The stuff of dreams, Hollywood -- or where, to the world's eye, the place where movies have always been made -- holds up its end of the entertaining bargain in Universal City, which isn't technically part of Hollywood but exudes its reputed aura. With Universal Studios and CityWalk as its brightly lit hub, facades pass as real, and cinematic adventures come to life.

Just a stone's throw from it all, the Sheraton Universal -- one of two hotels at the feet of Universal Studios -- is a comfortable stomping grounds for accommodations. Just a short walk (partly uphill) from the park's entrance, the hotel, nicknamed "Hotel of the Stars," provides a relatively peaceful place to rest your head before and after you've seen the sights, and, being just a five-minute walk from a Metro Red Line stop, it's convenient for those who want to get around by rail to sights like the Hollywood Walk of Fame and Grauman's Chinese Theater.

This 21-story, 451-room hotel isn't a destination unto itself, but it offers a good-value stay that should keep kids as happy as the business-folk who come through. In the lobby, you'll be greeted by a life-size Madame Tussauds waxwork of an old Hollywood movie star (it was Lucille Ball during my family's stay). Black-and-white photos of stars of yore line the lobby, and indeed, that classic old Hollywood theme is one that the hotel is consistently trying to weave through the new-ish version of itself (in 2009, a $30 million renovation was completed).

And if sunny Los Angeles is a city of stories, this hotel boasts a few of its own. For instance, superstition prevented the original planners of this hotel from including a room number 13, or even a 13th floor. There are tales of famous folk who book the exact same room for themselves every single visit, for fear of jinxing their success if they deviate from their norm.

It's a pet-friendly hotel (with no fees charged) -- and in fact, just about any animal is welcome. The hotel has hosted all kinds, from orangutans to penguins. The latter required several air-conditioning units in their room to keep comfy.

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