<p>Will be going to LA to visit D2 this week for the first time. She’s been there almost a year and a half. My only experience with LA is their airport on our way to Hawaii, and a visit to Disneyland 35+ years ago when I was visiting an aunt in Carlsbad, CA. I suspect LA will be D2’s permanent home, so there will be many more trips in the future. We are flying into LAX Friday, early afternoon, and are renting a car - she lives near Studio City. My main objective this visit is to sort of get a lay of the land. Her birthday is this weekend, so I know she’s already picked out a place to go to dinner, but other than that, we have no firm plans. I’ve almost been afraid to ask people what they would recommend to do, because I’ll get overwhelmed with more suggestions than we can handle in one long weekend (we’re there until Tuesday afternoon). </p>
<p>If you were going to LA for the first time, what things would you do first, knowing that you’ll probably be back many more times? Please feel free to share, even if they’re cliche suggestions. </p>
<p>Well L.A. is a driving city so I’ll suggest a couple things along those lines. Plug in 3204 Canyon Lake Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068 into your GPS/Google maps to see a great closer-up view of the Hollywood Sign. Drive up to the Griffith Park Observatory, park the car, and walk around the outdoor area there for great views of the city. Can do this during the day or in the evening. Drive Sunset Blvd from Hollywood all the way to the ocean.</p>
<p>Have you been to In-N-Out burger? That is the first place we take all of my relatives when they come from out of town!
What are you interested in? There is 3rd Street and the Pier in Santa Monica, which are very fun but a little crowded. There are tons of art museums. You could walk around Hollywood & Vine, and see some of the attractions/street performers there.
Studio City is right near Universal City, which also has some fun things to do and see.</p>
<p>I still do not understand the In-N-Out fixation! When I leave LA this year, I will not miss it. </p>
<p>There is a good hamburger place on Sepulveda near LAX with good sandwiches with a far better burger. </p>
<p>Most hole in the wall Mexican food places are awesome. (I will miss those!)</p>
<p>Griiffith Observatory in late afternoon before sunset would be nice. Catch a LA Kings game? Go see the Endeavor at the Air and Space Museum and the rose garden at Exposition Park next to USC. </p>
<p>The old Getty villa and the new Getty would be fun. </p>
<p>I am an LA native and have never been on Santa Monica Pier. The Promenade is a fun place to shop, but parking is always rough. </p>
<p>Your post could’ve been mine about 2-3 years ago. Our D ended up in LA so I understand about 1st visits with many likely to follow. On our very first visit, we went to the Griffith Park Observatory at sunset as another poster recommended. We also went inside and looked through the magnificent telescope. It’s a great place to get an overview, literally, of the area, and a very cool LA icon sort of place. Because D worked right off Sunset Blvd, we did that drive and saw alot that way, ie Beverly Hills, etc. However, heed all the horror stories you hear about traffic–they’re true. No doubt your daughter is well aware of that already!</p>
<p>Since your D is in Studio City, she may want to drive you around that neck of the woods and it’s fun to see the Studio areas Universal. (One of our subsequent visits, we finally went to a TV taping-The Big Bang Theory-which was a blast. However, due to all the waiting, tapings would sap alot of your time for the 1st visit.) </p>
<p>I’d already been to LA for several work trips and had already seen Graumann’s and Universal, but if I hadn’t we would have done that. We went to the The Grove as well, mostly because it wasn’t too far from D’s first sublet.</p>
<p>I can say that our D hadn’t done any of the touristy attractions at all, so she enjoyed going with us. One of these times, I WILL pay to do a tour-company type tour so I can see lots without doing the driving. Neither D or H wanted to do this, but someday, I will! </p>
<p>After our 1st visit, I had a much better feel for things geographically which helped for future visits. Subsequent visits we did the Getty out by Malibu, Santa Monica Promenade area/pier, etc. You’ll have a great time. There’s SO much to see. Just make a list and start checking things off–you’ll get to all of them eventually! </p>
<p>First thing to know is that next time you want to fly into Burbank, not LAX. :-)</p>
<p>If you want to do low-key things close to your D2’s home base, you can stroll along Ventura Blvd–plenty of great places to eat and shops to check out. Or Tujunga Ave. For a view of the lay of the land, drive up Coldwater Canyon to Treepeople for a hike that will give you a panoramic view of the Valley; alternatively, you can take the switchback hike up from Fryman Canyon. </p>
