To most tourists, Hollywood is synonymous with Los Angeles—it symbolizes the glitz and glamour of the movie industry, the celebrity mill, and the endless tabloid parade. In fact, Hollywood is more than a state of mind—it is a real place, a diverse neighborhood that is a social cross-section of LA itself.

Movies actually have to be made, and the process is not all about exotic location shoots. On the side streets of Hollywood, thousands of workers in production houses edit miles of footage, mix and edit sound, color-correct, and physically compose the movies themselves. These neighborhoods appear more industrial than swanky, but this is the true buzzing underbelly of movie making, the important cogs of the machine.

Several major motion picture studios call Hollywood home—and they are microcosmic cities within themselves. Studios have a campus-like feel, with their own transit, restaurants, shops, barbers, and stores. These gated oases are surrounded by a smattering of trendy dining spots for power lunches, and not much else.

Famed Hollywood Boulevard is an ultimate tourist destination. Tour groups from around the globe gather here to snap photos of the stars embedded in the sidewalk, gawk at the outlandish Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and get photo ops with celebrity impersonators. They also do some shopping at the Hollywood and Highland shopping mall, which houses upscale chain stores and restaurants, as well as the Kodak Theatre, the home of the Oscars.

From the rotunda of the mall, one can spot the famed Hollywood sign in the Hollywood Hills. In the hills, the Hollywood Bowl is the iconic alfresco concert venue, with its white shell-shaped stage; this is the summer home to the LA Philharmonic. The hills are also home to the very privileged of society—the estates of movie stars, powerful producers, and other heavy hitters are nestled among the windy streets and hidden canyons.

Outdoor enthusiasts love the hills for the countless secluded hiking trails—and dog lovers congregate at Runyon Canyon and Laurel Canyon for off-leash adventures. Even a drive on the ridge of the hill on historic Mulholland Drive feels like a nature excursion, with plenty of vistas, scenery, and fresh air above the bustling city below.