If you think a visit to a wax museum will feel like a sedate institution with keep-your-distance rules, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by Madame Tussauds Hollywood. There are no velvet ropes or barriers here. At this interactive wax museum located on the Walk of Fame next to the famous TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, getting close to some of the most recognizable people in the world isn’t seen as a violation; in fact, it’s encouraged. More than 125 lifelike figures from the worlds of current and classic film, TV, music, sports, and even superheroes are on display, and the likenesses can be downright eerie. You might have to pinch Ariana Grande to make sure she’s not real—credit that to the meticulous work of the museum’s highly trained sculptors, who have collectively created wax figures of real people for more than 200 years.
Go home with photos taken as you pose—with fun costuming and props—on sets that recreate a flying bike ride with E.T., a few rounds in the ring with Rocky Balboa, or taking to the stage for a duet with Selena. After posing for action selfies with your favorite stars, join the superheroes of Marvel in a multisensory 4D movie adventure that will have you holding onto your seat. Also, visitors age 12 and up can book a virtual reality experience, powered by state-of-the-art HTC Vive headset technology, where you will be able to search for items, manipulate objects, and strategize with fellow team members on an adrenaline-pumping, time-traveling mission.
Before leaving, you’ll have the opportunity to make a wax replica of your own hand to take home, which makes the perfect souvenir.