L.A. vacation must-sees?

SO has never been to Los Angeles - I'm there a lot, but pretty much work in one little tiny area.

We're broke, but I've got tons of air miles and hotel points, and 8 use-it-or-lose-it vacation days to burn off. Our only cost will be car rental, gas and food (staying at a suite hotel so we can eat-in) Probably staying in the El Segundo area, but willing to drive a lot.

We're planning to:
- see Hollywood & Graumann's Chinese Theater
- visit La Brea tar pits
- drive Mullholland Drive and Laurel Canyon
- walk through Venice & visit the Santa Monica pier
- have an In-and-Out burger
plus drive north through Santa Barbara staying 2 nights in Paso Robles to visit Hearst Castle and the wineries

Any other suggestions? Any moderate/cheap-eats recommendations?

Is the flea market at the Rose Bowl worth visiting?

from Pacific Palisades inland. You should be able to see the Hollywood sign along with tha UCLA and USC campuses to name a few.

The best way to get a feel for the city is driving around, and Sunset Blvd certainly is quintessential L.A.

I once had a driving tour courtesy of a stupid East Coast recruiter, who scheduled interviews with 20 different greater-Los Angeles doctors without regard to geography. So 8am at Childrens, 10am at Northridge, 12 at Cedars, 2 back at Northridge, and a 4 at the VA. Then do it all over again the next day, with stops at the nightmare which is LA County ("what do you mean, I cant bring in a tape recorder?") and teeny tiny little Hollywood Hospital. It made me cry several times, but I saw a LOT of the area!!!!!

you could start inland on Sunset and drive through Pacific Palisades to Malibu. The part of Sunset that you really want to see is the Sunset Strip, which actually starts around Laurel Canyon. So you could do your Mulholland Drive trip, head down towards Sunset on Laurel and then hang a right. ;) That will take you past the strip, then Beverly Hills/Bel Air/UCLA/Brentwood/Pacific Palisades/Malibu.

Then, take a right on the Pacific Coast Highway, drive past the Pepperdine campus, and turn left into pretty much any of the beach access points. FABULOUS views.

That's the sort of thing only a local (or former local) could tell you.

My friends and I do that very drive every couple of weeks or so. Usually on Friday nights, we pack a dinner, I pick one of them up from her office on Sunset, then we drive out to Malibu and eat dinner on the beach while watching the sunset.

It's so calming and therapeutic.

great outdoor deck overlooking the ocean, good seafood and drinks.

corner of PCH and Sunset Boulevard, where it ends.

of Malibu, up over the hill past Pepperdine, just at the bottom of the big hill on the right.

Order at the counter, they call your number, take it to your picnic bench table up the steps for the best view of the Pacific with no waiting, no reservations and LOTS of local talent, so to speak.

Clean, outstanding food, excellent service, the best view in the world and for pennies.

Thanks you.

and shopping, girl, I can SHOP in LA...

Enjoy. Drop me a line if you have any specific requests.

I haven't lived out there in a while (I lived in Huntington Beach), so any detailed information will be well out-of-date. The weather is good most of the time, so you'll have great driving conditions (traffic not included :P)

Seeing that interview list, whoever did that has no concept of the Los Angeles area. :scared: To give my friends in Atlanta a concept of the size of the LA metro area, I tell them that it takes about 3 hours to drive all the way across the area, from where I-5 crosses into Orange County to the Grapevine on the NW end. They are surprised that the area is so huge.

LA has great ethnic restaurants, and most of them are very cheap.

Great Thai, Chinese, Mexican, Cuban, etc.

If you are going as far north as Hearst Castle, I would continue north into the high cliff areas of Big Sur, which start just north of the castle. The scenery is spectacular. Visit the Pfieffer state parks, one a redwood forest, the other a beach with a natural rock arch.

South of El Segundo are the beach towns of Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Hermosa Beach, the South Bay. Hermosa is my favorite, Redondo has tons of restaurants. The Rancho Verdes penninsula south of that is nice to drive around, too.

And just in time for beach restaurants, SO has finally (after 44 years) started to enjoy seafood! And ethnic is good, as is cheap. If you have any specific reccs - please post or PM them!!!!

I'll check my map for Racho Verdes pennisula -- not familiar with it (we didn't get very far north on our last trip west to San Diego) but we have plenty of time, and SO loves to drive and find funky little 2nd hand shops, bookstores, bars & restaurants.

