Things to do in LA

[TigerVols]

OK, guess I'll chime in from my apt in downtown Los Angeles.

The absolute must-see in all of LA is the Getty Museum in Brentwood. It's free (except for parking) and the buildings alone are worth the visit, never mind the art.

If you wanna do Malibu, arrange to go the Getty Villa there. It's recently renovated and full of ancient Roman art.

A drive around downtown is pretty interesting -- LA's new crown jewel is the Disney Music Hall downtown, which you'll recognize from a hundred car commercials. It looks like the world's largest wad of aluminum foil!

If you're hungry while downtown, go to Phillippe's across from Union Station. It's where the French Dip sandwich was invented.

Try to make an Angels game -- don't bother going to see those just-swept losers in Blue.

The Venice Beach boardwalk is indeed safe -- but I'd suggest Newport Beach instead. More to do and prettier people, to boot.

And when it comes to killing an afternoon at a theme park, etc., Universal Studios Tour is the overwhelming choice of the natives.

Have fun but please bring us some RAIN!!!!!

 

[Songbird]

Santa Monica pier

Huntington Beach, Laguna Beach ... all the beaches. Zuma Beach has really fine, soft sand.

Munchkinland in Virginia Country Club (north Long Beach).

Planetarium.

 

[westcoastvol]

If you go to Universal Studios, there is a place called Miceli's which is right around there - down the street from Universal Nissan.

When I read this sentence, I immediately started singing "Universal City Ni-ssan," like Big Boy on POWer 106.

...nuthin outta yo pocket...

 

[Football_Bat]

Mountains. Drive up to Mount Wilson and check out the observatory (you're thousands of feet above the smog and the view is incredible, but you can't see much of LA for the smog).

Santa Monica is nice. A drive up the PCH is not so much, although it's cool to check out Malibu.

Hollywood is overrated. There's the Walk of Fame, but about all there is are tourist traps, the Kodak and the Chinese. Bars? There is an English pub on Sunset (The Cat & Fiddle), but that's it in Hollywood proper; you have to go further west to the Strip.

In 'n' Out goes without saying (make sure you get a T-shirt). And for the love of God, STAY OFF THE 405!!!!

 

[Claws for Concern]

Seriously, the Getty Museum and the Villa are wonderful. I hosted a group of Italians last summer in SoCal and took them to the Getty and Huntington Library in Pasadena. They still e-mail me and talk about the wonderful time they had.

 

[SoSueMe]

Try to make an Angels game -- don't bother going to see those just-swept losers in Blue.

Sorry, just purchased my Dodger Stadium field level tickets tonight!

 

[Chuck~Taylor]

The night life is awesome.
I had a really good time in Westwood.

 

[Screwball]

When Disney opened a second theme park next door to Disneyland (it's called California Adventure, and don't waste your money going there), Universal was worried that tourists would just stay in Anaheim for a few days and skip Hollywood. So Universal started a free bus from Anaheim, just for tourists. Check with your hotel or with Universal to see if it's still running. That would be a great option.

Also, there is mass transit from Anaheim to LA, depending on where you want to go. The Metrolink train stops in the Angel Stadium parking lot, a few blocks from Disneyland. Get off at Union Station in LA, then transfer to red line subway, which stops at Universal Studios and at Hollywood/Highland, home of the Oscars and the Walk of Fame.

Hollywood otherwise is a pit, no glamour, mostly T-shirt shops and puzzled tourists looking for stars. They're not there. For seeing stars, Dyno's idea is a great one. You also could check out the boutiques (and the Ivy restaurant) on Robertson Blvd., where paparazzi hang out waiting for Lindsay Lohan to pick up a new dress -- or crash her car. I got stuck in that star-studded traffic jam.

No decent public transit to the Getty or Robertson Blvd. No public transit at all to Dodger Stadium, unless you like a REALLY long walk.

If you want the postcard ocean view with decent (not great) seafood, head to Gladstone's in Pacific Palisades. And, if you go to Tommy's, by all means go to the original shack at Beverly and Rampart. Pink's hot dogs is the other legendary LA shack, at La Brea and Melrose.

