I want a new tour bus full of old guitars, my own star on Hollywood Boulevard. (Hollywood Boulevard)

Member Name: CokaCola

Product:	Hollywood Boulevard
Date:	19/09/09 (29 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Lots to do on this busy boulevard, strong police presence.

Disadvantages: A little run down in parts.

Hollywood Boulevard is a major road in Los Angeles, California in the famous Hollywood area, the capital of the world's entertainment industry. Despite being immensely famous, not only for it's celebrity associations and it's landmarks, as well as the Walk of Fame, Hollywood is pretty much your average California boulevard in terms of the people that reside there, and the feeling of safety that you have walking down it. Whilst some parts of it arevery nice, others can make one feel a little uneasy, especially at night. I actually stayed on Hollywood Boulevard for a week at the beginning of September, and whilst it certainly has it's draw backs - I really did come to like it as a boulevard.

Hollywood Boulevard is overlooked by the Hollywood Hills, and the Hollywood sign can be seen at various points along the boulevard, where the buildings are for some reason lower, or at an intersection. The boulevard is served by the Metro Red Line subway route, and there are stops at three main places. Hollywood and Western, which is a little bit too far east for the average person to want to visit and then Hollywood and Vine and Hollywood and Highland - both great places to visit along Hollywood. There is also a Metro Local service that runs up and down Hollywood, usually going on to Fairfax avenue eventually.

In general, Hollywood is quite safe, although it has a reputation for being one of the more dodgy famous boulevards. My experience is that there are a lot of poor people and beggars lining the boulevard, but there is also a strong and constant police presence. It isdesfinately true that the further East you go on Hollywood, the more dodgy it becomes. The area around the Kodak theatre and the Hollywood and Highland Centre is very nice, and packed with tourists. Going East of Hollywood and Vine, the boulevard becomes very quiet, and the occasional gang can be spotted outside the liquor stores that dot this road.

Hollywood Boulevard is famous for it's Walk of Fame - the stars that line the sidewalk and display the names of various celebrities from the entertainment industry who are being honoured for their achievments. I have actually written a seperate review on this particular attraction, so I'm not going to go too deeply into it here.

There are plenty of sex shops, souvenir shops, smoke shops, convienience stores and clothing stores along Hollywood Boulevard, so it's quite a good place to do some shopping. Indeed at the Hollywood and Highland centre, there are various designer shops, like Louis Vuitton and Oakley. There are also various bars and clubs, many of which have celebrity owners, like The Geisha House, which is owned by Ashton Kutcher.

Of course, there are many famous entertainment landmarks too. The Roosevelt hotel, where the first academy awards were held, the Kodak Theatre, where the current academy awards are held, the Capital Records Building, The Jimmy Kimmel Live Show, Pantages, The Chinese and Egyptian Theatres etc

I personally really liked Hollywood Boulevard. Sure, it's a bit run down in parts, but it's got so much unique character, I'd say it's well worth a visit.

Summary: Very glad I visited, and a great place to base myself in LA.