I'm visiting L.A. over the summer...any tips?

Question

I'm visiting L.A. over the summer .....I already know what I'm going to be doing (Rodeo Dr., beaches, Sunset Strip, Hollywood Walk of Fame, etc.) but are there any tips I should get or things I should avoid?

Answer 1

Here is my top ten list of things to do in LA:

Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth. Half a billion visitors can’t be wrong. (Sometimes it seems all at once)

Universal Studios: A theme park that grew out of a studio tour. Check out eBay. You can find some discounted tickets there. And Universal City Walk is a fun place to hang out in the evening after your day inside the park.

Hollywood: Hollywood Boulevard is ready for its close-up, thanks to years of urban renewal and renovation. Enjoy the Walk of Fame, Entertainment Museum, Mann's Theatre and more. You can see a lot for free. I have also added the Hollywood & Highland complex to my top ten list… it has lots of shops and restaurants, and the Kodak Theater (home of the Academy Awards). I like the El Capitan theater, because it has been restored to its former glory, unlike the Chinese, which was essentially gutted and turned into a multiplex.

Rodeo Drive, 90210: Packed with exclusive shops, full of gawkers. They all came to enjoy the excess. Free, unless you intend to buy something.

Venice Beach: Los Angeles kitsch and over-the-top culture at its best.
Here you'll find Muscle Beach, street performers and tacky shops galore.
Fun, VERY interesting, but I avoid it after dark, when it gets a little TOO interesting for my taste. And it's a short bike ride from:

Santa Monica Beach and Pier: Great beach scene and a classic seaside amusement park, complete with antique carousel that has been in a lot of TV and movies. (The Sting and "Three's Company" come immediately to mind).
After visiting the pier, you can ride a bike south a couple miles to Venice Beach.

Santa Monica Third Street Promenade - Downtown Santa Monica's shopping promenade is often the scene of movie star-sightings. Just a short walk from the Santa Monica Pier.

Sunset Boulevard: Perhaps one of the world's most famous streets, it began as a route between the stars' posh neighborhoods and the Hollywood studios. It runs from downtown to the ocean, passing through the "Sunset Strip" on its way. It makes for a fun drive. Along the way, you see a lot of different neighborhoods. Hollywood, West Hollywood, Bel Air, and Pacific Palisades. When you get to the ocean, stop at Gladstone's for Fish.

Queen Mary: Once the largest ship afloat, she's been docked in Long Beach for longer than she sailed, and her elegance never fails to impress. Free to visit. You can actually stay on board, for a price.

Farmers Market and The Grove - A new shopping complex right next to a Los Angeles landmark, The Grove and Farmers Market coexist. Enjoy a movie or shopping, then take the trolley to the Farmers Market for lunch or dinner.
Farmer's Market is right next to CBS, so walk across the lot to see if they are taping "The Price is Right". You might even get in.

Griffith Park - Home of the Los Angeles Zoo, Griffith Park Observatory, Travel Town, the Greek Theatre, and Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage.

Getty Museum - The Getty's architecture is so beautiful that it keeps me fascinated. No matter whether you like their art or architecture better (or maybe you'll just enjoy the view), the Getty is sure to please. Free.

Attend a TV taping - You can get free tickets at audiencesunlimited.com, or see the booth at Universal City walk. It's very interesting to see a show being taped. The most popular, by far, is the tonight show. Check the NBC web site for all the details there.

Places to eat:
In-N-Out Burger: Multiple locations, best burger in LA, ask anyone.
Pink’s Hot Dogs: 709 N. La Brea, just north of Melrose. Might see a celebrity.
Tommy’s Chili Burgers: Look for the shack, an LA tradition. Original location at Beverly & Rampart, a couple miles west of downtown.
Canter’s Deli: 419 N. Fairfax, between Beverly & Melrose. Near CBS, might spot a celebrity.
Phillippe’s: 1001 N. Alameda. Great roast beef sandwiches. Near Union Station, Olvera Street. Watch the mustard, it’s hot.

Places to Stay:
In Hollywood, I recommend the Hollywood Celebrity Hotel and the Farmer's Daughter Hotel.
In Anaheim, I recommend the HoJo Anaheim, and the Candy Cane Inn. If you want to splurge and make this a most memorable trip, stay at Disney’s Grand Californian. You get the full Disney experience.
In Santa Monica, the Holiday Inn Santa Monica is close to the pier and reasonably priced.

