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StarLine Tours Hop-on Hop-off Double Decker Bus

Tour Bus in Hollywood

You can use StarLine Tour's Hop-on Hop-off Double Decker bus to conduct a self-guided tour that will take you to many of the attractions you would see on a guided bus tour of Hollywood. You'll have more flexibility to stay longer at the attractions you like, and save money at the same time. The double-decker tour bus costs half the fare compared to a traditional guided tour of Hollywood. Most of the buses have an open top second level so you can get a good view and take pictures, and there is a recorded narration of the sites as you pass by them.

The attractions on Hollywood Blvd will keep you busy when you get there, as well as when you return. Use this suggested itinerary as a starting point, then tailor your trip to your taste.

See the Legend at the bottom of the Suggested Itinerary for details on color-coding

Buy Tickets Online: Hop-on Hop-off Tour Bus Tickets
or call 888-878-6079 for assistance

Editors note: This is the first in a series of at least four self-guided tours on the Red Route that goes through Hollywood. Later it will be expanded to the other routes. Your comments and suggestions are appreciated. Write to: Info@LAtourist.com

TOUR 1: Attractions on the Red Route - 10 Hour Self-Guided Tour.

Highlights

A variety of tourist sites including Attractions, Shopping, Museums and plenty of opportunities for food and beverages!
One hour at Rodeo Drive (guided tours give you only 20 minutes)
Two hours at Beverly Center! (many tours don't even stop at this important attraction)
Two hours at Farmers Market and The Grove! (guided tours give you 45 minutes)
A suggested walking tour through Hancock Park that includes outdoor exhibits at LACMA and La Brea Tar Pits
Starts and ends at Grauman's Chinese Theatre near Hollywood and Highland

Suggested Itinerary

Before
11:00 AM:

The bus leaves every half hour beginning at 9:00 AM. If you get on the tour bus earlier than 11AM then you will arrive too early to go to Millions of Milkshakes. If you begin before 10AM then you will also miss Hollywood's RockWalk.

If you arrive early you can take advantage of Hollywood tourist attractions that are just steps away. Allow 15-30 minutes to look at the handprints and footprints in the Chinese Theatre courtyard. Be sure to read the inspirational quote by Marilyn Monroe on the west end of the courtyard. Other nearby attractions are Hollywood & Highland (view the Hollywood Sign from level 3 or 4), and Madame Tussauds (view a wax celebrity figure out front).

11:00 AM:

Depart Hollywood Blvd from the Chinese Theatre courtyard.

11:05 AM:

Hollywood's RockWalk

Hollywood's RockWalk at the Guitar Center (website) (Opens 10AM) [30-minute stop] - An outdoor monument to some of rock music's most influential figures. Their handprints and memorabilia are on display in the large entryway of the Guitar Center store. This is not as large as the courtyard at the Chinese Theatre, but it's interesting in a similar way, especially if you are interested in music legends like AC/DC, Aerosmith, B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Frank Zappa, Johnny Cash, KISS, The Ramones and almost 200 more. A half hour is enough time to look around and get back to catch the next bus.

Optional: [30 more minutes]
If you are a guitar aficionado, you'll probably enjoy taking an extra half hour at this stop to look around inside The Guitar Center, which holds an impressive array of guitars and musical instruments. If you want to browse the store, consider leaving Hollywood Blvd on a bus that leaves at 10:00 AM or 10:30 AM, instead of 11:00 AM, or spend less time at a stop up the road.

11:35 AM:

Depart RockWalk

11:45 AM:

Sunset Strip - No need to get out here since most clubs are not open until later in the evening. But as you pass through the Sunset Strip, keep an eye out for clubs you've heard about like The Comedy Store, House of Blues, Whisky a Go Go, Cat Club, Key Club, Rainbow Bar and Grille, the Roxy Theatre, and Viper Room.

11:50 AM:

Millions of Milkshakes (website) (Opens 12PM) [60-minute stop] - A celebrity hotspot where you can design your own milkshake, or choose one designed by a celebrities like Miley Cyrus, Lindsay Lohan, Leonardo DiCaprio, Adam Sandler, La Toya Jackson, Kourtney Kardashian and many more. If you've seen this shop featured on Access Hollywood, Entertainment Tonight or TMZ then this stop might be of interest to you. If you have teenagers then it's required! Millions of Milkshakes is located on Santa Monica Blvd, a few hundred feet east of Robertson Blvd. Allow an hour for this stop if you are going to get a shake. Or take off a half hour earlier and spend more time at another stop later on.

