Top 10 Reasons to Tour the Walk of Fame

Walking tours are the ideal way to see the sights of many cities for first time visitors.  They provide a quick overview of the interesting sights and provide a familiar reference of the city’s layout setting the stage for further exploration on one’s own.  But some cities are much better suited for this activity than others.  Legendary Hollywood, and it’s equally famous Hollywood Boulevard, is one of those special tour locations.  Here’s why…

1. The area has one exciting theme – Movies. The strong theme of movies and moving-making dominates the experience of touring world famous Hollywood.  Add to this the legendary celebrities, tycoons, and talented artists who lived and worked along Hollywood Boulevard over the last 100 years, and the walkways inlaid with stars called the Walk of Fame, all combine for a spectacular walking tour experience.

2. Many wonderful options for taking a break. Along the tour route are both quick food and quality restaurants, including the famous Musso & Franks Grill which has been in the same spot serving movie stars and tycoons since 1919.  Silent movie star Charlie Chaplin kept a reserved table in the window corner for years.  Across the street is the fancifully ornate Pig & Whistle that hosted regulars Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy at the bar and on a stool at the soda fountain, Shirley Temple.

3. Closeness of interesting sites. There are many sites of interest within a very short walking distance in Hollywood.  For example, the SelfTour Audio Adventures App walking tour of Legendary Hollywood takes the user to the key sites including the Chinese Theater with movie stars handprints in its forecourt, Academy Award show theaters,  the location of the first movie studio, the Capitol Records tower, Hollywood and Vine Square, Janes House, Babylon Court, and views of the Hollywood sign, all while walking on the sidewalks inlaid with stars honoring outstanding individuals in Entertainment called the star Walk of Fame.

4. Hollywood is basically flat. While there are large, steep hills directly behind Hollywood, like where the Hollywood Sign is located, the town is basically flat and ideal for people of all ages and physical conditions to explore the entire tour route.

5. The area is safe. Not so many years ago this could not be said of Hollywood, but extensive redevelopment of the last years has basically changed it into a safe area, as much as it can be these days.  Police patrol the Boulevard on foot and mobile devices.  But there is still a reason some people call it “Hollyweird.”  The Many strange, “different” or weird people are part of what makes Hollywood an interesting area to visit.

6. Close in hotels. As part of the Hollywood redevelopment program many leading name hotels have located within the area.

7. End where you began. The Hollywood setting is ideal for a complete circle of the interesting sites.  This means a stranger to the city doesn’t end the tour someplace far from where it started and is obligated to find their way back.  The SelfTour Audio Adventures App is designed to make a complete circle tour ending where it started.  And it doesn’t matter where you start.  If a person’s hotel is close to any one of the locations on the tour just start and end there.  SelfTour eliminates the need to walk to and from a central location starting point.

8. Temperate weather. The weather is great all the time in Southern California making it ideal for a walking tour.

9. A Wow factor. In the case of Hollywood, there are often Wow factors.  Like when the Academy Awards show is happening and the entire street is filled with stars and cameras.  Even on a regular basis the wow comes from sighting a famous movie star – yes it happens often.  Using the SelfTour Audio Adventure App it doesn’t matter when visiting to get a taste of excitement in many directions by recognizing buildings and streetscapes seen in many favorite movies or TV shows over the years.  But the biggest Wow on the  tour is the Chinese theater with the star’s hand and foot prints including Michael Jackson, Tom Hanks, Denzel Washington, George Clooney, Jack Nicholson, Emma Stone, Brad Pitt, Whoopi Goldberg and even R2-D2.  Now that is definitely a WOW factor!

10. A learning experience. A tour of Hollywood is a wonderful learning experience for visitors of all ages, especially those fascinated by the film industry.