Answer 2

1. Rent a car. In L.A., you need a car like you need your lungs.

2. Bring a good map book (like Thomas Bros), if you don't have a GPS system in your car - and study it before hitting the road. L.A. is huge & sprawling and it takes years to figure out what is where and how to get there.

3. Avoid rush hours on the freeways. Basically, stay off the freeways before 9 AM (to avoid the morning rush) and between 4 PM and 7 PM at night (to avoid the evening rush).

4. Don't miss the coast: Malibu, Santa Monica, Marina Del Rey, Venice (and farther down, Palos Verdes and Long Beach) provide some of the better views in SoCal.

5. Don't miss the Orange County coast. Newport Beach, Balboa Island, and Laguna Beach are well worth a visit. Have lunch at Ruby's Diner at the end of the Balboa Pier, then take the Balboa Ferry across the bay (on foot) and walk along the small island's coast. In Laguna, enjoy the view from Heisler Park and have lunch at Las Brisas, then check out Forest Ave (and perhaps the Sawdust Festival).

6. If you happen to like nature, you'll want to check out The Huntington, Descanso Gardens, and the L.A. Arboretum.

7. In L.A., stick to the west side. That's where 90% of the good stuff is.

8. Avoid areas with gang problems, which unfortunately includes almost everything south of downtown (and east of the 110 freeway) down to the harbor, as well East L.A.

9. If you're looking to see Hollywood celebrities in person, try this site: http://www.seeing-stars.com , and especially check their Calendar of Events, which lists upcoming events where stars are guaranteed to show up, like movie premieres: http://www.seeing-stars.com/Calendar

10. You might want to consider a studio tour. The Warner Bros studio has a good one.

11. Olvera Street can be fun, if you like a slightly campy ethnic experience. It's the original old Mexican Plaza where Los Angeles began, and now a tourist spot. Have lunch on the patio of a restaurant there called La Golandrina (housed in one of the oldest buildings in L.A.) and be serenaded by mariachis.

12. If history is your thing, you might want to visit one of the local Spanish Missions. See what L.A. was like before it was part of the U.S... Mission San Juan Capistrano (in O.C.) is the best, but Mission San Gabriel is also interesting.

13. If you're into shopping, check out The Grove (next to Farmers Market), Beverly Center mall, and CityWalk.

14. Don't forget Disneyland. Alway worth a visit.

15. If art is your thing, try The Getty Center, the Getty Villa (in Malibu), and LACMA. Also, the Huntington and the Norton Simon in Pasadena.

16. If Broadway musicals are your thing, "Wicked" is playing at the Pantages in Hollywood.

17. Try a concert under the stars at the Hollywood Bowl. Bring a picnic lunch. (Pick a day with fireworks for an added bonus).

Answer 3

go to the Museum of Tolerance,J Paul Getty museum, Griffith Observatory,, people watch on Melrose ave. near Fairfax,, go to Farmers Market, Santa Monica,, visit Ventura county, and Catalina Island

Answer 4

I frequently have family contributors vacationing from out of state and in a foreign places u . s . (from the Philippines). My people desire to take them to the common vacationer attractions (disneyland, knotts berry farm, widely used studios, magic mountain), yet I desire taking them to extra scenic, relaxing places. Apersistent throughout the time of the mountains in the Angeles Forrest, or a picnic overlooking the pacific ocean in Palos Verdes is often relaxing. all of it purely relies upon on what you prefer to do and notice. If the crowded vacationer spots are your factor, then pass my mum and dad path and upload Hollywood on your checklist. you will desire multiple photographs to take the two way you pass. have relaxing!

Answer 5

those are all fine. im here to tell u about the cons. watch out for gangs as LA has the most number of gang members in the US. we have drive-by shootings, freeway shootings, home invasions, robberies of people walking on the streets, of stores, and resturants. ok have fun! yay!

Answer 6

Bring sun screen. Otherwise, George has a pretty thorough list.

Answer 7

Krissy, I can tell from your questions that you are getting so excited you are about ready to explode......you are going to have a blast.
Tip 1---Bring Money
Tip 2---Have Fun..