Going to Hollywood, Help!

[FireCop86]

So my husband and I are going to Hollywood for our 1 year anniversary. We will be leaving Sunday the 5th and coming back Wednesday the 8th. We are going to go to Universal Studios Hollywood one day and maybe the Universal City walk the next but other then that I have no clue what to do. Any suggestions? Also what would be a good place to have a nice dinner for our 1 year? Thanks guys!

[LA DEP]

Well, if you are going up to Citywalk on a Fri or Sat night, I STRONGLY suggest that you dont stay past 9-10pm.......major gang problems up there in the past.......also, Halloween Horror Nights are starting back up, and those always attract many knuckleheads.......

There are so many places to eat in the area, esp. on the Sunset Strip.....

What type of food and what $$$$$ are you looking for?

[Jiu-Jitsu Cop]

As said above if you are going to the city walk then bring a gun. Go to Grifith (sp) observatory and check out the city lights at night. It looks amazing. Many places to eat but many are over rated. Do not stray too far off course as the surrounding areas suck.

[L-1]

Firecop - check you PM for a place.

[Looker]

Contrary to popular belief, there are several free fun things you can do in L.A.. There is a park under the Hollywood sign. It's a dog park, but not strictly for pets. It's got a large football field sized grassy area to have a picnic in, and across the street you have a view of the L.A. basin, for what that's worth. It's not a bad view, but make sure you have a map and a good emergency brake. You'll see why if you go there.

Something else that's free... you can watch a taping of a TV show. There are too many there to list, but I've done Jay Leno a few times and attended a few pilot sitcom tapings. I may be on a laugh track somewhere for all I know.

You can hit the Mann-Chinese theater and see how you measure up to Sly's footprint or the Guhvahnator's hands. That's free. You can also see a flick in there if you're interested. Right there you've also got the walk of fame, and the wax museum is just to the East a block or two. I think it was East. They have the entire set of "Cheers" in there. That was cool to see. Those aren't free, but not expensive.

Also free is the La Brea tar pits, as long as you don't want to go into the museum. The tar pits are kind of lame though. I don't recommend those, as they good for about 4 seconds of a thought provoking, "Wow, tar in the ground."

You can take a tour of some celebrity houses, although I've never done that. Need a few bucks there, and they are everywhere.

Also not free, but not expensive.... near LAX is the Santa Monica Pier. Makes for a fun half-day at least. Especially if you have kids.

If you are looking to stay in a budget, that stuff along with the 2 parks you mentioned will get you through at least a half a week, if not more.

There are a few more free things you can do... but one involves meeting LA DEP on duty, and I'm sure that's not high on you priority list...

and 2) I forgot to mention something else that's free. L.A. traffic. Enjoy the 3 lane I-5 or the 101 at rush hour. :)


Happy Anniversary!!!

[Kieth M.]

Sounds like you're going to spend two days, visiting a place you can knock out in one day.

Yes, Ripley's Museum and the Wax Museum are located at Hollywood & Highland. It's a ten to 30 minute drive - depending on traffic. There is a Japanese restaurant with a beautiful view, called Yamashiro's, in the hills above Hollywood. You might also try the L.E. "in" to the Magic Castle....the most easily penetrated private dinner club in Los Angeles. I'm more than a little biased on the subject of Hollywood - I spent 15 years as a patrol cop, there. I tried to wave off more visitors than a deck hand on a Turkish freighter...but, to each his own!

I don't know if you've ever been there before, but consider Catalina Island for your next special outing. Over 20 miles offshore, still L.A. County, but a world away in the off-season.

[FireCop86]

As said above if you are going to the city walk then bring a gun. Go to Grifith (sp) observatory and check out the city lights at night. It looks amazing. Many places to eat but many are over rated. Do not stray too far off course as the surrounding areas suck.

HAHA I would bring my gun if I had a CCW, guess I will have to settle for my pocket pepper spray. Thanks for the suggestion of the Griffith Observatory that sounds like fun.

[FireCop86]

Contrary to popular belief, there are several free fun things you can do in L.A.. There is a park under the Hollywood sign. It's a dog park, but not strictly for pets. It's got a large football field sized grassy area to have a picnic in, and across the street you have a view of the L.A. basin, for what that's worth. It's not a bad view, but make sure you have a map and a good emergency brake. You'll see why if you go there.

Something else that's free... you can watch a taping of a TV show. There are too many there to list, but I've done Jay Leno a few times and attended a few pilot sitcom tapings. I may be on a laugh track somewhere for all I know.

You can hit the Mann-Chinese theater and see how you measure up to Sly's footprint or the Guhvahnator's hands. That's free. You can also see a flick in there if you're interested. Right there you've also got the walk of fame, and the wax museum is just to the East a block or two. I think it was East. They have the entire set of "Cheers" in there. That was cool to see. Those aren't free, but not expensive.

Also free is the La Brea tar pits, as long as you don't want to go into the museum. The tar pits are kind of lame though. I don't recommend those, as they good for about 4 seconds of a thought provoking, "Wow, tar in the ground."

You can take a tour of some celebrity houses, although I've never done that. Need a few bucks there, and they are everywhere.

Also not free, but not expensive.... near LAX is the Santa Monica Pier. Makes for a fun half-day at least. Especially if you have kids.

If you are looking to stay in a budget, that stuff along with the 2 parks you mentioned will get you through at least a half a week, if not more.

There are a few more free things you can do... but one involves meeting LA DEP on duty, and I'm sure that's not high on you priority list...

and 2) I forgot to mention something else that's free. L.A. traffic. Enjoy the 3 lane I-5 or the 101 at rush hour. :)


Happy Anniversary!!!

Thank you for all the suggestions sounds like there is more to do then I thought. Meeting LA DEP on duty....well only if he lets me place with the lights and sirens in his car, lol:p Yea I know traffic sucks out there, I have family out there and always get stuck in it when I go to visit.

[FireCop86]

Sounds like you're going to spend two days, visiting a place you can knock out in one day.

Yes, Ripley's Museum and the Wax Museum are located at Hollywood & Highland. It's a ten to 30 minute drive - depending on traffic. There is a Japanese restaurant with a beautiful view, called Yamashiro's, in the hills above Hollywood. You might also try the L.E. "in" to the Magic Castle....the most easily penetrated private dinner club in Los Angeles. I'm more than a little biased on the subject of Hollywood - I spent 15 years as a patrol cop, there. I tried to wave off more visitors than a deck hand on a Turkish freighter...but, to each his own!

I don't know if you've ever been there before, but consider Catalina Island for your next special outing. Over 20 miles offshore, still L.A. County, but a world away in the off-season.

Thanks for the tips. I have been to Ripley;s before but wasn't that impressed. I thought the Wax Museum closed down:confused: Catalina sounds fun I'll have to consider that for next year.

[Jiu-Jitsu Cop]

Catalina Island is fun for a few hours then kinda boring. I have been several times and I still ask myself why???