Expert: Ernest Tufft - 11/23/2010

Question
Hey,
my friend is coming to LA from out of country and i have couple questions about what to see in LA. For sure we
are gonna go to Hollywood Blvd and Madam Tussuad, Sunset strip, Santa Monica, Venice beach, Universal Studious
and City Walk, Disney, Getty Museum, Farmers Market and Grove, Huntington library, maybe WB tour, can you
suggest something else, she is gonna be here for 2 weeks, also we plan to go to Vegas, maybe Santa Barbara, is
there anything to see in Santa Barbara?
Thanks for your help

Answer
You have a good list of things to do in LA, some of which I have not even done.  For more activities, check out LAtimes.com.  SantaBarbara.com/activities also has plenty to do, but most activities are oriented toward summertime.  In your case, I recommend a trip to San Diego, maybe Balboa Park and main zoo, or wild animal park out near Escondido, or visit SD downtown gas lamp district for lunch or dinner.  Another place within range, just north of Santa Barbara, would be the San Luis Obispo and Paso Robles wine country region.  This wine region has really expanded in recent years, and unlike the LA and San Diego wineries, the quality is really tops!  Winter in this area is green, and the wineries a little less crowded.  Hope this helps.