If Los Angeles is the center of the entertainment universe, then Hollywood is its heart.

When you come out to California to watch a taping of Hot in Cleveland, make sure to take a few hours to visit the intersection of Hollywood and Highland. 

Within a few short blocks, you will literally be surrounded by stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Maintained by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the Walk of Fame honors more than 2,400 stars in the film, television, theatre, radio and recording industries from the historic (Judy Garland) to the hysterical (Shrek). The Chamber has a handy web site, where you can search for your favorite stars. Also, the Chamber posts updates of stars who will be honored throughout the year - so check before your trip to see if you can catch a Walk of Fame ceremony.

There is a petition drive underway to award a star to a certain television actress and weight-loss spokeswoman... if Shrek can have his own star, why not Valerie?

From the Walk of Fame, if you go east through the main courtyard of the Hollywood and Highland center, you'll find a three-story promenade with picture-perfect views of the HOLLYWOOD sign. Elevators are on the east side... and (pant, pant) there are also stairs on the west side. My recommendation is to go up to the third level because it's less crowded and has a better view of the famous landmark. It's really the best place for a snapshot.

In the midst of the Hollywood and Highland retail center is the Kodak Theatre - home to the Academy Awards ceremony.  In the evenings, the calendar is dotted with concerts and performances like Cirque du Soleil, but during the day, there are guided tours for an insider's look at the annual Oscars ceremony. It's so Hollywood - and a little surreal - that the biggest night in show business takes place in the center of a bustling commercial district. Definitely something you have to see for yourself.

Adjacent to the Kodak Theatre is the historic Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Embedded in the concrete of its Forecourt of the Stars are the autographs, hand- and footprints of legends like Clark Gable and Marilyn Monroe. In the 1940's, this historic theater hosted the Academy Awards and now is a hot-spot for film premieres. Check their website to see if a movie premiere will coincide with your visit for some real red-carpet star-gazing.

Just west of Grauman's and across Hollywood Boulevard is the legendary Hotel Roosevelt - an historic property that still makes (tabloid) headlines today. Its Spanish Colonial lobby has been featured in numerous films, and the Roosevelt's Blossom Ballroom hosted the first Academy Awards ceremony in 1929. The hotel is said to be haunted by Montgomery Clift and Marilyn Monroe - but today, the hotel's hip bar and pool are a popular haunt of the glitterati. Kid Rock, Ryan Adams, Lindsey Lohan, P. Diddy, Courtney Love, David Hasselhoff... the list of celebrities who have made tabloid headlines at the hotel goes on and on.

These are just a few of the sites in Hollywood that we visited one afternoon, right before we watched a taping of Hot in Cleveland (Episode 3!). Hollywood and Highland is about a 20-30 minute drive (depending on traffic) from the CBS Radford Studios in Studio City. We could easily have spent hours wandering up and down Hollywood Boulevard, seeing the stars and sites.

PARKING: Use the Hollywood and Highland Center underground garage. It's only $2 for four hours with validation from one of their shops or restaurants. Entrances are at Highland Avenue and Orange Drive. The garage can be a little disorienting - believe me, we were not the only ones wandering around looking for our cars - so take a picture of your car and the nearest row sign with your phone or digital camera.