There aren’t many cities in the world that can boast as much to see and do as Los Angeles, and there aren’t many districts with as much going on as Hollywood. Crossing the district boundary is like entering a whole other world – one which sticks in our minds because it’s appeared in front of us on the silver screen a million times over. All the myths and legends of the movie business are concentrated into what is, after all, only a small part of town, and it’s difficult to walk five paces without coming across something that’ll give a flutter of recognition or even childlike glee. Exploring Hollywood can be odd – there are so many well-known sights that you’ll probably find the experience strangely familiar, and yet the fact that you’re there walking around amongst the world-famous landmarks can make it all seem slightly dreamlike and unreal!
If you do take a trip to Tinseltown, try to keep your feet on the ground! There are a lot of great restaurants nearby, but if you go into one hoping to catch a glimpse of an A-list movie star, you might end up disappointed! Hollywood has had a huge pull for tourists for almost as long as it’s been luring wanabee-actors, and a lot of what you’ll see is set up with the same intentions as any other tourist trap in America. Star-spotting tours on open-topped buses aren’t really the best that Hollywood has to offer! If you’re anything like me, you’ll get a much bigger thrill out of taking to the streets on foot and getting a first-hand look at some of the iconic sights – by, for example, following the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard, dropping in on Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, the Kodak Theatre or the famous Capitol Records building, and generally soaking up the glitzy ambience.
But if you want to get up close and personal with the magic of the movies, nothing beats a tour of the backlot at Fox or Universal Studios. This was where the motion picture industry got started over a hundred years ago, when the lots weren’t much more than empty stretches of dusty ground. Nowadays, the studios boast enough visitor attractions to rival small amusement parks, with movie-themed rides and, of course, complete movie sets both classic and modern. The studios aren’t just a tourist trap, though – the tours will take you right through the heart of the business while it’s still in operation, so it’s the only way to get an authentic look behind the scenes – unless you manage to make it in the movie business yourself, of course…