• Understand
• Get around
• See
• Do
• Buy
• Sleep
• Get out

The world's most famous sign

No trip to Los Angeles is complete without a visit to its most famous district: Hollywood, best known as the self-declared entertainment capital of the world.

[edit] Understand

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A business and residential district in the city of Los Angeles, the core of Hollywood for a tourist are its three fascinating boulevards: Sunset Boulevard, Hollywood Boulevard, and Melrose Avenue. All three are worth seeing. Hollywood Blvd. is known for its entertainment history; Sunset Blvd. for its clubs and nightlife; and Melrose Ave. for its shopping, nightlife, and eclecticism.

Hollywood was founded as an independent city in 1903 and voted to merge with the City of Los Angeles in 1910. That same year also saw the birth of the Southern California motion picture industry when D. W. Griffith relocated his Biograph Company, sparking a westward migration of East Coast filmmakers. As movies exploded in popularity in the 1910s and '20s, the name Hollywood became synonymous with "the Industry." In the decades following World War II, Hollywood's glitz and glamour began to fade as most of the leading film studios moved to other places, and by the 1980s it was considered one of the worst neighborhoods in Los Angeles. The 1990s, however, saw the beginning of community redevelopment efforts, and today Hollywood is once again one of the region's most vibrant areas.

Paramount is the only major studio still headquartered in Hollywood, but the area nonetheless remains an important center of the entertainment industry with its myriad production and broadcast facilities, as well as other affiliated businesses, which include Sunset-Gower Studios, Hollywood Center Studios, Raleigh Studios, Jim Henson Studios (a subsidiary of Walt Disney Pictures), and KTLA Studios (the local CW affiliate, housed on the original Warner Bros. lot). The other major studios are located to the north in the Universal City-Burbank corridor (Universal, Warner Bros., Disney, ABC, NBC, and DreamWorks). Most of the rest are to the west: Century City (Fox, MGM), the Fairfax District (CBS), and Culver City (Sony).

If you want to see where films are shot, take a tour at one of the major studios: Universal [1] "bundles" a full amusement park with its tour, while several other studios offer smaller, but interesting tours. In reality, most films are shot in warehouses and sound stages in Burbank and elsewhere.

If you want to see celebrities, pack your patience or be prepared to play the role of boulevardier. The chances of bumping into a celebrity are very low (mainly because most of the celebrities who live in Hollywood usually do not go outside, unless they are doing their work), unless you're willing to do a lot of "hanging out" at expensive restaurants in Beverly Hills, on Sunset Plaza, or in Malibu. You can easily see where they live by taking a tour or buying a star map for about $10 (remember Tatum O'Neal in the Bad News Bears?). You might also try the Book Soup bookstore or the Viper Room bar, both on Sunset Blvd. in West Hollywood, or a number of other locations in the area where the stars live their day-to-day lives.

The best place to see stars in Hollywood is Griffith Park Observatory, which appeared in "Rebel Without a Cause" and many other movies.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By car

Hollywood is close enough to the Westside to make car trips there relatively easy. If you are beginning your trip in Downtown Los Angeles--the proverbial center of Southern California's intricate freeway network--you can head north on US Highway 101 and exit on Hollywood Blvd. or Gower St. If traffic is a problem--and it will be between about 1 PM and 6 PM--consider an alternate route by noting that many Los-Angeles-Area freeways form concentric rings around the Downtown center. You might also consider surface streets: Santa Monica Boulevard is a major throughfare that links Hollywood with Beverly Hills and Santa Monica.

[edit] By rail

Hollywood's location is central to most other popular attractions. The Red Line subway stations at Hollywood/Vine and Hollywood/Highland can connect you to cross-town areas accessible by rail, and the stretch of Hollywood Blvd between Highland and Vine serves as a major terminal for the bus system.

Visitors from Orange County, home of Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, can get to Hollywood by taking Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner or Metrolink's Orange County Line to Los Angeles Union Station and then transferring to the Red Line.

[edit] By plane

Hollywood is served by Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) or the slightly closer Bob Hope Airport (BUR) in Burbank.

[edit] Get around

The main east-west streets of central Hollywood are Hollywood Blvd. and Sunset Blvd., intersected by the main north-south streets of La Brea Ave., Highland Ave., Cahuenga Blvd., Vine St., and Gower St. Any location within a few blocks of these intersections is likely to be a satisfying choice. Night-time pedestrian activity in this area is focused on Hollywood Blvd.

The main areas of Hollywood are walkable, and you could walk all the way from Hollywood Blvd. to Melrose, but most people would probably drive.

[edit] See

Walk of Fame

• Hollywood Sign. Hollywood's most recognizable landmark is easy to spot high up on Mount Lee in Griffith Park. You can drive part way up for a closer look, but you can't hike all the way to the sign.

