Posted May 13, 200916 yr I am going to LA for 5 days (May 14 - May 19). Never been before. We are going to stay on Sunset Blvd. I am interested in getting some ideas. Going with the family (sister graduating from USC), so I would welcome a range of ideas. Of course, we are going to take the little tike to Disneyland (does it really cost $75 admission?!). But I will also have time to hit the town once he goes to bed. 1. I'll definitely need a good sports bar to watch the NBA playoffs. 2. I'd welcome more ideas on what to do with the little one during the day. 3. Which beach is best for family outings and not too far from Sunset Blvd in LA? 4. Best studio tour (not really my thing but my other sisters and wife are excited to do that). 5. Is Downtown LA even worth a few hours of my time? 6. Anything else you all would recommend. Thanks. Should be a fun trip. My sister is graduating from USC's film school and Clint Eastwood was the commencement speaker last year. Not sure who it will be this year.
May 13, 200916 yr How old is your LO? 3. I would go to Santa Monica beach and pier. http://www.santamonicapier.org/ 5. I would not bother with downtown. I can't help you with sports bars, not really my thing so I never went to any when I lived there and don't know of any that stand out by reputation. LA is extremely vast so you need to plan your trip according to what parts/sections of the city you want to see on a given day and actually plan an itinerary with various ideas of what you want to see in each area or else you will spend a lot of time driving and not much time seeing things you want to see. Obviously Disney will be an entire day. Many families really like Legoland, as I understand it, it's definitely worth a trip. http://www.legoland.com/ If you want to avoid the Disney $$$$$, I would suggest Knott's Berry Farm, which is much more unique and much less annoying. http://www.knotts.com/ I recommend the Griffith Observatory but making a lot more suggestions will depend on how old your LO is and what types of things you're looking to do. http://www.griffithobs.org/
May 13, 200916 yr Thanks for the tips. Good ideas. The little one will be 3 next month. He LOVES... errr... is obsessed with trains at the moment, so if that helps... It's not that he really gets a kick out of riding them, but loves to see them.
May 13, 200916 yr 5. Is Downtown LA even worth a few hours of my time? I'd say two hours is good. The Fashion District (Santee Alley in particular) is a fantastic, local mercado and well worth the visit. Broadway is a wonderful street to just stroll and enjoy the local flavor and Union Station, Chinatown, and Olvera Street are great little places. Sure, Bunker Hill (the skyline) is dead, but explore the older parts and you'll enjoy it, I think. Just don't assume it's San Francisco or Manhattan because it ain't. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
May 13, 200916 yr that should be ok. Just wanted to make sure you weren't staying somewhere dangerous.
May 13, 200916 yr I see you’ve told us what hotel. Why wait until the week before you go??? I tell you, you kids!!! Ask the hotel if they have a “go LA” card or try to order one now. Those cards can offer HUGE discounts or free admission. Here are some things my nephews and nieces (ranging from ages 8 to 16) have done when they come to LA. Hollywood Hollywood walk of fame http://www.hollywoodchamber.net/icons/walk_directory.asp Kodak theatre - Grauman's Chinese Theatre – Hollywood/Highland shopping plaza – Egyptian theatre http://www.kodaktheatre.com/tours.htmhttp://www.manntheatres.com/chinese/ While you’re there go to the top level at the Hollywood/Highland shopping plaza and take pictures of the Hollywood sign. The plaza also has some sort of nighttime light show. Hollywood wax museum http://www.hollywoodwax.com/hollywood/ Hollywood bowl http://www.hollywoodbowl.com/visit/index.cfm Hollywood sign http://www.hollywoodsign.org/see_highland.html While up there, visit the Bronson Cave AKA the Bat Cave. [2960 Canyon Drive, Los Angeles, CA] ** Do not and I repeat, do not, buy anything from any “street vendor” on Hollywood! ** Hollywood Hills Griffith Observatory [a must see at dawn or dusk, dusk preferred] and Park www.griffithobs.org Studio Tours I only list these two because they are NOT up in Studio City/Burbank http://www.sonypicturesstudiostours.com/ http://www.paramount.com/paramount.php TV Shows You can get tickets to be a member of the live audience of TV shows: http://www.audiencesunlimited.com/ http://www.hollywoodtickets.com/ http://www.jeopardytickets.tv/ http://www.nbc.com/Footer/Tickets/ La Brea La Brea Tar pits http://www.tarpits.org/ The Grove www.thegrovela.com Santa Monica Santa Monica Aquarium www.healthebay.org/smpa Downtown/Third Street www.downtownsm.com Bel Air The Getty & Getty Villa http://www.getty.edu/ The Gardens of the Hotel Bel-Air USC Area Exposition Garden http://www.nhm.org/expo/expopark.htm The Coloseum Sunset Blvd Mel’s Drive in. It’s about 5 minutes from your hotel. American Graffiti was filmed there. Beaches Santa Monica www.santamonica.com Venice (Muscle Beach – Yeah Babeee) http://www.venicebeach.com/ Long Beach & the Long Beach Aquarium http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/ Dowtown Tour City Hall Tour the Bradbury Bldg (Lethal Weapon & blade runner was filmed here) Tour Union Station Tour Disney Concert Hall Persing Square ** Stay west of Little Tokyo, if you see skid row, you’ve gone to far. Turn and run ** While at LAX, visit the encounter restaurant. We go there every time we leave LA. Great for plane spotting. Are you flying Continental? If so be there at least 2 hours before departure as that terminal is a beast and the lines can be long as hell if you’re not an elite member. Sorry for the formating, I started this in another document.[/url]
May 13, 200916 yr that's Pershing Square :) I think recommendations would really depend on how old the child is. Dragging a 5 year old through the Bradbury Building or taking them to Venice Beach IMO would not be good.
