A Guide to Hollywood Boulevard
My fellow Angelinos; I think we can all agree that Hollywood Boulevard is wack. It is not full of glitz and glamor- far from it actually. Instead, it is an infamous tourist trap full of, as my friend Jenny put it, “chaotic energy”. Yet, we must all experience it; think of it as some sort of rite of passage if you live in LA or are from LA.
Despite all this, Hollywood Boulevard can be a cool place to visit. There’s more to it than the flocks of tourists and Starline buses. Here are some of my personal things I like to do on Hollywood Boulevard, along with some tips and things I’ve tried.
Food:
Ok listen, most of Hollywood Boulevard is full of chain restaurants. So if you’re into Baja Fresh or CPK, than you’re in luck.
If you want to try a California classic, check out Mel’s Drive-in , a 50’s inspired diner. You can get a burger and a cherry coke; what’s not to love?
There are a few other locations in Southern California, but the one near Hollywood Boulevard is located at 1650 N Highland Ave, next to the iconic Max Factor Building (more on that below). They have their own parking lot and it costs $3.50 for the first hour.
Things to Do:
Hollywood Museum: Next to Mel’s Drive-in, you’ll find the Hollywood Museum, housed in said Max Factor Building. If you’re not big on film history or even makeup history, you’re probably thinking, “who the f**** is Max Factor”. Factor revolutionized makeup for movies and created looks for actresses such as Jean Harlow and Ava Gardner. The building served as a salon for stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
Now the Hollywood Museum, you can find movie memorabilia (including clothes and makeup) from throughout Hollywood’s history. There’s a lot to look at and is definitely a window to the past and film history! To learn more about the museum, check out their website. Tickets range from $12-$15, making it an affordable choice.
Museum of Selfies: Welcome to LA, where you can go to a museum thats sole purpose is for you to take selfies in. For $20, you walk around different set ups and take your selfies. And yes, I did it and had loads of fun (see below)! The person at the front desk said it would take an hour to walk through, but because there was virtually no one there, it only took me 20 minutes. Regardless, it’s fun and something new to experience that isn’t celebrity oriented. You can find the Museum of Selfies at 6757 Hollywood Blvd.
Ripley's Believe It or Not!: Sue me, but I do not understand the appeal of wax museums. Hollywood Boulevard has two and I have never been to either. Instead, I prefer the Ripley’s Believe It or Not odditorium. It’s hard to explain this one, but essentially, it’s a museum full of strange artifacts and morbid facts. Prices go up to $26, so this is a little on the pricier side, but if you’re stuck between the wax museums and this, do this instead. You can find Ripley’s at 6780 Hollywood Blvd.
The Typical Tourist Stuff: It’s ok to walk around and look at the Hollywood Walk of Fame and to check out the TCL Chinese Theatre, I do it too. However, it’s not okay to listen to people’s mixtapes or to take photos with people dressed up in superhero costumes. I’m just kidding but please, avoid it.
Check out The Hollywood Roosevelt: I can’t afford to stay at this hotel and chances are, you can’t either. What you can do though, is take a look inside. You can walk in with no problem (you just can’t head up stairs). This beautiful nearly 100-year-old hotel is a Hollywood icon and has housed stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable. You can find the Hollywood Roosevelt at 7000 Hollywood Blvd.
Tips:
Traffic on Hollywood Boulevard is trash, however, you should be able to find parking with no problem. There are several lots; the downside is most of these lots cost $15-$20 a day.
I personally recommend parking inside the Hollywood & Highland mall, an out-of-place shopping center that has parking validation. If you purchase something, even something as small as a drink, you can head to guest services on the third floor to get your parking validated. If you’re there for a few hours, it should only cost you $3-$5.
Speaking of the Hollywood & Highland mall, if you have to go the bathroom, go in here (most other places do not have public bathrooms)!
If you want some peace and quiet away from Hollywood Blvd, head to the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Located at 6000 Santa Monica Blvd. This cemetery has some of the most intricate headstones I have ever and is definitely a must see for goths and tourists alike.
