Visiting LA. Any Suggestions For Me?

theorioles · June 5, 2008 12:44PM

Hi folks....I am staying at a place on Venice Beach for 4 days with my wife and daughter. Can anyone from LA suggest some good activities for the short time I'm there? Also my wife seems to think we can take a bus wherever we want to go....she doesn't want to rent a car. Is Venice Beach pretty central and in the middle of the action?

Thanks guys!

VitoCo1972 · June 5, 2008 12:51PM

Don't take the bus. Will post suggestions after the game.

erinstubby · June 5, 2008 12:57PM

Lots of action at Venice Beach. Alot of weirdo's and cooky people too. I would definately suggest going to the walk of fame. That is a pretty cool place as well as Rodeo Drive. Rodeo Drive is where all the rich people shop (Gucci, Coach, etc.) Take a drive around Beverly Hills and head to Santa Monica pier. There is a small amusement park there that your kid might like. Then, take a drive to Ledgewood Ave. This avenue will take you directly under the Hollywood sign. Anyhow, enjoy your time out there.
Tim

Tvac897 · June 5, 2008 1:32PM

Make sure to bring your kid down to hollywood BLVD...can't go to LA and not visit that site.

pandrews · June 5, 2008 1:34PM

hookers in Torrance

larryallen73 · June 5, 2008 1:46PM

RENT A CAR. Buses are for homeless people.

I would drive down Sunset Blvd east to Hollywood. Come back on Santa Monica Blvd, through West Hollywood into Beverly Hills. Park and walk around Rodeo Drive, etc....

Great LA burger place go to Apple Pan (Pico and Westwood) and my personal favorite Marty's (Pico and Prosser).

Go north on PCH to Malibu. Go the beach there. Or go south on the 405 to Manhatten Beach or Redondo Beach. Venice is fine for an afternoon but the others are better beaches in my opinion.

Have fun!

Griffins · June 5, 2008 2:22PM

First rule. Rent a car. The bus system is crap here, and won't get you anywhere you actually want to go. You'll waste your entire vacation waiting. Cars are relatively cheap, and beg, borrow or rent a gps.

Option 1- drive to Rodeo/Beverly drive and walk around a bit. It's about a 6 block area, so it won't take too long. Head east to Farmers Market/The Grove, then go to Hollywood and Highland Blvd. Park and walk around a bit- the walk of Fame, Manns Chinese, etc.
From there go down to Sunset and head west. This will take you thru Beverly Hills again, Westwood (UCLA will be on your right) and then thru Brentwood and Pacific Palisades. You'll end up at Pacific Coast Hwy (PCH). Head south and continue to the Santa Monica Pier, and then on to Venice Beach.
Option 2- The Getty Museum, and/or the County Museum of Art. The Peterson Automotive Museum is across the street from the County Museum of Art/La Brea Tarpits. Or you can mix either in the trip above and spread it out.
Option 3 Head up PCH to Malibu and beyond.
Option 4 Universal Studio and City Walk. Too bad a lot of Universal burned down last week, but there is still stuff to see and do. Waterworld is pretty amazing
Option 5 (Best on the weekend) Venice Boardwalk. Keep your wallet in your front pocket and enjoy the show.
Option 6. Rent bikes and ride up and down the beach bike path. 17 miles from end to end.
Option 7. Dinner on the SM Promenade. Lots of stuff to see and do, just 3 blocks from the SM Pier.

Marty's and Apple Pan are ok, but the best burger spot in LA (the world, actually) is The Shack in Playa Del Rey. Baja Cantina in Venice near the Venice Pier is fun, and when you're a bit too hammered to drive after the goldfish bowl sized Margaritas you can walk around the adjacent canals.
Tons of other stuff to see and do, depending on your likes, time, and budget. If you want to pm me I'm happy to give you my cell and you can call on the fly for suggestions. Have a great trip, and RENT A CAR!

