Travelling to Los Angeles is both thrilling and oddly familiar thanks to the countless movies, music videos and TV show appearances that the City of Angels has made. Visiting LA is not just about what you see, but also whom.
Driving to the nearest Coffee Bean in Los Angeles will probably net you a sighting of a caffeine-deprived celeb but hey, why leave it to chance?
Here’s our tips on where to head for some solid celeb spotting and more.
LA CONFIDENTIAL
The four-figure price tags and so-posh-it-hurts stores on Rodeo Drive allure pap-worthy peeps such as Jessica Alba and Paris Hilton. It’s extra worthy for the Pretty Woman connection too.
If you like a subtle selfie with your seafood, book a table at celeb-pulling hot spot Catch.
If you like your idol encounters more low-key, the Grove’s Farmer’s Market has tasty authentic eats with a side of celeb. Check the #runyoncanyon Insta-tag and get ready to pace up Runyon when you spy a superstar pout.
LA LA LAND
Thanks to so many of LA’s 72 neighbourhoods featuring on-screen over the years, you can expect to feel that déjà vu sensation daily.
Remember when Forrest Gump ran into the ocean? That was at Santa Monica Pier. The bluff at Point Dume in Malibu? Classic film location including Planet of the Apes, Iron Man, and Charlie’s Angels.
The imposing structure of the Griffith Observatory has also made an astounding 70 on-screen appearances.
MULHOLLAND DRIVE
Wonder where the A-listers call home? Hop on one of those marginally intrusive bus trips to check out the fancy mansions and not-so-humble abodes of the mega-famous.
The popular TMZ Celebrity Tour has the best insider tips. Legend has it that Quentin Tarantino has thrown a swear word or two at the passing buses.
EVERYONE IS A STAR
For your own 15 minutes of fame, sign up for free TV audience tickets. With some custom shirts and an abundance of enthusiasm, getting on the Price of Right is easy and they allow foreign guests to win! On Camera Audiences can hook you up with tickets, as well to major shows like American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, and Family Feud.
HOLLYWOOD OR BUST
It may be chock full of tourists, grown-ups clad in action-hero costumes, and wannabe musicians pimping their latest ‘hits’, but you can’t have an A-lister LA trip without a Hollywood day trip.
It’s all about timing! If you’re lucky, you’ll witness a celeb adding their prints to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, or spot a superstar at some schmoozy Chinese Theater awards.
If time is short, consider a cheat trip to Hollywood’s Madame Tussauds where you may fool your Auntie Mary that you rubbed shoulders with Rihanna. Possibly.
LA STORY
In LA, it’s all about location, location, location with a visit to iconic films sets proving a great day out. Warner Bros provides the best value, including Harry Potter World, the Friends set, and their informative museum.
https://youtu.be/beJaxvIRROg
For a more affordable experience, Sony Pictures offers 2-hour guided tours and a chance to get on the set for American quiz show fave, Jeopardy.
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