We are going to California on vacation. It will be our first visit to L.A. Suggestions anyone?
Special places to eat, to visit, etc. Thanks.
Thanks for the info so far. Taking your advice, I’m adding details. It’s a family vacation – 11 y.o. son and 9 y.o. daughter. We’ll be going to L.A. and probably 1-2 other areas – San Francisco for one. Also, if you have info re: thrifting, auctioning, etc. I collect vintage & retro (mostly midcentury). Thank again.
5 Responses
DestinedtoDie
19 Apr 2010
Karin C
19 Apr 2010
You’ll get more more valuable suggestions if you can give some information on the kind of things you enjoy doing on vacation.
I like to recommend to visitors that they visit the Getty Museums. There are two: one in Malibu and one just off the 405 Freeway in Sepulveda Pass.
This is the website for the Getty Museums: http://www.getty.edu/
The Getty in Malibu houses the collection of ancient art and artifacts: Greek and Roman ceramics, glass, gold and silver jewelry, scultpture, and many other items from the ancient world. The Getty Malibu is in an absolutely drop-dead gorgeous setting in Malibu near the beach. They have a cafe on site with food that’s very good for a museum and reasonable in price.
The Getty Center is a world-class art museum with collections of art from pre-renaissance to modern, housed in a series of buildings on a site that has international recognition for the architecture and gardens. It has a cafe and a more formal restaurant on site, as well as a couple of food carts with snacks and such. The Getty Center is an awesome sight and the art contained is amazing.
Other museums in the LA area: The Huntington Museum and Library in Pasadena: http://www.huntington.org/
The Huntington gardens are gorgeous and this is a good time of year to go see them. Within the gardens, there is the library, which houses treasures such as a Gutenberg Bible, rare Shakespearian folios, many unique manuscripts and hand-written documents relating to historical events and literary issues. There are also the art galleries. The Huntington’s most noteworthy paiinting is Gainsborough’s "Blue Boy," but there are works by Rembrandt and many other masters as well.
The Norton Simon museum is another world-class art museum in the LA area. The artists represented are more modern than at the Huntington or the Getty. http://www.nortonsimon.org/
There are other museums worth a visit. If you go to Griffith Park to go to the LA Zoo, you will be near the Gene Autry Museum of the American West, which has a lot of interesting material both authentic and "Hollywood" western history. http://www.autrynationalcenter.org/
If you post a question that’s more specific about your interests, I can try to give you more suggestions.
AmericaJR
19 Apr 2010
Hi,
There are many great places to visit in L.A. I went on vacation three three times in the last three years.
First, I would go on a tour of Downtown L.A. and a tour of Hollywood then the tour of the Stars Homes. The best one is Starline. They offer a hop on-hop off pass that is good for 24 hours.
Secondly, I would visit some movie studios, many of them offer tours. Such as Paramount, Warner Bros., Sony Pictures. Universal Studios also offers a good studio tour but it includes general admission.
Third, I would try to get tickets to be an audience member on a LIVE TV show taping. Go on The Price is Right and you can win a car or lots of money. Seconly, go on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Tickets to both shows must be requested months in advance at cbs.com and nbc.com, respectively.
Next, I would visit Beverly Hills to see Rodeo Drive and do some shopping. You can see celebrities are some of the upscale restaurants there. Also visit Santa Monica to see the famous pier and enjoy the beach.
benicio b
19 Apr 2010
I would suggest the Getty Museums, as the previous poster stated, but don’t go to the Gene Autry Museum of the West. Very poorly curated. But near the Gene Autry, you definitely have to go to the L.A. Zoo as well as the Griffith Observatory. I would def go to Downtown Los Angeles (Little Tokyo, China Town, Staples Center, MOCA, CMAA, Disney Music Hall) Also a tour of a studio would be nice as well as a trip to Universal Studios for the kiddies.
The weather has been nice so take a trip to the beaches, Venice, Manhattan, and Malibu(Where the Getty Villa is at) are by favorite.
Catch a Show in Downtown Los Angeles, a Movie in Hollywood or a ABseball game at Dodger stadium. You know what, I would suggest LACMA (Museum) as a must.
Molly
19 Apr 2010
Hollywood: walk of fame, wax museum, Kodak theatre (Oscars), chinese theatre w/ handprints, get a star map, etc.
Santa Monica! The beach is amazing, the pier is wonderful (the rollercoaster, ferris wheel, Bubba Gump), and you have to go on the Promenade! The shops are really fun and there are always live acts going on. You’ll be lucky if you catch Chelsea Williams. Her vocal chords are golden!
Drive through West Hollywood & Beverly Hills. They’re beautiful.
Shop or Window Shop in Rodeo Drive (and maybe see a celebrity).
Eat at In-N-Out burger (you can find one anywhere) and uWink (2nd story of Hollywood & Highland mall).
See if there are any movie premieres going on. You could stand by and watch the stars walk across the red carpet.
Public transportation is going to be hell-ish.
Go see Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios…and speaking of Universal Studios…
As far as theme parks go, I see it like this; If you’re in Hollywood, you might as well go to Universal. It’s all about movie magic. The rides are phenomenal and you can go on the studio tour as well where you’ll learn a lot about movies, experience special effects, tour sets, and just have fun. The theme park itself really makes you feel like you’re in movie land. Of course Disney gets the #1 destination spot because of the name but I would rather save Disney for Orlando (it’s better there.)
Good luck && have fun!
Ask Obviousman, he knows everything about L.A.
http://answers.yahoo.com/my/profile?show=ac7e0f50f58632b431b5cf5de0564ffbaa