I just posted this on another thread, hope it helps
I have lived in Los Angeles for 17 years. 14 years was in the heart of Hollywood and now the last 3 years in West Los Angeles.I love this city. I absolutley love Hollywood, to me it is a very special magical place. Here is a list of things I consider to be DONT MISS things to do here:
1. For that view you want to see, the best place to go is YAMASHIRO restaurant. It is very old and very beautiful. They serve sushi but also serve other dishes there too if you dont like sushi. Make sure you ask for a window seat at dusk. You can watch the sunset and watch the city below light up. Truly a wonder.
2.The Hollywood Forever Cemetary. You can see the final resting places of Hollywoods greats like Valentino, and DE Mille.
3.Musso and Franks Bar and Grille. This is where Hollywoods golden age greats used to come and eat. It is said to be haunted by ghosts! And they make a mean martini. The waiters are very "salty" and old but that is part of the fun.lol
4. The Dresden to have a cocktail and see Marty and Elaine. The Dresden is a bar/restaurant . It is also the spot for a fun quirky couple of entertainers that were in the movie Swingers.
5.Dont forget to bring your hiking shoes. Take a day to walk up Runion Canyon. It is a nice wooded area that us locals go to to see some nature and work up a good sweat. You will be able to see the original spot where the last 4 letters (land) were a part of the Hollywood sign, they were removed years ago.You may even see a famous face to two. Dont forget water and sunscreen.
5.La Brea tar pits! Go check out this spot. it is also near a great park.
6. The Tam O' Shanter. It is a Scottish themed restaurant that Walt Disney and other Disney folk used to go eat at back in the day.
7. Melrose Ave. This where all the "cool folks" go to shop and be seen.
8. The coffee bean and tea leaf ON SUNSET. You may see some famous faces here too!
9. Greystone Mansion. It is a beautiful place owned by the City of Beverly Hills. It is right off the Sunset Strip and right in the beginning of Bev. HIlls. It was owned by The Dohenys. They even had a street named after them near by. So my sugestion is to go to Coffee Bean andTea leaf, get a drink, then drive down the street and check this place out.
All of these places I have listed are all available on the web. You can also mapquest all of them. They arent really very touristy . To me, more like gems in this city.
If you have any questions, just ask. I will be sohappy to help anyway I can.
Ihope youenjoy your trip here. Dont forget to carry lots of change with you, there are parking meters everywhere!! And they dont mess around with ticketing and towing. So make sure you READ THE SIGNS!! Other than that, Have a great time!!