We've both been to Big Sur from the other direction, and it is indeed one of the most beautiful drives in the world.

That would be my chief regret for what I wanted to see and didn't when I was last in LA long ago.
http://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/North_America/United_States_of_America/California/Los_Angeles-753836/Things_To_Do-Los_Angeles-Getty_Museum-BR-1.html
http://www.getty.edu/museum/

Edit: Parking is $8. Who didn't see that coming?:)

but you have to take a short bus ride (which I think is free) provided by the museum.

You CANNOT drive up to the museum...if you decide to take what I THINK was the free parking, you'll be dropped at the paid parking area...and you'll take a tram up the hill. If you park in the pay lot...just follow the signs for the tram.

Food at the museum is decent...there's a couple of places...one where you can get sandwichs (relatively cheap...for a captive audience) and a more expensive sit down restaurant.

I was at the one in Malibu (now the "Getty Villa"), and it was gorgeous. To hell with the art collection - the building and grounds and view of the ocean were breath-taking. But neither of us have seen the Getty Center, which I think is the bigger one.

Which one should we visit if I can only talk SO into one museum?

I think you need to make a reservation to visit it, though.

Also, they're open late (9 pm?) on Friday, which is a good time to avoid crowds.

you'll be coming west on Highway 46 to Hearst Castle. Just south of the castle is the town of Cambria.(You'll pass it on your way to the Castle). Well worth a visit. There's a west village and an east village. Lots of interesting shops in both.In the latter, either Robin's or Lynn's are good bets for lunch. Hearts Ease has plants, herbs, books, etc. If it's a Friday, there's a Farmer's Market.

Take a 20 minute drive south to Morro Bay and I'll buy you a cup of coffee down on the Embarcadero.
I live here on the coast. PM me if you want info on other stuff. I.E. one of the prettiest wineries is Edna Valley out past the SLO airport. Downtown SLO is worth a visit too.

It's so hard to tell from guidebooks or internet CVB sites. Morro Bay sounds like a good idea as well!

We're staying in PR because it has a Hampton Inn and I have Hilton points. A friend kept telling us "oh, man, why stay at a chain? You have to stay at the xxx - it's so great", and we kept replying "But Vince, the Hampton Inn is FREE and FREE is a huge selling point!"

Will PM you for more Central Coast info.....we were OVERWHELMED by the number of wineries, and could certainly use advice on narrowing it down a little!

I enjoyed it. I would avoid Solvang, though, which is psuedo-Danish tourist trap. Extremely tacky.

Another fascinating place is the Madonna Inn, outside San Luis Obispo. Some of the wildest decor in any inn in the world.

I have several:

The Getty is indeed a must...spend a day relaxing there. It's free. After we'd browsed all the artwork...we'd chill on one of the many lawns the have in an immense garden. Love it love it love.

A MUST...ROSCOE'S CHICKEN AND WAFFLE...Roscoe's is an inside urban culture hipness that you don't even realize is referenced so much until you actually have a meal there. It's been mentioned in numerous movies. Swingers to name one. People walk around in Roscoe's T-Shirts all around the country.

It's soul food...yumma dum dum. Go to the one in Hollywood off of Sunset and Gower...really only a few blocks from Hollywood and Vine (walk down to Sunset...walk east a few block to Gower...1/2 block north of Sunset). If you go on a Saturday or Sunday morning...expect to wait (just a warning). And their signature dish is the Scoe's Special (either #2 or #4...can't remember which)...Fried Chicken...and two of the most AMAZING waffles I've ever had (and I don't like waffles)...with an ICE CREAM SCOOP SIZE BALL OF BUTTER...UNHEALTHY...BUT YUMMERS! Salt and sweet...and you may even see some stars all "ghetto fabulous".

ROSCOE'S IS A MUST! YOU DO NOT HAVE A CHOICE IN THIS! I PROMISE YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!


While in Hollywood...when you're done at Roscoe's...go back to Sunset Blvd walk and head back west. A few blocks down (between Cahuenga and Wilcox...2 blocks west of Vine)...you'll find the Mecca of record stores (yes they have records too)...Ameoba Music. Put aside at LEAST a couple of hours. Any piece of music you've ever wanted...they have it. It is a massive place and they sell new, used (so many people sell all their shit in hollywood when they start to head downhill), CD's, Vinyl, T-shirts, posters.

