Where Does An NCIS Staff Writer Take His Friends When They Visit Him In Hollywood?
As a TV writer working on the staff at NCIS, I was suddenly a popular amateur tour guide for friends and family visiting Hollywood. This was sometimes a challenge because I was there to work and really didn’t go to tourist-type places. Over the years, however, I sort of formulated a certain approach to taking visitors around town….places that I know they <em>had </em>to see…and then other spots that I actually enjoying myself. What you see below is more or other pla to know I t – there are so many ways to experience Hollywood.
When you think of Hollywood, it is easy to think of Hollywood Boulevard packed with tourists trying to find their favorite celebrity’s star on the Walk of Fame. Or you may think of people lined up outside the TCL Chinese Theater trying to get a picture with your friendly neighborhood Spiderman impersonator.
But let’s do a little analysis of all the normie things that people do in Hollywood. Check them out…but don’t stay long because there are way cooler things to do.
LA Tour: Obligatory Things to Do When you Come to Hollywood
This is the part of Hollywood that feels most like Times Square in New York City. It an interesting place to go once or twice….but it’s more the ceremonial side of the town. It has little to do with the current reality of Hollywood.
- Hollywood and Highland:
This is worth seeing at least once but make sure you at least walk into the lobby of the Roosevelt Hotel to soak in the Spanish Colonial Revival Style and imagine back to the day when Marilyn Monroe met her future husband Arthur Miller at the in-hotel nightclub. Pro: You have to go at least once Cons: over-touristed. Best place to eat there? 25 Degrees. Grab a booth by the window and crowd-watch while you enjoy their hotdogs or burgers. Don’t forget name check There Will Be Blood when you tell your kids that you will drink their milkshake. (7000 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028)| - Walk of Fame:
The Walk of Fame actually runs straight through Hollywood and Highland. It’s worth walking down the sidewalk just to see how many people have stars – famous for a few minutes…but now living in oblivion. Ah, yes. Fame is a cruel. Enjoy the freaks on sidewalk but don’t get hustled into taking one of the famously overpriced van tours in Hollywood. (Take the Wayfarer tour instead! For a family of four it’s literally 90% cheaper and 100% more interesting!) Pro: This is where Hollywood feels like a circus – soak it in as long as you can stand. Con: You’d have to be crazy to spend more than 30 minutes here. Best place to eat there? No contest. Musso and Franks is literally the oldest restaurant in Hollywood and it’s still amazing. This is better for adults though – get reservations and wear some nice clothes – this place is Classy. Great place for a date night. (6667 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028)
My Favorite Things to Do With Kids in Hollywood
Lights… Camera and….Action! Welcome to our Hollywood tour, brought to you by Wayfarer — where the story meets the road. We poured our hearts and insider knowledge into this tour to bring you an exciting exploration of the city of dreams!
- 2 hours
- 26 miles
- Driving Tour
A lot of people come to Hollywood and only go to the Hollywood Highland area and get turned off by the crowds, commercialism, and chaos. But you sort of have to do it once just to appreciate it…and appreciate getting away. Once you’re ready for something else. Get in the car and head over to these great spots.
- Farmers Market and The Grove</a>:
Honestly, the Grove is like an authentic Main Street type type experience that is actually better than Disneyland complete with magical water fountain shows and a trolley that runs through the outdoor more. The oddest thing is that it actually feels authentic…in a Hollywood sort of way, complete with celebrity sightings and high ends stores. But the really authentic special thing is a walk through the Farmer’s Market. It’s got the old style smorgasbord of small establishments including: butcher shops, French foods and cooking supplies, plus interesting restaurants that serve world cuisine….from American diner food to Singaporean plates. Locals and celebrities shop here. Favorite places to eat: Monsieur Marcel Bistro followed by a crepe at the French Crepe Company(two French restaurants!!). Favorite thing to point out to visitors: Across Fairfax from the Farmer’s Market is the Writers Guide of America HQ…a place where I spent months working in the communications “war room” during the 2007 writer’s strike. - La Brea Tar Pits:
Only 5 minutes away from the Grove down and yet a world and era away from modern Hollywood. Aging actors and stars aren’t the only ones who feel trapped by Hollywood….millennia ago there were open pits of tar here in Hollywood where big cats and Woolly Mammoths got stuck. There’s tons of green space for the kids to run around and who doesn’t want to see some dinosaur bones.
- LACMA:
Right next to the Tar Pits and the Academy Museum is the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. There’s something for everyone here. Live jazz is coming back after COVID as well as art classes for kids. Oh – and there’s some fantastic art….plenty of Picassos, Cezannes, etc. - Academy Museum:
An architectural marvel, this brand new addition to museum row just opened in September 2021 after decades of anticipation. Not to be missed! - Universal Studios:
Okay, I confess, I haven’t been here since I was 8 years old. I’m told that it’s not a horrible way to spend an afternoon. Despite not actually going to the theme park since I was a kid, I have been up to Universal City Walk…just outside several times for lunch over the years. Plenty of the usual stuff that kids like…but a little too much overpriced junk and chain restaurants for me. - Griffith Park Observatory:
Ah yes, this is a gem. I would go early in the morning -right at opening so that you miss the crowds rush. It’s hard to overstate the views on a crisp sunny day after a storm. It’s got some great exhibits about space, stars, and gravity. These days it’s open Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Did you visit Hollywood? Tag @wayfarer_journey or #knowtheworld — I’d love to see it!
The Wayfarer blog is a great resource for things to do and places to visit. Check out our post on best date night locations.
Written by Ric Arthur. Besides being a TV writer, Ric is the CEO of Wayfarer Self-Driving Audio Tours, which he considers to be immersive documentaries.
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