Hollywood Walk of Fame and Things to Do Nearby

Along the famous Vine Street and interesting Hollywood Boulevard, you get to see the Hollywood industry’s famous and renowned names and aces in acting, music, direction, photography and other areas like lighting and the technology behind moviemaking. The walk of fame Hollywood bronze rims with stars laid in the sidewalk, signify their contribution and in return the tribute and adulation they receive from the Hollywood industry. Yes, it also covers the TV industry, motion pictures, the aces of live theatre, the unforgettable voices on radio, the silent technicians who provide the scoring and recording, and even the performance arts like the magicians, jugglers, cardsharps, and more. Currently, there are 2,500 stars who have been honored so and the numbers swell each year with fresh nominations and inclusions for this esteemed placement which takes place in June every year.

The tour should start with the huge and iconic welcoming sign of the walk of fame Hollywood telling you that you have arrived in Hollywood! Its history goes back to the residential development of the hillside just outside Los Angeles city named ‘Hollywood-land’ in the nineteen twenties where the now-famous sign stands. The 1978 renovated signage was rebuilt and renamed as ‘Hollywood’ and its sheer size made it famous and the must-see that it is today! To see the sign the weather needs to be clear which can be quite rare. Don’t despair! You can horse-back or hike the trails of the hills of Hollywood and get to the Sunset Ranch another popular spot from where you can enable your tour and explore the signage and the ranch. There are various options available to you. Take the 2-hour open-to-air bus trip of the walk of fame Hollywood or indulge in a photoshoot with a quick visit to film locations and the close by Griffith Observatory thrown in taking 2.5 hours.

Just overlooking the Griffith Park is the Griffith Observatory of the walk of fame Hollywood with the best hill-top views of the surroundings and for some fun with star gazing! Literally true statement since its location atop the hill and its wide array of telescopes allow you to look into the far-beyond sans the city smog and ambient poor lighting. The 12-inch refracting Zeiss telescope is the star of the exhibits and attached planetarium. Get a close look at the signage and look into what the stars foretell by borrowing a telescope on the lawns of the observatory. The planetarium has many educational programs, presentations and night sky-events scheduled through the year. The lawn is home to many exhibits on space exploration, a solar system model with the planet’s bronze orbital paths let into the sidewalks. The statues of Sir Isaac Newton, Galileo, and other four astronomers are a fitting grand statue tribute to the curiosity and discoveries of all we now know of astronomy and space. Its address is 2800 East, Observatory Road, Los Angeles.

The Universal Studios at the walk of fame Hollywood is the biggest entertainer and laboratory complete with a working studio, a theme park, and the UniversalCity Walk where families find lots to do, eat together, shop and dine or buy some souvenirs. The rides are being innovated on all the time to include the most popular TV shows and movies as their themes. The children, young and old alike get transported into the magical world of Diagon Alley, Hogwarts, Muggles and Hogsmeade at the Harry Potter’s Wizarding World. Learn all about the techniques and technological work behind the camera in the tour of the Universal Studio where a tram takes you behind the facades and back-lots right into the movie sets of some of the most extravagant films including Bates Motel, War of the Worlds, Wisteria Lane and the Fast and the Furious sequels. The location is 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, Hollywood, and their website is www.universalstudioshollywood.com just in case you wish to make your bookings in advance or get more information from them.

Many eras and years ago, natural and sticky asphalt or tar found underground trapped animals and froze them into the most interesting fossils at the walk of fame Hollywood famed Hancock Park’s La Brea Tar Pits and the adjoining George C. Page Museum’s Pleistocene Garden with exhibits like dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. Nature’s bounty of the fossils unearthed in excavation sites like the Sabre-toothed or Smilodon Tiger, the Mammoth Elephant, smaller animals like the bison, horse, condor, and such can keep you not only entertained but help you discover the past, tidbits of paleontology, and the natural curiosity of historians and discoverers of history and excavation sites. Look up the site https://tarpits.org/ for the location at 5801 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles tar pits location.

The family that bonds over vacations in nature’s lap and walk of fame Hollywood stays together! Head to the Griffith Park’s 4,200 acres housing the observatory and famous for looking at the signage of Hollywood which is a must at the walk of fame Hollywood. The many species at the LA Zoo and its Botanical Garden, the round-about wheel, the pony rides or the mini train ride is bound to be a hit with the kids. They would also love the scaled models of miniatures at the Travel Town Museum and the Steamers Railroad Museum. Hiking is another popular way of exploring and the trails of the Fern Dell do not disappoint. The nearby Bronson Caves featured in the Batman movie, golfing, Greek Theater performances and the Wild West museum at the Autry National Center should also be prioritized to ensure all movies and no play, doesn’t make a dull jack of you.

The circular Capitol Records Building of the walk of fame Hollywood completed in 1956 and with a unique concept by Welton Becket does look like a collection of jacketed vinyl record-plates on the player’s turntable and even has the playing spindle-arm on top. The not-to-be-missed hallmark building on the Walk of Fame has also been featured in a number of movies and has featured the likes of Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and Beach Boys. Home to innovation and jazz the recording studio also features the Richard Wyatt’s 1972 tribute to jazz clubs and artists, in the form of a mural on the south wall.

Want a photo with your favorite star at the walk of fame Hollywood? Take a selfie with the interactive wax models at Hollywood’s very own Madame Tussaud’s collection of life-like wax figurines in the Hollywood Madame Tussaud Wax Museum. Today science has progressed and you can dress-up and take some shots for posterity in your virtual experiences of Hollywood's reality. Also, explore the Museum of Guinness World Records for the weirdest challenges or the bizarre Believe-or-Not Ripley’s Museum with a candy version of Michael Jackson’s portrait!

