (818) 553-0470; Victoria's Secret (818) 240-2984; Williams-Sonoma (818) 241-0154; Wilsons Leather  (818) 240-8690; Windsor Fashions (818) 247-8523