looking for things to do in LA
 

I'm going to Los Angeles soon for a training class, and I was wondering if you guys had any suggestions on things to do while I am there. I don't know how much time I'll actually have to look around, I'll be in class most of the time. I should have at least 1 full day to play tho.

Any suggestions on things that I *must* do/see? I know I would like to:
drive the pch
see the chinese theatre
see the hollywood sign
maybe drive through beverly hills
check out a dodgers game

So many things, so little time <sigh>

Charles

Eat at In/Out burger.
Go to Petersen Car Museum.

In and Out!!!

I vote for Rodeo Drive, The Beverly Center and the Walk of Fame!

and who could forget my FAVORITE restaurant in all of LA: Roscoes Chicken and Waffles baby!

:iagree:

If you want the REAL and TRUE L.A. experience, make sure you're on the 405 at rush hour, that's how you'll earn your stripes! j/k... don't go anywhere near there at rush hour :)

:iagree: :iagree:

i also like chateau marmont, the ivy, skybar, gladstones (just for the gross peanut experience. lol!) and of course for shopping i love robertson blvd.

Well, got to know something about you first.

How old are you?
How long will you be in LA?
Where in LA are you staying?
What kind of music do you like?
What's your budget
Are you traveling alone?

Are you looking for:
tourist attractions
good food
night life
shopping

Beverly Hills is a nice place to go on a Saturday or Sunday. Everyone takes out their supercars in BH on the weekend if it's nice and sunny.

3rd street promenade in Santa Monica is a nice destination. The Santa Monica pier is close by, you can take PCH to get there which is also nice, there's agreat sushi place just around the corner (Sushi Roku) as well.

You'll see the Hollywood sign eventually if you're in LA, so it isn't exactly a destination.

Melrose is a fun place to go. You can go shopping there if you like the urban look.

If weather permits, take a walk down Venice beach. There's plenty of small (crappy) shops, some places to eat (nothing worht mentioning), but the environment is great and it's definitely something any LA tourist should check out.

One of my favorite fancy restaurants is Vibrato, up near Mulholland Drive. It's an amazing steakhouse and they have live jazz. Can't beat that.

Old town Pasadena's a nice place to go walking around as well.

:)

Hi Illuminum,

Here are the answers to your questions:

How old are you? - 38
How long will you be in LA? - 7 days
Where in LA are you staying? - Manhattan Beach
What kind of music do you like? - most
What's your budget? - depends =)
Are you traveling alone? - yes

Are you looking for:
tourist attractions - yes
good food - yes
night life - not really
shopping - possibly

Does this help with suggestions?

Thanks for your reply,
Charles

InOut burger is a definate have to!!!

Petersen Car museum bored me. I was there a few weeks ago. I have pics if you would like.

the other suggestions are good too!

I get the In 'n Out urge occasionally (who doesn't?), but the food is a little over-rated if you ask me. You'll find better burgers just about anywhere. Try Tomboy's on Marine Avenue east of Aviation or the one on Manhattan Beach Blvd. west of Aviation. You can get a burger with fried egg and chili, it's delicious!

Also, Piggy's is pretty good on Rosecrans west of Hawthorne Blvd. Good pastrami and fried zuchini too.

Be sure to get an original Dodger-Dog if you attend a baseball game.

Check out the Redondo pier since you are so close too.

Suggestions by others are all good too, just avoid rush hours on the freeways.

How come no one mentioned Pink's Hot Dogs (709 North La Brea Ave):dunno:

:iagree:

Tijuana :rofl: :nanana:

What are you talking about??? Rush hour NEVER ENDS in L.A. :rofl: Being on the highway after dark is like being in a slowly moving river of red lava.

Thanks for the suggestions everybody.

Any more Do's and Dont's?

Thanks
Charles

I would do a tour of famous murder sites:

Just kidding !!

If your interested in trying some ethnic cuisine:
Shabu Shabu or Korean BBQ or something, let me know, I can direct you to some top spots..

B

Pink's hot dog is overrated; In & Out, well...(thing of preference). Good food, hmmm... There is an excellent chicken quesadilla at "Astro Burger" in Hollywood on Santa Monica Blvd. (between Fairfax & La Brea). In Newport Beach there is "Crab Cooker" (on Newport Blvd.) which has amazing crab cakes and all other seafood. Good Mexican food, "El Chollo" in Santa Monica on Wilshire Blvd. (close to 3rd promenade). If I think of anything else, I'll let you know.

