See & Do
- Areas
- Los Angeles - Main Areas
- Beverly Hills
- Culver City
- Downtown
- Hollywood
- Long Beach
- Malibu, Venice & The Beach Cities
- Mt Washington & Highland Park
- Olvera Street, Chinatown & Little Tokyo
- Pasadena, South Pasadena & Altadena
- San Fernando Valley
- Santa Catalina
- Santa Monica
- Sunset Strip & West Hollywood
- Westside
- Wilshire Corridor
- Attractions
- Parks, Beaches & Gardens
- Tours & Sightseeing
- Daytrips
- Weekend Breaks
San Fernando Valley
The ‘Valley of the Stars’ is the nickname given to the home of the much-maligned valley girl and vast middle-class residential communities. It is to The Valley that Universal Studios Hollywood, Warner Bros Studio and Walt Disney Studios fled when they outgrew their original Hollywood quarters. It is also home to TV network studios including ABC, CBS and NBC. Just over the Cahuenga Gap from Hollywood, at the gateway to The Valley, Universal Studios offers tours and Universal CityWalk presents bizarre landscapes that feature abbreviated versions of attractions in LA’s many communities. Although it was much derided when it originally opened as a theme park that was virtually a caricature of its host city, it has since become immensely popular, second only to Disneyland as a family destination. Other studios, such as Warner Bros and NBC, offer tours and free tickets to TV show tapings, such as the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Warner Bros also offers tours (www.warnerbros.com) of a real working studio, which are highly recommended.
Aside from the studios, there is the hip and still funky NoHo Arts District in North Hollywood which has more than 20 little theatres and is home to Oscar’s cousin, Emmy, produced annually at the Academy of Television Arts And Sciences (www.emmys.tv). Quirky, independent coffee shops, galleries and bistros make this an excellent area for a stroll.
Griffith Park is near the gateway to the valley, just where it opens and drops down into the LA Basin. At more than 4,100 acres, it is the nation’s largest municipal park and offers picnicking, hiking, cycling, horseback riding and other activities. The park also features the LA Zoo and Botanical Garden. Although it tends to be compared unfavourably with the amazing San Diego Zoo, it is still one of the top facilities in the country, thanks to new exhibits, including a highly rated reptile and amphibian house.
Other must-see attractions include the The Museum of the American West, an enchanting window onto the Wild West, the Greek Theatre and the recently renovated and restored Griffith Observatory, which is worth the trip if only for the spectacular view of the city. Griffith Park is also home to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center (www.la-equestriancenter.com), which hosts several companies that offer lessons you can even ride through The Valley to discover pockets that have stubbornly resisted development.
In the triangle formed by the 5, 405 and 118 freeways, you can still catch a glimpse of the Mission San Fernando Rey de Espana (www.missiontour.org/sanfernando), one of the 21 original California missions, founded in 1797 and featuring a spectacular altar. High up in La Canada Flintridge is the enchanting Descanso Gardens (www.descanso.com), which features an authentic Japanese tea house and a dazzling display of seasonal blooms. It is a wonderful getaway, particularly during the hot summer months.
The Valley also has its own commercial airport: Bob Hope Airport in Burbank. It is linked to Hollywood and Downtown by the Metro Red line, which also stops at Universal City.
Aside from the studios, there is the hip and still funky NoHo Arts District in North Hollywood which has more than 20 little theatres and is home to Oscar’s cousin, Emmy, produced annually at the Academy of Television Arts And Sciences (www.emmys.tv). Quirky, independent coffee shops, galleries and bistros make this an excellent area for a stroll.
Griffith Park is near the gateway to the valley, just where it opens and drops down into the LA Basin. At more than 4,100 acres, it is the nation’s largest municipal park and offers picnicking, hiking, cycling, horseback riding and other activities. The park also features the LA Zoo and Botanical Garden. Although it tends to be compared unfavourably with the amazing San Diego Zoo, it is still one of the top facilities in the country, thanks to new exhibits, including a highly rated reptile and amphibian house.
Other must-see attractions include the The Museum of the American West, an enchanting window onto the Wild West, the Greek Theatre and the recently renovated and restored Griffith Observatory, which is worth the trip if only for the spectacular view of the city. Griffith Park is also home to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center (www.la-equestriancenter.com), which hosts several companies that offer lessons you can even ride through The Valley to discover pockets that have stubbornly resisted development.
In the triangle formed by the 5, 405 and 118 freeways, you can still catch a glimpse of the Mission San Fernando Rey de Espana (www.missiontour.org/sanfernando), one of the 21 original California missions, founded in 1797 and featuring a spectacular altar. High up in La Canada Flintridge is the enchanting Descanso Gardens (www.descanso.com), which features an authentic Japanese tea house and a dazzling display of seasonal blooms. It is a wonderful getaway, particularly during the hot summer months.
The Valley also has its own commercial airport: Bob Hope Airport in Burbank. It is linked to Hollywood and Downtown by the Metro Red line, which also stops at Universal City.
