0:00:02 > 0:00:04Hello, and welcome to Getaways.
0:00:04 > 0:00:06- The show where we go...- Where you want us to go.
0:00:10 > 0:00:14We're on a mission to check out some of your most popular holiday destinations.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19CAMERA CLICKS
0:00:21 > 0:00:23You've been sharing your top travel tips,
0:00:23 > 0:00:26- telling us where to go...- And what to do when we get there.
0:00:31 > 0:00:34This week, we've come to the West Coast of the USA.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37That's right, we are in Los Angeles, California.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40You can now fly directly to Los Angeles from Dublin.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43Aer Lingus offers four flights a week, all-year round,
0:00:43 > 0:00:46with the bonus of pre-clearing Customs at Dublin airport.
0:00:48 > 0:00:54Our destination is Santa Monica - a 30-minute transfer from the airport.
0:00:54 > 0:00:56Joe, LA, we're here.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59- LA, baby!- Mmm.- Do you know, I've been here before,
0:00:59 > 0:01:01but I kind of based myself mainly in Downtown LA.
0:01:01 > 0:01:04I didn't get out to Santa Monica, and everybody responded and said,
0:01:04 > 0:01:06Santa Monica is the best way to see this
0:01:06 > 0:01:08- place and base yourself.- It is.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10- What are you looking forward to?- OK, the beaches, obviously,
0:01:10 > 0:01:13they're beautiful. Shopping, plenty of it.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15- Oh, yeah.- And I really want to do a studio tour as well.
0:01:15 > 0:01:17- Absolutely, got to do that.- Yeah?
0:01:17 > 0:01:19Cheers.
0:01:19 > 0:01:23Los Angeles, the City of Angels is huge,
0:01:23 > 0:01:27sprawling over an area more than ten times the size of Belfast or Dublin.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30Greater Los Angeles is divided up into cities.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32Some of them you will probably have heard of,
0:01:32 > 0:01:36like Hollywood and the uber-exclusive Beverly Hills.
0:01:37 > 0:01:40One of the first things you're going to do in Santa Monica,
0:01:40 > 0:01:43especially for a family holiday, is hit the beach.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46Yeah, and if this beach looks familiar,
0:01:46 > 0:01:50then you're showing your age because this was the backdrop to the hit
0:01:50 > 0:01:52'90s TV series Baywatch.
0:01:52 > 0:01:54Maybe it's the Baywatch link,
0:01:54 > 0:01:57but LA has got a reputation for being the home of the body-obsessed.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01And to be fair, they do seem to have a bit of a fitness fixation.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08So if you like to work up a sweat on holiday,
0:02:08 > 0:02:10then you've come to the right place.
0:02:11 > 0:02:15And we're doing a bit of gentle exercise ourselves.
0:02:15 > 0:02:18Lauren Hodgson recommended that we hire a bike and take a ride along
0:02:18 > 0:02:21the world's longest coastal cycle path.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26And it's not just for bicycles.
0:02:26 > 0:02:31Skateboards, roller-skates, tricycles, jogging or walking, and, er,
0:02:31 > 0:02:33dog-boarding, are all OK in LA.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39The Marvin Braude Bike Trail, to give it its official title,
0:02:39 > 0:02:42runs for 22 miles along the Los Angeles coastline.
0:02:42 > 0:02:44And there are places to hire bikes all along the route.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53First stop on your bike ride has to be the famous Santa Monica Pier.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55For a lot of people, this is the end of the road.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59Because right here is the official ending to the legendary Route 66.
0:02:59 > 0:03:01And as the song goes, Joe?
0:03:01 > 0:03:04# Winds all the way from Chicago to LA
0:03:04 > 0:03:07# Get your kicks on Route 66. #
0:03:07 > 0:03:08Don't give up the day job, Joe.
0:03:11 > 0:03:15This iconic pier has been a mecca for tourists flocking to the
0:03:15 > 0:03:17West Coast for over 100 years.
0:03:17 > 0:03:19It's a bit of a mashup of styles.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22The original pier has been extended over time, to include shops,
0:03:22 > 0:03:25restaurants, amusements and entertainment.
0:03:26 > 0:03:29And I've bumped into the Connelly sisters from Monaghan.
0:03:29 > 0:03:31So you only got here a few days ago.
0:03:31 > 0:03:33What have you been up to so far?
