California over Christmas - Automoblile things to do?
Discussion
Shaoxter said:
Apologies for the thread hijack but where do you recommend staying in LA? All the attractions seem quite spread out.
I don't really know which areas are good in LA, just heard some of the places mentioned in Tupac songs
Basically, stay near the coast. The further inland you go, the rougher it gets, especially in proximity/under the flight path of LAX. Unless you go so far inland that you leave L.A. completely, such as Pomona, Pasadena, Anaheim etcI don't really know which areas are good in LA, just heard some of the places mentioned in Tupac songs
I've been looking at hotels the last two days and we were thinking of staying towards Downtown LA or Hollywood Boulevard so far as its a few minutes walk to a number of places we want to visit.
Didn't thinking there was much point staying by the beach during December as though its warmer than the UK, it'll still be below 18c most of the time?
Didn't thinking there was much point staying by the beach during December as though its warmer than the UK, it'll still be below 18c most of the time?
EmilA said:
I think my wife has planned everything in Hollywood to be done in one day. So the walk of fame, sign, Chinese theatre etc.
In terms of the studio tours, they seem to be quite expensive when add each one together, any worth avoiding?
If your active there are some good running routes up around the hollywood sign .In terms of the studio tours, they seem to be quite expensive when add each one together, any worth avoiding?
I'd agree with the others re location stay on the coast then if you plan to drive up to SF your already on the coast .
Don't forget to check out if lakers/clippers are playing as that's a good evening out as well as if any bands are playing .
LA , especially hollywood boulevard was a lot more run down and seedy than i was expecting .
Something really good to do would be get the ferry from long beach over to catalina island and instead of heading up to san fran you could head towards las vegas then onto mammoth mountain or lake tahoe ?
We stayed at the London Weho. It's basically in between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. We found it a great location and walkable to The Comedy Store and plenty of restaurants etc. Plus the house car will take you most places FOC. Felt safe enough wandering around and a great hotel all round.
Because I'm a big time nerd I made a brochure of stuff to do for my wife to get excited about.
I've shared it here and hopefully it might be useful to you/somebody:
https://imgur.com/a/zAWoZNI
E: Disagree on the Rodeo Drive snobbyness. Coz it's impossible to tell who has money in LA everyone was nice to us. Personal shoppers giving us champagne and stuff when we bought very little just had a nice browse and conversation
Beverly Wilshire is worth a drink while you're there too.
Because I'm a big time nerd I made a brochure of stuff to do for my wife to get excited about.
I've shared it here and hopefully it might be useful to you/somebody:
https://imgur.com/a/zAWoZNI
E: Disagree on the Rodeo Drive snobbyness. Coz it's impossible to tell who has money in LA everyone was nice to us. Personal shoppers giving us champagne and stuff when we bought very little just had a nice browse and conversation
Beverly Wilshire is worth a drink while you're there too.Edited by Barry Homo on Friday 9th August 12:31
EmilA said:
I've been looking at hotels the last two days and we were thinking of staying towards Downtown LA or Hollywood Boulevard so far as its a few minutes walk to a number of places we want to visit.
Didn't thinking there was much point staying by the beach during December as though its warmer than the UK, it'll still be below 18c most of the time?
Been to that area many Xmas, stay in Santa Monica. Personally prefer to Hollywood. Only stay for two nights and then off in a Motorhome. Quite like the queen Mary in long beach, have to do the Sunday brunch, fab food and a great atmosphere. Didn't thinking there was much point staying by the beach during December as though its warmer than the UK, it'll still be below 18c most of the time?
EmilA said:
I've been looking at hotels the last two days and we were thinking of staying towards Downtown LA or Hollywood Boulevard so far as its a few minutes walk to a number of places we want to visit.
Didn't thinking there was much point staying by the beach during December as though its warmer than the UK, it'll still be below 18c most of the time?
Not so much for the weather, more the neighbourhood.Didn't thinking there was much point staying by the beach during December as though its warmer than the UK, it'll still be below 18c most of the time?
You couldn't pay me to stay anywhere near downtown LA or Hollywood.
