Then cross the street and enter the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel (at 7000 Hollywood Blvd.); go upstairs and look at their collection of Hollywood memorabilia. (323) 466-7000  (Click this link here to read more about the hotel's wonderful Hollywood history.)

 Back outside, cross back over to the north side of the street and walk west to the Hollywood Entertainment Museum (at 7021 Hollywood Blvd.) Here, you can sit in the Captain's chair on the original "Star Trek" set, see the original office set from "The X-Files", or pull up a stool at the original bar from "Cheers." (323) 469-9151  

 Back outside, as you walk back east along the Boulevard, look down at the stars beneath your feet - these stars make up the Hollywood Walk of Fame. (located along both sides of long Hollywood Boulevard & Vine Street.) If you don't mind a little extra walking, go first to the west end of the Walk of Fame (at La Brea) and check out "The La Brea Gateway," the new gleaming silver gazebo featuring life-size statues of four silver screen goddesses. (323) 469-8311

 If you check first, you should be able to time your visit to coincide with a celebrity getting a "star" on the Walk of Fame - a great chance to see a movie or TV star live and in person right on Hollywood Blvd. (Click here for a list of who's next in line to receive a star on the Walk of Fame.)

 Walk to Disney's spectacular El Capitan Theatre (at 6838 Hollywood Blvd.) - buy a ticket, sit in the balcony and see a movie as movies were meant to be seen - and marvel at the theatre's glorious restoration. (323) 467-7674

 The spectacular new Hollywood & Highland project, is right next to the Chinese Theatre. A two-block long, $600 million mix of retail, restaurants and eye-popping architecture, it includes the Kodak Theatre, the first permanant home for the annual Oscar awards show. And how about those elephants?

 Just east of Highland is the historic Egyptian Theatre (at 6712 Hollywood Blvd.) the first movie palace built in Hollywood (by Sid Grauman), and scene of the world's first grand movie premiere. After years of neglect, it has recently been restored to its former grandeur, and has begun offering a film on the history of Hollywood, titled "Forever Hollywood". Catch a showing of this documentary for a fine introduction to Hollywood in a facinating setting. Or just enjoy looking at the theatre's exotic courtyard, with its hiroglyphics and Egyptian statues. (323) 466-FILM.

 Literally next door to the Egyptian Theatre is the venerable Pig 'N Whistle restaurant (at 6714 Hollywood Blvd.) A favorite of Shirley Temple and other Hollywood stars in the 30's and 40's, the cafe was only recently restored (in 2001) at a cost of $1.5 million. It's a gem. Stop by for a sandwich or salad, and admire and the restaurant's wonderful interior. Perhaps sit at one of the tables out near the sidewalk and watch the parade on Hollywood Blvd pass by. (323) 466-FILM.

 Or have lunch at historic Musso & Frank Grill (at 6667 Hollywood Blvd) the oldest restaurant in Hollywood. Sit in the dark wood booths where F. Scott Fitzgerald and Charlie Chaplin once dined, and soak up the Raymond Chandler ambiance. (323) 467-7788

 If it's after dark, go up the hill for a drink at the Yamashiro Restaurant (at 1999 N. Sycamore Ave.) and enjoy its incredible view of the city. (But don't drink & drive.) (323) 466-5125

( If you're low on cash, you might settle for a Big Mac at the unique Hollywood McDonald's (at 6776 Hollywood Blvd.) It's not much, but it does feature the most expensive exterior of any McDonald's (an electronic marquee that seems to be on the blink most of the time). (323) 464-2720.   )

 In the future, the old Max Factor Art Deco building (at 1666 N. Highland, just around the corner from the Boulevard) the new Hollywood History Museum just opened yet another attraction to see, and right next door is a new Mel's Diner, which offers another spot to grab a bite to eat. (323) 463-6668  

If you have more time to spend, you might want to take in one of the three unusual museums clustered along the Boulevard near Highland. They're not much, and tend to be over-priced, but they'll do in a pinch:

 Ripley's Believe It or Not Odditorium (at 6780 Hollywood Blvd.) where the focus is on the bizarre and the exotic. (323) 466-6335

 The Guinness World Records Exhibition (at 6764 Hollywood Blvd.) based on the famous Book of World Records. (323) 463-6433

 The Hollywood Wax Museum (at 6767 Hollywood Blvd.) the oldest of the three museums, it offers wax figures of Hollywood stars. (But in my opinion you'd be better off visiting the Movieland Wax Museum.) (323) 462-8860  

 If you need a map, brochure or some tour advice, you can drop by the historic Janes House  (at 6541 Hollywood Blvd.), the last Victorian home on the Boulevard and the town's official Visitors Center. It now houses the trendy Memphis restaurant.

 There isn't much to see at the famous corner of Hollywood & Vine, but if you want to visit that spot, hop back in your car (it's a fairly long walk east from Hollywood & Highland) and when you get there, take a look at the famous is the Capitol Records Building (just north of the 6300 block of Hollywood Boulevard, at 1750 Vine Street), and its star murals. (323) 462-6252

 Right around the corner from the Capitol Records building is the classic Pantages Theatre (at 6233 Hollywood Blvd.), where it isn't unusual to see a star up on the stage. In the evening , you might want to see a live Broadway show there and take in the theatre's ornate splendor. Disney is currently running its hit stage version of "The Lion KIng" at the Pantages, and it's a winner. Soon, the theatre will host Mel Brook's hit show "The Producers". (323) 468-1770  

...or if it's after dark, you might want to just cruise west in your car, down the hectic, neon Sunset Strip a few blocks away.

In other words, it is possible to spend a pleasant day on Hollywood Boulevard - if you know where to go. And things are getting better every day.

(A recent addition to Hollywood Boulevard is a series of 46 porcelain signs, erected at historic sites along the Walk of Fame. Each sign is numbered, features a photograph of the historical building (some of the buildings are no longer there), and includes dates and information about how the buildings relate to Hollywood stars. Each sign also points visitors to the next historical site. Following these new signs will allow tourists to take a mini-historical tour of Hollywood's downtown district. You can read about these landmarks online at:  http://www.hollywoodbid.org/sites.shtml )

(Oh yes...There is at least one day each year when Hollywood Boulevard is actually filled with stars and bright lights. The Sunday after each Thanksgiving sees the annual Hollywood Christmas Parade take place along Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards. The Boulevard always looks better at night, and this is one time each year when it's also relatively safe after dark. (323) 469-2337.)

Phone: For more information by phone, you can call The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce at: (323) 469-8311. That number will put you in touch with the Hollywood InfoCenter, a recorded service that provides touch-button phone information about Hollywood attractions and upcoming Hollywood events.