• <see name="Grauman's Chinese Theater" alt="" address="6925 Hollywood Boulevard" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.manntheaters.com/chinese/" hours="" price="" geo="" tags="">The most famous movie theatre in the world, Grauman's Chinese Theatre opened in 1927 and is home to the cement footprints, handprints, and (in some cases) otherprints of many of history's most famous movie stars. The theatre is also a former home of the Oscars, and today hosts many movie premieres. The forecourt that showcases the star's prints is free to all visitors. Movies are shown for $10, and half-hour walking tours are available for $5.</see>

• <see name="Walk of Fame" alt="" address="along Hollywood Boulevard and also Vine Street" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="http://www.hollywoodchamber.net/icons/walk_fame.asp" hours="" price="" geo="" tags="">The Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of a series of stars embedded in the sidewalk to commemorate famous movie, radio, theatre, and TV personalities. Since 1960, over two thousand stars have been immortalized; the schedule for upcoming star ceremonies is listed on the Walk of Fame's website.</see>

• <see name="Griffith Park Observatory" address="2800 East Observatory Road" phone="+1 213-473-0800" email="" fax="" hours="Tu-F Noon-10PM, Sa-Su 10AM-10PM, closed Mondays" price="" url="http://www.griffithobs.org">Reopened in 2006 after a long remodel; reservations are no longer necessary.</see>

• <see name="Hollywood Wax Museum" address="6767 Hollywood Blvd" phone="+1 323-462-8860" email="" fax="" hours="10AM-midnight" price="Adults (13+) $17.95, children $8.95, 5 and under free" url="http://www.hollywoodwax.com"></see>

• <see name="Ripley's Believe it or Not" address="6780 Hollywood Blvd" phone="+1 323-466-6335" email="" fax="" hours="" price="" url="http://www.ripleys.com"></see>

[edit] Do

• Kodak Theatre [2] Located at the Hollywood & Highland Center (see "Buy" below). Hosts a wide range of live performances, including the annual Academy Awards.

[edit] Buy

• Hollywood & Highland Center, [3]. Hollywood's premier shopping center includes over 75 retailers as well as the famous Kodak Theatre.

• <buy name="Amoeba Music" alt="" address="6400 Sunset Blvd" directions="" phone="+1-323-245-6400" email="" fax="" url="http://amoebamusic.com/" hours="">The country's largest independent music store, Amoeba has three locations including Hollywood, Berkeley and San Francisco. Prices are slightly higher than at the discount stores, but the selection is enormous and just about any obscure record you could imagine is to be found somewhere on the shelves.</buy>

• Guitar Center, 7425 W Sunset Blvd, 323-874-1060, [4]. Want to buy an instrument, get some equipment for yours, or get something repaired? This is a great place to start.

Hollywood Blvd. has countless urban clothing stores. Walk around and find stores with the latest LNG, Phat Farm, Timberland, Sean John, and many more.

[edit] Eat

[edit] Budget

• Travel south to East Hollywood and you can find countless "pupuserias". These thick, hand-made corn tortillas come with quesillo (Salvadorean cheese), pork, chicken, rice, beans, or "queso con loroco" (cheese and vine flower bud). Just look for signs that say "pupuserias." They usually run around $1.50-$2.00 a pupusa. A very delicious food.

[edit] Mid-range

[edit] Splurge

[edit] Dessert

[edit] Drink

• <drink name="" alt="" address="" directions="" phone="" url="" hours="" price="" lat="" long=""></drink>

[edit] Juice

[edit] Clubs and bars

Street life in Hollywood remains lively later than in most other areas, making the district a satisfying location to come home to. In fact, the best time to see Hollywood is in the evening, since the district serves, along with the nearby Sunset Strip, as the regional center for clubs and nightlife.

• <drink name="Cat & Fiddle" alt="" address="6530 Sunset Boulevard" directions="" phone="+1-323-468-9045" email="" fax="" url="http://www.thecatandfiddle.com/" hours="" price="" geo="" tags="">A large and reasonably authentic British pub, the Cat & Fiddle always has a fun crowd, a good selection of beers and British pub food, and darts in the back room. The outdoor area is extraordinarily nice but fills early, while the inside of the bar is spacious but gets crowded in the evenings. Prices are reasonable given the location and decor, with beers from $5 per pint and food starting around $8.</drink>

• <drink name="Roosevelt Hotel Lounge" address="7000 Hollywood Boulevard" directions="across the street from Grauman's Chinese Theatre" phone="+1-323-466-7000" email="infoHRH@thompsonhotels.com" fax="" hours="" price="" url="http://www.hollywoodroosevelt.com/">The lounge in this historic hotel is an upscale hotspot where one is likely to find Hollywood elite enjoying cocktails on weekdays, and a hipster party scene on weekends. Plenty of leather couches, candles, and a classy staff provides a sense of how the "other half" lives. Expect Hollywood prices to go along with the Hollywood atmosphere.</drink>

[edit] Sleep

Hollywood offers a wide range in price and quality of accommodations. The modern Renaissance Hotel and the antique Roosevelt Hotel provide an upscale choice, though the latter has a reputation for frequently closing its pool for private parties. There is a full range of standard motel chains including Travelodge, Motel 6, and Best Western. There are also a few well-located Hostels.

[edit] Contact

[edit] Internet

A few Internet cafés are dotted around town, but a better (and cheaper) option if you've got a laptop is to take advantage of the free wireless Internet at the numerous coffee shops along and off of either Hollywood Blvd or Melrose Ave.

• <listing name="Caffe Etc" alt="" address="6371 Selma Ave" directions="" phone="+1 323 464-8824" url="http://www.caffeetc.com/" hours="Everyday, 7AM-11PM" price="" lat="" long="" email="" fax="">Free wireless Internet (if you've got a laptop), decent coffees and teas, and sandwiches and desserts to snack on.</listing>

[edit] Get out

• Downtown LA – Rapidly renovating, it's a great place for a meal or to catch a show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and best of all, it's reachable by Metro.

• Universal City – Home to Universal Studios and a short trip via US Highway 101 or the Metro Red Line.

• Studio City – Among other attractions, offers perhaps the highest density of sushi restaurants in Los Angeles.

• West Hollywood – Hollywood's less-famous sibling, home to several excellent restaurants and hotels.

• Beverly Hills – Home of 90210, and a few other zip codes.