SIGHTSEEING ON YOUR OWN
The Hollywood Highland shopping complex across from
the Actlete Village, designed after D.W. Griffith’s classic film, Intolerance.
There is free time every morning except Tuesday, and all day Wednesday and Saturday, if you choose. Here are some suggestions of ways to explore on your own, many of which would also be fun for kids:
Walking Distance from the Hotel
Hollywood History Museum This museum is located in the famous Max Factor building.
Hollywood Entertainment Museum Tour the actual sets of Cheers, Star Trek -Voyager and The X-Files.
Guinness Book of World Records Museum
Hollywood Wax Museum The Hollywood Wax Museum and Madame Tussaud’s in London are the two most prestigious exhibits in the world.
Hollywood Heritage Museum The Hollywood Heritage Museum is housed in the beautifully restored Lasky-DeMille Barn (c. 1895). The Museum features archival photographs from the silent movie days of motion picture production, movie props, historic documents and other movie related memorabilia.
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Museum All kinds of weird stuff.
The Erotic Museum Hollywood Boulevard’s newest museum. The only sex museum on the west coast, featuring history, art and erotica.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame Get the history and a map of the Walk of Fame so that you can find your favorite star.
Dearly Departed Tours Almost 3 hours of the most famous and infamous sights of death, murder and scandal in Los Angeles.
StarLine Tours Take a bus tour of Hollywood or see the stars’ homes.
The Knitting Factory Hot music venue with several stages directly across the street form the hotel.
Kodak Theatre The home of the Academy Awards. Take a backstage tour.
Chinese Theatre and Forecourt We will tour the Chinese on Tuesday as well.
Egyptian Theatre/American Cinemateque The first movie palace in Hollywood, now home to a great organization which celebrates film and preservation.
Arclight Theatre/Cinerama Dome A great theatre which caters to adults — 14 screens, restaurant, bar, gift shop and the world famous Cinerama Dome.
Amoeba Records The world’s largest record store. A great source for new and used, especially hard-to-find and lp’s.
Sunday Farmers’ Market Every Sunday morning, the street in front of the Ivar Theatre turns into the Hollywood Farmers’ Market featuring great food, music and more.
Self Guided Walking Tour If you can’t take the walking tour with James on Friday, take one yourself!
Improv Olympic One of our friends in the improv community.
Various Clubs There are more clubs around our hotel than you can imagine.
You also can get here very easily on the Metrorail:
The Ahmanson, Mark Taper Forum and Dorothy Chandler Pavilion If you’re looking for large scale theatre, opera and ballet, this is it.
Walt Disney Concert Hall If you can’t take the Culture Vulture field trip, you might want to visit this architectural marvel on your own.
Broadway Theatre Tour LA has the most amazing collection of theatres from the golden age. Take this amazing tour back in time and see these palaces.
The Museum of Contemporary Art Better known as MOCA, this museum is located across from Disney Hall and is free on Thursdays.
Jumbo’s Clown Room This is a burlesque bar! Not total stripping, but they dance and it’s sexy. It’s not very big and it’s friendly and casual and they have as many women watching as men. You can get there by taking the metro two stops to Thai Town. Ask Andy Goldblatt. She will be your ambassador.
Requiring transportation, but easy by taxi, bus or bribing a CSz LA player:
Los Angeles Dodgers We recommend the Wednesday evening game against Colorado or the Sunday morning game against Houston. Did you read that Dianah Dulany?
West Hollywood We have a vibrant gay community and lots of fun gay bars not too far away. If you’re gay, you probably should go, and if you’re not, it’s still a hell of a lot of fun.
La Brea Tar Pits and George Page Museum There isn’t another museum like this in the world. View the prehistoric finds from the La Brea Tar Pits.
LA County Museum of Art The art center of the city and on the same grounds as the George Page Museum and La Brea tar pits.
Peterson Auto Museum A one of a kind museum. Covering four floors, the facility features permanent exhibits on the first floor that trace the history of the automobile.
The Comedy Store If you’re a stand-up, this is the granddaddy of them all.
The House of Blues Great music venue and restaurant.
Music on the Sunset Strip In addition to the House of Blues, you might try the Viper Room, Key Club, the Whisky or the Roxy, all located on the Sunset Strip.
The Laugh Factory Another terrific stand-up club on the Sunset Strip.
The Groundlings The oldest comedy theatre in the city.
ACME Comedy Theatre Specializing in sketch and radio show improv.
More intimate theatres than you can imagine LA produces more professional theatre than any city in the world. Did you know that? You can get half-price tickets here to theatres all over town.
Los Angeles Zoo Only minutes from the hotel.
The Gene Autry Museum Located on the grounds of the zoo, this museum is a tribute to the American West.
Travel Town An outdoor train museum that kids love.
NBC Tour/Tonight Show Also, Andy Goldblatt works for Days of Our Lives. She might be able to hook you up…
Hollywood Forever Cemetery This is the place where Valentino, Douglas Fairbanks, Cecil B. DeMille and Peter Lorre are buried, among others. There is also the small, hidden Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery that has all kinds of celebs, including Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, Mel Torme, Truman Capote and many, many more. Ask James if you’re interested in dead celebs. He knows all about dead people.
Theme parks (you would need a car or a ride):
Disneyland Disneyland celebrates its 50th annivesary this summer. We might be able to help you get a discount…
Legoland If you’re bringing your kids and you’ve got a car, take a daytrip to north of San Diego for this kid friendly park.
Knott’s Berry Farm A park born in California with its own unique flavor.
Six Flags Magic Mountain The greatest collection of roller coasters anywhere. If you love coasters, consider heading here.
The Beach
We know many people have an interest in seeing the Pacific Ocean. The beach is about 40 minutes away and you really need a car to get there, although you could go to the beach in Santa Monica by bus. The best way is to rent a car or bribe a CSz LA player. See the Transportation page for rental information.
Venice Beach The quintessential beach in southern California. You would need a car for this….
Shopping
All of these are easily reachable by car or by bus:
The Beverly Center Just inside Beverly Hills, it features the typical mall shops, but a little more upscale.
Or, for a ritzier experience:
Rodeo Drive All the big jewelers and fancy shops. Easy walking from shop to shop.
For a funkier experience with lots of people watching:
Silverlake Funky shops of all kinds, small cafes and the artsy edgy gay hip crowd.
Melrose Lots of vintage clothing and independent clothing and accessory shops.