Best places to visit in LA

[NeoNSX]

I'll be in LA for a few days before heading down to NSXPO. I've gone through all the usual tourist books on places to go and realized i should be asking people who live there. Any recommendations on places to visit? (or avoid? ) For example, what's the best beach area to visit -- santa monica, or Venice?

 

[steveny]

Venice, if you like to watch the fruity people.

Neo, if you like high end cars take a drive down PCH highway from Huntington beach to Laguna Beach. You will see more high end cars in an hour then you have seen in your whole life collectively up to that moment.

Stay out of Watts or Compton.

 

[akira3d]

Which day are you arriving and what kind of things do you like to do?

Have you been in LA before?

As for best beach, are you referring to best beach for water or related activities? People watching? Just being a tourist? For example, you would definitely not want to go in the water off of the Santa Monica pier, but you may want to go TO the pier and the Third Street Promenade. Venice is definitely a stop for tourists and people watching.

 

[SKB NSX]

I've lived in LA for almost 30 years now, and I could suggest the following:

See Venice Beach (I prefer "unusual" over "fruity" people) and walk up to the Santa Monica Pier on the beach, all in 2 hours. Lunch at Chaya Venice, dinner at Schatzi (Arnold's restaurant) or Chinois (Wolfgang Puck's), all within a few blocks of each other on Main St. in Santa Monica.

Go up to the Griffith park Observatory, where you can look out over Hollywood and Downtown LA and see where scenes from "Rebel Without a Cause" with James Dean was filmed. Lunch at Brown Derby, now a swing joint, but ex-old Hollywood

Just for the hell of it, if it's a weekday so it's not too crowded, go to Universal Studios, take the tour, it's kinda corny, but still fun. Dinner 5min away on Ventura Blvd in Studio City at Nozawa Sushi in, known worldwide as one of the world's best sushi chefs. Head over the hill to Hollywood Blvd to the Roosevelt Hotel, which is now the hottest club in LA, whhere (seriously), all the younger stars hang.

If the wife or gf are with you, head down to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and see the shops where people spend $100,000 in a few short hours. Even likely you'll see a star or two. Lunch and dinner almost anywhere near there, spend money, eat well.

Just my humble opinion for a fast few days/nights in LA.

Have Fun !!!!!

 

[Kinan]

Good Suggestions.

If you like cars, you could always head over to Petersen's Auto Museum on Wilshire Blvd.

Always some cool cars on display there.

http://www.petersen.org/

 

[SKB NSX]

Damn, you're right, Kinan, The Petersen Auto Museum, FANTASTIC place, but if you go, ask them to take you to the basement. That's where they keep all the cool cars that aren't currently on display.

 

[ediddynsx]

newport beach is nice, dana point, laguna niguel, or south coast plaza is the mall you want to go to if you want high end stuff or rodeo dr.......if you like clubbin just drive on sunset in hollywood and you will see all the clubs........

 

[0ctan3]

start in santa monica and walk down to venice beach and back, make sure to have sunscreen on and some good shades
the women there are just

 

[NeoNSX]

Thanks guys, great suggestions. I haven't been to LA before and I'll be there on weekdays. I want to visit key areas, not the typical boring tourist stuff like "the worlds biggest guava" or OJ's birth place.

I'll write these locations down and try to get to them all. This thread (and myself) are still open to suggestions.

I've been told that Hollywood is a bit of a dump, and probably not worth my time. True?


<B> > If the wife or gf are with you,</B>

You scared me there...

 

[SKB NSX]

No wife or gf . . . uhhhh, then . . . . uh . . . . boyfriend ? Okay, then hit "Boyztown" on Santa Monica Blvd ! (Just kidding !)

Hollywood has actually made a resurgence lately, the east end of Hollywood Blvd is still rather sleazy, but the west end is being rebuilt, the corner of Highland and Hollywood has the new Kodak Center where the Academy Awards are done.

But, Neo, PM me and I'll give you my cel. If I have a spare minute, maybe I can get a better idea of what you're looking to do and can help you out.