You will indeed need several hours...because the place is just so fascinating.


Go see a movie at the Chinese...only a few blocks down on Hollywood (2 north..4 or 5 west). Because...well...you have to. But try to see it in the REAL Chinese...not the multiplex they added at the Hollywood and Highland complex. It's NOT the Chinese...there is ONLY ONE...and hopefully they're playing a movie in it that you'd like to see. But even if they aren't...it'll be nice to say you've seen a movie there. Took my Mom to see Bridget Jones Diary.



Once you've walked several hours...looked at music...let that Roscoe's meal digest...and seen the sights....it's time for DINNER!!! On Hollywood Blvd...1 block west of Vine...on Ivar street...is a Thai place called Tom Yum's (hope they're still there). The Tom Kha Khai is UNBELIEVABLE...their food is really fresh...and really cheap.



(Posting while I think of more places...and deal with my Carpenter who just showed up).

And we did plan to see a movie at the REAL Chinese - we figure we'll be doing a lot of walking, and it will feel good to sit and relax a while. SO likes Thai, so Tom Yum's is an option as well

Thanks for the tips - please post or PM more (we're going the first week in November)

there's Musso and Frank's on the walk of fame...supposedly the first restaurant in Hollywood. Can't miss it. So many deals have been cut there. You've seen it in LOTS of movies...I believe they had an interior scene in LA Confidential.


So...Roscoe's for breakfast (that's what we would do on Sunday mornings after a long night of partying...we called it "Church of Roscoe's")....Tom Yums for lunch....Musso and Franks for dinner.

Hehe...I feel like I'm planning my own return to Hollywood here...sorry! ;)


All of this can be done on foot in the Entertainment District...what I like to call "Old Hollywood"...on or right off the walk of fame.


The Sunset Strip (a few miles west of the Walk of Fame on Sunset Blvd) is more touristy...I went seldom...but there's lots of famous places to see there. The Viper Room (where River Phoenix died on the sidewalk right out front...his last words were "PLEASE DON'T LET ME DIE"...how sad is that)...The Chateau Marmont (where John Belushi died)...The Bar Marmont right below it...the Modrian Hotel...which is topped off with the Sky Bar.

And The Standard...a REALLY cool Mod hotel...can't miss it...their sign is upside down! Nice cafe in there...can get drinks and sit by the pool surrounded in BLUE astroturf...or sit inside in the evening and listen to THE DJ'S POSITIONED NEXT TO THE FRONT DESK! Or get a haircut there as well.

Before I became such a Points Whore (wedded to the hotels that offer free nights points) I used to always stay at the Mosaic in Beverly Hills, which sounds a lot like a smaller version of the Standard, and drew a very hip crowd to its bar and pool at night. I always felt WAY not cool enough, and always wanted to hide in my room! One time, the ad agency we were working with met at my hotel (which they loved) and dragged us all to Koi, and all I can remember is that I was wearing really dorky shoes and that they tried to get me to pick up the appalling bill, but I escaped the bill with the excuse that I had to work early the next day. Nice memories, huh?

S.O. will probably want to check out the Bar Marmont, though. And see who is playing at some of the venues. Unfortunately, he found out the Who is playing at the Hollywood Bowl while we're out there, and I had to convince him that 1) $151/ticket is ridiculous 2)especially when you just saw this tour 2 weeks ago in Phila and this would be about the 24th Who concert you're been to.....

You're a Buddy after my own heart, carefully planning the food, and leaving the experiences to chance!

part of the Grove, THE place to go for star gazing. It's also a nice place to catch a movie, but it's not cheap, but matinees are of course slightly cheaper.

There are several great food joints left in the Original Farmer's Market, Bob's Donuts, the absolute best donuts in the USA. Right next door is the best home-made ice cream in California, Bennets, they also won't break your bank.

Rodeo Drive and Beverly Drive are really great shopping destinations with several of the chain stores now located there, such as Gap, Victoria's Secret, Williams' Sonoma, etc. It's fun to know you bought *that* on Rodeo, right? There is plenty of public parking for only a couple dollars.

Nate & Al's on Beverly; you can see Larry King there almost every morning around 10 am. GREAT for star gazing.

Sit behind him and badmouth bush, that's what I did.

