Expert: Steve Summers - 5/2/2006

Question
Hi Steve,

I am visiting LA during a weekend with my friends from Dallas and would like to know what all places that I can visit. I am planning to visit Universal studios and that will probably take half a day. I'm also interested to drive (probably a short one) on Highway 1.

Hollywood, CA-1, Santa Monica beach (Any other good beaches), Universal studios?

We will be reaching LA on Friday evening and will be in LA till Sunday night. We will be staying in a Hotel near LAX.

We're still planning as to what all we can visit. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

- Andrew


Answer
Hi Andrew,

Only 2 days? That's a pretty tall order for LA. I'm hoping that "what all" is just a southern expression, because you can't do it all in 2 months, let alone 2 days. LA is a very big town, both in scope and literally.

Everyone has a top ten list, so here's mine. This should give you plenty of things to choose from, and will easily fill up 2 days.

In the LA area, everyone has their top ten list of things to do. Here's mine, so you can pick and choose:

Universal Studios: A theme park that grew out of a studio tour. Yeah, more bucks. But check out ebay. You can find some discouneted tickets there.
Definitely worth visiting once. And Universal City Walk is a fun place to hang out in the evening after your day inside the park.

Hollywood: Hollywood Boulevard is ready for its closeup, thanks to years of urban renewal and renovation. Enjoy the Walk of Fame, Entertainment Museum, Mann's Theatre and more. You can see a lot for free. I like the El Capitan theater, because it has been restored to its former glory, unlike the Chinese, which was essentially gutted and turned into a multiplex.

Rodeo Drive, 90210: Packed with exclusive shops, full of gawkers. They all came to enjoy the excess. Free, unless you intend to buy something.

Venice Beach: Los Angeles kitsch and over-the-top culture at its best.
Here you'll find Muscle Beach, street performers and tacky shops galore.
Fun, VERY interesting, but I avoid it after dark, when it gets a little TOO interesting for my taste. And it's a short bike ride from:

Santa Monica Beach and Pier: Great beach scene and a classic seaside amusement park, complete with antique carousel that has been in a lot of TV and movies. (The Sting and "Three's Company" come immediately to mind).
After visiting the pier, you can ride a bike south a couple miles to Venice Beach.

Santa Monica Third Street Promenade - Downtown Santa Monica's shopping promenade is often the scene of movie star-sightings. Just a short walk from the Santa Monica Pier.

Sunset Boulevard: Perhaps one of the world's most famous streets, it began as a route between the stars' posh neighborhoods and the Hollywood studios. It runs from downtown to the ocean, passing through the "Sunset Strip" on its way. It makes for a fun drive. Along the way, you see a lot of different neighborhoods. Hollywood, West Hollywood, Bel Air, and Pacific Palisades. When you get to the ocean, stop at Gladstone's for Fish.

Queen Mary: Once the largest ship afloat, she's been docked in Long Beach for longer than she sailed, and her elegance never fails to impress. Free to visit. You can actually stay on board, for a price.

Farmers Market and The Grove - A new shopping complex right next to a Los Angeles landmark, The Grove and Farmers Market coexist. Enjoy a movie or shopping, then take the trolley to the Farmers Market for lunch or dinner.
Farmer's Market is right next to CBS, so walk across the lot to see if they are taping "The Price is Right". You might even get in.

Griffith Park - Home of the Los Angeles Zoo, Griffith Park Observatory, Travel Town, the Greek Theatre, and Gene Autrey Museum of Western Heritage.

Getty Museum - The Getty's architecture is so beautiful that it keeps me fascinated. No matter whether you like their art or architecture better (or maybe you'll just enjoy the view), the Getty is sure to please. Free.

Attend a TV taping - You can get free tickets at audiencesunlimited.com, or see the booth at Universal City walk. It's very interesting to see a show being taped. The most popular, by far, is the tonight show. Check the NBC web site for all the details there.

I think that you can easily spend one day doing Hollywood and Universal Studios (I recommend starting at Universal first thing in the morning), and spend another day at a beach and driving PCH (Highway 1). You can visit Santa Monica and Venice beach, then drive the coast through Pacific Palisades and Malibu, and even to Oxnard if you are feeling like a nice drive.

Have fun!

Steve