<p>If you’re doing Grauman’s/Hollywood and Vine/etc, you can take the subway (!) rather than driving to the area. </p>
<p>Too early in the year, but you will want to go to the Hollywood Bowl for a concert. Or concerts. With a picnic dinner. </p>
<p>Consider getting a smartphone app like Waze that uses crowdsourcing data to help you avoid the worst of driving congestion. </p>
<p>General comment: if your kid is in Studio City, then familiarize yourself with the 101 and the east side neighborhoods because that’s the big commuting route for the creative community in and out of the valley. </p>
<p>As an oddity, look up the Frederick R. Weisman Art Foundation. It’s an amazing and odd museum well worth a visit at some point. Also look up The Gamble House in Pasadena to get into Greene & Greene stuff. </p>
<p>At some point when you have time, you’ll go to Santa Barbara, etc. </p>
<p>Studio City is in “the valley.” To do in the valley…Universal Studios, Griffith Park observatory…Westside: Beverly Hills. Contact tourism of Beverly Hills…there are always special events. This is the Centennial of the city so there may be more going on. Beverly Hills Trolley…gives a 1 hour tour of the city for very little money. LOTS of places have Happy Hours for a pick me up…Flemings, McCormick and Schmicks, Nic Martini Bar and Bouchon (not the restaurant…way more expensive)…stores etc.</p>
<p>Going west: UCLA(north of Brentwood is one of the Getty Museums , Brentwood and Santa Monica. In the Santa Monica neighborhood going south is Venice. Very Hipster…and a bit funky…Malibu (very trendy)(home of the other Getty and in Santa Monica 3rd street Promenade. </p>
<p>In Orange county Laguna Beach has the Pageant of the Masters AND an art show…</p>
<p>Mid City has the LAXMA…downtown…Moma…Staples Center where the Lakers, Clippers, Kings play AND concerts</p>
<p>Hopefully your daughter will take you to Casa Vega. It’s a yummy Mexican restaurant in Sherman Oaks, immediately west of Studio City. We always take out-of-town guests and they love it. If you’re willing to drive a little further, there’s Las Fuentes in Reseda for inexpensive and absolutely delicious Mexican food. Whatever you end up doing…the Mexican food in LA is not to be missed. </p>
<p>Also in Studio City is the Brady Bunch house 11222 Dilling St. Dorky, I know, but some folks (like me) get a kick out of it! </p>
<p>I will second the suggestion for In-N-Out burgers. There’s a reason why there are always 30 cars in the drive-thru.</p>
<p>Oh, I assure you, I am not happy about flying into LAX. We almost always fly Southwest, but we are taking this trip with credit card points with our credit union and Southwest is not included as a participating airlines. D always flies out of Burbank when she comes home. </p>
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<p>D2 has that app on her cellphone. The reason I know is because when I was in Boston with D1 last summer, she was using Waze and I asked her how she found it; she replied she learned about it from D2. </p>
<p>You all have given me some excellent suggestions! It seems like Griffith Park is a must-do. After being cooped up inside with so much snow and ice this winter, I look forward to being outside and doing some hiking/walking. I know she’s mentioned going there before. She’s also mentioned going to The Grove, and I just realized it’s likely we’ll be going there anyway, as we promised her a new laptop for her birthday and I think the nearest Apple store is at The Grove. She just had a college friend from NYC visit her last week, and D1 is going out to see her a week or so after we leave, so she’s going to get good practice at showing people around to all the tourist spots. I’ve heard about the Santa Monica pier and Venice Beach being great places to people watch. What about a studio tour? Are those worth it? How long do you have to set aside to doing one? (as an aside, she was cast as an extra on Castle a few weeks ago, so we’re looking forward to hearing all about her time on set) Is there more than one option in regards to studios? Or is Universal the only one worth taking? Graumanns sounds good, too.</p>
<p>Monday she’ll be in class for four hours in Beverly Hills, so perhaps H and I can drop her off, then go do the trolley thing. I know at some point I want to go over to Pasadena, because there’s a retail store there that we don’t have here in Illinois (most of them are in warm weather climates such as CA, FL and AZ) and I want to pick up some stuff for a cruise we’re taking next month. </p>
<p>At some, I’d love to go to Santa Barbara. I hope we aren’t trying to do too much this one time.</p>