The flea market is shopped out.. there are few antiques and vintage at bargain prices anymore. But old town Pasadena is gorgeous.

You'll enjoy Roscoes, but it's not cheap. And bring your pepto-bismol, delish, but greasy.

Best BBQ in LA is located at the corner of La Brea and 8th, 2 blocks south of Wilshire, it's called Greece's BBQ. You cannot go wrong and it may be the best meal of your life. Dinner for 2 is $20.

Treat yourself to Korean BBQ at the corner of Wilshire and Wilton. WOW! Order platters of raw, prepared meats and grill them yourselves at your table. Ask for a plate of lettuce leaves like the koreans do, and wrap your grilled meats up in the lettuce leaves like a little burrito.... taste ALL the sauces and funny looking things, holy COW!

Micelli's italian restaurant, just off hollywood boulevard, about 3 blocks east of Highland. Awesome, cheap, I bet Tony with the worst comb-over in Hollywood is still there.

Visit old China Town, just off Hill Street and Sunset.. it's a blast from the past, do NOT east at Hop Loui's. WORST place in LA.... some old cool shops. And just around the corner

You MUST, must MUST MUST MUST visit OLVERA STREET in downtown Los Angeles... you will be stunned at the rich history as you walk through the few remaining buildings there, in their original condition, as well as the ancient puebla that was the first building in Los Angeles... Surrounded by small shops and quaint mercado, there are some excellent restaurants for pennies. The historic buildings are all free to visit and will change your perception about Los Angeles forever. All you will pay for is a few dollars for your excellent meal and for parking. It's only a block long, and an enclosed pedestrian street, but it's lovely and a little slice of heaven.

Those are my favorite places in LA. Enjoy.

Oh, and any time you see a Benito's Tacos, SCREECH to a halt, park and grab yourself a plate of taquitos with guacamole and cheese.

Farmer's Market for breakfast is a definite.

I'm sick to death of Beverly Hills, since I work there about 2-3 times year (proximity to Cedars' doctors!) but S.O. should see it - Nate & Al's sounds like a plan. I'm also going to TRY to get him to accompany me to Crazy Fish at W.Olympic and Doheny - although I'm looking to get outside my LA "comfort zone", I literaly DREAM about Crazy Fish sashimi, and they were closed for vacation the last time I was out there :cry:

Never heard of Olvera Street -- thank you! That's exactly the kind of thing we love.

All the food suggestions sound great, too - Mmmmm....taquitos with guac and cheese..... I'm going to come back from this 10 pounds heavier then when I left!:cry:

And thanks for the tip on the flea market -- it's $10/person to get in, so forget it!

and Olympic. Mostly ice cream, THE BEST GENUINE ITALIAN GELATO IN CALIFORNIA. Cheap.

Get a plate of ravioli. Their sauce is to DIE for. Their meatballs are the size of a small house. For just a couple of bucks. I would buy loaves of their bread it was so delish. It's a small place, hidden, tucked away, right near the Blockbuster on the east side of the street. It looks like an ice cream parlor, but it serves the best italian food in LA.

Girl if you want SUSHI, you can get ALL YOU CAN EAT SUSHI at Todai in the bottom of the Beverly Center next to Hard Rock Cafe. $17 a person. ALL YOU CAN EAT. Holycrap I loved that place. And not just sushi, miles of wonderful, fresh made japanese delicacies.

Ocean Seafood, a massive Dim Sum palace east of downtown, in Alhambra. Seats about 300 people, huge fish tanks with live fish.

Versailles for Cuban food, in West LA on Venice Blvd. near Motor.

Yai for Thai food, on Franklin just east of Highland a couple of blocks. Mostly Thai clientele. This is close to a whole Thai part of town.

Shamshiri for Persian food, one on Hollywood Boulevard, one in Westwood.

and for really great new California fusion food with an Asian slant ....

Cafe Del Rey in Marina Del Rey, on Admiralty Way in the marina, with a view of the boats. We liked this place so much we came back and ate there a second time.


LA is just a great town for food.

at least twice a week!!

