Enjoying La-La Land!

A travel journal to Hollywood by TravelQueen2001

You Are Entering HollywoodlandMore Photos

I live here so I've learned to love it. But Hollywood can be intimidating at first -- instead of glamorous, part of it are kind of rough, seedy, with tons of souvenir stores. But there's more than that: great ethnic cuisine and other fun spots. Keep reading.

  • 5 reviews
  • 1 story/tip
  • 4 photos
If I were visiting, I would walk around Hollywood Blvd and look at the stars on the sidewalk and the Mann's Chinese Theater VERY BRIEFLY. But first, before you start walking, have breakfast at Roscoe's Chicken & Waffle (see dining entry) -- this soul food place is amazing, and truly and institution here, so don't miss it. I would get in my rental car (you NEED a car here) and drive get some good thai food for lunch (Chan Dara is great, look in the dining entries). Then get in your rental car (you NEED a car here) and drive to Universal Studios, a great theme park that's only 10 minutes away (get on the 101 north and exit at Universal).

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

Cars are a must here. You can't see Los Angeles in public transportation; it's just too big and the buses too few.

Chan DaraBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

This place has great soups and noodles, and it's very popular with locals. Get away from Hollywood Blvd when you get hungry and avoid the tourist traps!
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by TravelQueen2001 on March 8, 2001

Chan Dara
1511 N Cahuenga Hollywood, California 90028
(323) 464-8585

Roscoe's House of Chicken & WafflesBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles"

This place rocks! It's a tiny restaurant that serves great soul food -- especially good are the fried chicken, the waffles, and corn bread, and the lemonade. They have great specials for breakfast and lunch, including "Natalie's special," my favorite, which is a fried chicken thigh with a waffle -- YUMM! Expect long waits on weekends. It's totally worth the wait though.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by TravelQueen2001 on March 8, 2001

Roscoe's House of Chicken & Waffles
1518 North Gower Street Hollywood, California 90028
(323) 466-7453

Musso & Frank GrillBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Musso and Franks"

Musso and Frank's has been around Hollywood for the last 80 years, and stepping into this restaurant feels like time travel. The waiters look like they have been around for decades, and they are sweethearts. It's kind of expensive to come here and eat a full meal, and not quite worth the price. You should come here for drinks (great martinis!) and appetizers.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by TravelQueen2001 on March 9, 2001

Musso & Frank Grill
6667 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood, California 90028
(323) 467-5123

Universal Studios HollywoodBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Universal Studios"

This theme park is way more fun than Disneyland a few miles away. Rides are lots of fun, lots of technology-oriented rides, tons of food options. It's not a big park, but worth it. Half a day was enough time for me to do most of the rides.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by TravelQueen2001 on March 8, 2001

Universal Studios Hollywood
100 Universal City Plaza Universal City, California 91608
(818) 864 837-725

View from The Hollywood Hills
A fun thing to do in Hollywood is to walk around the Hollywood Hills and look at houses, plants, and the Hollywood sign from the distance, among other things. There are gorgeous homes around here, and they get more impressive as you make your way up the hill to Hollywoodland. Hollywoodland was a big housing development in the 1920s, and the Hollywood sign (which actually said "HOLLYWOODLAND" at the time, but has lost the last four latter since) was used to promote the venture. Famous actors such as Humphrey Bogart used to live in the hills around here. So what you should do is if you're around Hollywood Blvd doing touristy things, say you're at the Mann's Chinese theater looking at Marilyn's dainty footprints. You should now walk east to Gower St, make a left (going uphill) and walk to Franklin St. Make a right on Franklin and then a left on Beachwood Canyon. If you look north at this point (and this is the direction you are going now, north and uphill) you'll have a GREAT VIEW of the Hollywood sign. Walk up Beachwood -- it's a nice street. You can also take some of the smaller and quieter side streets, there's beautiful houses and plants -- tons of flowers! As you walk north, there will be fewer apartment buidings and more houses, and the houses will get bigger. When you reach the beginning of Hollywoodland, you'll know because there are big stone pillars on each side of Beachwood that say Hollywoodland. Take a break here, on your right there's the Hollywoodland Cafe, a nice old-fashioned breakfast spot with great french toast. After your break, keep walking north for some breathtaking views of houses. It's so quiet here you'll forget you're in a big city.

About the Writer

TravelQueen2001
TravelQueen2001
Los Angeles, California

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