Famous Attractions: Things to Do on Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood Highland at Night | Photo: Pixamundo, Flickr
Hollywood Boulevard is a Los Angeles cultural icon, with museums, landmarks and other Hollywood attractions that celebrate L.A.’s rich film and entertainment heritage. There are so many things to do in Hollywood, California! You can see the footprints of the stars at the TCL Chinese Theatre, gaze down at the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, do some serious shopping at Hollywood & Highland, or visit the famous Hollywood Wax Museum. Along its stretch from Highland Avenue to Orange Drive, you can find a day’s worth of activities that will give you a true Hollywood experience. You never know who you'll run into! Arnold Schwarzenegger recently shocked fans by making an appearance at Madame Tussauds Hollywood.
Ovation Hollywood
If you want a great shopping, dining and entertainment experience, visit Hollywood & Highland, centrally located to Hollywood Boulevard attractions and home to the TCL Chinese Theatre and Dolby Theatre. The complex has more than 70 retailers, more than 25 dining options, and great nightlife, including a bowling alley and nightclub. Hollywood & Highland is located across the street from several museums, and is near great restaurants and hotels in the area. The complex has a Metro Rail Red Line station underneath it, as well as affordable parking, making it easy to visit from throughout L.A.
TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX
The TCL Chinese Theatre is one of the greatest theatres in the world. It’s a quintessential Hollywood experience with amazing decor, and immortalizes some of the biggest stars from past and present in cement handprints and footprints in the Forecourt to the Stars. You can see if your hands match up to those of Robert De Niro or how your footprints compare to those of John Wayne. The TCL Chinese Theatre has also been the site of numerous movie premieres, and has a state-of-the-art movie theatre with one of the largest IMAX© auditoriums in the world.
Dolby Theatre
Every year, stars flock to 6801 Hollywood Blvd., home of the Academy Awards. You can sit in the same seats at the Dolby Theatre and enjoy a great show. The theatre is a great venue for weekend shows and events such as concerts, ballets and comedy shows. Visit the Dolby Theatre box office to purchase tickets to a show, and enjoy entertainment in one of the most technologically advanced and famous theatres in the world. The Dolby Theatre is one of the premier venues in the thriving arts and theatre scene in L.A.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Along the sidewalk of the Hollywood Boulevard stars, you’ll notice stars dedicated to some of the most famous celebrities in film, television, radio and other media. The Hollywood Walk of Fame celebrates some of the biggest names in entertainment. Take photos with the stars and see if you can spot those of your favorite celebrities. There are more than 2,500 brass stars celebrating entertainment icons along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which stretches for 18 blocks through Hollywood.
El Capitan Theatre
For Disney fans, a visit to the El Capitan Theatre is a must. The El Capitan Hollywood Boulevard theater is located across from Hollywood & Highland and is owned by The Walt Disney Company. The theatre shows first run and classic Disney movies, often with great movie-themed exhibits and pre-show entertainment.
Madame Tussauds Hollywood
What to do if you are interested in celebrity-spotting in Hollywood? You do not want to miss Madame Tussauds Hollywood, just adjacent to Hollywood & Highland. Madame Tussauds is the most famous wax museum in the world, and you can see life-like figures of your favorite celebrities, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Michael Jackson. Figures of pop icons, action heroes, and even famous athletes are all on display at Madame Tussauds Hollywood and make for a one-of-a-kind Hollywood experience.
Hollywood Wax Museum
If you want to see more celebrity figures immortalized in wax, be sure to visit the Hollywood Wax Museum. It's the oldest wax museum in the United States and has been located in Hollywood for more than 45 years. Celebrity wax figures of Angelina Jolie, Charlie Chaplin, Elvis and even the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles provide a unique and memorable experience for the whole family.
Hollywood Museum
The Hollywood Museum is a must for movie fans and memorabilia collectors. It's one of the hidden gems of Hollywood, with more than 10,000 props and articfacts from classic and modern movies housed in the three-story building. Especially popular are the Marilyn Monroe and Lucille Ball exhibits, as well as the Dungeon of Doom exhibit, which showcases props from some of your favorite horror movies. The museum is a great way to spend a couple of hours, strolling through treasures from all eras of Hollywood cinema. The museum is located at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, just behind the Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Odditorium.
Starline Tours of Hollywood/Tourcoach Charter & Tours
Not sure what to see in Hollywood first? Starline Tours provides tours of Hollywood and surrounding neighborhoods. It has several themed tours where you can explore movie stars' homes and famous L.A. landmarks, including a popular Hop-on, Hop-off Double Decker City Tour. Sign up for a tour and board at the TCL Chinese Theatre. Starline is one of many great tours in Los Angeles and Hollywood that offer new ways to see the City of Angels.
Metro Rail - Hollywood/Highland Station
There are so many things to see in Hollywood and accessing Hollywood Boulevard is easy via Metro Rail, so visiting the area is convenient and eco-friendly. The best option is the Red Line station located at the corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, along a route that extends north to the San Fernando Valley and south to Downtown Los Angeles. You can hop on the Red Line at various points and arrive in the heart of Hollywood Boulevard.