May 13, 200916 yr that's Pershing Square :) I think recommendations would really depend on how old the child is. Dragging a 5 year old through the Bradbury Building or taking them to Venice Beach IMO would not be good. But Venice Beach is more than that. I think there is a good balance of things for the ankle biter & the parents to see.
May 13, 200916 yr It's been 2 years since I was at Venice Beach but last time I was there, there were a LOT of gangs and perhaps things a child should not be witness to, I can't imagine it has changed that drastically in 2 years. I guess it depends on your level of comfort and what you want your child to see. Watching the chainsaw juggler and people smoking dope as they walk along isn't what I'd want my little kid to see.
May 13, 200916 yr It's been 2 years since I was at Venice Beach but last time I was there, there were a LOT of gangs and perhaps things a child should not be witness to, I can't imagine it has changed that drastically in 2 years. I guess it depends on your level of comfort and what you want your child to see. Watching the chainsaw juggler and people smoking dope as they walk along isn't what I'd want my little kid to see. Well I listed it becasue it's something you must see in LA. Hell, you kids are lucky I didn't list any shopping spots. LOL
May 13, 200916 yr I just think it's different for people traveling with children. I would suggest the Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax over venice beach to a family with any kids who are not teenagers.
May 13, 200916 yr I just think it's different for people traveling with children. I would suggest the Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfax over venice beach to a family with any kids who are not teenagers. Well, since Hts44121 knows his kid, I say that is something he must decide. ;) . Again, I just listed things that my nephews and nieces have been enjoyed.
May 13, 200916 yr Thanks for all the ideas. Should keep us pretty busy. I had my concerns about Venice Beach. Maybe me and the wife will wonder over there by ourselves if we have the time and just take the family to Santa Monica.
May 13, 200916 yr 1) As far as sports bars, there is an ESPN Zone downtown in the new LA Live development. If you're going to be at USC, it's only a 5 minute drive down Figueroa, so that could be worth looking into. But if you're on Sunset there should be a ton of bars around that you could pick from. 2) Things to do with a little kid: The Getty Center. I highly recomend this as it is 1) really, really cool and 2) FREE. -The La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum as well as LACMA are pretty cool. -I say you can skip Hollywood as there's really not a lot there except for a shitty mall at Hollywood and Highland and cheesy impersonators and tons of tourists. On Sunset you could go to Ameoba Records and the Arclight if you want to do a movie. -The California Science Center and LA County Natural History Museum are both pretty cool and located right next to USC in Exposition Park. 3) If you're on Sunset and looking for a family beach, definitely go to Santa Monica. There's the pier with a little amusement park on it, and if you get sick of the beach or if it's too cold (it's only been upper 60's/low 70's around here lately) you can always hit up the Promenade or other Santa Monica streets (Montana Ave) for shopping and a nice walk. 4) I've only been on the Universal Tour while at Universal Studios theme park. It was cool, but you have to pay admission for the whole park, and can't just do the tour. 5) Downtown LA is, IMO a pretty cool place. It's certainly no NY or SF as Coldayman said, but it has pockets of activity that are really pretty neat. Olvera Street, right across from Union Station is a cool little Mexican Village type of place with some really bomb restaurants. Chinatown is...ok. Kind of dirty and out of the way compared to SF's, but still some cool places there. Little Tokyo is definitely a cool area with great (non pretentious) sushi, and stores. There's also LA Live across from the Staples Center with some cool restaurants and a Lucky Strike Lanes. Tell your sister congrats! Fight On!!