How old is your daughter? I've found on a vacation if my son isn't happy no one is happy. Tons of stuff for kids to do here.

nflhof · June 5, 2008 2:25PM

I would like to add something

Rent A Car!

NickM · June 5, 2008 3:12PM

Rent a car.

Griffins had a very good set of ideas (though UCLA will be on your left if you're heading west on Sunset).

If you're looking for shopping, the L.A. area is full of malls, from basic megamalls (Del Amo Fashion Center, in Torrance - which, contrary to pandrews' suggestion, is not full of hookers) to high-end malls (South Coast Plaza, in Costa Mesa) to outlet malls (the Citadel, in Commerce, is the closest to Venice Beach) as well as mixed shopping/entertainment areas (Hollywood & Highland, 3rd Street Promenade, in Santa Monica, Citywalk at Universal Studios).

If you want sports, the odds are good that either the Dodgers or Angels will be playing at home. Hollywood Park thoroughbred racing is also going on.

If you want amusement parks, Six Flags Magic Mountain, in Valencia, is the best for thrill rides, with Knotts Berry Farm, in Buena Park, having a mix of thrill rides and family attractions, and Disneyland/Disney's California Adventure (both in Anaheim) being primarily about family attractions. Universal Studios is mainly about things to watch (shows and studio tour - or whatever remains of it), rather than rides. A little advance planning and asking locals on the board can find you discount offers for most of the amusement parks. If you like zoos, the Aquarium of the Pacific, in Long Beach, might be worth a visit (the Queen Mary is about a mile away, and is interesting, if you're into ships and sailing). I'd recommend that over the L.A. Zoo (decent zoo, but not that different from zoos in other large cities).

L.A. has museums devoted to just about everything - even better, many are located in groups.

There are websites for getting tickets to TV show tapings, if you want to spend an afternoon seeing a show (most shows require all attendees to be at least 13, so if your daughter is younger than that, it may be very tough to find one). There are also plenty of concert and live theater venues in the area.

Sit down with your wife and look through websites about what to see in L.A.

Nick

ndleo · June 5, 2008 3:19PM

The only part of Universal that got burned was the back New York lot and the King Kong attraction. The rest of it is OK. The tram tour is a little shorter because of the fire, but most of it is intact. The Simpsons ride just opened at Universal Theme Park, so check it out.

In Venice avoid a place James Beach Cafe. It is a popular spot for locals, but they treat tourists like second class citizens.

SidePocket · June 5, 2008 3:24PM

Forget malls, you can go to them anywhere.
Go to Knott's Berry Farm and Disneyland, and definitely Universal Studios.
If the marine layer burns off enjoy the beach. Bring a wetsuit if you are going in the water.

70chip · June 5, 2008 3:37PM

Shemales, the best ever......from what I have read of course.

sbtrailrider · June 5, 2008 4:48PM

OH MY GOD! For sure......I'm like... Duh! Rent a car!!

I rep'd in LA for nearly 5 years. "Nobody walks in LA" or takes the bus either. Yes traffic can be brutal and perhaps that's why your wife doesn't want a car, but it's just traffic and you'll get there, where ever "there" happens to be. Get a Thomas Guide and make sure you can read small print or use Google maps to plan ways (plural) to get to the place you're driving to.

Great eats in town too. Just ask the locals (or the cops, firemen or surfers) what's good as the spots change every year. You can find great authentic ethnic food in strip malls so don't be too put off by the lack of decor in some of the eateries because the mom and pops can only afford the basics but give you home cooking from another country. Get real Mexican food - abadodo (pork), carne asada or fish tacos, birria (goat), real tamales - not fast food. You'll never go back to Taco Bell or Del Taco again...

Yes rent bikes (or blades if you can skate) and cruise Venice beach. Avoid the cons and don't pose for pictures w/ props that anyone puts in your hands (or gives to your kids) That only gives them license to ask for $5 or $10 for the privilage of taking your picture with your camera. (Seen it happen.)