0:03:33 > 0:03:36We got a bit of shopping done. We went to the outlets just outside.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38Lovely.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40And yeah, just had a walk along the beach.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43Went to Venice Beach, it's really cool.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Nice. So what are the plans over the next few days?
0:03:45 > 0:03:48Do you want to try and do some Kardashian spotting, is that right?
0:03:48 > 0:03:51Yeah, Calabasas. We're going to Calabasas, trying to spot the Kardashians.
0:03:51 > 0:03:55Because you're kind of Monaghan's answer to the Kardashians yourselves.
0:03:55 > 0:03:56LAUGHTER
0:03:56 > 0:03:59- Keeping up with the Connellys! - Keeping up with the Connellys!
0:04:01 > 0:04:04You know, Mairead, coming to LA, I thought it was going to be glamour,
0:04:04 > 0:04:07- the glitz.- Mm-hmm.- You know, Tinseltown.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09- Yeah.- It's a bit more like Bray, isn't it?
0:04:09 > 0:04:11There is nothing wrong with Bray, Joe.
0:04:11 > 0:04:12No, no. Amusements!
0:04:15 > 0:04:20Pacific Park is a classic old school fairground built over the ocean,
0:04:20 > 0:04:23and it features the world's only solar-powered Ferris wheel.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28All right, it's not Disneyland.
0:04:28 > 0:04:29But the kids will still love it.
0:04:29 > 0:04:30And if you've come this far,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33you may as well shell out for a ride on the Scrambler.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45A 20-minute bike ride south of Santa Monica Pier
0:04:45 > 0:04:46brings you to Venice.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51Apart from its great surf and wide sandy beach,
0:04:51 > 0:04:55it's a cool hang-out for creative types, as well as surfers and skaters.
0:04:56 > 0:05:00And it's also had some famous residents, including Julia Roberts,
0:05:00 > 0:05:02Kate Beckinsale and Nicolas Cage.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06Zoe Rainey said, "Joe, get yourself along to Venice Beach,
0:05:06 > 0:05:08"you'll love the characters."
0:05:08 > 0:05:09You know me too well, Zoe.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16The Venice Boardwalk is a 1.5 mile pedestrian walkway.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20It's a great place to soak up the atmosphere and maybe pick up a souvenir.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23But the real attraction here is people watching.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30And one thing you've got to do when you're here is take a gander about and appreciate the
0:05:30 > 0:05:33street art. We think we've got great murals back home.
0:05:33 > 0:05:36We've got nothing on what you see over here.
0:05:36 > 0:05:38"You shoved my man into the meat grinder."
0:05:41 > 0:05:44Some of the murals along the boardwalk are as tall as two storeys,
0:05:44 > 0:05:47which have just become part of the landscape.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49A bit like this skatepark,
0:05:49 > 0:05:52which is now a permanent feature on the Venice beachfront.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59Venice Beach was the birthplace of the skateboarding phenomenon.
0:05:59 > 0:06:02Nearly half a century later, it's still a huge scene here.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04Look at this skatepark - amazing.
0:06:15 > 0:06:19Santa Monica is a great location to base yourself for exploring LA.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22And of course, it has lots of accommodation options.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25It is, however, one of the more expensive areas to stay.
0:06:25 > 0:06:29And it also has a whopping 14% hotel room tax.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32So it's worth shopping around.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36We found the Travelodge Santa Monica on Pico Boulevard.
0:06:36 > 0:06:38It's a ten-minute drive from the beach,
0:06:38 > 0:06:42and it does have free parking, which is a big deal in LA.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45There are accessible guest rooms and prices also include
0:06:45 > 0:06:46a continental breakfast.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53But if you're looking for some quirky, old school Californian style,
0:06:53 > 0:06:56then the Palihouse is a boutique lodge with a real homely feel,
0:06:56 > 0:07:00and only a short walk from the beach and shops.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03You can stay at one of their 17 studio residences,
0:07:03 > 0:07:06which include a well-equipped kitchen.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14Or for a bit of luxury, you could stay at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel on Ocean Boulevard,
0:07:14 > 0:07:16right across the road from the beach.
0:07:16 > 0:07:20The hotel has over 300 guest rooms and suites.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24But the unique feature here is the 31 luxury bungalows beside the pool.