May 13, 200916 yr Oh! If your kid is not TOO little, I highly recommend the Warner Brothers studio tour. It is NOT like the Universal tour, it is a much calmer, quieter, actual back-lot tour and much cheaper than universal. They usually take you into several actual studios/sets of shows that are currently filming or were recently filming.
May 14, 200916 yr 1) As far as sports bars, there is an ESPN Zone downtown in the new LA Live development. If you're going to be at USC, it's only a 5 minute drive down Figueroa, so that could be worth looking into. But if you're on Sunset there should be a ton of bars around that you could pick from. 2) Things to do with a little kid: The Getty Center. I highly recomend this as it is 1) really, really cool and 2) FREE. -The La Brea Tar Pits and Page Museum as well as LACMA are pretty cool. -I say you can skip Hollywood as there's really not a lot there except for a sh!tty mall at Hollywood and Highland and cheesy impersonators and tons of tourists. On Sunset you could go to Ameoba Records and the Arclight if you want to do a movie. -The California Science Center and LA County Natural History Museum are both pretty cool and located right next to USC in Exposition Park. 3) If you're on Sunset and looking for a family beach, definitely go to Santa Monica. There's the pier with a little amusement park on it, and if you get sick of the beach or if it's too cold (it's only been upper 60's/low 70's around here lately) you can always hit up the Promenade or other Santa Monica streets (Montana Ave) for shopping and a nice walk. 4) I've only been on the Universal Tour while at Universal Studios theme park. It was cool, but you have to pay admission for the whole park, and can't just do the tour. 5) Downtown LA is, IMO a pretty cool place. It's certainly no NY or SF as Coldayman said, but it has pockets of activity that are really pretty neat. Olvera Street, right across from Union Station is a cool little Mexican Village type of place with some really bomb restaurants. Chinatown is...ok. Kind of dirty and out of the way compared to SF's, but still some cool places there. Little Tokyo is definitely a cool area with great (non pretentious) sushi, and stores. There's also LA Live across from the Staples Center with some cool restaurants and a Lucky Strike Lanes. Tell your sister congrats! Fight On!! ESPN Zone???? :wtf:
May 14, 200916 yr There's a wonderful restaurant in downtown LA called Pete's at 400 S Main St and it has THE best macaroni and cheese + burger combination I've ever had. It's also in a beautiful, old building with fantastic service and interior. Highly recommend it. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
May 20, 200916 yr Returned last night. Putting aside the traffic, it was a great time. Flew into LAX last Thursday, rented a minivan (there were 8 of us) and went straight to the hotel. Lots of traffic but good sight seeing along the way. Got to see the Grand Canyon from the air on the way out as well. We stayed at the Best Western right on the Sunset strip. Great location and great hotel. Beautiful courtyard/pool area overlooking the City. Right across Sunset from the Saddle Ranch and next to The Standard. We ate at the Saddle Ranch (NOT recommended) when we got in because we were starving, had a big group and it was right there. Terrible food IMO. Worse atmoshpere (more on that later). Friday was the graduation at USC. My sister lives on W 27th (but is looking for a new location now that she is done with school). Took us about an hour to get there with traffic and a couple wrong turns. She graduated (summa cum laude :)) at the Shrine, but we did not tour much of campus beyond that. Of course, there is not much to see directly off campus either. After graduation it was off to a little restaraunt on Virgil/Melrose called Cha Cha Cha's. Better food but not great. Saturday, me, the wife and the kid did the Hollywood Blvd thing. Chinese Theatre, Wax Museaum, Guiness Book, Ripley's Believe it or not, etc. Luckily, the little one had passed out before the last two (especially Ripley's). I have to imagine that you have hit Hollywood rock bottom when you are relegated to an imposter posing for pictures on the Blvd. My brother and I hit the strip both Friday and Saturday night. Needless to say, LOTS of eye candy, but more plastic than expected. We just soaked it in on Friday, walking around with quick stops in House of Blues and a couple other places I can't remember the names of. Saturday had lots of Prom parties going on so several spots were reserved. Couple drinks at the Saddle Ranch just to see a few drunks fall off the bull but not really our atmosphere. Found a nice little spot down the strip (don't know the name but it was just before the Body Shop) and enjoyed the shoulder room. Most of the Saturday during the day, we were out at my sister's boyfriend's parent's house in Downey for a cookout. Traffic was a b!tch for that trip. Sunday was more relaxing. Found some Argentine Grille (South Point?) down Sunset and ate there. GREAT