Weather around 20c and sunny is pretty usual... it's been about that the last 2 Christmasses i've gone.
If you like hockey, head to Staples centre and catch a Kings game, they had a sh*t season this year, so tickets should be pretty cheap come new season... you can pretty much get a few rows from centre ice for not much over £100 a seat.
I echo the sentiments about downtown, it's pretty gross... wouldn't want to stay there!!
If you like hockey, head to Staples centre and catch a Kings game, they had a sh*t season this year, so tickets should be pretty cheap come new season... you can pretty much get a few rows from centre ice for not much over £100 a seat.
I echo the sentiments about downtown, it's pretty gross... wouldn't want to stay there!!
Edited by designforlife on Monday 12th August 13:28
shakotan said:
EmilA said:
I've been looking at hotels the last two days and we were thinking of staying towards Downtown LA or Hollywood Boulevard so far as its a few minutes walk to a number of places we want to visit.
Didn't thinking there was much point staying by the beach during December as though its warmer than the UK, it'll still be below 18c most of the time?
Not so much for the weather, more the neighbourhood.Didn't thinking there was much point staying by the beach during December as though its warmer than the UK, it'll still be below 18c most of the time?
You couldn't pay me to stay anywhere near downtown LA or Hollywood.
Never saw Ice Hockey before, that'll be quite interesting to watch. I don't know if it is engaging enough to keep a 2yr busy though? Same would go for a basketball game. I've been to the BBL finals in Birmingham 4 or 5 times and it has good entertainment but would struggle to keep him engaged for the length of a game. Could consider going alone but might have used that card already since I'm going Tokyo with friends instead of my family next month!
We are only looking at staying in Santa Monica now, came across the Comfort Inn hotel on Santa Monica Boulevard with free parking for a decent price, with good reviews to match on Trip Advisor. Quite tempted to book it but going to check some others out as well. It looks to be about a 10 minute drive to the pier.
Everyone is telling me to avoid downtown LA and Hollywood. I even saw a review off the Petersen Museum where someone had their car broken into while it was parked in their parking area!
We are only looking at staying in Santa Monica now, came across the Comfort Inn hotel on Santa Monica Boulevard with free parking for a decent price, with good reviews to match on Trip Advisor. Quite tempted to book it but going to check some others out as well. It looks to be about a 10 minute drive to the pier.
Everyone is telling me to avoid downtown LA and Hollywood. I even saw a review off the Petersen Museum where someone had their car broken into while it was parked in their parking area!
Downtown LA and Hollywood are best avoided unless you are going there to do a specific activity then leaving again. Missus took me down to see the chinese theatre and walk of fame last time we were there, and honestly it felt a lot sketchier in the daytime than Venice Beach... which is totally worth a visit, although it's slowly being killed by gentrification. Venice is probably my favourite place in LA.
Don't use the Metro after dark, but you shouldn't need to if you have a rental car.
For me the best of LA is Venice Beach, Redondo, and the beaches out on PCH (Zuma etc), the observatory, the zoo, Olvera street and LACMA/The Petersen/tar pits are also well worth doing.... I spend most of my time in the San Fernando Valley, more as a local than a tourist, and very much enjoy the general vibe that greater LA has.
Los angeles is less a city and more a collection of joined together towns, all with distinct feels and advantages/disadvantages. There is something for everyone, but you have to find what works for you, or won't have the best time. I don't understand how people can write off LA in its entirety when it all varies so much.
Don't use the Metro after dark, but you shouldn't need to if you have a rental car.
For me the best of LA is Venice Beach, Redondo, and the beaches out on PCH (Zuma etc), the observatory, the zoo, Olvera street and LACMA/The Petersen/tar pits are also well worth doing.... I spend most of my time in the San Fernando Valley, more as a local than a tourist, and very much enjoy the general vibe that greater LA has.
Los angeles is less a city and more a collection of joined together towns, all with distinct feels and advantages/disadvantages. There is something for everyone, but you have to find what works for you, or won't have the best time. I don't understand how people can write off LA in its entirety when it all varies so much.
designforlife said:
I don't understand how people can write off LA in its entirety when it all varies so much.