You can also visit
LA County
The Getty Museum (Avoid 405 at rush hour)
The Griffith Observatory (You may have to make reservation 24 hours in
advance)
La Brea Tarpits and Museum Row
Universal Studios City Walk
Take a day trip to Catalina
Long Beach - QueenMary


Orange County
PCH Drive
Downtown Disney (Anaheim)
Laguna Beach is Nice - Nice area to dine, walk
Dana Point



Other
Drive up to Santa Barbara
Drive up to Solvang (Near Santa Barbara)
Drive up to Paso Robles - lots of good wineries

If I think of anything else, I'll write back

Oscar

In and out burger = :drool:

405 during any time of day = :tsk:

Manhattan Beach is a beautiful place. Unfortunately I don't know of any great places to visit in that area. Pretty anywhere you want to go that anyone here mentioned you'll have to start off taking the 405 north. It's famous for traffic, but most freeways in LA are congested as well.

PS http://local.google.com/ is a great place to get addresses, directions, and traffic information.

Charles, have a great time in LA. I've been living close to LA, 40 mi radius, on and off most of my life, but I haven't been in several placed mentioned above.

Not that you are, but if you are ethnic/'other' minority or interested in exploring perhaps LA will be a good place. There are members who could help you. ;)

i.e., I love eating out at Monterey Park, China Town, ordering some food that I have no idea what that is...

I have to ask....any names of places where I might see someone famous? :thumbup:

-Charles

For sure, Try the Beverly Center, Or The Ivy Or I my favorite bar in the whole wide world, The Abbey in West Hollywood but I warn you that it is more of a Gay Bar but it IS where I met Anna Nicole (RIP) In 2004 and her horrid designer-friend Bobby Trendy (throws up!)

Charles, unfortunately, famous people in LA don't really congregate in any one area. They are sort of just, all over the place. Two days ago, I ate lunch next to Leonard Nimoy.
In otherwords, you see them in the supermarket, at the restaurants, dept. stores, dry cleaners, etc. They are just "normal" people around here, with normal lives.

Half the time, you walk by them, you don't even recognize them. They have a way of just sort of "blending in." That is unless the paparzzi happen to be following them, that day.

But if you go to "certain" locations, with the intention of spotting stars, you will likely not see any. It's much more likely, you'll see them at the airport, etc.

And I do not really agree with Boi about the Abbey, It's not a "star" hangout. It is a full fledged gay bar, with a good restaurant, that straight people sometimes go to, with gay friends, for lunch or something.

B

OMG B, the Abbey is SUCH an AMAZING bar, I'm going next weekend!

I'm sure it's amazing, if you're gay, which you might recall, I'm not.
However, I was there for a birthday party a few years ago. I saw two lesbians going at it, shirts were getting pulled off, boobs flying everywhere, that was pretty hot..

B

Two chicks at one time. Thats what I'd do anyway. :thumbup:

Since you're in Manhattan Beach already, you can drive North on the PCH (it will start off as a 'street' then turn mor into a Hwy). This will take you to Venice, Santa Monica (you'll see the Peir - celebs there sometimes) or continue north to Malibu. When in Santa Monica, you get off by the pier and make your way to the 3rd street Prominade and various resturaunts etc and nice place to walk etc.

If you go all the way up to Malibu, you'll see some pretty good resturaunts right on the PCH with good ocean views. Gladstones, Chart House (Mel Gibson's spot) or a little further up is Dukes. You'll likely enjoy any of these places and Celeb potential is above average - but as someone else mentioned, they don't necessarily hang out the same places all the time and never know if you'll see one or not.

Closer by Manhattan Beach, going South on the PCH is Hermosa and the Redondo Pier - not bad for the views of the ocean and decent food. Go a little further South (within 20 minutes) and you'll get into Palos Verdes - Nick Cage and others live in the area and you may see a celeb (but I wouldn't bet on it.)

Hollywood and Bev Hills are other obvious choices, but if you don't have a lot of free time and want to be able to do something at night after you meetings, then N or S on the PCH may be your best bet. Also, if you get an entire day, you may want to consider going to Santa Monica (promenade area but on Second street) and catch one of the LA city bus tours. They will take you through Hollywood, view the sign, see celeb houses (at least where some use to live), Rodeo Drive, etc.

Good luck and have fun.

:rofl:

Hollywood Wax Museum:rofl:

:rofl: sure beats the tj wax musem!