CITY TOURS FIND THE BEST IN
STAR CULTURE: WALK OF FAME, GRIFFITH OBSERVATORY, SUMMER’S HOLLYWOOD BOWL With its new boutiques, hotels, and restaurants, Hollywood has reemerged as a bona-fide visitor destination. In the heart of Hollywood, check out classic theaters and eclectic museums; see the stars embedded on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; or tour the site of the Academy Awards show. For a different kind of starry scene, head to Griffith Park for stargazing at the Griffith Observatory or the thousands of acres used for horseback riding and hiking.
HOLLYWOOD + HIGHLAND The entertainment and shopping complex of
Hollywood & Highland was a catalyst for the rebirth of Hollywood Boulevard. Its Dolby Theatre is the current home of the Academy Awards show, and its central Babylon Court frames views of the iconic Hollywood sign. Erected in 1923 to advertise a housing development, the sign’s 45-foothigh letters originally read “Hollywoodland.” Other draws include the Japan House gallery, the new Anvio VR virtual reality experience, and dining spots such as Cho Oishi for sushi and shabu-shabu. Next door to Hollywood & Highland is the TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly
SHOWTIME Just opposite Hollywood & Highland is the ornate, lavishly illuminated El Capitan Theatre. Restored by Disney, it offers special presentations of the studio’s releases. The 1922 Egyptian Theatre screens eclectic artsy and classic fare. The landmark Pantages Theatre stages megahit musicals such as Hamilton. The Hollywood Bowl is the largest, and best, outdoor amphitheater in the U.S. The Los Angeles Philharmonic takes up residence in the summer; picnicking there under the stars is among
the city’s most memorable experiences.
WALK OF FAME The sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard (La Brea Avenue to Gower Street) and three blocks of Vine Street (Yucca Street to Sunset Boulevard) are inlaid with the legendary brass-and-terrazzo stars honoring celebrities from the entertainment industry. More than 2,400 stars are enshrined beneath visitors’ feet. Marilyn Monroe’s star is steps from Hollywood & Highland. John Lennon’s is in front of the Capitol Records Building, an architectural landmark designed to resemble a stack of records.
MUSEUMS, HOLLYWOOD-STYLE Hollywood has its share of museums, but you
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ALAMY STOCK. OPPOSITE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM; COURTESY TCL CHINESE THEATRE; EDWIN SANTIAGO
Hollywood
Grauman’s Chinese Theatre), famed for the celebrity hand- and footprints embedded in concrete out front (see below). Nearby restaurants include The Barish, new at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel.