<p>Santa Barbara is really a good idea. The drive up is beautiful, and there are tons of things to do! If your family is interested in cute little bookstores, I recommend Bart’s in Ojai (<a href=“http://www.bartsbooksojai.com/about/”>http://www.bartsbooksojai.com/about/</a>). Ojai is a little town with a neat main street. Bart’s books is a home that has been converted into a bookstore, and all of the books are super cheap!</p>
<p>There are studio tour “rides” and there are studio tours. The most well known “tour” is run by Warner Bros, which is the biggest active lot for production. I think they call it VIP tours or something. More of a backstage actual look. They may take you into active mixing studios, active sets, etc., depending on the level you pay for. </p>
<p>You can also get tickets to tapings and in some cases meet some of the actors after, though it helps to have a friend or relative on the crew who isn’t wary of the local tyrannical producer if you want pictures with someone actually famous. </p>
<p>Pasadena is lovely (except during the summer, when it can be blazing hot and smoggy). Add the Huntington Library and gardens to your list. </p>
<p>The SM Pier and Venice Beach are indeed great people-watching venues. You can walk between the two, or rent bikes (or skates). </p>
<p>The Grove is fronted by the old Farmer’s Market, which is full of small food stalls and shops. Go down Wilshire Blvd. and there’s the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (with the famous boulder installation), the tar pits (I hate writing “the La Brea Tar Pits” because that translates to “the the tar pits tar pits” :-)), and the Peterson Auto Museum. Go up Fairfax and you’re at Canter’s Deli. </p>
<p>I’m pretty sure there’s an Apple store at a mall in Sherman Oaks, just west of Studio City, but the Grove will be much more fun. </p>
<p>Yes, there is a store at the Grove. The original Farmers Market is wonderful. When I was a kid and I went there with friends we always had “the Lunch”. We would go from stand to stand and order one thing to share…La Loteria for tacos…Pizza (ok we bought 2 slices…the donut place…Bennett’s for ice cream…The Warner Studios is the place to go for a real studio tour. No shows, bridges that collapse…</p>
<p>FYI this weekend the 405 North will be closed from Getty Center Drive to Ventura Blvd (it is being dubbed “Jamzilla” (Son of Carmegeddon) so you may want to avoid that area. <a href=“http://www.metro.net/projects/I-405/intermittent-80-hr-closure/”>http://www.metro.net/projects/I-405/intermittent-80-hr-closure/</a> The Grove is fun, I get a French Dip sandwich at a stand at the Farmers Market that is incredible (although kind of expensive). The Book of Mormon is playing at the Pantages in Hollywood. We went to Lion King there in December and had dinner at a cute Italian restaurant (Miceli’s) or Musso and Franks is fun. The movie Frozen (Sing-a-long) is playing at the El Capitan theater in Hollywood thru the 13th, then for Valentine’s weekend they are showing Lady and the Tramp which might be fun. If you go to the Santa Monica Pier stop for a beer at Big Dean’s. The bartenders are very cute (actually I am biased since I am related to one of them). The crowds shouldn’t be too bad because it is off-season. But it looks like you will get some good weather (high 70’s). </p>
<p>FWIW… we are not drinkers at all, which eliminates places we might go to try beer or wine. Although D2 and her SO imbibe - we would be willing to go somewhere for them as long as there is something for us, too. Thanks for the head’s up on the Warner Brothers tour. We are not looking for the themed-park type experience this time around (but I do see myself at Disneyland at a future trip), so WB sounds like what we are looking for. Will check out their website. </p>
<p>@tx5athome - Thanks SO much for the warning. When I used Google Maps, it had us going right up the 405 from LAX to get to D’s apartment. We don’t get in until 1:30, but I’m sure it will be a mess by then. I think that’s when having Waze would be beneficial! So… a question - if you don’t go up the 405, how would you go? Looks like the next closest option would be to take the 405 North to I-10, to 110, to the 101 (Hollywood Freeway?). Or the 405 North to Santa Monica Blvd., over to the 101. Or… the 105 to 110, to the 101. </p>
<p>Just talked to D and she said she travels the 405 often (has to go down to Orange County for work sometimes); she said the lane closures on the signs have been saying the 15th-17th, as opposed to the website link you provided. But she said to download the Waze app. H and I also both looked at the Warner Brothers website for tours, and decided on the VIP tour vs. Deluxe, and booked it for Sunday afternoon; they were filling up fast! Most spots were either partially of fully filled up.</p>
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