0:07:26 > 0:07:30And I caught up with the hotel's manager and chairman of the
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Santa Monica Tourism and Travel Board, Ellis O'Connor,
0:07:33 > 0:07:35who happens to be from Hollywood.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38County Down, that is. So, Ellis, how long have you lived in Santa Monica?
0:07:38 > 0:07:41I've been here now - 20 years next month.
0:07:41 > 0:07:43I like what you've done with the place.
0:07:43 > 0:07:44- The bungalows?- Yes.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47They are a unique selling point, they really are.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50This hotel was built in 1928.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53And in those days it was the location where Greta Garbo moved, when she was
0:07:53 > 0:07:56moving from Sweden and trying to make it in film.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58- Get out!- We had President Clinton...
0:07:58 > 0:08:01Used to stay in the bungalows over there when he was President.
0:08:01 > 0:08:03I can't say who stayed with him, but he stayed over there.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05LAUGHTER
0:08:05 > 0:08:07We have... Sally Field is a local.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10Anthony Hopkins shot a movie here. We were used as part of Remington Steele.
0:08:10 > 0:08:12We were used for Dallas, the TV series.
0:08:12 > 0:08:15- Wow.- Most recently, Entourage came in and used us.
0:08:15 > 0:08:19And the bungalows represent the authentic way to live in Santa Monica.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23If you had three things to recommend to someone coming to Santa Monica,
0:08:23 > 0:08:25Los Angeles, what would be the three things you recommend?
0:08:25 > 0:08:27You have to go to the promenade for your shopping,
0:08:27 > 0:08:30the pier for your recreation,
0:08:30 > 0:08:33and I would go probably into Venice for the dining.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35That's it, succinct.
0:08:35 > 0:08:38- I love it.- And you can get there all on the same bike.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41Ha-ha. That's a killer line. He's done this before.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43LAUGHTER
0:08:45 > 0:08:49It's fair to say that this is a city that likes its cars.
0:08:49 > 0:08:54They say that there is approximately one car for every two people in LA.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57And while most cities are built around rivers or a harbour,
0:08:57 > 0:09:01LA is built around its giant freeways.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03And the traffic jams are legendary.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09Now, they say the only way to get around Los Angeles is by car.
0:09:09 > 0:09:11But I assure you, you really don't need that kind of hassle.
0:09:11 > 0:09:14There are other alternatives.
0:09:14 > 0:09:15Like that, for instance.
0:09:17 > 0:09:21A current campaign to encourage Angelinos to walk,
0:09:21 > 0:09:24cycle and to use public transport has had some success.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29In fact, a brand-new multi-million-dollar rail service has just opened,
0:09:29 > 0:09:33taking passengers from Santa Monica to Downtown LA.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35This is it, the Expo.
0:09:35 > 0:09:37Now I know what you're thinking - it's just a train.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39But here in LA,
0:09:39 > 0:09:43getting people to move from their cars to public transport is a big deal.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47For me, the best way to get around Santa Monica is on foot.
0:09:47 > 0:09:50Everything is within short walking distance of your hotel.
0:09:50 > 0:09:52Including some great shops.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58The Third Street Promenade in the heart of Santa Monica is a
0:09:58 > 0:10:01pedestrian precinct that has all the shopping you would ever want.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06But if you're prepared to travel beyond Santa Monica,
0:10:06 > 0:10:09there are plenty of other shopping options.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14About 30 minutes away is the open-air shopping mall, The Grove,
0:10:14 > 0:10:18where you can browse the shops and enjoy the dancing fountains and
0:10:18 > 0:10:19street vendors.
0:10:21 > 0:10:23For top-end designer stores,
0:10:23 > 0:10:26there's the famous Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30But I'm taking a gander along Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood,
0:10:30 > 0:10:33known for cutting-edge labels and designer boutiques.
0:10:35 > 0:10:36When you're out shopping in LA,
0:10:36 > 0:10:40there's tonnes of stores that are out of most people's price range.
0:10:40 > 0:10:44But do you know what? It's still fun to look.
0:10:44 > 0:10:47The Kelly Wearstler store oozes LA style,
0:10:47 > 0:10:51and the interior designer has an impressive client list, including
0:10:51 > 0:10:55A-list celebrities Cameron Diaz, Gwen Stefani and Ben Stiller.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59And if you can afford it,
0:10:59 > 0:11:02you could bring home a little piece of LA style to your living room.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08Well, I've decided this is my favourite piece in the whole store.
