The Hollywood Basics: Tinseltown’s Top Attractions

“Get Out There” is a column for itchy footed humans written by long-time Paste contributor Blake Snow. Today we explore LA’s most famous neighborhood: Hollywood. 

I have visited, vacationed in, and sometimes written about Los Angeles since I was eight years old. But I’ve never pilgrimaged to the city’s most popular, if not iconic, neighborhood: Hollywood. 

Until now—dah, dah, dah!

Here’s what I learned about La La Land from ground zero, after visiting five of its most beloved (and free) tourist traps: The Getty Center, Walk of Fame, Hollywood Sign (hiked it!), Venice Beach, and Griffith Observatory.

Soaring sunny hills

Like greater Los Angeles, sky high palms and sunny blue skies dominate Hollywood. But unlike the  verdant valley, the latter is dominated by green soaring hills that make you feel nestled in. 

On our first stop, we headed to The Getty Center, a world-class art museum and garden complex perched on those same hills with views of the ocean. To get there, you’ll drive the famous Sunset Strip, which is one of the most beautiful plots of land and collections of homes you’ll ever see. Then you’ll ride a Disney-like tram to the building complex and grounds, which are a masterpiece themselves. Highlights include Van Gogh’s Irises, Rembrandt Laughing, Manet’s Jeanne, and picnics on the immaculate lawns. It’s an incredible place—even better that it’s free. 

After an amazing rooftop sunset dinner at The Highlight Room, we went searching for 3,000 stars on the famous Walk of Fame. It’s a little grimy and definitely kitschy. But I would do it again, especially in the twinkling lights and lighter crowds of the cool Hollywood night. My favorite stars to come across were those for Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, and Tom Cruise. 

Next we ditched the often exhausting LA traffic for this three mile round-trip hike to the Hollywood Sign. Originally erected to promote the Hollywoodland housing development in 1923, the sign quickly became a landmark representing the city’s surging film industry. It ditched those final four letters in 1949, and although it’s gone in and out of disrepair since, it remains one of the most iconic sights in America. Before reaching the sign on our hike, we stopped by the serene Wisdom Tree, which overlooks the massive valley while Old Glory blows nearby. It’s a sweet view and a great way to beat the city bustle for a couple of hours. 

To cool off afterwards, we headed to Venice Beach for classic beach vibes, superb people watching, and one of the largest stretches of beaches and skyward palms you’ll ever find. We walked the famous boardwalk both ways—all the way up to the famous Santa Monica pier and its amusement park. We inhaled the best smelling air on Earth, and even braved the seedy public bathrooms. And we watched amateur skateboarders shred the many pools as if they were professionals. 

On our final night, we headed to the century-old art deco Griffith Observatory, which sits high in the Hollywood Hills and offers stunning views of Los Angeles and the stars with free high power telescopes. You’ve no doubt seen the observatory in countless movies, most famously in Rebel Without a Cause. Like The Getty Center, the drive into the observatory is lined with terrific trees and massive mansions. We took in the stars with the free observatory telescope, learned about our solar system, and gawked at the stunning night time views of downtown Los Angeles. What a finish!

Where to stay

For modern glam, a perfect location, and incredible views from a rooftop pool, we stayed at the new Dream Hollywood Hotel. Thanks to recently laxed zoning laws, the 10 story property towers over other buildings, which accentuates the surrounding views of the Hollywood Hills. 

We really dug our chic room with floor to ceiling windows, artistic lobby, friendly staff, and manageable (but never cramped) property. All come highly recommended, and I cannot say enough about the amazing rooftop restaurant and pool. It’s where we spent most of our free time to relax and refuel in between sightseeing. 

Blake Snow contributes to fancy publications and Fortune 500 companies as a bodacious writer-for-hire and frequent travel columnist. He lives in Provo, Utah with his wife, five children, and one ferocious chihuahua.