Mr Salmon Pants:

If your friends are meeting you on the west side of LA (as opposed to Inland Empire of The Valley) then you can take in a whole lot very quickly.

A few minutes north of LAX is Marina del Rey and Venice. In the morning, the people watching at Rose Cafe can be great. After a coffee you can check out the Third Street Promenade or the upscale area of Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, passing by the Santa Monica pier on the way.
All this works because you will be within a few blocks' of Interstate 10 and on your way by 11:30am while having avoided the slog on the 405 to catch I-10.

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