 

[SoSueMe]

Okay, all things taken into consideration (like, we're doing Disneylan, seeing LA, etc.)

Where in the hell does a person stay that is centrally or as conveniently as can be located?

 

[devils_claw]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but there is no central, convenient location.
I'd go with what was already said on this thread-do a couple of days up near Universal, then head down and do a couple in Anaheim.
Otherwise, you're going to spend a lot of your trip on the freeway. (Though you would be seeing the real LA ;D)

 

[SoSueMe]

I was afraid of that Devils.

 

[Screwball]

Give me a list of all the things you'd like to do, and I'd be happy to suggest where to stay ... on this board or via PM. You're probably looking at one place in Anaheim/Orange County and one place in LA, plus a car rental.

 

[buckweaver]

No central location, sorry.

When you do Dodgers/Universal, stay in Burbank. When you do Disney, stay in Anaheim. You'll regret if you try to pick one "home base" and try to go everywhere from there. It's a waste of time.

So, say, if you're there five days, try to plan your stay so that you do all the northside/LA things the first 2-3 days and then do the OC things on the next day or two. Split them up by geography so you can maximize your time there.

 

[poindexter]

Tommy burgers on Anaheim Street in Long Beach.

Green Burrito on Spring Street in Long Beach.

Good lord, man. You've been gone too long. This dude's coming all the way across country, and the best you are offering him is Belmont Heights-adjacent? Why not suggest the Little Caesars in the strip mall, too? And Green Burrito is in almost every Carls Jr. now.


The best so far are the trips to the Getty and the Disney Hall and Phillipes. Take heart that there is no "central location" and take up the offer to have someone help you pick places to stay.

Here's one more suggestion - if you are going to do beaches, I suggest Orange County instead of LA county. If you are ambulatory and don't mind a little walking, go to 1000 Steps beach in South Laguna. Its almost hidden off PCH in South Laguna, and parking can be a bear, and you have to go down 200-300 steps to get to the beach.

But hang a left after you get down the steps, go about 200 yards, and you will find the coolest, most secluded beach in so Cal, with great waves. Trust me on this. Google to find, or pm me.

 

[Huggy]

The Angels are playing a weekday matinee in July when we're going to be out there. What's the ticket situation like for them? Should I order online or can we get them at the box office?

 

[21]

No central location, sorry.

When you do Dodgers/Universal, stay in Burbank.

Yikes. What did he ever do to you??

You have to drive everywhere anyway, at least stay where you can do some other things....can't go wrong in Santa Monica--the beach, the pier (gross, in my opinion) 3rd Street Promenade)--reasonably close to Malibu to the north, Westwood (UCLA) and Beverly Hills to the east, more beaches to the south. Century City could work too, nice hotels and close to most of the above. I'd rather stay in those areas and drive to Universal and the Dodgers game than the other way around.

 

[poindexter]

The Angels are playing a weekday matinee in July when we're going to be out there. What's the ticket situation like for them? Should I order online or can we get them at the box office?

They sell out most games, but the weekday matinee games are the least favorite. Don't go to the general web site, as all the good tickets are gone.

Go to the ticket exchange (where season ticket holders can sell their seats)
http://losangeles.angels.mlb.com/ana/ticketing/ticket_exchange.jsp

or

www.ebay.com

or

www.stubhub.com

If you are sitting in the sun, it will be hot. Hydrate and bring sunscreen.

 

[poindexter]

Don't come to LA to stay in Burbank, unless you are on a limited budget.

 

[bagelchick]

1. Farmer's Market
2. Also, years ago I stayed with my significant other in a lovely place called the Mailbu Beach Inn in Malibu.
3. Venice Beach is a must-visit

 

[OTD]

The Angels are playing a weekday matinee in July when we're going to be out there. What's the ticket situation like for them? Should I order online or can we get them at the box office?

You'll almost certainly be able to buy them outside the stadium. Lots of season seats go unused for those midweek day games. Print out a seating chart before you go and bring it with you.