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Hollywood Travel Overview

Yes; there really is a city called Hollywood. Though technically; not a self-supporting city of its own (residents have 'Los Angeles' addresses) it is definitely set apart from the rest of Los Angeles by its unique sights and sounds.  It’s about 3 miles south of Universal City. As you exit the freeway; the Hollywood Bowl is hidden in the hills to your right and a few blocks away is the famous CAPITOL RECORDS round building (that resembles a stack of records) that we know. At that point you are at the famous HOLLYWOOD & VINE. A few blocks to your right is the (Graumann’s) Mann’s Chinese Theater and the Hollywood WALK OF FAME. They also added a new mall and the now-famous KODAK THEATER where the Academy Awards are now permanently. The JIMMY KIMMEL SHOW also tapes across the street. While they have fixed up the neighborhood a bit and the streets with the theaters are packed day and night – the other streets are still a bit shady at night so the tourist stuff is best done by day. A couple blocks south is HOLLYWOOD HIGH SCHOOL. Going south to Melrose Avenue; if you turn left; you will soon hit PARAMOUNT. The gates are instantly recognizable but no tours. There is the HOLLYWOOD CEMETARY by Paramount Studios. There are also many other TV studios in the area but from the outside; they pretty much just look like office buildings. If you turn right on Melrose and then turn left on Fairfax; you can see CBS TELEVISION CENTER (more TV show tapings).

If you don't catch a glimpse of a real-life celebrity at an L.A. hangout; stare as long as you want at the still-life stand-ins at the Hollywood Wax Museum. The vintage ads and glamour photos at the Max Factor Museum of Beauty show you the magic and sizzle that make the stars shimmer. Or; feel the excitement of movie-making on a tour of Paramount Studios in Hollywood.

The Hollywood Hills also are home to the world's largest outdoor amphitheater; the Hollywood Bowl; which features outdoor concerts all summer long. Of course; you can always go tourist; buy a map to the stars on a street corner and cruise past the driveways of the rich and famous.

West Hollywood is one of the first upscale gay communities; it is not really so defined now. People of all persuasion call it home – but only if you’re wealthy and stylish :- ) The famous Sunset Strip is in the area. It is not surprisingly full of great restaurants and star watching (original Wolfgang Puck’s Spago’s is here).

South of West Hollywood is the segment of Melrose Avenue made famous. It really just runs from about 3rd Street to Fairfax – full of one-of-a-kind-shopping; it is less unique than it once was but still fun to check out. A few blocks south is on Fairfax is the Farmer’s Market (Next to CBS TV Center noted above) along with L.A.’s latest upscale mall – the Grove. A few blocks south is the LaBrea Tar Pits and the LA County Museum. Forget the fancy restaurants – stop by Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffle House! (not really on Melrose but in the area). There are also more 3-star/4-star restaurants in the area (not on Melrose itself) so pick up a ZAGAT guide to see what fits your bill. Again; everything from a $3 lunch to $300 lunch is in the area.