The charming town of Burbank still has some of that small town feel but is not far from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood.
Its nickname is Media City and with good reason. While all the tourists are hitting the city of Hollywood, many of the people who work in the Industry of Hollywood actually live in Burbank.
Media City is packed with writers, producers, screenwriters, actors, musicians and more.
But it is also the home of major studios like Warner Bros, Disney, Nickelodeon, ABC, and Universal Studios is very close by.
But our favorite thing about Burbank is not the media or Hollywood hype. We love the vintage shops and family-owned restaurants and the close location to hiking in Griffith Park and the Hollywood Sign.
1 – Walk Magnolia Park
Description:
Probably the most charming area in all of Burbank and one of our personal favorites is the very walkable neighborhood of Magnolia Park. It is absolutely packed with vintage stores, famous eateries, charming coffee shops and tons of fun activities for visitors of all ages.
Any day of the week you will have a fun day in Magnolia Park with classics like lunch at Portos Cuban Bakery or shopping at Unique Vintage clothing store but make sure you don’t miss out on special occasions as well like, Ladies and Gents Night Out.
A special food truck and shopping gathering on the last Friday of every month from January to October.
Choose from 300 food trucks and lots of stores that stay open extra late for the occasion.
Location:
Magnolia Park, Burbank CA
Pic Credit:@magnoliaparkburbank
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Of all the many gems in Magnolia Park perhaps none is as well known or popular than Portos Cuban Bakery. There are new locations that have popped up in other cities but the Burbank location remains one of the favorites. Brave the long lines for a Cuban or Medianoche sandwich. It’s worth it!
2 – Tour Warner Bros Studios
Description:
Want to see the whole collection of Batman vehicles? How about a cup of coffee at Central Perk the famous cafe from the TV show Friends?
It’s not as famous as the Universal Theme Park tour but the more intimate and less crowded Warner Bros Studios Tour is awesome activity with friends or family.
You can choose from a menu of tours of different duration and price and it feels more like an insider tour than Universals crowded attraction ride one.
The Warner Bros Studio tours also rotate their displays which is pretty awesome. Right now as of this writing you can enjoy the Aquaman and Wonder Woman exhibit as they promote the Justice League franchise.
Location:
3400 Warner Blvd, Burbank, CA 91505
PIC Credit:@enterpriseentertains
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If you want a next-level tour of Warner Bros Studios be sure to check on the expanded tour before going. For the extra cost you can typically see more areas, get a more in-depth tour, and it may even include a lunch inside the employee commissary.
Be sure to visit their website as tour options change frequently to find out if paying extra for what they are offering when you go is worth it to you.
3 – Hang Out Downtown
Description:
From restaurants, bars, movie theaters, small shops, a giant mall and so much more, Downtown Burbank can keep you and your guests occupied for hours.
There are hundreds of restaurants featuring Mediterranean, Mexican, American, Italian and Asian cuisine, ready to please the cravings of any kind of crowd.
Indulge with shopping in all the different stores around, from favorite name brand places to unique vintage boutiques. The nice thing about Downtown Burbank is that all these amazing places to see and eat are all jam-packed next to each other in blocks that are easily walkable.
Location:
Downtown Burbank CA
PIC Credit:@hotel_amarano
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Downtown Burbank is packed with stuff to do as we mentioned but one cant miss stop is catching a show at the local comedy club. Its called Flappers and since it resides in Media City there is no shortage of talented performers.
It does not have the big name of some of its iconic Los Angeles counterparts but there are still big laughs and its typically much cheaper.
4 – Catch a Show @Starlight Bowl
Description:
Everybody knows the world-famous Hollywood Bowl but not many people know about the more intimate, less glamarous but still pretty amazing outdoor concert bowl hidden in the hills of Burbank.
This concert bowl and event venue is much smaller than its Hollywood counterpart but can host up to 5,000 people. 2,000 of which will be sitting on the grass.
You can enjoy a rotating schedule of live events while bringing your own food and beach chairs but no alcohol. If you don’t feel like packing food, there is a cafe where you can buy chicken wings, hot dogs and fries.
Starlight Bowl offers summer concerts through July and August, every weekend. These concerts start at 6:30 pm. You can bring wine or beer to these special events.
Location:
1249 Lockheed View Dr, Burbank, CA 91501
PIC Credit@starlightbowlburbank
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The Starlight Bowl hosts an awesome 4th of July show every year. If you feel like going out and attending a big celebration but don’t want to deal with the madness of the Hollywood Bowl or the Rose Bowl and their massive shows, its worth checking out the Starlight version.
5 – Get Delicious BBQ @Handy Market
Description:
This is a wonderful neighborhood friendly grocery store mostly only known to Burbank locals. They carry craft beers, fresh produce, fine meats and much more.
But what really makes this market special and why it made our list is for what happens on Saturdays. Every Saturday the market raises up its tent and sells some of the most delicious BBQ ribs and sides you can find in all of Los Angeles.
The lines and aroma stretches far and reveals how tasty these dishes are. Handy’s Famous BBQ is available on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 6:30 pm.
Location:
2514 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505
PIC Credit:@meetthe818
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The BBQ is so good! But the lines are long and the Sun is hot in Burbank. You should get there before the lunch crowd, between 10:30AM – 11AM and pickup your lunch to take it home or to a shaded park.
The lines will not be long before lunch keeping you out of the hot Sun and you will have the first BBQs to come off the grill!
6 – Take a Ride on the Chandler Bike Path
Description:
The Chandler Bikeway is a nice little jewel hidden away in a very suburban Burbank neighborhood. In 2004 the City of Burbank converted a long stretch of old railroad track along Chandler Boulevard into the Chandler Bike Path.
The roughly 2-mile path, runs from Mariposa Street to the City border at Clybourn Avenue and is a great spot for Burbank residents and visitors to enjoy walking, running, riding bikes, scooters and skateboarding.
The route through Burbank is simple but beautiful, with plenty of scenery as you roll through including a wide variety of trees, shrubs, and flowerbeds surrounding the grounds on the trail. The trail is well-marked with separate bicycle and pedestrian lanes painted on the pavement making it a great safe option to take kids just learning to ride.
Location:
Chandler Bikeway, Burbank CA
PIC Credit: @purecycles
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Bike riding is considered a Summertime activity by most of the country but be warned that Burbank is HOT! There is some shade on the trail but its probably best to ride during the non summer months or at night when the sun goes down during the hottest days.
If you want more awesome Burbank hacks we have a Podcast episode with a Burbank local. Listen in and get even more great Burbank secrets! Podcast Episode.
Do you agree with our list or did we miss an obvious one? Let us know by commenting below!