Movies not only make stars but make icons of the walk of fame Hollywood cars, memorabilia, sets, makeup studios and more spread over the four floored Hollywood Museum. The museum stands where the Max Factor's studios once stood and boast of styles and architecture that is typical of Hollywood’s art and regency style. Discover the Rolls Royce of Cary Grant, the giant fans which presented the Marylin Monroe tribute and the jail cell of Hannibal Lecter besides personal items, renovated sets, and authentic film-sets. The museum is located at 1660 North Highland Avenue, Hollywood.

The Hollyhock House is a typical 1921 F.L. Wright's architectural presentation commissioned for Aline Barnsdall the oil heiress. A large part of the estate sits on the Olive Hill and is now the Barnsdall Complex of Art. You can do a self-guided audio-guide tour of the complex in a language of your choice to understand the exhibits and the actual home located at 4800 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles.

The Dolby Theater on the walk of fame Hollywood is located at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard is within the dining complex and shopping center of Hollywood and Highland. The trademark Dolby theatre is famous for the many theatrical, musicals, artistic performances, fashion shows, Broadway shows, orchestras, American Theater for Ballet, and music-concerts. Even the building is a model worth admiring for its décor and architecture and for being an iconic venue of the Musical and Academy Awards.

Visit the natural amphitheater of the walk of fame Hollywood aka The Hollywood Bowl where performers have presented their concerts for over a century. The amphitheater from the 1920s has expanded and can comfortably cater to over 20,000 seats and another 10,000 standing fans. Great performers like Danny Elfman, Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, Garth Brooks, the Beatles, and John Williams have enjoyed the performances here. The "Symphonies Under the Stars" show by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra also can be enjoyed here in the summer months. Check out their address of 2301 North Highland Avenue in Los Angeles.

Have you seen the foot and handprints of the most famous movie stars at the Sid Grauman's 1927 Chinese Theater on the walk of fame Hollywood? It has been the host for the 1977 Star War’s launch and several Academy Awards. Its Chinese architecture can leave you gasping as you check out VW Herbie bug 's tire-imprints and the wand imprints of famous magician character’s of Hermione Granger, Harry Potter, and Ron Weasley. It is located at 6925 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles.

Yes, watch the stars stir up some sweat at Runyon Canyon Park on the walk of fame Hollywood Circuit and its popular hiking trail from Mulholland Drive to Hollywood's Fuller Avenue. Its dog-park is a huge plus with tourists for some off-leash canine bonding. The bereft of traffic trail is actually a fire-access. You can also attempt the discover Indian Rock stiffer Hero Trail and Star Trails if hiking is your thing.

West of Hollywood is the Sunset Boulevard and the very popular Sunset Strip which lights up with neon billboards and signs at sunset time on the walk of fame Hollywood. The area lies between the famous Beverly Hills residences and Hollywood where you have a wide choice of retail shops, some celebrity star residences, plenty of avenues for entertainment and lots of restaurants to grab some food while shopping to your heart’s content, indulging in people and tomorrow’s stars watching or just enjoying the view of sunset and early nightlife.

This built-in the ’20s by Sid Grauman at the walk of fame Hollywood comes alive at night like New York’s Broadway but with elaborate Egyptian and extravagant Chinese Theatre! A part of the Walk of Fame it also houses the Oscar Award’s home of Kodak Theatre where annually Academy awardees and aspirants for the coveted Oscars can be seen at the lit-up and mind-boggling fantasy world of the Oscar function.

The walk of fame Hollywood tour covers a range of activities and places spread out over the hillside. It is hence important to check out the various food places and eating options. Near the Kodak theatre, on Sunset Strip and Boulevard, or enjoy the oldies like the Pig N Whistle or Musso and Frank Grill are legendary and just where to eat while at Hollywood. Some of the oldie restaurants have been there since a century or since the 30s and have seen the likes of Shirley Temple, John Steinbeck and F. Scott Fitzgerald have dined too.

Want to be a film star at the walk of fame Hollywood for the night? Try the luxury of hotels like the Hollywood-Roosevelt or Dream-Hollywood. Ah, the facilities of 4-star luxury! And close to the Walk of Fame too! You do have a range of mid-range prices too at the Hollywood- Celebrity-Hotel and Hollywood-Orchid-Suites close to the popular attractions on the Walk of Hollywood Fame. The families and those who spend a long vacation tend to prefer the range with Kitchenette suites. At the lower end of the budget too, you are spoilt for choices with hotels like Hollywood City Inn and the Coral Sands Motel near the Griffith Park. Universal City Walk too is a great option for its pedestrian-only walkways and lat night options of restaurants, bars, comedy clubs, movies, cinemas and even skydiving indoors of course!

It is a short ride of 8 miles from downtown LA to walk of fame Hollywood. You have plenty of options like bus tours, the airport shuttle buses, Flyaway buses from the airport, the metro rail, many public transport buses, bicycles, taxis and rental cars to explore and get around Hollywood and its walk of fame. Yes, Hollywood and LA are expensive but you can get any number of options including carpooling to beat the prices. Typically, many bus passes are available at discount for tourists and a taxi-ride can cost you a flat rate of 40 to 70 USD from the LAX airport to Hollywood. Taxis charge 2.85 for the first 1/9^th mile and a rate of 2.70 USD for every additional mile and 29.19/hour of waiting.