Lonely Planet Experiences: Hollywood Highlights
Los Angeles, USA
From USD 35.00
Office phone number: +1 323 300 5370



Lonely Planet Experiences: Hollywood Highlights
Los Angeles, USA





Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.

Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Enjoy the city tour equivalent of a short film with this whistle stop one-hour adventure centered around LA’s legendary Hollywood Boulevard. Get the low down on classic Hollywood as we talk about Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe and lots more of your golden era favourites. Admire some of this historic area’s architectural gems, like the Dolby, El Capitan and Chinese Theatres and the Hollywood sign. Take a peek inside the iconic Roosevelt Hotel and hear about the movie stars that have stayed (and misbehaved) here. If you’re in a hurry and you want a Hollywood highlight reel, look no further. We think this might be the beginning of a beautiful friendship…
Experience the best travel stories for yourself. Join a local expert and uncover hidden gems on this city adventure hand-picked by the world's leading travel publisher. Lonely Planet Experiences powered by Urban Adventures bring stories to life in the best-loved cities around the globe.
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Highlights
- Channel your inner Monroe or Bogart as you explore the hidden corners of legendary Hollywood Boulevard and learn about the most successful movie industry in the world
- See the famous Hollywood Sign, Chinese Theater, The El Capitan Theater and The Dolby Theater and discover their legendary origins and scintillating history
- Stroll along the world famous Hollywood Walk of Fame and spot your favorite stars, old or new
- Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour around the historic Roosevelt Hotel, a favorite of Hollywood royalty for nearly a century, and hear ghostly tales and mischievous gossip about the stars that once stalked its luxurious corridors
- See the spot where they lay down the Oscars’ red carpet every year
- Each Lonely Planet Experience comes with six-months free access to Lonely Planet’s Guides App which includes over 8,000 destinations guides and unbeatable discounts to Lonely Planet Guidebooks
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Schedule details
- Duration: 1 hour
- Meeting point:
6815 Hollywood Blvd outside the Hollywood/Highland Metro station. Your tour guide will be holding an Urban Adventures sign. Visit www.metro.net for more info on public transport. For parking, check http://parkinginla.lacity.org/.
- Starting time: 9.00 AM
- Ending point:
‘The Four Ladies of Hollywood’ Statues: 7097 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Language: English
Inclusions: Local, English-speaking guide
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide
You will begin your Hollywood Boulevard adventure with a stroll down the iconic Walk of Fame, where we’ll glimpse the stars of beloved actors, actresses and entertainers from years gone by (as well as a few of our modern favorites, too). We’ll talk about the origins of ‘Hollywoodland’ and how one of the most famous boulevards in the world came to be.
From there, we will admire the Hollywood sign from a lookout bridge framed by an exact replica of the elaborate, Babylonian set of Intolerance, D.W. Griffith’s follow up to the much lauded ‘Birth of a Nation.’ As we gaze at the Hollywood Hills we’ll talk about the history of Hollywood, why filmmakers chose to set up shop in a small farming and ranching community and how they managed to turn it into one of the most famous places in the world.
Next, we’re off to the Dolby Theater, home of the Oscars, Hollywood's most famous and prestigious awards ceremony. We will walk the red-carpet staircase emblazoned with symbolic mosaic tiles, the same route the stars have walked on their way into the event since 2002 (before that it was hosted at a number of famous venues around town including the Hollywood Roosevelt and Ambassador hotels). As we stroll this promenade, we will happen upon the unique film-strip architecture that frames the corridor, decorated with the names of all the films that have won the ‘Best Picture’ award, from the industry's first Oscars ceremony in 1927 through to today!
From there we head to Hollywood's most iconic theater, the TLC Chinese Theater (formerly ‘Grauman's Chinese Theater). While admiring this quirky beauty, we’ll introduce you to the story of Sid Grauman, the theater's founder, and his role in early Los Angeles theater development. Home to the cement handprints, footprints, and signatures of 200+ of the most influential people in Hollywood's history, including megastars like Marilyn Monroe and Judy Garland all the way up to Clint Eastwood and Tim Burton. There’s even some fictional characters in there too — hello Donald Duck!
Things will take a ghoulish turn at our next stop, the Roosevelt Hotel, a historic hotel designed in the Spanish Colonial Revival style and financed by the 1920's Hollywood elite. Home to the first Oscars ceremony as well as a galaxy of stars who would stay at the hotel while they were in town (or live there for a while a la Marilyn Monroe), the Roosevelt Hotel is bursting at the seams with Hollywood folklore. As we traverse the halls of this architectural masterpiece, we will learn about the hotel's role as a set for various movies, its relationship to stars such as Monroe, Shirley Temple, Clark Gable and Charlie Chaplin and we will hear the legends of famous ghosts that stalk the hallways. As we make our grand exit, we will stop to say hello and pay tribute to Chaplin’s statue, which sits on a bench just outside, waiting to greet visitors as they come and go.
Our tour concludes at ‘The Four Ladies of Hollywood,’ an art deco-style sculpture that represents the diversity of women in Hollywood. By the end of this short adventure, you will have gained a wealth of insight into the origins Hollywood and its moguls and starlets, scandals and triumphs.
Before you go, don’t forget to ask your local guide for more tips on what else to see and do in LA. There are lots more ways to experience old Hollywood, so be sure to ask for some recommendations.
Cut! That’s a wrap folks…-
Additional information
Inclusions: Local, English-speaking guide
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide
Dress standard: Comfortable shoes and clothes are recommended as well as a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. It’s also a good idea to carry a refillable bottle of water and re-useable bag for any purchases.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Additional Information: As a responsible travel company, we pride ourselves in leaving a minimal carbon footprint. Please consider taking Metro to/from the tour. More information available on www.metro.net.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +1 323 300 5370
Email address: info@losangelesurbanadventures.com
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