food.... best I had while in LA. Went to the Grove and tooled around there. The women went to Beverly Hills (the Gardens and Rodeo) and I stayed back by the pool. Sunday night we were sitting by the pool and felt the tremor from that quake. Monday we went to Santa Monica Pier. Water was too cold to go in but at least I can say I put my feet in the Pacific. Frenchy from 'I Love Money' was there on the pier taking pictures while quickly closing out her 15 minutes of fame. Got stuck in traffic coming back because of that rapper shooting at the shopping complex near Wilshire. That night, I took the wife out to eat. We went to Tonys on Sunset. Pretty decent food and GREAT atmosphere for a date night. Service left something to be desired considering the $. Overall, we had a good vacation although I could not cram in all I wanted to do and relax at the same time. I erred on the latter. Basically just hung around Sunset most of the time. LA is great to visit, but would never live there. Too sprawled, poorly planned and just so much more plastic (in many ways) than places like NYC and Chicago. I was also suprised at the poor condition of the infrastructure. I guess when I think warm weather, I just associate it with the Southeast where the cities are newer and cleaner.
May 20, 200916 yr Thanks for the great recap. When I moved there, I had never been to the SW and had nothing to compare it to so I thought it was mostly bizarre; largely a concrete jungle and pretty ugly and dirty in parts, but where there was money, it was landscaped and beautiful; so much so that I felt like I was on Mars a lot of the time because things were so weird. And when you add in the plastic people and the tourists, it really does feel like an incredibly strange place sometimes. It was extremely bizarre to get photographed going to the drugstore to pick up a prescription because some tourists thought you vaguely resembled someone famous, or when you bump your grocery cart into another girl's coming around the corner, and look up to find it's Jodie Foster (happened to me). It's just very, very weird and I felt so displaced and strange a lot of the time, like I was living in an alternate universe or something. It wasn't until I left and started coming back on my own that I was able to find and do the things that I really enjoyed and to see more of the good and less of the bad; largely to do with the company I was keeping when I lived there and how restricted and controlled things were that I did. Ironically, it was only after I left that I fell in love with LA. And though my return trips have definitely included some frustrating traffic-related nightmares and bewilderment when getting lost here and there, I still think it has a lot going for it.
May 20, 200916 yr Thanks for the great recap. When I moved there, I had never been to the SW and had nothing to compare it to so I thought it was mostly bizarre; largely a concrete jungle and pretty ugly and dirty in parts, but where there was money, it was landscaped and beautiful; so much so that I felt like I was on Mars a lot of the time because things were so weird. And when you add in the plastic people and the tourists, it really does feel like an incredibly strange place sometimes. It was extremely bizarre to get photographed going to the drugstore to pick up a prescription because some tourists thought you vaguely resembled someone famous, or when you bump your grocery cart into another girl's coming around the corner, and look up to find it's Jodie Foster (happened to me). It's just very, very weird and I felt so displaced and strange a lot of the time, like I was living in an alternate universe or something. It wasn't until I left and started coming back on my own that I was able to find and do the things that I really enjoyed and to see more of the good and less of the bad; largely to do with the company I was keeping when I lived there and how restricted and controlled things were that I did. Ironically, it was only after I left that I fell in love with LA. And though my return trips have definitely included some frustrating traffic-related nightmares and bewilderment when getting lost here and there, I still think it has a lot going for it. I hate the traffic and, which is why I chose to live where I do. And at times It can take me 90 minutes to get from the Airport. I HATE W. century blvd. LA like most places showcase it's great parts. People in Cleveland need to see the bad areas. Our bad areas pale in comparison to LA.
May 20, 200916 yr I think it would be ideal if you lived say, in santa monica and worked in century city, or if you lived in the valley and worked at one of the studios. There would be almost no commute.
May 20, 200916 yr I think it would be ideal if you lived say, in santa monica and worked in century city, or if you lived in the valley and worked at one of the studios. There would be almost no commute. Sometimes when I go to SM offices, it can be bad real bad. I hate going to Burbank, I fall asleep every single time. Thank god I don't drive.
