1. Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a sidewalk that runs for more than two miles through the heart of Hollywood.
If you don’t know yet, the Hollywood Walk of Fame honors actors, musicians, filmmakers, musical and theatrical organizations, and even 16 imaginary characters with stars on the sidewalk. A bit more than half of the stars are married to someone who works in the film industry.
The stars are constructed of brass and terrazzo, and there were almost 2,600 of them in spring 2019. The Walk of Fame is a 15-block stretch of Hollywood Boulevard and a three-block stretch of Vine Street that was inaugurated in 1958 with 1,588 honorees.
Each year, 24 new stars are placed at a cost of $40,000 (paid by the nominee or sponsor), and honorees are required to attend the event.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame was created in 1958 and since then, it has become one of Hollywood’s most popular tourist attractions. Every year, millions of people come to Hollywood to see the stars and to take photographs with their favorite celebrities.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is located on Hollywood Boulevard, between Vine Street and Highland Avenue. Guests can purchase a map of the Hollywood Walk of Fame from the Visitors Center or download one for free from the official website.
Insider Tip: The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a great place to people watch and to see some of Hollywood’s most famous landmarks. To avoid the crowds, try visiting early in the morning or late at night.
2. Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Hollywood is a movie studio and theme park in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles.
The park is divided into two parts: the Upper Lot, which features attractions such as the Studio Tour, and the Lower Lot, which is home to rides, shows, and restaurants.
The studio tour is a behind-the-scenes look at how movies are made, and it includes stops at the sets of some of Universal’s most famous films, such as “Jurassic Park” and “Psycho.” Universal Studios Hollywood is also home to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is a themed area based on the Harry Potter books and movies.
This all started when Universal Studios began giving tours of its studio lot in 1964, allowing visitors to see sets and objects that had already been part of film and television history at Universal City. This quickly evolved into a full-fledged theme park.
Almost everything is based on Universal Studios works, and it is updated every few years to keep up with the times.
Insider Tip: Purchase your tickets online in advance to save time and money. Universal Studios Hollywood offers a variety of ticket options, including one-day passes, annual passes, and VIP Experience packages.
3. Rodeo Drive
Rodeo Drive is a world-famous street in Beverly Hills, California. It is home to some of the most expensive shops in the world, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, and Tiffany & Co.
Rodeo Drive is more of a visual experience for anyone save the very affluent, including window shopping, gawking at Bugattis and Ferraris, and roaming the “European-style” cobblestone alley.
This palm-lined boulevard epitomizes opulence and has been immortalized in films, most notably Pretty Woman (1990), in which Julia Roberts embarks on the mother of all shopping sprees.
In 1967, Giorgio Beverly Hills opened the first luxury store on Rodeo Drive, and in 2003, the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style gave the street a multimillion-dollar facelift.
Today, the two-mile (three-kilometer) stretch of Rodeo Drive comprises more than 100 high-end boutiques.
Insider Tip: If you’re looking to do some serious shopping on Rodeo Drive, be sure to bring your wallet – and your credit card! Many of the shops on Rodeo Drive cater to the ultra-wealthy, and prices reflect that. However, even if you can’t afford to shop at these stores, Rodeo Drive is still worth a visit. window shopping is always free!
4. Mulholland Drive
Mulholland Drive is a 22-mile (35-kilometer) stretch of road that runs along the Santa Monica Mountains in Los Angeles. The road was originally built as a water supply route for the city, but it now serves as a popular tourist destination.
This meandering two-lane road along the ridgeline of the eastern Santa Monica Mountains was planned in 1924 and named for a civil engineer who assisted in the construction of LA’s water system.
On the route, memories of innumerable films will flood back, including David Lynch’s nameake film (2002). Mulholland Drive, according to Lynch, “feels the history of Hollywood,” and it can be felt in the opulent residences (some of the most costly in the world), hairpin turns reminiscent of historic automobile chases, and, of course, the numerous breathtaking lookouts.
Insider Tip: If you’re driving on Mulholland Drive, be sure to take your time and enjoy the views. This is not a road to be rushed! There are numerous pull-offs and viewpoints along the way, so take advantage of them. And if you’re feeling really adventurous, there are even some hiking trails that lead off of Mulholland Drive.
5. Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier
The Santa Monica Pier is a large double-jointed pier located in Santa Monica, California. It is a popular tourist destination that is home to Pacific Park, an amusement park with a Ferris wheel, roller coaster, carousel, and more. The pier also has an aquarium, game arcade, and a number of restaurants.
The Santa Monica Pier was originally built in 1909 and was used as a shipping and passenger terminal. The pier was also the finishing point for several early automobile races, including the Los Angeles to Catalina Island race that began in 1927.
In 1983, the pier underwent a major renovation which added Pacific Park and the Santa Monica Pier Aquarium. Today, the pier is a major tourist destination, with millions of visitors each year.
The Pacific Park and the Santa Monica Pier, like countless other locales surrounding Los Angeles, have inevitably been in hundreds of films and television series, and were reproduced in stunning detail for the 2013 videogame GTA V.
Pacific Park claims itself as LA’s only admission-free amusement park, having first opened in the 1910s and then been restored in the 1990s.
You pay for particular attractions, such as the steel West Coaster and the Pacific Wheel, which is the world’s only solar-powered Ferris wheel and was featured in Steven Spielberg’s 1941 (1979).
Insider Tip: If you’re visiting Santa Monica Pier, be sure to take advantage of the many activities and attractions it has to offer. There’s something for everyone, so you’re sure to have a good time!
6. The Broad
The Broad is a contemporary art museum in Los Angeles. The museum is home to a collection of over 2000 pieces of art, with a focus on the post-World War II period.
The Broad, which opened next to the Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2015 and was supported by philanthropist Eli Broad, introduced a new cultural dimension to Downtown Los Angeles.
With 2,500 rhomboidal concrete panels reinforced by fibreglass, the cube-shaped structure is a head-turning architectural statement by the Diller Scofidio + Renfro studio.
The Broad encompasses modern and contemporary painting, photography, and sculpture from the mid-twentieth century to the present on three levels.
Broad has amassed a collection of almost 2,000 pieces by 200 artists, and his foundation is constantly adding to it. Some of the artists represented in the collection include Jeff Koons, Damien Hirst, Cindy Sherman, and Andy Warhol.
Insider Tip: The Broad is one of LA’s must-see museums. Be sure to allow yourself enough time to explore all three levels of the museum. Also, be sure to check out The Broad’s website before your visit to see if any of the exhibitions have timed tickets.
Featured Image Credit: Metromile