Better Cuban food than Versailles, however, can be found at Havana on Sunset. Some friends of mine took this place over a couple of years ago and the food is amazing. It is located at Sunset and Van Ness. Versailles is good -- I've never had a bad meal there and their garlic chicken is amazing...I just prefer Havana on Sunset. You can't go wrong at either place, actually.

http://www.havanaonsunset.com/menu01.html

If you want pizza, go to Casa Bianca in Eagle Rock on Colorado Blvd. Plan to arrive when they open or you will wait at least an hour. The wait isn't bad, though... You sit outside with some nice people and you can have a glass of wine or a beer.

http://casabiancapizza.com/

Enjoy!!

Their garlic chicken is amazing, great black beans, rice, plantains.

A little hole-in-the wall with great prices and great food.

El Rincon Criollo
4361 Sepulveda Blvd
Culver City, CA 90230-
3103914478

The greatest drive in the world, bar none. You might even consider staying overnight at "Lucia Lodge." Also the Esalen Institute allows people to use their oceanfront hot tubs at certain hours, like 2 am to 4 am, for a reasonable fee.

We've driven south to Big Sur, but didn't hit Carmel

Probably too many wineries in SLO and Paso Robles to keep us from going any further north....

north on Highway 1, up as far as Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park (pictured below), then back down to San Simeon and over to Paso Robles. It really depends on which is more important to you, scenery or wineries.

As to what's important, it's all in the timing. Drinking before 2 gives me a violent headache.

We can drive in the morning, and do wineries later in the day.

full of big ol redwoods

As for bars in Hollywood (if you're feeling bold):

The Frolic Room...old...historic...and tiny. Right next to the Pantages Theatre on Hollywood Blvd (Walk of Fame). It's open during the day...neon sign over the door...with a martini glass.

The Lava Lounge...west 3 or 4 blocks from the Chinese the South on Le Brea...like maybe a block(?) on your right hand side...in a mini-mall of all places. A fantastic Tiki Bar.

Boardners....Cherokee and Hollywood blvd (south on Cherokee a half block)...great dance music...a bit seedy...but you're guaranteed to see at least one star (we used to go every Friday...and like clock work we'd see Vince Vaughan and his buddy Kiefer Sutherland...Vince is a really congenial drunk...if you stand next to him when he's been drinking...at some point he'll turn and start a conversation...I don't know about Kiefer...he gets falling down drunk everytime he's at a bar...and was everytime I saw him).

Star Shoe's...also on Hollywood Blvd...right by the Thai restaurant I suggest...old '60's shoe star they remade and turned into a dance club...the have thousands of vintage shoes and handbags you can buy...while your drinking and dancing! They are PRICEY though...most are still in the box!

Or we won't get to see any of the city.

Will print out your suggestions - we are pasty and WAY not cool enough, but what the heck! And seedy is right up his alley!

http://www.tiki-ti.com/pages/home.html

friendly bar tender:

This is EXACTLY the kind of thing that I was hoping folks would tell us about, and of course DU comes through!!!! Already printed out there webpage, with suggestions about when to come to avoid the crowds!

"Mashti Malone's" - get their rosewater ice-cream "mashti"

They offer a single or double burger, but if you are really hungry, you can get a triple or a "4x4" which is 4 patties and 4 slices of cheese. Also, my wife always gets her burger "protein style" which means no buns -- they wrap the burger in lettuce.

http://www.badmouth.net/in-n-outs-secret-menu/

was with a group of travel agents and they took us to Topanga..(just after the huge fire) We were stunned to see it all burned to a crisp..

and on that trip, the bus we were in got stopped on the freeway and issued a pollution ticket.. an eventful trip :)

we stayed at the old Ambassador Hotel (I had the Gary Cooper suite).. I was sad to see them junk the place..

I see on the website LACMA is having a glass exhibit, and I love contemporary glass art.

My S.O. is NOT going to appreciate that suggestion (glass isn't his thing)

Looks like something to do while he's napping or sleeping late one day...

:hi:

I second LACMA, btw, especially since you'll be nearby when you're at the La Brea Tar Pits. And the L.A. Conservancy (http://www.laconservancy.org/) runs wonderful walking tours of mostly the "historic core" of downtown L.A. -- $10 per person. I've been on several of their tours, which are led by volunteers and usually are run on Saturdays. Their "Art Deco" and "Broadway Theaters" are two of my favorites.

Want to add some walking to all the driving we'll be doing!

