Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
61
Pile into the convertible and cruise northeast on
Santa Monica Boulevard all the way across town (or
take the I-10 east to Hwy. 110 north to Hwy. 101
north) to the:
9
Hollywood Bowl
I've saved the best for last: the H ollywood
Bowl. I've yet to meet any one who hasn't
had a wonder ful experience at the Bo wl,
an elegant G reek-style natural outdoor
amphitheater cradled in a small cany on
northeast of H ollywood. Truly, it's one of
L.A.'s grandest traditions, watching a liv e
performance under the stars on a warm
summer night while noshing on caviar and
champagne. It's the summer home of the
Los Angeles Philharmonic and Hollywood
Bowl orchestras, and often hosts interna-
tionally kno wn conductors, soloists, and
popular acts ranging fr om Radiohead to
Garrison K eillor. H ere's ho w y ou do the
Bowl right: R eserve a bo x seat section as
far in advance as possible, then pr eorder a
gourmet picnic basket filled with hot and
cold dishes, desser ts, and fine wines fr om
the excellent on-site catering depar tment,
which will deliver the goodies to your box
once you arrive. See p. 274.
3
THE BEST OF LOS ANGELES IN 2 DAYS
On your second day y ou'll continue seeing L.A. 's biggest attractions: U niversal Studios
Hollywood (the most popular attraction in L.A.), the massiv e gazillion-dollar G etty
Center, and the rockin' Sunset Strip House of Blues. It's another full day on your feet, so
wear comfortable shoes and make that coffee drink a double. Also, y ou'll want to make
advance reservations: Buy tickets online for Universal Studios, and reserve a table at the
House of Blues.
Start:
Universal Studios.
1
Universal Studios Hollywood &
CityWalk
A visit to U niversal S tudios H ollywood
will accomplish thr ee classic L.A. experi-
ences in one swoop: taking a studio tour ,
visiting an amusement par k, and str olling
through an outdoor megamall. S tart with
the 1-hour guided tram ride ar ound the
studio's 420 acr es of actual mo vie sets,
then hit the movie-themed thrill rides and
shows, and end with an amble thr ough
Universal CityWalk, a 3-block-long D is-
ney-like promenade crammed with flashy
name-brand stor es and r estaurants (but
don't hav e lunch y et—save that for the
Getty Center). E ven with an early star t
this should take y ou at least half a day .
Also, be sure to splurge on a Front of Line
Pass, which could save you hours of stand-
ing in lines. See p. 162.
4
2
ZEN ZONE
I'm supposed t o r ecommend a dining
option here, but I ha ve something y ou'll
like a whole lot better. Along the CityWalk
is a place called the Zen Zone, where you
can get an inexpensiv e 20-minut e “aqua
massage.” You la y do wn fully clothed in
what looks like a tanning bed , and strong
rotating jets of water massage your back-
side from neck to toe (a blue rubber sheet
keeps y ou dr y). The sensation is a bit
weird at first, but af ter it's over you'll feel
incredibly r efreshed. Univ ersal Cit y.
&
818/487-7889.
See p. 164.
Hop in the convertible, cross over the freeway, turn left
on Cahuenga Boulevard, then right onto the famous:
3
Mulholland Drive
This winding scenic road follows the peaks
and cany ons of H ollywood H ills (all
