This day was organized by Hollywood Property Owners Alliance (Only in Hollywood) and sponsored by Grom, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Loews Hollywood Hotel, and Ghirardelli Chocolate. All opinions are entirely my own.
When my children were small, I would count the days to the weekend. I would get all excited just to be able to take have a few moments to take a shower alone or be able to run to the store without having to buckle kids into a carseat. Needless to say, we didn’t DO a whole lot back then. Our big outings consisted of going to the park, or attending a Mommy and Me class.
As the kids got older, we started to be able to get out and experience all that Los Angeles has to offer. My husband was born and raised here - I’ve lived here for 28 years - but it’s only recently that we thought it would be smart to show our kids what LA is all about. There are so many incredible things to do here, and sometimes it really is fun to just play tourist.
Last weekend we decided to have Only in Hollywood plan a day for us. We were in their capable hands to tell us what we should do and where we should go. Now, I used to work on Hollywood Boulevard… wow, that doesn’t sound too good. I worked in an office… for a design firm… it was totally legit. This was way back before there even was a Hollywood & Highlands. Hollywood today is so much different. There is a ton to do… and it’s been a really long time since we’ve hung out in Hollywood.
Only in Hollywood is a pretty cool website where you can get all the information you want about the city. They have dining options, events, the latest street closures (and with all the celebrity events going on, you NEED to know the street closures), and real estate information.
So, we let the people from Only in Hollywood plan out a day for us, and what a day it was!
We arrived in Hollywood around 10am in the morning and prepared for our first adventure.
Grom
Our first stop of the day was Grom. It has a funny name, but the gelato they serve is anything but. This is the real deal, fresh ingredients, no preservatives, rich and creamy, intense flavors. We met the Manager, Ana, and she explained how Grom originated in Italy and now has 50 stores throughout the world. There are only 2 of them in California… in Malibu, and the one in Hollywood. There is also one in New York City. It’s a tiny place, but the flavor is huge. We tasted several of their best flavors and as picky as I am about my gelato, I was pretty blown away. I lived on gelato when I was in Italy and it’s rare to find that same flavor sensation here in the States. This is it! The verdict: our favorite was the Tiramisu. And I am not a fan of the dessert. This was different. This was magical.
Marvel Super Heroes 4D Experience
From Grom, we walked over to our next adventure. This was by far the highlight of the day. If you haven’t been to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum… GO! Just go. I’ll let the photos do the talking because it was SO. MUCH. FUN. We had a blast taking photos with all the celebrities. And then we walked into the Super Hero room and OMG, we are SO the Geeky Super Hero Family.
The museum has a special Marvel Super Heroes 4D Experience that is more than worth the price of admission. In fact, admission to it is included in your museum ticket price. With 3D glasses on, you are taken on a Marvel adventure, complete with shaking seats, splashes of water, and something creepy that kept grabbing at my feet. For die-hard Marvel fans like us, this was the perfect thing for us to do.
I think my husband got a little carried away.
Of course, I was feeling a little playful too.
Prestons, Loew’s Hollywood Hotel
We worked up an appetite drooling over Daniel Craig, Captain America, and Halle Berry, so it was time to go drool over some real food. Prestons is located on the 2nd floor of the Loews Hollywood Hotel which is right behind Hollywood & Highland. I’ve was at the hotel for an event last year and I do remember the food was pretty amazing.
They have a very old-Hollywood type of menu. By that I mean they have some traditional dishes that have been served at Hollywood hot spots from long ago. I ordered the Brown Derby Cobb Salad… best Cobb Salad I’ve ever had. Amanda and Lauryn both had the Tuna Melts. David had the Grilled Cheese… not just any grilled cheese. This one had turkey, avocado, bacon, and several different types of cheese. Temera had the Greek Salad with Chicken Fingers (her two favorite foods mixed in one).
Did we roll out of there? We sure did!
Ghirardelli
You know it from the famous sign in San Francisco, but did you know that we have our own Ghirardelli in Hollywood? This Hollywood Boulevard location is directly across from Hollywood & Highland and next to the El Capitan Theater. Same amazing chocolate, same incredible ice cream sundaes. We were crazy full by the time we arrived, but who am I to turn down ice cream?
In between all of this, we stopped to do a little shopping. We might have done some damage in the Gap. But seriously, who can resist a cute summer mint-green dress that is 50% off the SALE price?
The kids had a great time… we ate way too much… and we found some great things to do that the whole family enjoyed. It was a fantastic day in Hollywood and we are planning another day back so we can catch some more new restaurants and fun events.
What do you think? Where in Hollywood should we go next?
Thank you so much Only in Hollywood for putting together this incredible itinerary together. Extra special thanks to Grom, Madame Tussauds, Loews Hollywood Hotel, and Ghirardelli Chocolate for sponsoring the day. We loved it!
OMG I am exhausted for you — you did so much! BUT HOW FUN! Love it.
What a fun day! I always forget about Ghiradelli’s in Hollywood when I’m there; I only ever see it as I’m driving away LOL.