As the capital of the global entertainment industry, Hollywood is both a state of mind and a very real place. Spend some time here to see reminders of movie legends both past and present, while also discovering a vibrant, contemporary urban district that has undergone a dramatic revival in recent years.
Stay at the hotel that hosted the first Academy Awards ceremony
Back in 1929 at the Hollywood Roosevelt hotel, the silent film epic Wings was named Best Picture during the inaugural Academy Awards ceremonies. Stay the night at this beautifully restored boutique hotel, where such icons as Marilyn Monroe once slept. Let the masterful mixologists at The Spare Room (where you can channel your inner Lebowski on two bowling lanes) prepare the perfect craft cocktail.
Find your favorites on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
As you walk through Hollywood, you might just find yourself spending a surprising amount of time looking down. That’s because the Hollywood Walk of Fame immortalizes the entertainment industry’s biggest celebs with distinctive five-pointed terrazzo-and-brass stars embedded in the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. Recent honorees include Jennifer Lawrence and Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Go behind the scenes at Universal Studios Hollywood
Learn the secrets of moviemaking magic and look King Kong straight in the eye as you visit a working back lot during the world-famous studio tour at Universal Studios Hollywood. For an even closer look, the VIP Experience will take you inside soundstages and the prop room. Then grab your broom and take to the skies over Hogwarts on the thrilling Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride.
Stroll Hollywood Boulevard
In addition to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the famous Hollywood Boulevard is also where you'll find iconic museums, theaters, and nightlife attractions. Visit Hollywood & Highland, home to the Dolby Theatre (where the Academy Awards ceremony is held) and the TCL Chinese Theatres as well as super-premium retailers like Louis Vuitton and old-school watering holes like the Frolic Room and the Burgundy Room.
Also, don’t miss…
Whether you’re into classical or rock or something in between, nothing beats a concert beneath the stars at the Hollywood Bowl. Everyone from the Beatles to Lady Gaga have performed here, and you can feel the history all around. Get out early for a picnic dinner, and look into the free museum, which celebrates the Hollywood Bowl’s unique place in musical history.
