Advice needed for planning LA trip

Hi All

I am visiting LA with my wife (both in late 20%26#39;s) for just around 2 and a half days from July 14-16. Although HopSkipJump have compiled an excellent FAQ section for visitors in LA in this forum, I would still like some advice on how to plan my trip and what to see and things to do in just the 2 days I have.

I will be having my car and am staying at a friend’s place around 30 minutes from LA so stating and transportation should not be an issue.

So my questions are:

1) What should I see and what could I skip in these 2 days I have? My plan is to visit one Amusement park, visit Hollywood, Rhodeo drive, Downtown and Beverly Hills etc.

2) As far as amusement park goes, which one should I visit, Universal Studios or Disneyland? Also should I drive there by myself or take one of the tours

available via starline and other services. I am more inclined towards Universal Studios as I don’t want to miss it, but any comments are welcome on this.

3) To visit Hollywood Boulevard, Sunset Strip, Rodeo Drive, China town and Movie stars homes, should I drive and see it by myself or again take sightseeing tours available. Which way is more recommended?

4) I don’t think I have time to go to Santa Monica and other beaches around, but; is it possible to squeeze that in this limited time I have? If yes, what is the best way to go about it?

5) Any other must see places or things to do in and around LA for a first time visitor?

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

CK

Advice needed for planning LA trip

Hi, CK

Glad you liked the FAQs but Yogachik was the co-author, so let%26#39;s not leave her out!

It would help to know what neighborhood you are staying in before we can answer some of your questions. L.A. is a huge city and extremely spread out. I%26#39;m not sure we have that many ';must sees'; or ';must dos'; as other cities. Instead, we have LOTS and LOTS of attractions of all types. In some respects, you%26#39;ve already answered your own question about what to see by stating that you want to visit:

1. Universal or DL

2. Hollywood,

3. Rodeo drive/Beverly Hills

4. Downtown

DL and Universal are completely different experiences: DL is about, well, Disney and their various characters. It%26#39;s the ';Magic Kingdom'; where a big, goofy, man-sized dog will pose for pictures with you and Micky Mouse will wave to you. It%26#39;s about leaving this world for a while and going to a simpler, friendlier place. Universal is about MOVIES and movie-themed rides and movie themed ';live shows';. Up to you!

If you visited DL, that would take a whole day (It%26#39;s an hour%26#39;s drive to Anaheim and an hour%26#39;s drive back). If you travel before 9 in the morning or between 3 and 7 at night, the drive will be longer (when you include the time it takes to wait in line for the parking areas, find a parking space and then transfer to the main gates and back to your car.

If you opt for Universal, you could also spend a whole day (although many don%26#39;t -- instead spending 4 to 5 hours). if you add in a visit to the adjacent Universal Citywalk, a stop in Hollywood, and dinner at the Grove/Farmers Market, that%26#39;s a full day.

So, that%26#39;s ONE day....

For day 2, you can spend anywhere from 1/2 day to an entire day in downtown. If you%26#39;ve looked at the ITINERARY IDEAS in the FAQs, you know of some of the attractions; if you add, the museums of nearby Exposition Park (California Science Center, Natural History Museum, etc), and/or a walking tour with redlinetours.com of the historic theaters of downtown, it%26#39;s a full day. (A Dodger game?)

So, that%26#39;s day #2

The only thing left on your list is Rodeo Drive/Beverly Hills which you might be able to add onto one of the above 2 days (depending on where you%26#39;re staying!).

So, that leaves 1/2 day where you might be able to visit Santa Monica, take a walk on the Pier and along the boardwalk.

Tell us where you%26#39;re staying!

Advice needed for planning LA trip

Thanks a lot HopSkipJump for your quick response and yes many thanks to Yogachik as well. You both have compiled one of the best information I could see on any forum for any city.. The only comment I have on your FAQ section is that it is too comprehensive and detailed although it is a very good thing but I feel that if could be summarized a little.

OK regarding my trip let me be more specific. I am going to stay at a place called Oak park which I think is around 45 minutes from LA downtown (as per mapquest and I am sure it will be more considering the traffic).

So based on your comments, I think I would prefer to go to Universal Studios and I liked your idea of spending half day (4-6 hours) in the park and then including adjacent Universal Citywalk and a stop in Hollywood along with it. Also Universal studios is near from where I live so it will be more feasible for me and I can save time as well. I was also thinking of a starline tour which combines Universal Studio for 3/4 day along with Sunset Strip, Beverly Hills, Rodeo drive and International Farmers Market. I think this will be a perfect tour for me for one day to cover everything I want to.

So for second day, I can visit LA downtown and attractions around. My question is, Can I visit downtown and take a drive to the beach both on the same day? If not, I can skip the beach and cover other things in and around downtown as you suggested. Also what are things to do during night (not very late night though) but between 6pm to 11 pm, is it a good idea to spend it in downtown or are there any other better places to be during the evenings?

I really appreciate all your comments and suggestions and this is very helpful for me to plan my trip.

Thanks

CK

I was also looking at some more Starline tours and was wondering if the The Grand Tour of Los Angeles which covers a lot of things (almost everything I want to see) except the parks and Movie stars tour.

There is one more tour which covers Downtown L.A., Beaches, Stars%26#39; Homes and Hollywood. I can take this and use other day for Universal Studios and some revisit some other things which I like on the first day during the tour. Does this tour gives us enough time to look at so many things in such a short time or they just show you everything quickly just from the bus?

Any suggestions appreciated.

Thanks

CK

Why do you want to visit Downtown LA? We don%26#39;t have a proper ';downtown'; that tourists visit, it%26#39;s a business center, for the most part. LA is enormous, everything is spread out - there%26#39;s no central spot for tourists. I%26#39;m sure you don%26#39;t want to visit downtown, unless you%26#39;re into Modern Art and want to visit MOCA (which I love). Chinatown has almost nothing to see, not worth a visit (San Francisco has a fantastic Chinatown), only Olvera Street is worth a visit, but it can easily be skipped.

With so few days, I think you would skip a theme park. LA is not about theme parks. Again, it%26#39;s huge (about an hour from one end to the other), and you could (and should) spend one of your days at Santa Monica/Venice.

Tours are no fun, to me, but if it means simplifying your plan, go for it. But do the Hop on Hop off tour so that you can spend time where you want. Get one that include Beverly Hills and Farmers Market/The Grove.

Where is Oak Grove? Never heard of it. Why are you booked there? Why did you choose this spot?

Thanks yogachik for your reply.

Well I can definitely skip downtown LA as you suggested. I would also consider skipping theme parks and visit Santa Monica/Venice.

So as per your suggestions, I can take one day tour to look places like Hollywood, Beverly hills, Rodeo drive, sunset drive, house of the stars etc (there is a tour which covers everything in one day) and then spend the second day driving to Santa Monica/Venice. If I get a third day I can think of Universal Studios. I hope this sounds as a good plan for LA. Let me know if I am missing anything.

Thanks for all your suggestions and I think I am now becoming more clear, thanks to your comments on what to see and what to skip during my short visit to LA.

The place where I am stating is called Oak Park which is around 35 miles west of LA and I am booked there as I have a friend living there with whom I will be staying for two nights.

I appreciate your responses.

Regards

CK

Your new plan sounds great, to me.

If you have a third morning/day, then visit Universal. It would be a shame to miss the city because of a theme park, though. LA is fantastic and has so many neighborhoods worth visiting.

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