Most famous perhaps for being home to major operations centers of Warner Bros Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company and NBC Universal, Burbank in the San Fernando Valley, Southern California is frequently referred to as the ‘Media Capital of the World‘ and is a small city with significant residential developments and a high standard of living.
Burbank grew from humble origins, starting out as the respective Spanish land grants of Rancho San Rafael and Rancho La Providencia and taking shape as a city after the investments of time and money made by Dr David Burbank, after whom it was named.
Among the city’s claims to fame is its being home to the oldest restaurant of the Bob’s Big Boy chain. The eatery dates back to the 1950s and is now classed as a national landmark. Numerous popular US television shows are filmed in the city and residents and visitors alike are invited to become part of studio audiences at no charge whatsoever. The Warner Bros Studio offers a tour on which participants get to see all aspects of modern movie production.
Highlights
Bob’s Big Boy: enjoy a burger at the oldest Big Boy restaurant in the country, a national landmark and favorite dining spot of a variety of celebrities.****
NBC Studios: take the studios tour and get to see people and the processes behind famous shows such as the “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno.
Warner Brothers VIP Studio Tour: this somewhat pricey backstage-look at one of the US’s biggest film and TV companies lasts 2 hours, 15 minutes and concludes at an impressive museum of Warner Bros artifacts and memorabilia.
Burbank Media Center: head here for a day or evening of shopping, dining and/or movie watching.
Universal Studios: the largest of Burbank’s studios will delight any fan of special effects, with the chance to get aboard a boat that is then attacked by the shark used in Jaws.