Hollywood, California

Although Hollywood is a neighborhood in Los Angeles, for some it's
more a state-of-mind. "I'mgoing to Hollywood," say young hopefuls who
dream of acting in movies or on television.
Indeed, they're going to Los Angeles but probably not to Hollywood
itself. Though Hollywood has long represented the glitz and glamour of
the film, television, and music industries, most studios have moved
away from this quirky district in favor of other L.A. neighborhoods,
like Burbank.
Nevertheless, Hollywood still attracts millions of visitors each year
who travel there to pay homage to their favorite stars and perhaps
even catch a glimpse of a few famous personalities. Sometimes they're
lucky! And while, for years, Hollywood had a rather seedy reputation,
the town has endeavored to make recent improvements in the areasmost
visited by tourists, adding a new kind of charm to this interesting
neighborhood.
-
Hollywood is fun to explore on foot but, by far,the best way to see
Hollywood and all of its sights is by taking a narrated bus tour of
the city, especially if it's your first visit. Visitors will find lots
of companies with kiosks on Hollywood Boulevard touting their tours as
the best available.In fact, many of them are very good and will
provide you with an excellent overview of the landmark attractions in
the city.
Some of the tours are fairly short while others will consume the
better part of the day. Which youchoose will depend on justhow
star-struck you mightbe! Most of the tours also venture into nearby
neighborhoods, particularly Beverly Hills, the area where many
starsmake their homes and have for decades. Though the buses aren't
allowed to come to a complete stop in front of the houses,you'll still
get a good look at them.