Page 661 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - USA

L OS ANGELES  659

Exhibits include a replica of g Universal Super Silly Fun Land, is a
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a 19th-century Mexican- Studios version of the seaside carnival
American ranch from Arizona. from Despicable Me.
Founded by the film star Gene Map D2. 100 Universal City Plaza, Silly Swirly, billed as the
Autry, “the Singing Cowboy,” Universal City. Tel 1-800-UNIVERSAL. park’s first “real kiddie ride’’, is a
the museum also houses a @ 424. Open Jun–Sep: 8am–10pm brightly colored offering similar
daily; Oct–May: 9am–7pm daily.
superb collection of movie Closed Thanksgiving, Dec 25. & 7 to Disney’s Flying Dumbo
and television memorabilia. = 8 0 - ∑ universal attraction, but with exotic bugs
At the northwestern end of studioshollywood.com instead of elephants. The TV
the park, Travel Town presents show The Simpsons was the
an outdoor collec tion of vintage Spread over 415 acres (168 ha), inspiration for one of the most
trains and cars. Children and Universal Studios Hollywood , popular motion simulator
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adults can climb aboard freight the world’s largest working rides, and has its own themed
cars and railroad carriages, or movie and television studio, village. Visitors can explore the
ride on a small train. To its east, opened in 1915. The theme magical world of Hogwarts and
on Zoo Drive, miniature steam park followed in 1964. neighboring Hogsmeade
trains run at weekends. To celebrate its 50th at the Harry Potter and
anniversary, the “Wizarding World”™.
P Griffith Observatory owners lavished $1.6 Next is CityWalk®
2800 Observatory Rd. Tel (213) 473- billion on upgrades Promenade, designed
0800. Open noon–10pm Wed–Fri, and new attractions, by architect Jon Jerde.
10am–10pm Sat–Sun (reservations including thousands Jurassic Park® sign With its assortment
required). Closed Mon, Thanksgiving, of additional parking of shops, restaurants,
Dec 25. & Planetarium. 7 limited. spaces and two hotels. bars, and theaters, Universal’s
∑ griffithobs.org The famous Studio Tour, CityWalk® is a prime area for
a behind-the-scenes view of visitors to buy Hollywood
Hollywood moviemaking that memorabilia. Universal’s
f Hollywood Sign takes guests through movie Entertainment Center and the
sets in trams, includes lower portions of the studio
Map D2. Mount Cahuenga, above
Hollywood. n Hollywood Visitors Fast & Furious – Supercharged, lots offer some of the most
Information Center, 6801 Hollywood a hybrid movie-thrill ride in spectacular thrill rides. Visitors
Blvd, (323) 467-6412. which participants are encircled become part of the wild jet-
by massive movie screens, skiing in WaterWorld®, are
The Hollywood Sign is an making it feel as if the trams terrified by monsters at the
internationally recognized are moving through the Terminator 2®:3D™ show, and
symbol of the movie business. streets at incredible speed. panicked in a blazing inferno
Set high up in the Hollywood Passengers also experience in a re-creation of the final
Hills, it is now a protected an earthquake, encounter scene of the firefighting film
historic site. Though visible King Kong and Jaws, and Backdraft. Jurassic Park®
for miles from many parts of survive a collapsing bridge, a recaptures the thrill of the dino-
Los Angeles, it is not possible flash flood, and an avalanche. saur movie, while Shrek 4-D™
for the public to reach the sign Based on the movie is an animated saga based on
itself, since there is no legitimate Despicable Me, Minion Mayhem the Oscar-winning film Shrek.
trail leading up to the tall 45-ft transforms riders into furry Another ride, Revenge of the
(13-m) letters. yellow Minions, launching Mummy, takes visitors through
Erected in 1923, it originally them on an excur sion through the hair-raising labyrinths of a
advertised the Hollywoodland the super-villain laboratory. mummy’s tomb, amid Egyptian
housing development of the A water-themed play area, burial chambers.
former Los Angeles Times
publisher Harry Chandler.
The “LAND” was removed in
1949. Nearly 30 years later,
donors pledged $27,000 per
letter for a new sign. It has
been the scene of one suicide
– that of disappointed would-
be actress Peg Entwhistle,
who jumped off the “H” in
1932 – and numerous prank
spellings, such as “HOLLYWEED,”
acknowledging the more
lenient marijuana laws of the
1970s; and “UCLA” during a
football game. Terrifying the audience at the Terminator 2®:3D™ show, Universal Studios

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