Expert: Steve Summers - 8/15/2006

Question
I have recently moved to San Francisco from the UK and am
planning a trip to LA for about 5 days. I would like to camp or
stay somewhere cheap, near or on the beach. I guess I would
like an "LA experience," (i'm 26 so not Disneyland) with good
resaurants and bars within walking disatance. We will have a car
and would also like to do some outdoors things such as hiking,
beach activities etc.

Any suggestions would be great.
-Rob

Answer
Hi Rob,

I'm always a little surprised by the "stay at the beach on the cheap" questions that I get here on AllExperts. I'm still trying to figure out how this myth gets perpetuated. Perhaps I can blame David Hasselhoff and "Baywatch". The hard truth of the matter is this: The closer you get to the beach, the more expensive real estate becomes. And high real estate means no campgrounds as well as "Condos of the Rich and Famous".

So, the bottom line is that the closest campground to Los Angeles that is on or near the beach is located in Malibu, at Leo Carillo State Beach, which is 36 miles west of downtown LA. The next closest beach campground is Doheney State Beach, 58 miles south of downtown LA. If you are more interested in some nice hikes, stay at Leo Carillo, since it is close to Malibu Creek State Park in Agoura. There are some very nice hikes there and in the surrounding mountains. If you want some nice restaurants and bars, then stay at Doheney. There are some nice restaurants and bars in the Dana Point Harbor area.

If you want to do the "LA experience", then your best bet is to go visit the Sunset Strip:  This is the unofficial designation for a West Hollywood stretch of Sunset Boulevard 25 minutes from downtown, between Doheny Drive at the west and where Laurel Canyon Boulevard becomes Crescent Heights Boulevard at the east. For decades, the Strip has been famous for celebrity-studded nightlife and high-profile hotels. Restaurants, sidewalk cafes and upscale boutiques abound here, including the flagship Tower Records and Hustler Hollywood boutique. During the day, the Strip is populated with between-projects actors and visitors lounging and shopping. Nighttime is a frantic mix of celebs in limos, loud rock-n-rollers, brown-nosing cruisers and plenty of paparazzi.

Other things you might want to check out:

See a star or two — Just a few minutes north of downtown off U.S. 101 is Hollywood, the original heart of Tinseltown. Originally a sleepy suburb, Hollywood's scenic locale made it a natural for filming early silent movies. Big-name studios such as Paramount quickly followed, and Hollywood became the center of cinema's Golden Age. Stroll along the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard and find your favorite celebrity's star. Visit the Hollywood & Highland entertainment complex to glimpse the famous white billboard "Hollywood" sign through the archway, then shop for some vintage souvenirs.
Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue; (323) 960-2331; www.hollywoodandhighland.com

Catch a movie — Is there a better place than Hollywood to see a movie? The most famous is Grauman's Chinese Theater, where Clark Gable, Groucho Marx, Marilyn Monroe and more than 150 others have left their footprints in the cement since 1927. Tickets are about $10.
6925 Hollywood Blvd.; (323) 464-6266.
Another option is El Capitan, a 77-year-old movie palace that Disney restored several years ago. The proscenium often features live entertainment before the film, which always is a current Disney release.
6838 Hollywood Blvd.; (323) 467-7674.
A third option is The Egyptian, which runs classic films and hosts festivals and other special events after being renovated as the home of American Cinematheque. One weekend a month, visitors can tour the 1922 structure - which features hieroglyphics, Egyptian-style paintings and sphinxes - and see "Forever Hollywood," a 55-minute film that highlights the past 100 years of moviemaking.
6712 Hollywood Blvd.; (323) 466-3456; www.egyptiantheatre.com

Get the best view — Visit the Santa Monica Pier to dip your toe in the Pacific surf or get a bird's-eye look at the coast from atop the Ferris wheel. Located at the end of Colorado Boulevard, you can enjoy carnival games, ride the 1916 carousel and check out the UCLA Ocean Discovery Center — an aquarium and marine science learning center. The Discover Center costs $3 for everyone over 2, and is open from Tuesday through Sunday in the summer, weekends only the rest of the year.
1600 Ocean Front Walk; (310) 393-6149; www.odc.ucla.edu
When you're hungry, there are numerous noshing options right on the pier: Sample some seafood amidst a collection of vintage surfboards at Rusty's Surf Ranch (256 Santa Monica Pier; (310) 393-7437; www.winedineent.com/rustys) or hang out at the Surf View Café, a casual diner with patio seating (330 Santa Monica Pier; (310) 394-4231).
(310) 458-8900; www.santamonicapier.org

Take a scenic drive — For scenery both man-made and natural, hit Mulholland Drive, which divides L.A. and the San Fernando Valley. Million-dollar homes line this winding, 10-mile hilltop drive, and views of the valley and Angeles National Forest are superb. Take I-405 north of Westwood to get there, or exit U.S. 101 near Universal City. From Hollywood, reach it via Outpost Drive off Franklin Avenue, or Cahuenga Boulevard. For a great view of the city, take the Hollywood Freeway to Cahuenga, left on Mulholland, then go right to the first cutoff.

Have fun!

Steve