0:11:08 > 0:11:10And it's all mine for 6,500.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18Chocolate - now I always have enough money to buy chocolate.
0:11:18 > 0:11:20And here at Compartes on Melrose Place,
0:11:20 > 0:11:23they combine great design with great chocolate.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26It's tasteful, and tasty.
0:11:26 > 0:11:28Not only is all the packaging here just gorgeous,
0:11:28 > 0:11:33but check out the chocolate itself - look at that!
0:11:33 > 0:11:35It's almost too pretty to eat.
0:11:35 > 0:11:38So they're very LA-centric, which is what's so great about them.
0:11:38 > 0:11:39Palm trees, cactus.
0:11:39 > 0:11:41This one's coffee with the palm trees on it.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43- Mm-hmm.- Do you like peanut butter?
0:11:43 > 0:11:47- I love peanut butter.- This is my favourite. You know what, I'm going to have one with you.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49- So, cheers.- And peanut butter's good for you.
0:11:49 > 0:11:50- Uh-huh.- So, you know.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52Mmm!
0:11:52 > 0:11:55You are a real-life Willy Wonka, and I've met you.
0:11:55 > 0:11:57HE CHUCKLES
0:11:59 > 0:12:00OK, let's face it.
0:12:00 > 0:12:02If you come to LA,
0:12:02 > 0:12:05it's unlikely you're going to bump into any A-list movie stars.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09So the only way to get close to them is by stalking them.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14And there are people who can take you to where they live.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Do you feel like a movie star, or you look like you a movie star?
0:12:19 > 0:12:22Elizabeth Taylor married husband number four, here on the left, everyone.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24And that was Eddie Fisher that she married.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27- Oh!- Husband number five and number six, the love of her life,
0:12:27 > 0:12:29- does anybody remember?- Richard...
0:12:29 > 0:12:31- Richard Burton.- There you go, very good.
0:12:31 > 0:12:34- I like the quiz element to this. - Yes, me, too.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39Our expert guide to the stars is Lisa,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42who is giving us a VIP ride around Beverly Hills.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44So, welcome to Beverly Hills 90210.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47You're on one of the most iconic streets in all of LA.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51In just a little bit, we're going to see where one of our favourite
0:12:51 > 0:12:54actors lives. Al Pacino. He lives up here on the right-hand side.
0:12:54 > 0:12:56- Who-hah!- Who-ha! Yes.
0:12:56 > 0:12:59- Both of us are big fans.- You're going past Al Pacino's house.
0:12:59 > 0:13:01I'm going past Al Pacino's house.
0:13:01 > 0:13:03We're all going past Al Pacino's house!
0:13:03 > 0:13:05Right here, everyone.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07Green gate, white house.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09Oh, the front door's open. Is he expecting us?
0:13:09 > 0:13:11It is, his white Range Rover's right there.
0:13:11 > 0:13:13This is Al Pacino's house, everyone.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16On the right-hand side would be the former home of Jackie Collins,
0:13:16 > 0:13:19everyone. English author and actress, right here on the right.
0:13:19 > 0:13:22- It's so big.- Huge.- It's like a football field.
0:13:22 > 0:13:24There's money in airport novels, isn't there?
0:13:24 > 0:13:26Wow.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31To the right, this was the last home of Elvis Presley.
0:13:31 > 0:13:34When he bought it in 1960, he paid a whopping 28,000.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36My God. Quickly look left, coming up,
0:13:36 > 0:13:41this three-storey home is the house that Michael Jackson rented for
0:13:41 > 0:13:43100,000 a month rent. If you look,
0:13:43 > 0:13:46you'll see the balconies where we would see the King of Pop with his family.
0:13:46 > 0:13:48He would wave, he would say hello.
0:13:48 > 0:13:50That's the house on our left.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55If a long-haul flight isn't for you,
0:13:55 > 0:13:59then check out Mairead's culinary short break in County Fermanagh.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06Themed breaks have become really popular, from wild and adventurous
0:14:06 > 0:14:09outdoor breaks, to relaxing spa retreats.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12I'm in Fermanagh on a break that's themed all around food and cookery.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14I mean, what's not to love?
