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During your Los Angeles vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Paramount Pictures
Paramount is the only major studio still located in Hollywood, which makes the 2-hour cart tour around its Hollywood headquarters far more historically enriching than the modern studios in Burbank (even the wrought-iron gates Gloria Swanson motored through in Sunset Boulevard are still there) The tour is both a historical ode to filmmaking and a real-life, behind-the-scenes look at a working movie and television facilities in day-to-day operation; ergo, no two tours are alike, and chances of spotting a celebrity are pretty good. Visits typically include a walk-through of the soundstages of TV shows or feature films, though you can't enter while taping is taking place. The $35 tours (by advance reservations only) depart Monday through Friday on a first-come, first-served basis at10am, 11am, 1pm, and 2pm. You need to be at 12 or older to take the tour, and cameras and recording equipment are verboten. Tip: After the tour, have lunch at the Paramount Studio?s world-famous Commissary; you never know who might drop in for a bite, and the food?s pretty darn good.
Pacific Asia Museum
The most striking aspect of this museum is the building itself. Designed in the 1920s in Chinese Imperial Palace style, it's rivaled in flamboyance only by Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood. Rotating exhibits of 14,000 rare Asian and Pacific Islands art and artifacts span the centuries, from 100 B.C. to the current day. This manageably-sized museum is worth a visit, particularly if you're an adherent of Buddhism.
The Bradbury Building
This National Historic Landmark, built in 1893 and designed by George Wyman, is Los Angeles's oldest commercial building and one of the city's most revered architectural achievements. Legend has it that an inexperienced draftsman named George Wyman accepted the $125,000 commission after communicating with his dead brother through a Ouija board. Capped by a magical five-story skylight, Bradbury's courtyard combines glazed brick, ornate Mexican tile floors, rich Belgian marble, Art Nouveau grillwork, handsome oak paneling, and lacelike wrought-iron railings -- it's one of the great interior spaces of the 19th century. The glass-topped atrium is often used as a movie and TV set; you've probably seen it before in Chinatown and Blade Runner.
Hilton Checkers Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles Financial District. Hotel is located between 5th and 6th streets on Grand Avenue. Within 5 minutes by taxi to Staples Center, Music Center (Dorothy Chandler Pavilion), Ahmanson Theater and Mark Taper Auditorium, Disney Concert Hall and Los Angeles Convention ...
Crowne Plaza Hotel BEVERLY HILLS
The elegant Crowne Plaza Beverly Hills Hotel is ideally located within walking distance to Rodeo Drive. Hotels in this area look to us as the standard of elegance, convenience and service. Rodeo Drive shopping and dining is just four blocks from the hotel. Hollywood landmarks like Walk of Fame, Universal Studios and downtown Los Angeles are just steps away. Both the Getty Center and Sunset Blvd are near the hotel. Los Angeles attractions like Santa Monica, Venice and Malibu beaches are also ...
Omni Los Angeles Hotel at California Plaza
In the heart of downtown, close to the business, financial, government and legal centers, the Omni Los Angeles at California Plaza is adjacent to the Museum of Contemporary Art. On top of the prestigious Bunker Hill Development, the extraordinary hotel has a premiere address and is near major corporate headquarters, the convention center and Los Angeles City Hall, the music center and the Los Angeles County ...
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