12:50 PM:

Depart Millions of Milkshakes

1:10 PM:

Two Rodeo shopping plaza in Beverly Hills

Two Rodeo, Beverly Hills

Beverly Hills / Camden Drive (near Rodeo Drive) [60-minute stop] - this is walking distance from Two Rodeo on Rodeo Drive. You probably won't buy very much here, but it's fun to window shop. Definitely get at least two photos of yourself here: One at the north end of Two Rodeo underneath the street signs for Rodeo Drive and Via Rodeo; and a second photo on the steps near Tiffany's at the north end of Two Rodeo, with the stores behind you. A half hour here might be long enough for you, but if you want to see the whole area then hang out for an hour.

2:10 PM:

Depart Rodeo Drive

2:25 PM:

Beverly Center (Lunch and shopping) [2-hour stop] - If you enjoy shopping then the Beverly Center is your Ground Zero! The stores in this mega-mall vary between being either ultra high-end and your average mall staples. Thus, the Beverly Center has something to suit shoppers of every style and budget. This is a good place for a light lunch from the Cafe LA food court located on Level 8 or Wave Restaurant on Level 6.

4:25 PM:

Depart Beverly Center

4:40 PM:

StarLine Tours Hop-on Hop-off double-decker tour bus in front of LACMA

StarLine tour bus at LACMA

Museum Row on Miracle Mile [60-minute stop] - There are four museums nearby. Two are located in Hancock Park: Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) and Page Museum (Discoveries of La Brea Tar Pits). Across the street are the Craft and Folk Art Museum (CAFAM) and Peterson's Automotive Museum. LACMA is open until 8PM (closed Wednesdays), and Peterson's Auto Museum is open until 6PM (closed Mondays). The other museums close at 5PM.

The double-decker tour bus stops in front of LACMA. If you want to go to Peterson's Auto museum, you'll need to walk to Fairfax and cross Wilshire Boulevard. Otherwise, this walking tour of Hancock Park should occupy most of your hour-long stop here: Walking Tour of Hancock Park

5:40 PM:

Depart Museum Row on Miracle Mile

5:50 PM:

Farmers Market and The Grove [2-hour stop] - this stop is a great place to get dinner and then stroll around at The Grove. Farmers Market has many food stands, while The Grove offers fine dining and full service restaurants. At The Grove you can do some more shopping, or just walk around and enjoy the atmosphere. The Grove is an outdoor (yet enclosed) shopping district that really defines the new style of Southern California shopping. Even if you don't go inside the stores, you'll enjoy the park-like setting that is home to mostly upscale stores.

TIP: It's generally faster to eat at Farmers Market, especially if you browse the menus in advance. If you want to maximize your time here, then spend some time before you go to browse the food selections at Farmers Market's website: (click here to visit). That way you'll know which stand to go to and save some time.

7:50 PM:

Depart Farmers Market and The Grove. (The last tour bus leaves here at 8:20 PM).

8:00 PM:

Pink's Hot Dogs

Pink's Hot Dogs & Melrose Avenue Shops [30-minute stop] - The shops are all closed by now but you have a little time to walk around and check out the crowd at Pink's Hot Dogs (website). It can take a half hour or longer to buy food at Pink's, so hopefully you filled up at Farmers Market or the Grove at the previous stop. But most of the fun of Melrose is people-watching, so look around but keep your eye on the time! Make sure you don't miss the bus back to Hollywood.

8:30 PM:

Depart Pink's Hot Dogs - be careful, this is the last tour bus! If you miss the bus it will take about 30-45 minutes to walk from here to Hollywood Blvd. you could also call a cab or catch an MTA bus. Just head north on La Brea to get back to Hollywood Blvd.

8:35 PM:

Paramount Studios (Last tour: 2PM)

8:40 PM:

Hollywood Forever Cemetery (closes at 6PM)

8:50 PM:

Hollywood and Vine - (Optional end of tour) - If you want to explore this area, get off the bus here and walk the rest of the way back to Hollywood and Highland. Interesting sites here are: Capitol Records building, more Walk of Fame stars (including John Lennon)

9:00 PM:

Hollywood and Highland - End of tour. During the summer, Madame Tussauds (tickets) will still be open when you return. Across the street, Ripley's Believe It or Not! Odditorium, Guinness World Records Museum and the Hollywood Wax Museum are all open until midnight.

Legend

Green:	Green on blank background means to depart from the attraction at that time
Red:	Red on silver background means to get off the bus at the attraction at that time
Black:	Black on blank background means to you will pass the attraction around that time, but do not get off there (unless you want to!!)
Orange:	Orange on silver background - You can optionally get off the bus at Hollywood and Vine and walk the rest of the way back to Hollywood and Highland. It's not very far but after ten hours on the road, you are probably exhausted! It's your call.