0:14:15 > 0:14:19I'm joining my guide for today's culinary tour of the Fermanagh Lakes,
0:14:19 > 0:14:21- Barry Flanagan. How are you doing, Barry.- How are you?
0:14:21 > 0:14:23Nice to meet you. Woo!
0:14:24 > 0:14:27Barry's water taxi offers a variety of tours on the lough.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32I'm taking his food trail, to learn about some of the produce from
0:14:32 > 0:14:35Fermanagh, and to taste some of its celebrated foods.
0:14:41 > 0:14:43The lough features a maze of islands,
0:14:43 > 0:14:46many of which are havens for fishermen and holiday-makers during
0:14:46 > 0:14:50the summer, and others which are used for farming.
0:14:50 > 0:14:52So we're just coming up to Devenish island here now.
0:14:52 > 0:14:57- Yeah.- And this is where Morris Kettyle, who owns Kettyle Meats,
0:14:57 > 0:14:58keeps some of his rare breeds.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00They have the whole island to themselves,
0:15:00 > 0:15:02and they're foraging for different herbs,
0:15:02 > 0:15:06- and they're eating the grass that's on the island here.- So all that flavour goes through.
0:15:06 > 0:15:08- It comes out in the meat.- It goes through the meat.
0:15:08 > 0:15:10Yeah, absolutely.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16To give me a taste of Fermanagh,
0:15:16 > 0:15:19the tour includes a picnic that is full of local produce.
0:15:21 > 0:15:25A perfect stop-off point is Crom Estate on the edge of Lough Erne.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30So what we have here is some local breads.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33We've got local jams, local beers.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35And some cheeses here with a port jelly.
0:15:37 > 0:15:40We have also Fermanagh black bacon on the pan here.
0:15:40 > 0:15:43And we've got some locally-sourced ice cream.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46- Brilliant.- So what we have here is some Kettyle Irish beef,
0:15:46 > 0:15:50which we saw... The cows earlier on Devenish Island.
0:15:50 > 0:15:51Lovely.
0:15:52 > 0:15:54Mmm!
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Next up on my culinary boat trip is Belle Isle Castle,
0:16:01 > 0:16:03where I'm staying the night.
0:16:03 > 0:16:07But before I check in, I'm checking out the Belle Isle Cookery School,
0:16:07 > 0:16:11where chef Joe Kelly is giving me a quick lesson in how to make...
0:16:11 > 0:16:14'brown bread.' OK, so roll it?
0:16:14 > 0:16:16'Something I haven't tried to do since school.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18'And it's all coming back to me.'
0:16:18 > 0:16:21So, very simply, what we want to do... We're going to give this kind of
0:16:21 > 0:16:24a little press down. We want to deflate it.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26- Mm-hmm.- OK? So what you're doing is you're kind of stretching the dough
0:16:26 > 0:16:28on the underside a little bit.
0:16:28 > 0:16:29Flip it over. Perfect.
0:16:29 > 0:16:32OK, so here we have one in the oven,
0:16:32 > 0:16:36all ready to go. That's great. That looks really, really good.
0:16:36 > 0:16:40That's looking pretty good. What do you think?
0:16:40 > 0:16:43- Oh, I'm in heaven. - That's great. You did well.
0:16:43 > 0:16:44Very well.
0:16:44 > 0:16:47There are several accommodation options at Belle Isle.
0:16:47 > 0:16:49For a special occasion,
0:16:49 > 0:16:52you can hire the castle, which sleeps up to ten and has beautiful bedrooms
0:16:52 > 0:16:56overlooking the lake. It comes with a fully-equipped modern kitchen.
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Or if you prefer someone else to cook for you,
0:16:59 > 0:17:02you can dine in the grand banqueting room.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06There are also self-catering accommodation options on the castle grounds,
0:17:06 > 0:17:08which are great for families,
0:17:08 > 0:17:10including eight courtyard cottages,
0:17:10 > 0:17:14which can sleep between two and eight people.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19For a perfect finale to my gourmet boat trip,
0:17:19 > 0:17:22Barry is dropping me off at the Watermill restaurant.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25It was built by award-winning French chef and passionate fisherman,
0:17:25 > 0:17:30Pascal Brissaud, who has prepared some more local produce with a French twist.
0:17:30 > 0:17:32Pascal, talk to me about what you've prepared for me today.
0:17:32 > 0:17:37Yeah, what we've prepared today is really something very local.
