When you're living your everyday life you probably have as much of a chance of running into one of your favorite celebrities as you do to win a 2012 car sweepstakes. But that is not the case if you're visiting a city like Los Angeles. This is the entertainment capitol of America and is a hotbed of film, television and music makers from across the country. If you're thinking of heading to the West Coast for your next vacation from real estate in East York or a home in Michigan, for example, here are some tips for getting the best celebrity sightings.

If you're hoping to catch some celebs in their element than you should definitely sign up for a studio tour. Universal Studios tours allow you to view film and television sets and you never know who might be on their way to a shoot or taping. If you're organizing a day trip for something like a girls hockey tournament and will be dealing with a large group this is definitely your best bet for organizing something that's going to be fun and interesting for everyone.

Another option for seeing a celebrity in Los Angeles is to sign up to be an audience member on one of the talk shows that films in the area. You could spend an afternoon with Jay Leno or get some free swag from being in the audience of the Ellen Degeneres Show. Those traveling from far away places like a condominium downtown Toronto should call ahead to see if you're able to book your tickets for a certain date, as some shows will just send you random tickets for the first available taping.

For some people, there's nothing better than a random sighting in a shop or restaurant. If you want to put yourself in the path of some of the city's top celebrities than you should try visiting coffee shops and grocery stores in the neighborhoods where several celebrities live. But, you should remember that meeting Julia Roberts or Robert Downey Jr. when he's away from work usually means it's a little awkward to pull out the camera and autograph pad.

The best celebrity experience can also be just hanging out where the celebrities do and hoping for the best. Just like there are "hot spots" around your home at Liberty Village condos, for example, there are many places in LA that are celebrity magnets. Head out to the Roxy or the Viper Room and you could see anyone from an A-list film star to a member of the cast of a reality show. And if you're brave enough to get through their entourage, you might even be able to talk to someone famous and get a story to bring back home.