 

[davidkimchee]

Walk Melrose and you might run into some famous people.

Definitely check out the view from Griffith. The lights at night are surreal. Almost looks like an alien planet with grids of lights.

Definitely walk santa monica.

If youre driving around and not just in the actual city of LA then yes Orange county has beautiful scenery, nice cars, hot ladies, etc.

I figure the stuff above is good for weekday mid day evening hours....

Night life I would second hollywood.
OR!!! depending on your age and what youre really looking for...find the hang outs near colleges.

You have UCLA, UCIRVINE, LONG BEACH, USC, etc.... Oh how I miss SoCal.

 

[NeoNSX]

No wife or gf . . . uhhhh, then . . . . uh . . . . boyfriend ? Okay, then hit "Boyztown" on Santa Monica Blvd ! (Just kidding !)

Hehehe.... I'll add that to my list of places to avoid.

 

[NeoNSX]

I'm meeting a friend in LA and she's an artist. Any museums worth going to, or should I forget the idea?

 

[Osiris_x11]

keep it real...

Stay out of Watts or Compton.

Add South Central LA, East LA, Huntington Park, Crenshaw, Inglewood, and Hawthorne to that... well atleast in evening/nite time.

Old Town Pasadena is a worthwhile evening/nite out (pubs/bars, bistros, eatz).

Nice Beaches: Newport, Malibu, Santa Monica, Manhatten/Hermosa/Redondo (I'm a bit biased :big grin: )

For nostalgia and fun, do the Bevery Hills, Bel' Air, Hollywood/Sunset Blvd drive. Universal Studios is def' fun for int'l travelers!

Westwood (UCLA) is a good afternoon spot. Check-out Korea-town, China-town, etc.

Everyone's insights seem to be on par w/ a goodtime!

 

[coolnsx]

NeoNSX, You might what to check out the Getty in Westwood. Very, very good. See you at NSXPO :biggrin:

 

[SKB NSX]

Museums . . . . yes, well the Getty is a fantastic place, although maybe a little stuffy, LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art) is also very good, old masters, classical european, impressionists, all the way to modern.
But if I had one museum to go to, I'd hit MOCA, (Museum of Modern Art), downtown, currently has the best Basquiat exhibit EVER, MOCA also has another offshoot, the Temporary Contemporary, that has lots of installation art, etc.

LA is not quite as culturally deficient as most New Yawkers would have you think . . . in fact, we even have some theatre, coffee shops, and delis !

But, Mike, now you've stretched your "STAY IN LA" to weeks, and you'll never make NSXPO ! :smile:

 

[Mike-san]

If you are looking for beautiful, interesting scenery, 3 places come to mind. Palos Verdes....Apart from some bumpy areas around Portugese Bend, it's a great drive w/ fantastic ocean views. Del Amo mall in nearby Torrance is a good American Mall shopping experience. The Huntington Library and Gardens in San Marino ( Pasadena area ). Try to avoid a weekend ( I think it's closed on Monday ). Beautiful, massive gardens along w/ rare art. Mullhuland ( my spelling is wrong ) Drive snakes along the hillsides of Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Bel Air etc...and offers the best views of L.A. and, on the backside, The San Fernando Valley. Laurel Canyon and The Getty Museum are logical side trips from here. To visit Hollywood, I would go to the 7000 block of Melrose for great clothes shopping ( don't pay full price--make an offer ). Sunset Blvd. "The Strip" --the area of West Hollywood before Sunset Blvd. enters Bevery Hills is a good place to visit live music clubs ( Roxy, Whiskey, and a fun bar to visit where you might see a rock star, The Rainbow ( it's right next to the Roxy ). There's probably not a lot of Mexicans in Australia, so to get decent, authentic Mexican food, go to any small storefront place that has "Tacqueira" in its name. Disneyland is a great place for the kids,but expensive. If you go to the new part ( California Adventure ), be SURE to go on "Soaring over California". Magic Mountain is thrill rides and a young crowd ( lots of gang members on weekends ), Knott's Berry Farm is a combination of the first two, and slightly more economical.