What are the must see attractions in Beverly Hills? Thanks!

Hard question! LA is a hard town to describe-- a town that tourists flock to despite having very little specifically designed for tourists (Disneyland and theme parks excepted). Beverly Hills gets throngs of tourists, but everything there of touristic interest primarily exists for the day-to-day needs of its (famously wealthy) citizens. Things to see in BH? Well:

-- Rodeo Drive and immediate environs. Park and walk around. Boutiques, little cafes, new techniques in facelifts on parade, Via Rodeo, and the occasional run-in with a "star" (sometimes literally-- I was almost run over by a BMW with Mary Tyler Moore riding shotgun inside)-- Neal Diamond having lunch at Il Fornaio was a recent sighting (OK, dim-bulb star, but so what? He still makes more dough than I ever will).

-- Beverly Hills Hotel. A dusty pink palace, still a very nice property. Drinks at the Polo Lounge are still a rather "old Hollywood" thing to do (I've done it, it's fun!).

-- Driving down Roxbury to look at the beautiful old homes of stars past and present. Diane Keaton recently bought Madonna's old house (and cleared all the lavender off the front lawn), and Peter Falk still lives on the street.

-- Beverly Center, just to see how BH does a shopping mall. It's telling that of its 8 floors, 5 are for parking.

-- Head east on Melrose into West Hollywood and LA.

-- Head east on Sunset from the BH shops section and hit the Strip.

I'm sure others will have other suggestions. These are off the top of my head. As I said, it's a tough query.

www.getty.edu

The question regarded "must see attactions in Beverly Hills". The Getty Center is in West LA. It's a must-see, but it's not in BH.

I know, technicality, but....

Go to the Post Office that has the valet parking. No kidding....I could not believe it...

There are not many attractions right in Beverly Hills. Rodeo Drive, various drives north of Sunset looking at home, etc. The Robinson Gardens is in BH. It's behind the Beverly Hills hotel. It is open to the public a few days a week , reservations only, guided tour. Lovely estate.

rjw must have A LOT of time on his hands.

Well, I did that day, clark. It also helps I type fast.

But I *do* know a little bit about the LA area-- I've lived here for almost 18 years now. So I still remember what was interesting to me as a first-time visitor, as well as what cool stuff I've found subsequently.

Go to Greystone Mansion - it is up in the hills overlooking Beverly Hills. The mansion is used as a film site for movies, TV, commercials etc. You will probably recognize it. You can't go inside (except for planned events - check the Beverly Hills Parks and Recreation website) but exploring the grounds makes for a great hour or two. Free entrance, free parking.

rjw_lgb_ca ,
I like your ideas ! I have been searching the travel boards for things to do in the LA area . We have been to Disneyland and the theme parks several times already and want a different experience . My daughter just finished her first year of college , business major , and would like to check out the sights of interest in the music industry . Any ideas ? Suggestions on where to park while touring LA spots would be appreciated too . We took a bus tour last summer but they just pass through , no stops .

rjw.......the advice is great...the more the better--------I was talking about your need to point out that the Getty was a couple of miles outside of Beverly Hills.

Oh clark.... Just being nitpicky to be nitpicky. Also, it helps to remind people that most things of interest are spread out in this area.

RL_OR: Tough questions. Easiest one first: Parking is not horrible in the commercial zones (where most of the tourist-interest stuff is). You can easily find parking lots or garages just about anywhere. Available street parking is usually a bit harder-- and some areas have permit parking only (residential streets around Melrose Ave, for example).

Music industry stuff? I'm not sure. Other than pilgrimages to some of the historic venues like the Troubadour, the Roxy, the Capitol Records building, etc., I don't know. Madonna's record label, Maverick, has offices off of Santa Monica Blvd in Beverly Hills-- and Sony has their music division offices in Santa Monica. But it's all rather spread out. Anyone else have some ideas?

this will sounds weird but when we went to Beverly Hills we enjoyed the cemetary there.(Small and easy to find stars) There also happened to be a craft show going on ( a little different than the ones I'm used to ) LOL
Also just going to see some of the hotels.(ie.the Peninsula Hotel)

I don't think of Beverly HIlls as anything but two things: fancy shops and beautiful homes. The only things I've done there with visitors were window shopping or wandering around Rodeo Drive, and driving around the streets looking at some of the homes. I enjoy doing that kind of thing, though. It may sound corny, but when my sister visited me (I used to live in that area, the cheaper part) she enjoyed getting one of those maps from street vendors with homes of the stars and driving around to see them. Even if they aren't always accurate, you see some nice areas. I've been to Greystone Mansion for special events when it was rented out, but don't think it is open to the public for sightseeing. They have some chamber music concerts there at times, though. Other than that, you might dress well and go hang out in a fancy hotel bar or place like that and people watch or look for celebrities (Hotel Bel Air, BHH, Peninsula, etc). That's about it, I don't think of BH as a place with tourist attractions, really. I think you should see it for what it is -- expensive real estate and businesses -- and go elsewhere for attractions.

The park-like grounds of Greystone mansion are open daily - the mansion itself is not open though you can look in the windows and enjoy the terrace. The gardens and the view looking down on the city are well worth the trip.

This is a rather old initial post but I'd add:

Lunch at the Brighton Coffee Shop - oneof the oldest restaurants in B Hills.

Also, how about the Museum of Television and Radio? I admit, I haven't yet made it there but I've heard good things. Has anyone been?

Sunday morning Farmer's Market.