Is Tail O' the Pup still open?

http://www.seeing-stars.com/Dine2/Formosa.shtml

In fact, if you saw the 1997 film noir, "L.A. Confidential," you'll recognize it as the dark restaurant where a detective mistakes the real Lana Turner for a hooker "cut" to look like the actress. In fact, Lana Turner and her gangster boyfriend, Johnny Stompanato, were regulars at the Formosa back in the 50' (before Lana's daughter stabbed Stompanato to death in self-defense).

Johnny's associates in crime, Mickey Cohen and Bugsy Siegel (*) were also regulars at the Cafe. In fact, Cohen hid his gambling winnings in a secret floor safe at the restaurant. The Formosa's "Star Dining Car," a former railroad car, once served as the center of a thriving bookmaking operation.

I used to drink their back around 89-90. Great place. The night would usually end up at Pinks getting a polish chili dog.

I also recommend the Cat and Fiddle on Sunset. Check it out!
The sidewalk Cafe in Venice. I tripped hard on mushrooms there once with Louis Armstrong's grandson and a stripper.

The places that I love that are no longer there:

Raji's - The Vine Metro is there now.
The Oar House on Main in Santa Monica. J. Sloan's didn't hold a candle to it.

We've found that certain places are magnets for great memories -- the most fun stuff doesn't happen at TFIFridays.

We were in Tombstone once, hanging at an empty Big Nosed Kates Saloon -- bored out of our skulls on a Wednesday night. In barge 12 loud drunken Cornish coal miners (and their wives), carrying the ashes of one of their friends. Because of this, we ended up
1. attending the memorial for the coal miner (also held at Kate's)
2. going on a tour of a closed mine just outside Tombstone
3. meeting the future Mayor and helping him with his election flyers
4. touring the Mayor's house, which featured a 1/2 size reproduction of the town in his back yard

Okay, it's not tripping on mushrooms with Louis Armstrong's grandson and a stripper, but it still made our whole vacation.

we were there a couple years back, and there were more people in re-enactment clothing than there were other tourists.

Did you visit Boot Hill, which you can only get to by going through the gift shop featuring fudge?

We also got stopped in a Border Patrol checkpoint NORTH of the city.

If you want stuff to do around here too, there's plenty.

La Super Rica is a world famous mexican place that's darn cheap.

The Mission is really cool.

State Street is fun, but maybe notsomuch if you're broke.

The beach is always cool, especially any beach with an island view.

I've heard Solvang is cool but I have never been. There are missions up there too.

:shrug:

So that we can get to Santa Barbara without dealing with all the LA traffic first. Will have to consider lunch at La Super Rica!

I hate to admit this, but I love all the Sue Grafton books, and aren't he books really set in Santa Barbara?

:D

We also have the only Sambos in the country! :bounce:

What day are you going to be coming up here?

LA traffic should only be an issue friday, saturday, and during rush hour.

a wooden nickel from there for a free cup of coffee...I had forgotten about that place. thanks:loveya:

If you like antiques, wear a blindfold.. :evilgrin:

There's a great little restaurant on the main drag (forget the name) it's in an old house, and there's outdoor seating on the wraparound porch.. try it, you'll like it :)

We love outdoor seating - we'll have to look for it.

Used to be above the Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica. Not sure if collection has been moved. Used to be free but parking was limited so you did have to call ahead to reserve a space for your visit.

Wonderful collection.

Hearst Castle is wonderful There is a State Beach below. Nice picnic spot. If you have little binocluars, bring them. Not uncommon to spot otters there abouts.

Morro Bay- Is Breakers Cafe still there? Wonderful breakfasts with view as I recall. Lots of interesting pics of all the famous people who went through on way up the coast

Sounds like it's priced right for breakfast or lunch vs. dinner! Our plan is to eat at cool restaurants for the cheaper meals, and do fast-food or supermarket dinners.

We don't get too upset about high prices in some areas that are beautiful - we think of it as "renting the seat" - came up with the concept over a high-priced, so-so breakfast at a cafe in LaJolla overlooking the ocean. You can't get too upset about mediocre food when you're really just renting the seat in such a gorgeous place!

It is (well, was, haven't been in years) cramped and often noisey. Very clean with tasty meals.

We used to go in Oct and the summer tourist crowd was gone. Just a lot of elderly people. What joy to be the youngest person in the room when I went on my birthday!

There are plenty of places for romantic picnics along the route. And like I said, tourist season mostly over ;)

to visit my brothers it's a must stop. I get to the point where I need to see some greenery, and there it is.