May 20, 200916 yr Yeah, but you can get on any E-W street. If you go all the way down to Pico for example, you wouldn't have a problem. If you stay on SM blvd, that's just dumb. I love the drive over Coldwater Canyon into burbank. I shopped at the Ralph's at the corner of Ventura and Cldwtr a lot more often than I did the groceries in BH.
May 20, 200916 yr Yeah, but you can get on any E-W street. If you go all the way down to Pico for example, you wouldn't have a problem. If you stay on SM blvd, that's just dumb. I love the drive over Coldwater Canyon into burbank. I shopped at the Ralph's at the corner of Ventura and Cldwtr a lot more often than I did the groceries in BH. To be honest, I don't know my way around as I hate the stop-and-start traffice, I know how to ride my bike in my area, and get to Beverly Hills, the Bevery Center, the airport, WeHo, SM and a few other places. I know the Palms, Venice, etc, will get me back to the 405. The kids know there way around better than I do.
May 20, 200916 yr I'm SO surprised that you know how to get to the beverly center. :) You can get around a lot of the traffic if you know your way around. It's just that you end up stuck in certain areas when there is no alternative.
May 20, 200916 yr I will say for driving in LA that although it really backs up, I didn't witness any of the craziness you run into on I-95 near NYC. No idiots weaving in and out of traffic at 90 mph. Nobody cut me off. If anything, the lack of aggressiveness might have slowed things down a bit. Just seemed like nobody was in a rush. However, some of the backups really left me scratching my head. I couldn't imagine how it would be with my 5-speed out there considering the stop and go and steep hills. I have to give it up to CLE. Out of all the places I have been to or lived, we might have the best roadway system in terms of lanes, flow, access.
May 20, 200916 yr I'm SO surprised that you know how to get to the beverly center. :) You can get around a lot of the traffic if you know your way around. It's just that you end up stuck in certain areas when there is no alternative. I never paid attention, because the guy I was dating briefly would drive everywhere. He would take back street and go off the main roads. When I drive I stick to the main roads, since I am not familiar and don't go to LA as much. We went to Malibu and instead of taking the PCH, he drives at 100 mph via the 101. Then scares the hell out of me driving on that two lane road thru the winding hills, that have no guard rails. I actually had to have a drink, once we got to the party. I just remember screaming, that if I wanted to go on a thrill ride, I would have gone to Univ. Studios. I seriously remember doing 100 mph, then coming to a screeching halt at pepperdine university.
May 20, 200916 yr OMG I bet he took you over Topanga Canyon Boulevard, it lets out right in Malibu. That is scary even if it's daytime and you are going really slow. I've been with people who take it super fast and it is sickeningly scary.
May 20, 200916 yr OMG I bet he took you over Topanga Canyon Boulevard, it lets out right in Malibu. That is scary even if it's daytime and you are going really slow. I've been with people who take it super fast and it is sickeningly scary. Yes, and keep in mind he drives a HUGE SUV so I was white knuckled the entire time. There were boulders on the road, a cow, and a cougar/mountain lion. I was like, what the f*ck is this, the alternative wizard of Oz or some sh*t?? I was so upset, I couldn't even speak to him in English for like 30 minutes at that party. Needless to say we took the PCH back! The entire way back he complained about the traffic.
May 20, 200916 yr LOL that's hilarious. Yes, Topanga is another world. It won't come as a big surprise that that's where I'd like to live if I moved out there. However, I would feel pretty skittish about their only being one way in and out. I'd feel better living in like Woodland Hills or something; very close to Topanga but not as cut off from the rest of the world.
May 20, 200916 yr LOL that's hilarious. Yes, Topanga is another world. It won't come as a big surprise that that's where I'd like to live if I moved out there. However, I would feel pretty skittish about their only being one way in and out. I'd feel better living in like Woodland Hills or something; very close to Topanga but not as cut off from the rest of the world. I like Brentwood, although, I hate the winding roads and hidden driveways. I don't understand how people can drive at 35/40 mph on a residential street or just dart out into the street, from their property, without even looking. My nerves are shot just thinking about those close calls I've had. An area I really like is Westwood. Westwood Ave, just north of Wilshre, but south of UCLA is cool. I would love for Univ. Circle and CSU to turn into something similar to that.
May 20, 200916 yr Univ Circle and CSU could easily turn into Westwood type areas, for sure. LOL on the Brentwood and darting out, I know just what you mean. My ex's parents lived in a brentwood condo and were quite elderly, and yet they zipped in and out of their building like it was a drag strip.
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