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• Hollywood Hotels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If there is any center point in all of LA that is full of hustle and bustle, sights and sounds and a starting point to find out what to do in all of LA, it is Hollywood. Home to such famous landmarks as Grauman's Chinese Theater, the Hollywood walk of stars, unobstructed views of the Hollywood sign and a plethora of Hollywood memorabilia, the Hollywood area of LA is a must see for any visitors. Historically, once the epicenter of everything movies and tv, as studios branched out across LA, the Hollywood area has remained as an active area for tv and movie enthusiasts from all over the world to congregate

 

Historically this part of LA was ground zero for all things tv and movie. From such mega legends as Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe and Rock Hudson, this was the area to spot huge stars and see the movies being made. Although many independent studios and back lots remain, today the business of Hollywood has extended its tentacles all over greater Los Angeles, from the Valley, to the Ocean to areas far to the north and east. However, this historic area of Los Angeles remains exciting, vibrant and is full of movie and tv buffs that come from all over the world to experience this historic landmark. In recent years, Hollywood has come to emulate the Times Square area of New York City with extensive shopping and dining areas, hotels and lights and glitter.

 

Today Hollywood has become of the prime neighborhoods of Los Angeles with a constant hustle and bustle of traffic, tourists and locals. Hollywood Blvd has a heavy stream of traffic and the sidewalks are always full. It is on Hollywood Blvd visitors will find over 2,300 pink granite stars representing celebrites from movies, radio, music and television. Many of the buildings in Hollywood have retained their architectural appeal from their original 1920s and 1930s construction. Several older theatres still dot the landscape including the Egyptian and El Capitan Theatres. The Roosevelt Hotel is located in the center of Hollywood blvd across the street from the Hollywood and Highlands Center. Just like like its hey day of the 1920s through 1940s, the hotel is still a playground for the Hollywood set who come to its lounges and clubs in the lobby level.

 

As far as celebrities and seeing stars themselves go, most will never be found in Hollywood. These days they have moved west for both their living and stomping grounds to the likes of Beverly Hills, Brentwood/Bel-Air, Santa Monica and Malibu. However several times of year there are movie premiers held at the Mann's Grauman's Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Blvd where red carperts are laid out, bright lights are set up and visitors standing on the opposite side of Hollywood Blvd are sure to get a glimpse of the stars as they arrive for the big even.

 

All along Hollywood Blvd there are stores and museums dedicated to Hollywood. Most of the retail stores sell t shirts, plastic oscars and old discarded paparrazzi photos of most every celebrity that ever was big in the past ten years. In between these stores are museums including the new Madame Tussuards on Hollywood Blvd. Those looking to take bus tours of Hollywood and LA will find regular departures from the front of the Hollywood and Highland center that include tours of celebrity homes, Beverly Hills, the beaches and Downtown Los Angeles. There are also regular shuttle buses that depart Hollywood for Universal Studios.

 

 

HOLLYWOOD AND HIGHLAND:

There are many exciting sites to see in Hollywood, but the most exciting area is the Hollywood and Highland complex at the intersection of Hollywood and Highland Blvd. This is the area where the Hollywood Walk of Fame-consisting of pink granite stars with a celebrity name imprinted begins and extends on both sides of the street down either side of Hollywood Blvd and around many crossing streets. From over 2, 300 stars anyone that found major celebrity in tv, movies, radio, news or print has a star on this famous blvd. In addition there are many museums and shops along the blvd that offer attractions and merchandise for sale commemorating celebrities from past and present, T-shirts, artifacts and many Hollywood keepsakes.

 

 

At the very entrance to this complex is the famous Grauman's Chinese Theater. It is here that you will find over 200 foot and hand prints from major celebrities. Visitors are invited to freely roam this area and place their hands and feet in the imprints to compare. Some of the celebrity prints featured at Graumans Chinese Theater are Burt Reynolds, John Travolta, Sylvester Stallone, Clint Eastwood, Eddie Murphy, Mickey Rooney, Bruce Willis, Jim Carrey, Whoopi Goldberg, and many many more! The crowds are always heavy in this location and it is by Grauman's that visitors will find kiosks with information on tour bus departures to celebrity homes, Beverly Hills and Universal Studios.

 

Immediately behind Grauman's Chinese Theater is the brand new Kodak Theatre. Now the official home of the Academy Awards, the Kodak Theatre opened in 2001 at a cost of $94 Million Dollars and towers above the entire Hollywood and Highlands complex.

