Best Studio Tours in Los Angeles

[Magic Smiles]

Which is the best studio tour to take in Los Angeles, other than Universal?
What else is a must do or see while in Los Angeles? We will be there for 5 nights and have a car. We are staying at the Universal Hilton and plan on hitting Universal most likely some time every day except the Saturday. Thinking about getting the 6 month season pass.

[PiratesCove]

Warner Bros. Studios
Hours:Tours departing Mon-Fri every half-hour btw. 8:20am-3:20pm (extended hours during spring and summer)
Address :3400 Riverside Dr
Location : Burbank
Phone 818/972-8687
Web site : wbstudiotour.com
Prices: Tours $45 per person
Advance reservations recommended

NBC Studios
Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-3pm
Address :3000 W. Alameda Ave
Location Off California St, Burbank
Phone :818/840-3537
Prices: Tours $8.50 adults, $7.50 seniors 60 and over, $5 children ages 5-12, free for children 4 and under

Paramount Pictures
Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-2pm
Address: 5555 Melrose Ave
Phone: 323/956-1777
Web site: paramount.com
Prices Tours $35 per person by advance reservation only

Sony Pictures Studio Tour
Hours Tours departing Mon-Fri at 9:30am, 10:30am, 1:30pm, and 2:30pm
Address: 10202 W. Washington Blvd
Location: Sony Picture Studios, Culver City
Phone: 323/520-8687
Web site: sonypicturesstudios.com
Prices Tours $28 per person
Other Photo ID required. Free parking. Reservations highly recommended; children 11 and under not admitted

hollywoodusa.co.uk/studio-tours.htm - this link has several other studios and information that might be helpful to you! Enjoy!

You can read up on the different studio tours and see what you and your family would be more interested in.

Some other things to do while in L.A:
Santa Monica Pier : santamonicapier.org/

The Getty (One of my fave's!!): getty.edu

The Farmer's Market (Star gaze, if you're lucky!): farmersmarketla.com

Star Line Tours (We always have fun on the tours!): starlinetours.com

Visit Hollywood and Highland Center ( Where the Oscars take place (Kodak Theatre), plus shopping and dining...Star Line tours is right there as is Grauman's Chinese Theatre aka Mann's Chinese Theatre.): hollywoodandhighland.com

Malibu - PCH 1

The Aquarium of Pacific in Long Beach is neat! : aquariumofpacific.org

Drive down Sunset Blvd and soak it in! If you go to Google Earth and look at the streets before you go, it helps! Doheny has some beautiful homes...Mapleton is where Aaron Spelling's home is. Drive up Mullholland Drive (But..becareful, it's curvy and narrow!) and you'll get a great view of Hollywood.

If you're near Burbank and are hungry for a GREAT Mexican restaurant...Don Cuco's is my FAVE!!! It's on Riverside Drive across from the Best Western Media Center Inn.

Of course last but not least, "The Golden Triangle".....Rodeo Drive/Beverly Hills!
: beverlyhillsbehere.com

[Magic Smiles]

Thanks for all that info.
Which tour do you think that you get the most for your money with?
As we love Mexican and are bringing our GPS with us, we might just have to wander over to Don Cuco's. Is Burbank far from the Universal Hilton?
I am getting so excited for our upcoming trip!

[BowTie7]

I did the Sony tour last year. Started in the admin building across the street from the studio. Parking was in the underground garage (free with tour). It was a small group of 13. The tour started with a short film and introduction. Then we walked across the street to the studios. The entire tour was easy walking. The Sony Studios used to be the MGM backlot and the tour covered much of the MGM history of the lot. The area is small (especially compared to Universal) but the tour was casual and we seemed to go were the guide wanted to go. We went to several sound stages including the Munchin stage (guide just kept looking until he found a door open). We did not go on any stages that were filming that day (Brad Pitt was making a commercial on one). The only area we didn't get near was the music recording studio-which had a secret project that day. Didn't see any celebrities, but it was probably the time of day or just luck. If you go, allow plenty of time to drive, highways near by were very busy.

[BrowncatP]

I have taken the Warner tour twice. I think it is the best of all the studio tours. The Sony tour was a BIG disapointment. I only saw the outside of the buildings. I wanted to go into the stage where The Wizard of Oz was filmed. The tour guide only pointed out the building. Make sure to get reservations. Good luck in seeing a star!