Have fun. :hi:

Home of one of the baby pandas? :D

It is the best zoo in the world, and that is no hyperbole. Especially based on the renovations of the past decade or so.

Next time you're in LA, ZW & Nini's should be on the itinerary. :hi: :hug:

He arrived an hour before closing, and literally ran through it.

Might want to see the new pandas, but with my luck they'll be cuddled up inside when I go (that's what happened after an hour in line at the DC zoo)

Heard ZombieWolf's & Nini's is way too wild for us -- isn't it that place where all the celebs hang out, the one that's always in the tabloids?????

the L.A. County Museum of Art is adjacent to it, so if you're into modern art, that's a reason to go there.

we're in LA. :hi:

You got your saber tooth tigers, you got your mammoths, you got your giant sloths.....but there are no dinosaurs there. No sirree.

The tar pits are AWESOME.

From the Page museum's website:

http://www.tarpits.org/info/faq/faqdino.html

Have the remains of any dinosaurs ever been found at La Brea?

No. Dinosaurs are not found at Rancho La Brea. Dinosaurs were 65 million years extinct by the time the entrapment record began at La Brea. Los Angeles, in addition, was submerged beneath ocean waters during the reign of the dinosaurs. And lastly, the fossils unearthed at La Brea belong primarily to extinct mammals and birds; dinosaurs were reptiles.

The animals on display at Page are literally from just before the rise of human civilizations. Give or take tens of thousands of years. :D

Dinosaurs = tens of millions of years and much more.

It's like a little piece of Tijuana right in the middle of downtown Los Angeles. Although it's touristy, it's not new or corporate, it's authentic and it's been there for 129 years. If nothing else, you can at least get some great Mexican food there. And there is an "Old Winery" as part of it.



http://www.olvera-street.com/

Is a Tommy's burger, and it must be one of the REAL Tommy's, with the red roof. Beware of imitations!

http://www.originaltommys.com/

*niegh*

:9

I prefer In-N-Out's burgers, but Fatburger's onion rings are AMAZINGLY good.

on La Brea !!!

Of course, I have to keep in mind that the 2 times I've eaten at In-N-Out (in CA and AZ) I was FAMISHED - my dashboard was starting to look good at that point - tends to warp the judgement.

you might want to check out the all new and grand Griffith Park Observatory.

I believe you have to make reservations...the price is very inexpensive.


http://www.griffithobs.org/


You two have fun here......:)


The Tikkis

So that might be something we would enjoy --- I do want to see Griffith Park

Although I think they now call it just "The Huntington." They have an art gallery, including the Gainsborough paintings "The Blue Boy" and "Pinkie" and a library including a Gutenberg bible, but the best part is the extensive botanical gardens - a Japanese garden, a Shakespeare garden, a cactus garden, an Australian garden, and a brand-new Chinese garden. It was originally an estate. I think the estate's house, which serves as the art gallery, is being renovated at this time and a few of the most famous paintings are temporarily in another building for viewing, but as far as I know the library and gardens are fully open.

http://www.huntington.org/

some of the best dogs in the world. There's a Carney's on the Strip

As far as tourist stuff, hit up the Chinese Mann Theatre and the Walk of Fame. Certainly a must-do for anyone even remotely celebrity obsessed.

hands down, no room for debate.

I hate french food.

The cheese still rocks though.

Try the Rosie O'Donnell Sepcial ! Mmmmmmmm-boy!:9 :9

But I already miss the Phils....:cry:...well, as long as they keep my 3 faves: Howard, Utley & Rollins

It moves fast. There's ALWAYS a line there, even at 3 a.m. But it's worth it.

Both are relatively cheap venues (Troubadour doesnt charge more than $20 for tickets and the Roxy varies, but is relatively cheap compared to other places) and have some fantastic acts playing at them. Or maybe catch a show at the Henry Fonda.

Also you need to hit up the world's greatest record store - Amoeba Music.

For some cheap eats suggestions:

The Pantry (off I-10 at Figueroa, about 2 blocks from Staples Center) - Great breakfasts. Probably the best short-order restaraunt in LA.

Pink's Hot Dog Stand (701 N. La Brea) - An LA institution. Best hot dogs west of the Rockies, but be warned, you'll probably spend at least an hour waiting in line here.

