photo by gusto

For most people, Hollywood is synonymous with movies and movie stars. Although many of the movie studios have moved to nearby suburbs, you can still see part of Hollywood’s glorious past and present by strolling along the Walk of Fame, checking out the stars’ stars embedded in the sidewalk, or visiting the famed Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. Paramount’s studio is still in Hollywood, and if you make reservations in advance, you can tour the studio. Don’t bother trying to get up close and personal with the iconic Hollywood sign up on Mount Lee, though – it’s a heck of a hike, and you could be fined for getting too close. If you’ve got a good zoom, you can get a great photo the sign from the corner of Hollywood and Highland, though, where you’ll also find the Hollywood & Highland Center, which surrounds the Kodak Theatre (where the Academy Awards are held) and has several shops, restaurants and bars, and a hotel, the Renaissance Hollywood.