Best Thrills and Sites on Hollywood Boulevard in California

Hollywood California is home to some of the worlds most famous stars. Along with catching glimpses of stars on the daily, you can also experience all the fun filled activities Hollywood Boulevard has to offer. Below is a list of fun things to do and places to go.

Seeing the Stars

Grauman's Chinese Theatre: Quoted as being "The most famous motion picture Theatre in the World", going to Grauman's is a must when visiting the Hollywood Boulevard. It's here that you can do everything from seeing movies to seeing the stars cement engraved hand and footprints. At first glance Grauman's Chinese Theatre seems more like a giant piece of artwork than anything. At the entrance awaits a painted dragon surrounded by 2 stone lion guards. For about $10 you may go in and watch a movie in a theatre which was built for the stars. The 2,200 bright red seats in the cinematic auditorium give you that old time feel as there are ushers waiting to show you to your seat. The forecourt of the Theatre is where you can find famous celebrity hand and footprints in the cement. Stars such as John Wayne, Jimmy Durante and Whoopi Goldberg have left here mark here. For a little under $20 you can have your own hand and footprints made and even framed.

Location: 6925 Hollywood Boulevard, Phone Number: 323-464-8111 Prices: Adults-$10 Kids(12-under) $7 Seniors(60-up) $7

Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel: Located about a block from the Chinese Theatre, The Roosevelt Hotel has a big collection of Hollywood merchandise. After leaving the elegant lobby and proceeding upstairs, using the Shirley Temple staircase, there is an exhibit dedicated to old Hollywood pictures. Lots of history and pictures of old movies such as Gone with the Wind and several Charlie Chaplin films can be found here. Suites that used to go for $100 back in the 1920's now go for $3,500 a night. Suggest you bring your bankroll if you plan on staying!

Location: 7000 Hollywood Boulevard, Phone Number: 353-466-7000 Prices: Free just to visit (prices vary if you choose to stay)

Hollywood Walk of Fame: The Walk of Fame can be found on both side of the street on Hollywood Boulevard. Over 2.030 stars have been dedicated to celebrities so far and there are still more celebs to be honored in the year 2008. Such stars as Angela Basset, Vince McMahon, Ricky Martin and Stan Lee are expected to be celebrated. You can also get the star schedule to see which day your favorite star is going to be in town to get honored.

Location: Both sides of Hollywood Boulevard, Phone Number: 323-469-8311 Price: Free

Los Angeles Permit Office: This name of this place may sound like a basic building, but it's more than meets the eye. In this building you can walk in, grab a shoot schedule (films being shot in LA area) and then head off to the destination of your choice. Not only can you watch you favorite actors shooting new movies live, but you can see for yourself how movies are made. This is a definite must for all movie fanatics!

Location: 7083 Hollywood Boulevard Phone Number: 323-957-1000 Price: Day permit prices start at $15

Fun Attractions

Hollywood and Highland: Hollywood and Highland is located directly next to Grauman's Chinese Theatre. It features over 60 stores, 8 restaurants, 6 brand new movie theaters and 2 nightclubs. The famous Kodak Theatre can also be found here as it's the official home for the annual Academy Awards. Along with having lots of stores and entertainment, TV guide studios can be found here. Who knows, you could spot your favorite star going to an interview. As far as food, they have many upscale eateries such as The Grill on Hollywood, California Pizza Kitchen, Aunties Anne's Pretzels and Cold Stone Creamery.

Location: 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, Phone Number: 323-817-0200 Price: Free however parking is $2 for 4 hours with extra $5 for Valet

El Capitan Theatre: The newly remodeled El Capitan Theatre is a must for all Disney fans. Here you can view the newest collection of movies from Disney studios. They have a handy calendar of events to let you know the days when stars are scheduled to be there. The outside of the box office is beautifully decorated with gold plating and trim everywhere with lots of gem detail. When new movies premiere, the basement hosts a series of animation exhibits to show how the film was made. It's best to purchase tickets in advance due to the long list of lines that wrap around the block. The pricing is not that expensive as you can purchase most tickets for $15-25. Also note that Jimmy Kimmel's studio is right next door. If you stay long enough you could catch him hosting his show.

Location: 6838 Hollywood Boulevard, Phone Number: 323-467-7674 Price: $15-25 (more for VIP)

Ripleys Believe it or Not Odditorium:Beware when bringing your kids! Although Ripleys believe it or Not Odditorium is fun, you may want to take caution when taking your kids. Sure there are many exciting sites to look at, but in a matter of steps it can go from skillful paintings created from butterfly wings, to torcher chambers with human wax figures getting mutilated. Sounds crazy right? I composed this list to adapt to everyone's liking so prepare to see shrunken heads, freaks of nature and strange 3 headed animals. They say everything in the Odditorium is a replica of the real thing, well all except the shrunken heads (suppose to be real). This is the type of place to where you're either going to LOVE it or be......TRAMATIZED!

Location: 6780 Hollywood Boulevard, Phone Number: 323-466-6335 Prices: Adults(13-up) $11.95 Kids(6-12) $7.95

Hollywood Wax Museum: The Hollywood wax museum has over 220 star wax figures. Stars such as Micheal Jackson, Elvis, Stevie Wonder, Joe Pesi and others have wax figures that more than resemble them located here. Although the museum seems pretty calm and collective, loud screams and roars can be heard coming from the horrifying Chamber of Horror. It's here where scary creatures such as Dracula, Frankenstein and Wolfman dwell at. Also beware when taking the kids thru this part of the museum; there are a lot of gory and gruesome displays of wax art.

Location: 6767 Hollywood Boulevard, Phone Number: 323-462-5991 Price: Adults(13-64) $12.95 Kids(6-12) $6.95 Seniors(65-up) $8.50

Food Spots

Disney Soda Fountain and Studio Store: The Soda Fountain and Studio store is an old fashion ice cream parlor. It offers ice cream cones, milkshakes, freezes and floats when it comes to drinks. As far as food, they have some of the best hot dogs and grilled cheese sandwiches. The special Mickey Mouse shaped peanut butter and jelly sandwiches are guaranteed to be a sure hit when it comes to the kids. The studio part of the store offers a wide range of new and classic Disney movies at a reasonable price.

Location: 6834 Hollywood Boulevard, Phone Number: 323-817-1475

Pig N' Whistle: The Pig N' Whistle restaurant is what I would call an undercover gem. In the day time it's a calming restaurant with tables, booths and a bar. At time it transforms into a club called NuBar to which it caters to the younger crowd. During this time they offer exclusive live music and sinful drink cocktails. Another great feature in NuBar is the selection of full sized lounging beds in the back. The food prices are fair as you can get a sandwich and salad for under $8-9.

Location: 6714 Hollywood Boulevard, Phone Number: 323-463-0000