OP said 'California at Christmas' - my reply was based on having driven road trips through California 4 times and I replied more generally about the entire state- and after all its only an opinion. I thought LA was at the very bottom of everything California has to offer which is a great state for a road trip as the scenery is incredible and it is a pretty diverse experience. And a personal opinion is what was asked - I found LA completely ghastly trashy experience and totally pointless even for 24hrs - but I understand that some people like that kind of thig. OP should maybe have asked about LA at Christmas.
The trip was initially meant to be touring California visiting a few places but costs & time ruled this out. We've settled on spending 8 days there instead of 14.
All opinions welcome though, never been across the Pacific so getting as much information as possible.
A quick look at our itinerary shows that we'll spend 2.5 days in LA itself when visiting Universal Studios, Petersen Museum & Disneyland Park, and potentially include the walk of fame/Chinese theatre.
Otherwise we'll be visiting Griffin Park and its surrounding areas, Exposition Park etc. A good thing about staying in Santa Monica is being able to walk down to Venice Beach aswell.
We have been to Thailand, driven most of western Europe, gone Dubai, Bangladesh etc so America can't be as bad, can it?
All opinions welcome though, never been across the Pacific so getting as much information as possible.
A quick look at our itinerary shows that we'll spend 2.5 days in LA itself when visiting Universal Studios, Petersen Museum & Disneyland Park, and potentially include the walk of fame/Chinese theatre.
Otherwise we'll be visiting Griffin Park and its surrounding areas, Exposition Park etc. A good thing about staying in Santa Monica is being able to walk down to Venice Beach aswell.
We have been to Thailand, driven most of western Europe, gone Dubai, Bangladesh etc so America can't be as bad, can it?
parakitaMol. said:
designforlife said:
I don't understand how people can write off LA in its entirety when it all varies so much.
OP said 'California at Christmas' - my reply was based on having driven road trips through California 4 times and I replied more generally about the entire state- and after all its only an opinion. I thought LA was at the very bottom of everything California has to offer which is a great state for a road trip as the scenery is incredible and it is a pretty diverse experience. And a personal opinion is what was asked - I found LA completely ghastly trashy experience and totally pointless even for 24hrs - but I understand that some people like that kind of thig. OP should maybe have asked about LA at Christmas.
As a fan of LA and someone who has spent time there as a local, I'm just trying to offer a balanced viewpoint.
OP, if you find yourself in Long Beach, the aquarium is world class... pretty sure a 2 year old would absolutely love that too.
I’ve watched both basketball and ice hockey at the staples centre.
If nobody’s into either sport watch the ice hockey , it’s noisy , rowdy much better experience for a neutral.
Last time we went to watch lakers we paid £150 and it turned out we had someone’s season ticket and we were a row from the front .
If nobody’s into either sport watch the ice hockey , it’s noisy , rowdy much better experience for a neutral.
Last time we went to watch lakers we paid £150 and it turned out we had someone’s season ticket and we were a row from the front .
designforlife said:
parakitaMol. said:
designforlife said:
I don't understand how people can write off LA in its entirety when it all varies so much.
OP said 'California at Christmas' - my reply was based on having driven road trips through California 4 times and I replied more generally about the entire state- and after all its only an opinion. I thought LA was at the very bottom of everything California has to offer which is a great state for a road trip as the scenery is incredible and it is a pretty diverse experience. And a personal opinion is what was asked - I found LA completely ghastly trashy experience and totally pointless even for 24hrs - but I understand that some people like that kind of thig. OP should maybe have asked about LA at Christmas.
As a fan of LA and someone who has spent time there as a local, I'm just trying to offer a balanced viewpoint.
OP, if you find yourself in Long Beach, the aquarium is world class... pretty sure a 2 year old would absolutely love that too.
I know exactly what I think of LA and I can't pretend to be diplomatic lol TBH you get a completely different experience/vibe in every single area and town along the length of H1 and then different again through the California mountains and inland - and again in the North of the state & bay area. The main thing I'd say to anyone is to get out and see as much of it as possible, don't put all your energy into one city or town - and road trips are awesome
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