From Betsy Malloy,
Your Guide to California Travel.
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Like an aging starlet, Hollywood Boulevard is getting a face lift these days. Theatres are being restored and new projects slowly replace grime with glamour. As much as some of us try to downplay it, we're all a bit starstruck, and a weekend in Hollywood is a good way to indulge our interest.

Will You Like It?

• Take a look at our Hollywood Pictures.

• Hollywood is especially popular with film lovers.

Best Time to Go

Hollywood weather is good year round, but it will be smoggier in mid-summer and may be rainy from December through February.

While you may be tempted to go when the Academy Awards ceremony happens, without a reserved bleacher seat on the red carpet, you're not likely to see much, and all the hotels will be filled to capacity (and therefore more expensive than usual).

Getting There

Hollywood is northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The most convenient freeway approach is US 101, exiting at Highland Avenue south. From I-10, take La Brea Avenue north to Hollwyood Boulevard.

Driving? Hollywood is 376 miles from San Francisco, 334 miles from San Jose, 378 miles from Sacramento, 127 miles from San Diego.

Flying? The nearest aiport is Burbank (BUR), but you'll find more flights going into Los Angeles International (LAX). Check airfares.

Where to Stay

Check our recommended hotels.

5 Great Things to Do

• Take a walk on Hollywood Boulevard. Let our Hollywood Boulevard Guide show you around.

• Be in the audience during the filming of a sitcom, soap opera, game show or talk show. Reservations are required, except for game shows at NBC.

• Los Angeles Farmers Market: While it's not quite technically in Hollywood, I find myself going here every time I'm in the area. This Los Angeles tradition offers some of the city's best places to eat without spending a fortune, and the shopping is fun, too.

• Take a Studio Tour: Paramount is the only studio that still in Hollywood proper, but the others aren't far away. For a more in-depth view of how movies are made, avoid Universal, where the tour is more show than substance.

• Go to the Movies: Mann's Chinese Theater plays first-run films in its class, main auditorium, and we think watching the red velvet curtains swish apart as the film begins is half the fun of being there. The Egyptian Theater down the street offers classic films, and the El Capitan plays family fare.

Our one-day itinerary may also help you plan.

Best Brunch

A weekend getaway is a great time to enjoy a leisurely brunch. On Hollywood Boulevard, Musso and Frank's flannel pancakes are legendary (6667 Hollywood Blvd.). Unfortunately, they're closed on Sunday. Other options include the Jazz brunch at the House of Blues over on Sunset Boulevard or a number of choices at the Farmers Market, where we especially like the catfish and eggs at Kokomo Cafe.

Don't miss

Everyone enjoys looking for their favorite stars along the Walk of Fame and checking the hand- and footprints at Mann's. As touristy as it is, it's one of our favorite things to do, too.

Annual Events You Should Know About

• Hollywood Bowl offers summer concerts in one of Southern California's best outdoor venues. Enjoy the "Bowl" the way the locals do - with a pre-performance picnic. Arrive early and grab a spot under the trees or along one of the walkways, or picnic at your seats.

• Hollywood Christmas Parade: This fun parade usually features a few stars, and is held on the weekend following Thanksgiving.

• Academy Awards Ceremony: You need to know about this mostly so you can avoid it. Hotels and restaurants will be sold out.

Tips

• The best "Hollywood" photograph is from the back of Hollywood at Highland, near the Starbucks where you'll find an oversized casting couch and the Hollywood Sign on the hillside behind.

• Spend some time on Hollywood Boulevard in the evening, when it's especially lively.

• We know they're popular, but avoid the cheesy "tours of star's homes" that leave from Mann's. At best, you'll see houses that were once the home of stars who don't live there now and at worst, you'll be bored to tears with inaccurate "facts."