Philippe's Roast Beef (4000 Alameda Blvd, across the street from Union Station) - Best sandwiches ever made.

I'm not the fan of live music that my S.O. is --- but this may keep him from whining about missing The Who at the Hollywood Bowl ($151/ticket).

my blood!

and hit the Watts Towers. seriously.

http://www.arts.ufl.edu/ART/RT_ROOM/watts/tower2.html

but completely forgot. Thanks!

You used to ba able to get a "shoot sheet" from the permits office, but per http://www.seeing-stars.com/Tapings/PermitOffice.shtml this is now a victim of 9/11 (you never know when terrorists will want to gun down actors making a pet food commercial). It takes a bot of work, but you can still find out where shoots occur. Lots of them are in my neighborhood (near Hollywood).

This site http://www.eidc.com/ lists street closures due to filming. It's a good bet you will see something interesting here.

Many famous film stars are resting in their final location in and around LA. See http://www.findagrave.com/ . I think it is interesting that Marilyn Monroe and Frank Zappa are both interred right off Wilshire blvd in Westwood.

For eating, try ethnic enclaves:
- Persian resturants on Westwood blvd between Wilshire and Pico
- Ethiopian restaurants on Fairfax south of Olympic.
- Chinese on Atlantic Blvd in Monterey Park.
- Indian on Pioneer in Artesia (Southeast LA)
- Korean on Wilshire between Western and Vermont

Try visiting a surf beach during the day - early mornings you can see the surfers do their things. These beaches are specifically designated - surfers and casual bathers are a bad combination. Try sections of Torrance/Redondo/hermosa Beach.

If you are into any kind of music, see Amoeba Records in Hollywood.

Lastly, I'd strongly suggest giving the LA subway line a spin. You can easily ride between Koreatown, downtown, Hollywood, and Universal City. The artwork in the stations is interesting - I really like the Hollywood and Vine station.

The Blue Nile on Fairfax.

and the Jewish delis like Canters

Another great list to print out!

Enterprise Fish Co., on State Street near the pier. Amazing food. GOPisEvil would concur, I'm sure.

If you don't have time in Santa Barbara, there's also an Enterprise in Santa Monica, a few blocks from the 3rd Street Promenade.

Mmmmmmmm...Enterprise. :9

All centrally located on the Miracle Mile! They're all literally walking distance from each other. I remember when first moving to LA how amazed I was that the tar pits are right there in the middle of the city; I expected them to be out in the boonies somewhere.

I'm so ready for my return trip to LA in December! :bounce:

And we can commiserate about how much our beloved Aggies sucked this year (I'm still deeply irritated that they lost in the final seconds to Tech on Saturday).

also the neighborhood I lived in for about 14 years. It is fun to see your neighborhood get destroyed on the big screen.

Of course, not nearly as dramatic as the Northridge Earthquake, which knocked down the I-10 at Fairfax.

Really pretty up there.

Drive past the Scientology Church?

which looks like a tiny apartment building. Have to drive over there to show the S.O.

Will check out Mao's, as we plan to spend a full day exploring Santa Monica and Venice -- S.O. is a weightlifter, and wants to see Muscle Beach as well (although that isn't exactly HIS kind of weightlifting, but he can find that out for himself)

at least one hour south" -- but it sounds like a pretty good itinerary. You've got two things absolutely right-on: In-N-Out Burger and the drives.

Did you know that Paso Robles was once a hangout for Frank & Jesse James? They had an uncle with a ranch there.

If you have time, perhaps plan an evening trip to the Griffith Park Observatory. I believe the renovations are complete!

Enjoy your trip!

We are indeed planning to mix urban fun and rural get-aways.

How are the kitties, and the deck-side wildlife? (my all-time favorite DU picture is the little fox eating dogfood on your deck)

Thanks, Patio. I'm glad you're going to the Golden State.

Kittles are fine, thank you :)

recommend:

http://www.lakeshrine.org/visit.html

It's on Sunset on the way to the ocean and so very beautiful and serene.

Have a great trip!

For the unusual and unforgettable, I adore these places!



http://www.elcidla.com/

~ for Flamenco - and the best underground l.a. performance artists

http://ciabnormalarts.com/

~ for strange strange strange fun!

http://www.laluzdejesus.com/

~ for great art & fantastic goodies to bring back to your friends

have fun!!