 

The Hollywood and Highlands center is a multi level complex full of shops, dining, and entertainment. Encompassing a fountain on the ground floor the complex architecture is a circular one where on each level you go up you can look down into the fountain on the main plaza level, out over the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Hollywood Blvd, or north into the Santa Monica Mountains where the Hollywood Sign is nestled. There are a variety of shops in this area that include, American Eagle, Oakley Sunglasses, Le Sports Sac and many smaller unique boutique shops to name a few. As for dining there are so many opportunities visitors might find it better to spend all their time here rather than venturing out. There are restaurants catering to every culinary taste. Family style restaurants serve up burgers, pancakes and crepes. There are upscale steak houses and Italian restaurants and casual but fun bars and lounges. All the restaurants are perched on the edge of the levels they are on giving guests unobstructed views of the Hollywood sign, Hollywood Blvd and the main foyer of the center. In the center of the center is a white high-rise known as the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel. The Hottel's rooms have glass windows that extend from the cieling to the floor affording guests spectacular views of the center below, Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles and West Hollywood.

 

EL CAPITAN THEATRE

Across the street from the Hollywood and Highlands area is the El Capitan Theatre. Like everything else on this block, the El Capitan theatre is home to the daily production of Jimmy Kimmel Live seen on ABC. The theatre first opened in 1926 and was known as the "Hollywood's First Unspoken Drama" . Over the years many high profile performances, award shows and celebrity events have taken place at the El Capitan.

 

OUTPOST ESTATES

Located off of Frankin Avenue (Franklin runs parallel to Hollywood Blvd) on Outpost Drive is the area known as Outpost Estates. The setting of many of the original Hollywood Hills homes of early Hollywood, many of these homes have been restored in pristine condition to look exactly as the did over 80 years ago when Hollywood came to power as the center of entertainment. Today many celebs have bought and maintained houses in this neighborhood including Matthew Perry and Scarlett Johansson to name a few. The Outpost estates is situated in an area of the Santa Monica Mountains known as the Hollywood Hills. Visitors climbing the main street through this neighborhood will soon notice their ears popping and amazing views of all of Hollywood and Los Angeles below. Many of the Hollywood homes in this neighborhood have lush backyards with pools where they host parties and enjoy the sights and the view below. Open air van tours depart regularly from Hollywood and Highland Center for a tour of this historic neighborhood.

 

MELROSE AVE SHOPPING DISTRICT

Moving west along Hollywood Blvd visitors will find La Brea Blvd. La Brea runs in a north/south direction through Hollywood and eventually intersects with Melrose Ave. At the intersection of La Brea and Melrose and going west towards Fairfax is the Melrose Ave shopping district. Home to dozens of stores the strip comes alive on weekends as thousands of people take the sidewalks in search of hip and edgy fashions at a good price. Many of the merchandise at these stores appeal to a more hip young crowd. Belts, boots, fake firs, shoes, lingerie and t shirts are the primary items offered for sale. Most of the stores are independent brands available only on Melrose and blast loud techno beat music to a back drop of bright lights on the merchandise. There are a few brand name stores along the strip including Urban Outfitters and American Apparel. Those looking to dine along Melrose will find unique restaurants from Mexican to Italian and the first ever Johnny Rockets at its original location is on Melrose.

 

There are many family friendly hotels in Hollywood near and adjacent to Hollywood Blvd and Hollywood and Highlands. Click Here for hotels on Highland Ave, Franklin Ave and all of Hollywood.

 

GETTING TO HOLLYWOOD:

FROM LAX:

Take the 405 (San Diego Freeway) north to the 10 freeway (Santa Monica Freeway) East towards downtown. Exit La Brea Blvd and proceed north to Hollywood Blvd and make a right.

FROM WESTSIDE (WESTHOLLYWOOD/BEVERLY HILLS/BELAIR/BRENTWOOD/SANTA MONICA)

Follow either Sunset Blvd, Santa Monica Blvd or Wilshire Blvd east to La Brea Blvd. Make a left on La Brea Blvd. Follow La Brea north to Hollywood Blvd make right on Hollywood Blvd.

FROM DOWNTOWON:

Take the 101 (Hollywood Freeway) North and West. Exit Hollywood Blvd and proceed west.

FROM THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY

1. Take the 101 (Hollywood Freeway) South and East to Downtown Los Angeles. Exit Hollywood Blvd. Make a right at Hollywood Blvd and proceed west to Hollywood and Highland.

2. Take the Metro Subway redline from Universal City to the Hollywood and Highlands stop.