Help from LA people

[buckeyecruiser44081]

Flying into SNA late afternoon Saturday Dec. 5th for departure Monday Dec. 7th on board the Coral Princess.

What might be some good things to see in the area for the day Sunday Dec. 6th?

What type of tourist things can we see along Sunset Blvd, or in Beverly Hills, or in Hollywood?

Would we be able to drive on the Pacific Coast Highway and still see the touristy stuff?

Would the dinner show on the QM at Tibbie's be a good thing to see?

How about the HOLLYWOOD sign?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Curt Jerome Wild]

Do you have any hotels booked yet?

Are you going to be renting a car?

 

I have tons of reports and reviews on all the various good for cruisers LA hotels, but I need to know more specifics on your ideal plans.

 

Also, just so you can see, here are a couple of my personal driving tours...

 

Taste of LA

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=511653

 

The OC TV Show Tour (goes between LAX/Marina Del Ray and San Pedro)

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=500138

 

The San Pedro Filming Location Tour

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=567043

 

 

Again, I can help with best hotel choices, but I need to know a little bit more on your ideal plans...

 

[kenish]

Generally speaking PCH north of SNA to San Pedro is busy city boulevards with a lot of traffic and stop lights. Not very scenic except for the stretch along Huntington Beach. South of SNA, PCH is very scenic with excellent ocean views, expensive houses, 5 star resorts, and nice coastal towns like Corona del Mar, Laguna Beach, and Dana Point. North of San Pedro, PCH rounds a peninsula and is scenic...so is the stretch north of Santa Monica through Malibu.

 

One suggestion is the Griffith Park Observatory. If you're into space and science, it was recently expanded and renovated. Even if you're not, there are sweeping views over the entire LA area (if it's clear) and the Hollywood sign. Countless movies were filmed at GPO. (Caution, parking is tight on weekends).

[Cruisin' Chick]

Be sure to bring an umbrella and have a backup plan if rain can hamper your plans. December is in the middle of our (albeit brief) rainy season.

[buckeyecruiser44081]

Hey Curt Jerome Wild,

Thanks for the feedback. I'm new at posting and appreciate the additional questions.

We will have a car and currently plan to stay in Torrance at a Residence Inn to use Marriot rewards points. Nothing is final yet on that. Plans are to use Enterprise so we can check in luggage at the pier, then go to the Crown Plaza in San Pedro, and get a shuttle back to the pier. Hope that helps, we are still in the planning phase and the only things we really have are the cruise and airline tickets. Thanks.

[Curt Jerome Wild]

Hey Curt Jerome Wild,

Thanks for the feedback. I'm new at posting and appreciate the additional questions.

We will have a car and currently plan to stay in Torrance at a Residence Inn to use Marriot rewards points. Nothing is final yet on that. Plans are to use Enterprise so we can check in luggage at the pier, then go to the Crown Plaza in San Pedro, and get a shuttle back to the pier. Hope that helps, we are still in the planning phase and the only things we really have are the cruise and airline tickets. Thanks.

No problem, and welcome to the West Coast Boards!:D

 

Also, LA is one of the more "tricky" cities to get a perfect hotel for each person's situation - so we really try to help out more here.

 

Actually Torrance is a pretty decent plan for what you are doing...

Kind of good middle ground.

 

You might also consider moving a little further north to make your Saturday night and Sunday a bit more tourist friendly for the driving and tours that you want to do...

 

Check into:

Residence Inn LAX/Manhattan Beach

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/laxmh-residence-inn-los-angeles-lax-manhattan-beach/

 

Manhattan Beach Marriott

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/laxmn-manhattan-beach-marriott/

 

Courtyard Los Angeles Westside

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/laxcv-courtyard-los-angeles-westside/

 

or even Marina Del Ray Marriott

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/laxmb-marina-del-rey-marriott/

 

You'll have a car, and it won't be that much more time to get to these once you are on the freeway to Torrance anyway.

Then you are much easier, closer, and surrounded by the Tourist sights that you want to visit. You can really make it a nice, pleasant, leisurely full day that way.

 

Then on Monday, as long as you wait until after 9 AM (to let the morning commute pass), it's won't add that much more significant time to your drive to San Pedro.

(San Pedro to Torrance is about 8 miles, but only about 12 to Manhattan Beach and 18 to Westside and Torrance - once you're in the car driving, it's not that much time difference).

 

Just some ideas, let me know if you have any more questions.

This way you can see lots of what you want.

 

PS I'd skip the Queen Mary dinner/show thing. Much, much better things to do and see in the other mentioned areas!