0:17:37 > 0:17:41- Mm-hmm.- We have here - a nice Fivemiletown goat's cheese tartlet
0:17:41 > 0:17:43with red beetroot in three ways.
0:17:43 > 0:17:47- And what about this one?- That is a pouch of local duck.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50The sauce is a nice port and creamy sauce with mushroom.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53So while I'm tucking in, why did you choose Fermanagh?
0:17:53 > 0:17:55- Why here?- Because of the fishing.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59Because the lough here, it's obvious, it's just a paradise for me.
0:17:59 > 0:18:05This water has one of the best pike and trout and perch fishing in the world.
0:18:05 > 0:18:07I can see why this is the end of the food trail.
0:18:07 > 0:18:09This is a great place to end.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11Yeah, OK.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16We're on a getaway in Los Angeles, California,
0:18:16 > 0:18:18taking advantage of the direct flights from Ireland.
0:18:19 > 0:18:24So far, we've been biking on the beach in Santa Monica.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27Stalking the stars in Beverly Hills.
0:18:27 > 0:18:28And shopping in Hollywood.
0:18:33 > 0:18:37Here in the heart of Hollywood is the TCL Chinese Theatre.
0:18:39 > 0:18:42Home to many a red-carpet movie premiere,
0:18:42 > 0:18:46the entrance to the theatre has iconic status.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50Nearly 300 movie legends have left their hand and footprints on what
0:18:50 > 0:18:53has become known as the Forecourt of the Stars.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56And the TCL Chinese Theatre has also provided a backdrop for some
0:18:56 > 0:18:58legendary cinema.
0:18:58 > 0:19:03The Chinese Theatre was established in 1927 by acclaimed
0:19:03 > 0:19:05Hollywood showman Sid Grauman.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Ha-ha, Travolta's shoes!
0:19:07 > 0:19:09Fantastic.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12The story goes that Grauman accidentally stepped in the wet concrete while the
0:19:12 > 0:19:14theatre was under construction.
0:19:14 > 0:19:19And that gave him the inspiration for what we see today.
0:19:19 > 0:19:22No matter who or what kind of genre of cinema you love,
0:19:22 > 0:19:25you're going to find at least five people that you adore here in the
0:19:25 > 0:19:27Forecourt of the Stars.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29Like, for example...
0:19:29 > 0:19:32IMITATES CAINE: Down here we have Michael Caine.
0:19:32 > 0:19:36And you will find that Michael prefers a surprisingly
0:19:36 > 0:19:37sensible pair of shoes.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41If you're in need of some culture,
0:19:41 > 0:19:45you'll be happy to know that LA has more museums than any city in America.
0:19:45 > 0:19:49The Getty Museum is based at two locations.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52The Getty Centre holds one of the world's largest art collections.
0:19:52 > 0:19:56Founded by billionaire philanthropist J Paul Getty,
0:19:56 > 0:19:59it attracts over one million visitors each year.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01But today, I've come to check out the Getty Villa,
0:20:01 > 0:20:05which he built in the style of an ancient Roman villa.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11J Paul Getty began collecting Classical antiquities in the 1930s,
0:20:11 > 0:20:13and it became his lifelong passion.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16He commissioned this property,
0:20:16 > 0:20:20inspired by a house uncovered from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius,
0:20:20 > 0:20:24and the tranquillity of the gardens is a complete contrast to the hustle
0:20:24 > 0:20:25and bustle of LA.
0:20:26 > 0:20:29Entry is free, although you do need to book online.
0:20:31 > 0:20:35Eric, tell me a little bit about the man, J Paul Getty.
0:20:35 > 0:20:40He made his money primarily inheriting the oil business from his father,
0:20:40 > 0:20:42Getty Oil.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44Then expanding it in the Middle East.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48And in the 1950s he was called one of the richest men in the
0:20:48 > 0:20:51world, if not THE richest man in the world.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54So this place, these beautiful gardens that we're walking around,
0:20:54 > 0:20:57was essentially his summer residence, or one of them.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01Yeah, he had four residences in Los Angeles.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04- He purchased...- That's plenty in one place alone to have.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07- It's a big city.- OK, so you're in Santa Monica,
0:21:07 > 0:21:09or just outside Santa Monica,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12and you can be in a place like this that is so peaceful and relaxing.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16Yeah, it is. When you enter the museum, when you enter the grounds,
0:21:16 > 0:21:21it is amazing how the rest of Los Angeles seems to melt away.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23It does, yeah. And you know what,
0:21:23 > 0:21:25you don't even hear the sounds of LA here.
