What to do in Los Angeles??

[Kiwi_cruiser]

I have never been to Los Angeles before...

 

What would you recommend doing in Los Angeles for a first time visitor?? and what is the best way to get around Los Angeles??

 

We will be making about 2 - 3 visits to LA and we might be staying a few days before the cruise as well.

 

PS: Our first visit (of 2/3) to Los Angeles will start in March 2019, what would the weather be like around then?, I suspect it could be cool/cold!

[2naBill]

Get tickets to be in the studio audience on The Price is Right

 

Eat more Tuna!

[Keith1010]

I would also post this on the West Coast Departures Board.

 

Keith

[navybankerteacher]

Unless you have experience driving in places like LA, I would not recommend renting a car. Taxi's are expensive, but hassle-free. You might want to stay at Dsneyland area, or pick some other specific part of the urban area depending on your interests.

 

Generally, however, LA is just a sprawling urban/suburban mass - with very little centralized area of interest. It's not a tourist-friendly city like New York, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco or Chicago.

[Flatbush Flyer]

Unless you have experience driving in places like LA, I would not recommend renting a car. Taxi's are expensive, but hassle-free. You might want to stay at Dsneyland area, or pick some other specific part of the urban area depending on your interests.

 

 

 

Generally, however, LA is just a sprawling urban/suburban mass - with very little centralized area of interest. It's not a tourist-friendly city like New York, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco or Chicago.

 

 

 

Plus 1

Definitely do Disneyland (the real one), if for no other reason than to experience California Adventure. For comparatively reasonable prices at a nice property, choose the Marriott or Hilton. Costco has decent deals for a package- get a 3 day "park hopper." Several airports get you fairly close including LAX (we use John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana.

As aforementioned, LA both city and especially county, are sprawling locations. So, you may want to focus on a particular region or adjacent neighborhoods on each visit.

"LA" has many fine museums (e.g., The Getty Center), sports and arts venues, and restaurants (in the city and up and down the towns along the PCH.

The challenge is to put them together in a efficacious itinerary.

BTW, check out United Airlines "Three Perfect Days" series (I think it's now an app). I'll bet they have an LA trip.

 

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[trish1c]

Southern California is a car place. It's very difficult & expensive to do anything there without a car. It's also too wide spread to make taxis or other cars for hire viable.

 

When you say LA what do you mean? LA itself isn't very interesting. The neighboring places are what you are interested in:

 

Santa Monica

Hollywood

Anaheim / Disney

 

If you only have 2 or 3 days understand Disney will take one all by itself.

 

I'd go to Hollywood & look at the stars by Grumman's, maybe take a drive up into the Hollywood hills to see the sign & check out Griffith Park & the observatory.

 

Do go to Santa Monica & walk the pier, at least set foot on the beach even if it's not warm enough to swim.

 

If you like to shop, Rodeo drive may be worth a stroll.

[Essiesmom]

Visit the Queen Mary in Long Beach, maybe stay there. See my review over on Invincible. EM

[AmberCascades]

We did the Hollywood Sights and Bites food tour with Tourific Escapes. They have a couple of other tours as well. It was a lot of fun and we ate interesting things and we stopped at some landmark places.

 

http://www.tourificescapes.com

[SuiteTraveler]

First off, you do need to rent a car to get around as it is very spread out.

 

It's fun to go to Malibu and eat here: http://gladstones.com.

While in Malibu, you might go to the Getty Villa which is now a museum: http://www.getty.edu/visit/

You might also visit El Matador State Beach - it is gorgeous! https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g32676-d272295-Reviews-El_Matador_State_Beach-Malibu_California.html

 

Also head to Santa Monica for a day and go to the Santa Monica pier and eat at one of the restaurants nearby. https://santamonicapier.org

 

Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills is the Mecca for shopping: https://rodeodrive-shop.com

You need to be somewhat dressed up, but it is fun to go to the Beverly Hills Hotel and have lunch or a cocktail in the Polo Lounge. (reservations required)

 

Here are the other interesting hotels in LA connected to Hollywood history: https://www.oyster.com/los-angeles/roundups/hotels-with-hollywood-history/

 

Disneyland is great: https://disneyland.disney.go.com.

If you are a Disney fan, you might want to visit the Tam O'Shanter which is where Walt Disney used to go for lunch as it was near his office at Table 31 which you can get a reservation for. http://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2012/02/27/walt-disney-ate-here-the-tam-o-shanter/

 

Also Universal Studios Hollywood is well worth a visit: https://www.universalstudioshollywood.com

 

There is the La Brea Tar Pits: https://tarpits.org

 

Forest Lawn Cemetery: http://www.seeing-stars.com/Buried2/ForestLawnGlendale.shtml

 

Here are things to do in Hollywood: https://www.tripsavvy.com/fun-things-to-do-in-hollywood-1586955

 

3 hours away is San Luis Obispo where you could stay at the famous Madonna Inn - check out Daisy Mae and the Rock room and Yahoo - they have all kinds of crazy decor schemes. http://www.madonnainn.com. There are some wineries in this area which you can visit as well.

Edited March 7, 2018 by SuiteTraveler

[SadieN]

What are your interests and hobbies? The Greater LA area has it all.

Up where I grew up in the north San Fernando Valley area of Los Angeles you can go rope climbing, hike a real western stage coach trail, check out where the Manson Family lived. 30 minutes away is the Reagan Presidential Library.

The Nixon Presidential Library is about two hours from here.

We have many museums-natural history, science, doll, sex, rabbit, Tar Pits, several car museums etc.

 

There is no way to see it all. Choose a few things or an area and explore what’s around.

 

 

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[TruckerDave]

I say rent a car and then check out some of the places listed above. Driving in the LA area is not that big of a deal. There is just a lot of traffic, expect it and bring your patience and you will be fine. There are not that many toll roads and if you have a few people you can use the car pool lanes. Heck, rent a convertible and get the whole California experience. ;p

[Bookish Angel]

The Museum of Contemporary Art and the Getty Museum are just 2 of the great museums in LA. LA is also home to some of the most beautiful contemporary and mid-century architecture in the USA. If you get to Palm Springs, the mid-century home architecture there is fabulous.

 

Franklin Bell's Blues Workshop is a funky, down home place to hear excellent blues and eat good, unpretentious food. https://www.yelp.com/biz/franklin-bells-blues-workshop-los-angeles

 

Los Angeles is a great town minus the touristy places.

Edited March 9, 2018 by Bookish Angel

[SPacificbound]

Universal Studios and/or Disneyland.

 

Grauman Chinese Theatre, walk along Hollywood Blvd. to Hollywood & Vine.

 

Wherever you go, watch your wallet, watch, jewelry etc