From your own Malibu beach rental, you can take a day trip to Southern California's most popular tourist attraction, Hollywood. If you're already "star struck" in Malibu as you pass by celebrity homes, you may expect to actually see stars during your day trip to Hollywood. To reach Hollywood from your beach rental, you can take a rental car or sign up for a damay trip organized by local tour companies. Tour operators usually offer meals, refreshments and video shows along with the tour's itinerary.
Universal Studios
Expect to see the real wreckage scene of Steven Spielberg's "War of the Worlds," tour "Desperate Housewives'" Wisteria Lane and witness how the explosive effects of the "Fast and the Furious" are done. These are some of the things that you can look forward to while on a tour inside the Universal Studios, the world's biggest movie studio. Your studio tour pass also allows access to their popular rides patterned after the movies "The Simpsons," "Revenge of the Mummy," "Jurassic Park" and "The Adventures of Curious George." Character Photo-Ops are also offered plus shopping for souvenirs in their studio souvenir shop.
Grauman's Chinese Theater
The Grauman's Chinese Theater (also known as Mann's Chinese Theater) on Hollywood Boulevard is another must-see attraction while you're in Hollywood. The theater looks like a giant red Chinese pagoda with well-preserved interiors. You'll find approximately 2,000 bright red seats, divided into several divisions including 4 private opera boxes.
You'll also find almost 200 imprints of Hollywood stars at the Grauman's Forecourt. Almost every year, popular Hollywood stars have their footprints and hands embedded and immortalized in cement. Unique celebrity imprints include Whoopi Goldberg's braids, John Wayne's fist and Betty Grable's legs.
Admission is free inside the theater forecourt. You can also make your own imprint by dropping by at the theater's souvenir shop.
Hollywood Walk of Fame
Hollywood stars are also immortalized at the Hollywood Walk of Fame along the sidewalks of Vine Street and Hollywood Boulevard. There are around 2,000 5-pointed stars with names of human celebrities and fictional characters that made huge contributions to the entertainment industry covering 5 categories. Actor Gene Autry earned all stars and you might want to take a photo of each star. It's also a common practice for fans to place flowers beside the stars of deceased artists.
Hollywood Wax Museum
The Hollywood Wax Museum is located along the Hollywood Walk of Fame and people don't have to worry about bodyguards to get close to their favorite celebrities. There are around 180 wax figures of television personalities, movie stars and popular fictional characters. You can also visit the Chamber of Horrors where you'll encounter classic movie villains, monsters and a number of torture scenes. Admission fees are at $15 per person and children under 5 years old can be admitted for free. Other tour packages includes adding $2 to $5 to also get inside the Guinness World Records Museum and the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum.
Visit VacationHomes.com for a detailed and complete listing of Malibu beach rentals where you can kick off your Hollywood day tour. You can sort them out by prices, amenities and location details.