Go to the beach w/ lots of sunscreen - SPF 30 and 40 and a good hat - we have a high UV index out here. Make sure you get a boogie board to play in the waves. Total geek but loads of fun for the non surfer adult and the kids have a blast, too.

Great formal gardens too - Descanso in Pasadena area and Huntington Library, too. Fantastic museums - what's your art interest?

The LA Zoo is cool, but if you're from Baltimore the LB aquarium is nothing compared to the one you have....but a very good small regional site none the less.

lsutigers1973 · June 5, 2008 10:45PM

Rent a car, pick up Rodney King, drive really fast and take a video camera

bman90278 · June 5, 2008 11:22PM

First of all, many great ideas have been noted already, so I will add a few that I feel you should do.

I hope you and your family have fun down here. I live in Redondo Beach which is just a couple exits south of LAX. The others that mentioned a car rental are totally correct. Staying in Venice without a vehicle will not leave you of a good impression of LA. No offense to Venice, but the area is fun and had lots to do, but much of the area has become run down over the past many years.

If you decide not to get a rental car, you should at the very least get some rental bikes and you can ride up the bike path from Venice up to the Santa Monica pier (very short ride) you can even go north of the pier to Will Rogers State Beach. Malibu isn't much past Will Rogers but the bike path stops there and you would have to ride on Pacific Coast Hwy, which has no bike lane and I only would ride their if you are an very experienced biker.

I would get a rental car for sure!!!!!!!!!! If you can't make it to Universal Studios, you can take a tour at Sony Studios in Culver City -it's west of Venice area (It's the original Columbia Studios) I work at Sony quite alot and they take you right up to the stages where the movies and tv shows are being filmed and in many cases you can see the movie sets being built. That's where they did the Spiderman movies, IronMan, Hanc_ck and many many others. Right now they are doing Ron Howard's new movie "Angels and Demons" (another Divinci Code Movie) they also have several other movies and tv shows going on there. Here is a link,
tour link

Another movie option, and it's close to where you would be. I could give you the directions for you to see where they are doing Transformers ll and lll. It's in a very very historic building and you should be able to see something from the street. Either way, you could see a historic building and large of a building they had where they built the Spruce Goose and many trick military helicopters.

If you can make it down to my area of Redondo Beach, which is south of LAX and Venice. Redondo Beach has a pier & marina next to the King Harbor. You can take several different boat rides which take you down towards Trumps Golf Course (not quite that far though) . One of the boats is fast and called Speed Racer Boat. Also have paddleboats in which you and your family can go out yourselve. Also lots of good seafood restaurants there.

Another great option is Long Beach...Again south of Redondo....probably 20 minutes (south on the 405 fwy) Long beach has a nice marina, but they have the Queen Mary, an Aquarium and other things to do.

Disneyland, If you have never been out here, how can you not go to Disneyland??? That place is seriously a must see.

When dates are you coming out here? Just wondering, cause I have season passes for me, my wife and and for little 3 year old boy and I'm off work recovering from an injury and we go to Disneyland every couple of weeks. Maybe we could meet you there and show you around if you go.

If you decide to go to Disneyland, there are people selling park hopper tickets on Ebay and Craigslist for discounts.

Either way, you could pm me for my number or email address and I could give you some ideas when you get out here.

No matter what, you will have fun!!!!

1989FleerBillRipkencollector · June 6, 2008 4:10AM

Oh and....

Look ahead as we pass, try and focus on it
I won't be fooled by a cheap cinematic trick
It must have been just a cardboard cut out of a man
Top-forty cast off from a record stand

Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.

I don't know could've been a lame jogger maybe
Or someone just about to do the freeway strangler baby
Shopping cart pusher or maybe someone groovie
One thing's for sure, he isn't starring in the movies.
'Cause he's walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., only a nobody walks in L.A.

Walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'

You won't see a cop walkin' on the beat
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'

You only see 'em drivin' cars out on the street
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'

You won't see a kid walkin' home from school
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'

Their mothers pick 'em up in a car pool
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'

Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.

