<p>Does anyone have ideas for hotels in the East Hollywood/LA City College Area?</p>
<p>dudedad—your best bet for that area is to stay in Pasadena.
The Vagabond Inn is a good economic option and the Marriott on Fair Oaks in Old town Pasadena is a little pricier, but walking distance to lots to do and closer to LA City College.</p>
<p>Thanks MA. Isn’t Pasadena a ways from LACC?</p>
<p>WOOPS—I think I had a brain freeze. I was thinking of Cal State L.A. .
LACC is about a 20 minute drive without traffic and about 45-50 with traffic.!!!</p>
<p>Reporting back in, we ended up leaving SoCal early enough to make it to Santa Barbara by late afternoon. We considered the Cliff House Inn but the reviews online ranged from iffy to awful, so we decided to play it a little safer. The B&B in Santa Ynez was booked (looked nice though). We ended up at the Casa Del Mar in Santa Barbara - a block off the beach, and a very good off-season, last-minute rate of around $100/night. The room was small but clean and quiet. Wine & cheese in the lounge was ok, we’d hoped for some Central Coast wines but they weren’t offered. An ok place to stay, especially for the price.</p>
<p>Dudedad, most hotels in Hollywood are fairly low-budget. (There’s a Travelodge on Vermont, which would be close.)
You might want to look in downtown LA or possibly Glendale, for something nicer.</p>
<p>OP here…getting back to Palm Springs area. We are planning to rent a 3-4br house, as my mom is coming with us. What areas would best suit us ? She will be there alone when we go hiking, so I was hoping to find a place where she can walk to shops, although a few realtors laughed at me and said no one walks in Palm Springs. I found 2 houses, one near Ruth Hardy park, the other in Los Compadres that meet our needs.</p>
<p>Does your mom like arts/crafts? The 29 Palms Inn (at the entrance to Joshua Tree Natl Park) has a 2 or 3 bedroom house available for rent. A woman related to the owners has a nearby art studio where she teaches print-making and other classes for beginners. (no experience required)
I did this with my daughters a few years ago and we had a great time.
Note: this is on the other side of the park from Palm Springs, so your mom would not be near shops. But the Inn is a lovely place just to hang out.
[Home[/url</a>] (this is the link to the art center)
[url=<a href=“http://www.29palmsinn.com/]The”>http://www.29palmsinn.com/]The</a> 29 Palms Inn in Twentynine Palms by Joshua Tree National Park.](<a href=“29 Palms Creative Center”>http://www.29palmscreativecenter.com/)</p>
<p>vballmom, sounds like a good trip. I know the owner of the B&B in Santa Ynez and have stayed there myself. It is beautiful and well worth the trip another time.</p>
<p>OP - Would you consider doing Christmas Break in Fargo … rather than California? Sleigh rides at the Hjemkomst Center, George Pfiefer exhibit at the Roarke Museum … practically gives me chills just thinking about it! No? You’re sticking with California?</p>
<p>I’d add my voice to those who say California is a B-I-G state. LA to SF is the same driving distance as New York City to the North Carolina state line. How about arriving Las Vegas, and driving north to Virginia City (home of the Comstock Lode) and Lake Tahoe. From there Route 80 will take you to SF Bay Area, where there are PLENTY of outdoor activities.</p>
<p>^^ But OP didn’t want cold country and Lake Tahoe and Va City is cold country - but very scenic and lots of good ski areas.</p>
<p>in case you missed it, we took the advice given here on CC and are spending 4 nights in Palm Springs and 2 nights in LA area. I had never considered going to Palm Springs, but after some research found it had the weather & activities my family was looking for. </p>
<p>PS - South Dakota is one of the 6 US states I have never been to, but hope to get to Alaksa & Hawaii and possibly NM before SD.</p>
<p>Love the 29 Palms Inn </p>
<p>Also a nod to the Santa Ynez area. I love the central california landscape (the wineries and shopping are fun to boot)</p>
<p>A few weekends ago spent a weekend in N. Lake Tahoe with my 2 sons - hiking, cooking, playing games, and music.</p>
<p>I’ve always wanted to go to Lake Tahoe, the actual lake. I saw the movie The Deep End and found the scenery breathtaking. I am not into skiing and have no intention of doing so, very bad knees, but I would love to go out on a boat on that lake and see the mountains, and if possible, even swim in the lake.</p>
<p>IloveLA -</p>
<p>Thanks. I’ll look for the higher rated low budget places on Trip Advisor. Maybe do a Hotwire for downtown…</p>