Star Struck in Los Angeles

Los Angeles Experiences for the Star Struck

The first thing most visitors do to get close to the glamor of Hollywood is to take a stroll down the Hollywood Walk of Fame to search out their favorite celebrity stars, and measure their hands and feet against those immortalized in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

The next step in most star-stalkers' itinerary is the ubiquitous movie stars homes tours, offered by a variety of tour companies. Make sure you choose a tour with a smaller tour bus, since the large coaches aren't allowed to go into some of the neighborhoods.

The chances of actually spotting a celebrity on a Movie Stars homes Tour is pretty remote, but at a TV Show Taping, it's virtually guaranteed. So if seeing stars is really your goal, make this a priority.

When celebrities receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the ceremonies are open to the public. However, the ceremonies are only scheduled sporadically, so you have to be on the ball to be in town when there's one scheduled. Follow @wofstargirl on Twitter for the latest updates.

Grauman's Chinese Theatre is not the only Hollywood movie palace to host movie premieres, but they do seem to have the lion's share, and they list them in advance on their website. Fans are allowed to line up to watch the stars walk the red carpet outside the theater. The Egyptian Theatre and El Capitan also sometimes host premieres.

To sit in the bleachers at the Oscars, you need to register for a lottery six months in advance, but there are plenty of other awards ceremonies in Los Angeles that are open to the public.

TV show tapings are not the only places you can watch your favorite actors at work in Los Angeles. Between movies and during TV hiatus, you'll also find some of your favorite celebrities performing live on stage in theatrical productions. You'll find familiar faces in the 99-seat theaters as well as on the major stages. Some to check out include productions at the Los Angeles Music Center, The Geffen Playhouse, and Reprise Theatre Company, but they could show up on any LA or Orange County stage.

Many celebrities who live in the Los Angeles area are also active with charities they support. You'll find them at gala dinners, walkathons, poker tournaments, green festivals and other events. Check listings when you know your travel plans.