0:21:25 > 0:21:26Right.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34A big city like LA needs a big city park.
0:21:34 > 0:21:36And this is it -
0:21:36 > 0:21:39Griffith Park is one of the biggest urban parks in North America,
0:21:39 > 0:21:42covering over 4,000 acres in the Santa Monica mountains,
0:21:42 > 0:21:45overlooking Hollywood and Downtown LA.
0:21:47 > 0:21:51The big attraction up here is the Griffith Observatory,
0:21:51 > 0:21:52which opened in 1935.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00It was donated to the city of Los Angeles by Welsh philanthropist
0:22:00 > 0:22:01Griffith J Griffith.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Its Art Deco domes contain working telescopes,
0:22:06 > 0:22:09and inside there's a science museum.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12You can learn about the stars, and admission is free.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16You know what? It's worth even coming up just for the views.
0:22:17 > 0:22:21Unsurprisingly, the spectacular setting has caught the attention of
0:22:21 > 0:22:23many Hollywood film-makers.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25And you might recognise it from films like Terminator,
0:22:25 > 0:22:28Charlie's Angels, and Transformers.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33Probably the most famous film shot at Griffith Observatory was the 1955
0:22:33 > 0:22:36Rebel Without A Cause. It made a superstar out of James Dean,
0:22:36 > 0:22:38and the observatory itself.
0:22:44 > 0:22:48Another iconic Hollywood landmark is Bob's Big Boy Restaurant.
0:22:49 > 0:22:54Its classic 1950s diner look has made it the perfect location for
0:22:54 > 0:22:55some memorable movies.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58Well, the one that sticks in my mind most is its use in Austin Powers
0:22:58 > 0:23:00International Man Of Mystery.
0:23:00 > 0:23:06When the cryogenically-frozen Dr Evil and Mr Bigglesworth escape into space.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08Look at his little face!
0:23:14 > 0:23:18You come to LA, you have to come to Bob's Big Boy Burger and get the
0:23:18 > 0:23:21classic combo and a couple of milkshakes.
0:23:21 > 0:23:22Love this. Have you tried yours yet?
0:23:22 > 0:23:24In a little minute. Do you know who came here,
0:23:24 > 0:23:26who sat at this actual booth?
0:23:26 > 0:23:27- The Beatles.- What?
0:23:27 > 0:23:29The Beatles came here. Jimmy Dean used to come here.
0:23:29 > 0:23:31Do you know who comes here now?
0:23:31 > 0:23:34- Vanilla Ice.- I wonder, does he order...?
0:23:34 > 0:23:36- Vanilla shake?- With...
0:23:36 > 0:23:38BOTH: Ice, ice, baby!
0:23:42 > 0:23:44But come here on a Friday and the
0:23:44 > 0:23:46big treat is outside in the car park.
0:23:48 > 0:23:53Because Bob's Big Boy is where Los Angeles car enthusiasts gather every
0:23:53 > 0:23:57Friday afternoon to show off their classic American automobiles.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00This is Paul, the creator and owner
0:24:00 > 0:24:03of this fine, very cool automobile.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06Paul, tell me about this. What make of car was this originally?
0:24:06 > 0:24:09Well, originally, this is a 1951 Mercury-Style.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12I purchased it about three years ago and decided to give it kind of a
0:24:12 > 0:24:15- Mad Max treatment.- This seems to be quite an LA, California thing.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19- Oh, absolutely.- So why is it such a big kind of car culture thing here,
0:24:19 > 0:24:21- the custom thing?- California, especially Los Angeles,
0:24:21 > 0:24:23it's all roads and freeways.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25And the car culture is huge in general.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28- You want to take it for a spin?- Oh, yeah, you want to go?
0:24:28 > 0:24:30I'll get you up in the gun turret.
0:24:30 > 0:24:31VINYL SCRATCHES
0:24:31 > 0:24:33'Hang on, did he just say he'd get me up in the gun turret?'
0:24:33 > 0:24:35HE LAUGHS
0:24:39 > 0:24:41MIMICS GUNFIRE
0:24:50 > 0:24:53Hell, yeah! Come on.
