Hollywood

Los Angeles, California Travel Guide

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Hollywood

Area: East, North of Downtown LA

Overview: So here we are at last. The area of Los Angeles most visitors want to see. Aside from the sun and beach, the legacy Los Angeles has and will continue to have is Hollywood. From the city center, Hollywood is located northwest of downtown Los Angeles and east of Beverly Hills.

Movies, movies, movies. The tinseltown of Los Angeles, the entertainment empire of the United States of America, the bling of bling, Hollywood lives up to all the fanfare it receives and then some. But, not without some renovation in the last couple of decades, which have seen tourism skyrocket. In 1910, Hollywood merged with Los Angeles. Very soon after, the first movie studio was established, bringing gobs of filmmakers thereafter. Yes, Hollywood today is, as the much proclaimed catch phrase goes, “the entertainment capital of the world.”

Three main streets occupy the famous Hollywood land: Melrose Avenue, Sunset Boulevard and Hollywood Boulevard. See the area introduction of Melrose Ave for more detail but in short, Melrose Ave starts and stops the trends of Hollywood as far as fashion goes. Freedom of self-expression dutifully describes Hollywood and no other area facilitates this individual slickness of being than Melrose Ave. Sunset Blvd and Melrose Ave are where the cool locals, celebrities and stars hang. The most famous section of Sunset Blvd is Sunset Strip. Glamor exudes the strip and so do fashion, fun, restaurants with patios, clubs and bars. Not to outdone, Hollywood Blvd offers the most activities, sites and things to do of all three streets.

The Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, Arclight Theatre, Kodak Theatre, the home of the Academy Awards, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Hollywood Sign and much more offer excitement for everyone. So do the abundant shopping opportunities and nightlife.

Be careful. Captain Jack Sparrow or Superman may chase you around.

Accessibility: Most of Hollywood and all the activities and sites offered are wheelchair accessible, particularly the main streets.

Getting There: www.metro.net, www.ladottransit.com