Hollywood area??

goalie5hole

Mouseketeer
Joined
Dec 18, 2005
I'm going to the Hollywood area for the first time ever in August. Does anyone have any must do recommendations?? Must do restauarants?? Best place to take a pic of the Hollywood sign? Tips?? Etc??
 
Last edited:
Check the website for the Hollywood & Highland shopping center, located at Hollywood Blvd. and Highland. This is the site of the Dolby Theater (location of the Academy Awards ceremony -- you can take a tour of the theater), there is a photo op for the Hollywood sign on an upper level, Walk of Fame is out front, Chinese Theatre is next door, Disney's El Capitan Theatre is across the street, Jimmy Kimmel tapes across the street, parking is validated (ask at any shop or restaurant), etc. You can catch tours of the stars' homes and other Hollywood/L.A. tours from out front. Tell us a bit more about your likes/dislikes/interests so that we can tailor our recommendations more specifically for you. You might want to look into the Warner Bros. Studio tour -- that is a very good tour and very different from the one at USH. Also check out The Grove shopping center (very nice outdoor mall with fun, hip stores and nice restaurants) and The Farmer's Market (lots of fun restaurants) -- both have fairly consistent celebrity sightings and are just fun places to spend some time.
 
Griffith Observatory

You have an excellent view of the Hollywood sign and the view of the urban sprawl that is LA is incredible. Go during sunset/night for an even more breathtaking view.
 
I've always like the pic of the sign from Vine St. next to the Capital Records building. But the very best pics are from the observatory.
I love the old school Hollywood feel of the classic Micheli's just off Hollywood Blvd on Las Palmas.
My tip is to not plan on too much time there; it's just a tourist trap. Great to see but keep expectations low. Chinese Theater and Egyptian theater are must see's. Not too far from the tourist area is Hollywood Forever Cemetery. And odd destination but fascinating. You can't go wrong with the Hollywood Museum - it looks like a typical tourist trap but isn't. On your way up to the observatory make a stop at the Ferndell Nature Center - hard to believe you're in the heart of Hollywood on this short, easy walk in Griffith Park.
 


Check the website for the Hollywood & Highland shopping center, located at Hollywood Blvd. and Highland. This is the site of the Dolby Theater (location of the Academy Awards ceremony -- you can take a tour of the theater), there is a photo op for the Hollywood sign on an upper level, Walk of Fame is out front, Chinese Theatre is next door, Disney's El Capitan Theatre is across the street, Jimmy Kimmel tapes across the street, parking is validated (ask at any shop or restaurant), etc. You can catch tours of the stars' homes and other Hollywood/L.A. tours from out front. Tell us a bit more about your likes/dislikes/interests so that we can tailor our recommendations more specifically for you. You might want to look into the Warner Bros. Studio tour -- that is a very good tour and very different from the one at USH. Also check out The Grove shopping center (very nice outdoor mall with fun, hip stores and nice restaurants) and The Farmer's Market (lots of fun restaurants) -- both have fairly consistent celebrity sightings and are just fun places to spend some time.
Agree with all of this. We just did it. We got the best pics of the Hollywood sign from Griffith Observatory.
 
For the history buff in the immediate Hollywood area...

Theaters? the Chinese, El Capitan and Egyptian all hearken back to the days of movie palaces, and are great to see a film or tour. The Egyptain is a repertory cinema, so you might see an old classic there. There is also the Cinerama-dome, part of the big Arclight multiplex, which is a true Cinerama theater (but they only show a Cinerama film once very year or two). Obviously, the Chinese has the footprints and the Hollywood Walk of Fame is everywhere.

Food? Musso and Frank Grill has been around since the heyday of Hollywood and you may still see a familiar face there. William Faulknar used to mic his own drinks behind the bar. The Pig N Whistle is more a bar and grill, but the building and decor is also old-school Hollywood. Avoid the tourist trap that is Mel's Drive-In.

But most people will be pretty underwhelmed with the atmosphere around the greater Hollywood area (still one of the poorest zip codes in L.A.), and there isn't a bad recommendation in the above posts. We love the Warner Bros Studio Tour up in Burbank (the best studio tour in the area).
 
There are absolutely amazing places on Mulholland to take pictures of the Hollywood sign, but they require a good GPS and an even stronger stomach. Very sharp curves, narrow streets, steep drop-offs just over the guardrails. Truly not for the faint of heart.

If you're up for that, 8000 Mulholland Hwy is where you should go.
 


There are absolutely amazing places on Mulholland to take pictures of the Hollywood sign, but they require a good GPS and an even stronger stomach. Very sharp curves, narrow streets, steep drop-offs just over the guardrails. Truly not for the faint of heart.

If you're up for that, 8000 Mulholland Hwy is where you should go.

We stumbled upon Mulholland while just driving around exploring. The views of downtown LA and the Hollywood sign were amazing!
 

GET A DISNEY VACATION QUOTE

Dreams Unlimited Travel is committed to providing you with the very best vacation planning experience possible. Our Vacation Planners are experts and will share their honest advice to help you have a magical vacation.

Let us help you with your next Disney Vacation!





Top