Could it be that the smog's playing tricks on my eyes
or is it a rollerskater in some kind of headphone disguise
Maybe somebody who just ran out of gas,
Making his way back to the pumps the best way he can.

Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., nobody walks in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A.
Walkin' in L.A., only a nobody walks in L.A.

Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'
Nobody's walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin' walkin'

Nobody walks in L.A

......Have fun !!!!

VitoCo1972 · June 6, 2008 4:24AM

Only good Italian in L.A. is C&O Trattoria down in Venice. Definitely check that out

clydecoolidge · June 6, 2008 4:40AM

Say hi to my friend Dale, he's in a band called Shapes of Race Cars.

Guru · June 6, 2008 5:11AM

In N Out Burger is a must!

1989FleerBillRipkencollector · June 6, 2008 7:13AM

<< <i>In N Out Burger is a must! >>

+1

Went there for lunch. yum.

Guru · June 6, 2008 8:49AM

Ask about the "Secret Menu".

bman90278 · June 6, 2008 8:55AM

<< <i> In N Out Burger is a must! >>

You should try In and Out as it's part of the culture out here. I only go there once or twice a year, guess cause I live here.

What about Pinks Hot Dogs or Tito's Tacos in Culver City? Those are a couple places to try.....be ready for a line.

zep33 · June 6, 2008 9:03AM

sure you don't meant Tito's Hot Dogs and Pink's Tacos?

Griffins · June 6, 2008 9:06AM

Ugh. Pinks is just greasy in a bad way, and seems to stay in business catering to a very stoned clientele at 2am. Titos is a few blocks from my studio and has been shut down a few times over the years for health violations- I know at least once for having non beef meat products (I suspect pigeon or horse). It's as cheap at Taco Bell but not as good.
I'm not sure the best souvenir of a California trip is ptomaine and a family sized bottle of cipro.

theorioles · June 6, 2008 9:21AM

Thanks very much guys for all the useful suggestions. You guys are a great help. Thanks again! I'm putting my itinerary together...I'll let you see it when I am done.

hofautos · June 6, 2008 10:37AM

I agree with universal studios, city walk, and pinks for late night dinner...

Anyone know if the ORIGINAL Tommys stand is still pumping burgers?

PINKS HOLLYWOOD

kingraider75 · June 6, 2008 4:12PM

I think the Original Tommy's is still around. But haven't been in years.

I saw go to Hollywood for the sign. Hit the beach, cause it's fun and cheap. Universal Studios is OK. Anaheim has Disneyland. Get the LA Times and see if the Dodgers or Angels are in town.

If you are into arts, then check for the Mark Taper Forum for a play.

Also, the "erotic" convention is at the LA convention center 6/6-6/8, so steer clear of that.

Umm and there are towns of "neat" cardshops.

Rent a car, the bus folk are usually really poor. Sounds like some sort of caste system comment, but it pretty much is. I only ride some commuters like buses. The real buses are pretty bad, and I am not sure they are that easy to navigate.

NickM · June 6, 2008 6:28PM

The Original Tommy's Burger is now a local chain. They all have the same food - it's tasty and pretty cheap, but you're basically mainlining cholesterol.

Zankou Chicken (Middle Eastern style) is cheap, tasty, healthy, and there's one fairly local to Venice Beach (corner of Santa Monica and Sepulveda, in West L.A.).

laweekly.com has a pretty good set of restaurant reviews for different neighborhoods, with pricing indicators.

Nick

theorioles · June 23, 2008 12:35PM

Griffins....It's theorioles here...you posted to my string about my trip to LA, and offered to give me your cell phone # if I have any questions on the fly. I am leaving tomorrow and would like to take you up on your offer. I don't anticipate that I'll call, but just in case I get in a situation where I need some advice....I might just give you a call. Is the offer still good?

Thanks a lot,
Gordon

Visiting LA. Any Suggestions For Me?

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