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[DyanKJ130]

We will be spending one day of our trip next month in LA. Any recommendations on what things we absolutely must see? What tour would you recommend, if any? It will be me, DH and DS(15).

for your help!

[bradk]

i'm a fan of USH but if you aren't and don't want to spend a day devoted to it, there's plenty going on up and down Hollywood Blvd.

there are few museums: the hollywood wax museum (kinda fun), the ripley's believe it or not museum (also good), the guiness book of world records museum (not so fun), the hollywood walk of fame, the real grauman's chinese theater (the real crossroads of the world is also in the LA area), the kodak theater (known for the oscars and american idol finals) which offers tours, disney's el capitan movie theater (which offers other things like the jimmy kimmel show (must be 18) and i believe in at least part of feb will still have the enchanted exhibit) and attached to that is the disney soda fountain and studio store

there's also the hollywood museum which has a lot of film and tv stuff ( The Hollywood Museum in the Historic Max Factor Building )

Sony, Paramount and Warner Brothers all offer tours of their movie studios. NBC offers a tv studio tour. back on the disney tip, while you can't tour the studios normally, you can see the famous michael eisner building which features large statues of the seven dwarfs holding up the roof along with the giant sorcerer's hat in front of the animation studios

can also consider tv tapings (what few are going on during the strike) - check out Free TV Tickets - Print Television Ticket Out Online! TvTix.com and Free TV Studio Audience Tickets | Audiences Unlimited, Inc.

SEEING STARS: the Ultimate Guide to Hollywood & Celebrities has been a good resource for me in the past too.

(ETA: and of course there's Wicked)

[chezp]

We did the Grand Tour of Los Angeles through Starline, because it did all the places we wanted to see - like the Hollywood Bowl, Mann's Theatre, the Kodak Center, Rodeo Drive and Sunset Strip. It also included stops at Olvera Street and the Farmers' Market and we got to see downtown LA, Chinatown and La Brea Tar Pits. Those were the sort of things we enjoyed during our day in LA.

[DopeyGirl]

We did the Grand Tour as well and really enjoyed it. It got a bit long towards the end but it was really thorough in showing pretty much everything you'd want to see in L.A. except the stars' homes!

Grand Tour of Los Angeles, Los Angeles tour with Starline Tours

[DyanKJ130]

everyone! This is awesome information! It's looking like we are going to stay our first night at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, tour LA and then move on to my aunt's timeshare in Anaheim for our Saturday night check-in. I'll be calling to book the Grand Tour and Jeffrey is interested in the wax museum, but he's just started looking so I'm sure he'll be adding more of your recommendations!

I'm finally starting to get psyched! again!

[bradk]

just an fyi, those hours on the 3 museums are pretty long too, i think they're open until midnight or so.

i'll be staying at the renaissance myself for the LA portion of the ABD tour. although before that, i'm staying at my local friendly super8 where i've stayed previously. close to the red line. although the renaissance is in an arguably better location, literally right around the corner from the kodak, the el capitan/disney soda fountain & studio tour

i also neglected to mention the capitol records building. a highlight for me. hope to revisit it again and get better photos this time.


one other thing i loved.. the metro stations. it looks like a different artist designed each one. this is the entrance to the hollywood & vine which was themed for film (inside as well)

[bradk]

i went to the book store and started flipping through the Time Out guide to LA and saw a picture of Johnny Ramone's cenotaph at Hollywood Forever ceremony and decided I need to check out that place.

I ended up buying a Fodor's 2008 book (the Time Out was from 2006) and found some other things I want to check out. Guitar Center and its rockwalk ( Guitar Center's Hollywood Rockwalk ) seems pretty promising as well.

dunno how i'm gonna fit all this in.

yesterland.com also has an extensive list of buildings at MGM and DCA and their real life counterparts. not that i want to see all of them, but did want to see some (some are just downright scary today)

Yesterland Presents Real Buildings that Inspired Disney-MGM Studios
Yesterland Presents Real Buildings that Inspired Disney’s California Adventure, Part 1
Yesterland Presents Real Buildings that Inspired Disney’s California Adventure, Part 2

[DyanKJ130]

Originally Posted by bradk

i dunno how i'm gonna fit all this in.

This is part of our problem too! There are so many things to do (the main focus DLR this trip), but there is not enough time to do it all!

for your info, Brad! You made me feel better about our one night at the Renaissance. At first I thought we would just pick a decent place, but then got to thinking we deserve a splurge! The place looks amazing!

[bradk]

i dunno what i said other than the location really can't be beat. although if you're out on tour all day, it wouldn't matter as much.

personally i'd really advocate just checking out what's right in front of you there and taking it easy. there's just way too much going on in the area.

but back to the hotel, according to tripadvisor.com, it's ranked #6 in LA and has a rating of 4 which for tripadvisor is like a 30 on a scale of 10 anywhere else. probably another argument for not spending all day on a tour when you've got one night at a hotel like this.

Renaissance Hollywood Hotel - Los Angeles - Renaissance Hollywood Hotel Reviews - TripAdvisor

i wouldn't have stayed there on my own. not that i'll have any regrets i'm sure, but it's just a bit unnecessary for me (i'll stick with the super 8 #107 out of 229), but ABD is making me stay there and GCH. i'll live.

[bradk]

i'm sorry, but how cool is this? this is going on at the hollywood & highland center (what the hotel is attached to)

Meet the Oscars

February 1 - 23, 2008
Reprising one of its most popular events, the Academy will display for the public the actual Oscars that will be handed out at the 80th Academy Awards ceremony. Beginning February 1, visitors will be able to view and photograph the 50 golden statuettes - and even hold one - on the fourth level of the Hollywood & Highland Center. Admission is FREE. The 80th Academy Awards ceremony will be televised live on Sunday, February 24, 2008, beginning at 5pm on the ABC Television Network. The exhibit will be free and open to the public from February 1 - 23 on Level 4. Sundays - Thursdays 12pm to 7pm. Fridays and Saturdays 12pm to 8pm.

i envy you.

just noticed they have a shuttle going to the pantages theater too. have to make a note to see if it makes more sense to wait until an ABD night to fit in Wicked or if I can just get away with using the metro.

[DyanKJ130]

That is WAY too !! We have got to do that!! WOW! Brad!

[bradk]

just found this site too, another source for tv tickets: On Camera Audiences - The official ticket source for your favorite shows

[DyanKJ130]

Don't know how I missed this! for the link, Brad

[scottjs]

I am from California and have spent a lot of time in LA! All the above places are good. My favorite area though is the Pacific Coast along Highway One. I love driveing around Santa Monica. Maybe you could go to the pier there and hang out.? Or go to some of the more famous beaches?? Take your choice--they are all fun. I like Zuma Beach which is rather quiet, but they filmed parts of China Beach there. There is also the redone Griffith Observatory. A beautiful area(When Charlie's Angels aren't fighting there)

[tdandboys]

We parked and walked down Hollywood and Vine and walked the stars over to the diner. It was all free expect lunch and a pure blast.