0:24:54 > 0:24:59A huge draw for families coming to LA is, of course, the theme parks.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02Disneyland, the original Disney theme park,
0:25:02 > 0:25:05is still Southern California's most popular amusement park.
0:25:05 > 0:25:07And it continues to add new attractions.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10Its latest venture - Star Wars.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15There's also Universal Studios, Hollywood,
0:25:15 > 0:25:18with lots of rides inspired by the movies,
0:25:18 > 0:25:22along with the Universal City Walk and the ever-popular studio tour.
0:25:22 > 0:25:26But Meghan McArdle from Armagh told us to check out the studio tour
0:25:26 > 0:25:27right here at Warner Brothers.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31Hi, guys. I'm John, your tour guide.
0:25:31 > 0:25:34- Hi, John. How are you?- Hi, John. - Nice to meet you. Are you ready to see the lot?
0:25:34 > 0:25:36- We sure are.- Hop in, let's do this.
0:25:36 > 0:25:37Brilliant.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44Some of the best-known classic films have been made here over the years.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48Casablanca, Dirty Harry, Batman, The Matrix, Harry Potter,
0:25:48 > 0:25:51and TV shows like Friends and Big Bang Theory.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56So, John, are productions actually being filmed while we're sort of
0:25:56 > 0:25:58- driving through the lot?- It's the best part of this tour,
0:25:58 > 0:26:03is that you're taking a tour of a real working production facility.
0:26:03 > 0:26:04- That is unreal.- Yeah.
0:26:06 > 0:26:07This is Hennesy Street.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11This is one of many backlot sets that we have here at Warner Brothers Studios.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14- Brilliant.- Originally built in the 1930s, this one.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16I recognise this as Friends.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18- This is Friends!- You are good.
0:26:18 > 0:26:21This is New York. Any time you saw the cast of Friends doing a scene
0:26:21 > 0:26:24outside, walking around the streets of New York, it was here.
0:26:24 > 0:26:26- All in LA.- All in LA.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29This is also Gotham City from three Batman movies.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31Oh!
0:26:31 > 0:26:33BATMAN IMITATION: Hooray! We're in Gotham.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35- He's getting in character.- He is.
0:26:35 > 0:26:38- Let's get out of here. Let's go see something else.- Yay.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43OK, while you boys go off and play Batman and Robin,
0:26:43 > 0:26:46I'm going to meet Friends for a coffee.
0:26:49 > 0:26:51Oh, I love this!
0:26:51 > 0:26:53Could I be on a more iconic TV set?
0:26:57 > 0:27:00Always knew myself and Rachel were meant to be friends.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02CAMERA CLICKS
0:27:04 > 0:27:07ECHOES: So, John.
0:27:07 > 0:27:12Here we are in a really big room filled with Batmobiles.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14I know, it's the coolest thing of all time.
0:27:14 > 0:27:16This is the coolest thing I've ever seen in my life!
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Look at this - this is every single Batmobile, apart from the 1960s one.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22This is every single Batmobile, Batcycle, Batplane.
0:27:22 > 0:27:24They're all here. This is the Holy Grail.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Even if you're not the biggest Batman fan,
0:27:27 > 0:27:30if you don't know the storyline very well,
0:27:30 > 0:27:33you can appreciate the construction and the look.
0:27:33 > 0:27:35They're like little masterpieces.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37Yeah. And if you're not a Batman fan, we pity them.
0:27:37 > 0:27:38I know.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43It's not just about the cars.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46Just about everything else that is used in the movies is here in the
0:27:46 > 0:27:48props store.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52It's an Aladdin's cave of stuff that is used in films and TV shows
0:27:52 > 0:27:54all over Hollywood.
0:27:56 > 0:28:01My favourite? President Frank Underwood's desk from House Of Cards.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10So, Mairead, what did you make of Los Angeles?
0:28:10 > 0:28:13I loved it. I've loved the beach, the pier, just general
0:28:13 > 0:28:17- people watching, really.- Yeah, same here. I mean, it's movie town.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19I love it. It's like a living, breathing Madame Tussauds.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23- Yeah.- And here we are underneath the greatest selfie spot in the world.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25- Give us your phone.- I forgot it.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28I'm joking, come on. Here we go.
0:28:28 > 0:28:30Love it!