Headed to LA...Need suggestions for activities, sights to see...

3,559
505
Joined
Apr 22, 2002
Alright NT...gonna be in the city of Angels for a week (8 days) with the wife and kids. Never been to LA outside of walking around LAX during a few layovers. I need some can't miss spots/activities and what ish to avoid from folks who know. Travel books and websites typically only send you to the touristy stuff. Since we got the kids the bar/club scene is out unfortunately :\ ...but there's gotta be more to LA than that right..? :nerd:

We are already devoting 2-3 days to Disneyland and may check out Legoland and the San Diego Zoo for the kiddies if we feel like driving out there.

So what's good NT?
 
Last edited:
laguna beach, santa monica, huntington, newport are the best beaches. I'd say go to laguna

Where you coming from? Mountains aren't too far if you want to make that drive

Lots of good food places to eat in LA or San diego (best mexican food)

There's an aquarium of the pacific that's pretty cool

Could always checkout a basketball game/hockey game if you want something to do at night
 
La Brea tar pits, California Science center, the observatory, check out a few scenic parks of the city and chill along with some food.

eat at pink's hot dog, although some will call it overrated, you just have to just to say you ate there. check out fat sal's, you gotta try a downtown street dog.

just stay out of Hollywood past sun down, it'll eat you alive.
 
laguna beach, santa monica, huntington, newport are the best beaches. I'd say go to laguna

Where you coming from? Mountains aren't too far if you want to make that drive

We are flying in from Houston and there ain't no mountains around here so that might be cool.

So Laguna Beach...check

La Brea tar pits, California Science center, the observatory, check out a few scenic parks of the city and chill along with some food.

eat at pink's hot dog, although some will call it overrated, you just have to just to say you ate there. check out fat sal's, you gotta try a downtown street dog.

just stay out of Hollywood past sun down, it'll eat you alive.

Tar Pits...looks cool, kids would love...check

Damn, is Hollywood that gangsta? :lol:

Is the Santa Monica Pier worth it?
 
● Santa Monica
Pier/rides
3rd St. Promenade

● Los Angeles
Tar Pits
Science Center
Observatory/yhike
Natural History Museum

● Hollywood
Wax Museum
Ribleys
Walk of Fame

all family friendly surrounded by food restaurants and shopping. Plus it's not too far considering traffic everythings 30-45mins
 
how old are the kids? boys or girls?

they have a lot of interactive exhibits and stuff at California Science Center that might interest the kids. If you have a son who is infatuated with rocket ships (like most young boys are) and the like, you can check out the Space Shuttle Endeavor thats there. The Natural History museum is also in the same location.

Santa Monica pier/3rd street promenade is nice if you just want to enjoy the weather and do some people watching. There aren't a ton of attractions persay, but if the weather is nice you can take a walk on the beach, grab some lunch, and just hang out. The only potential issues i have with that area is that traffic and parking can become an s-show if the weather is nice and a lot of people have the same idea as you. Protip: if you have a rental, its much easier (and cheaper) to park at the mall parking structure and walking out to the Pier than it is to park at the beach/Pier itself. The parking lot is on the Southeast corner of Colorado and 2nd.

The one thing about Laguna is that its FAR. I dont know where your homebase is and what your tolerance for travel time is, but I personally dont know if its worth the trek. Granted its been a few years since I been down to Laguna, but its kind of a sleepy beach community without easy freeway access. Personally, I prefer to go to Corona Del Mar if you want to visit an upscale beach community area as it is a lot easier to get to, and there is arguably more to do around there (since its right next to Newport Beach). The beach itself at Corona Del Mar is also really nice and calm for the kids assuming the weather is nice enough.

Where will you be staying?
 
I'm planning on going to a SC game later this year so I'm essentially in the same boat. Wife and kid are coming as well as the father-in-law. So open to anything family oriented and I need to know what areas to look for hotels and to avoid. :nerd:
 
In n out. Double Double and animal fries. You're welcome.
 
-Roscoes Chicken and Waffles. the nicest one is in Hollywood
-Depending on how old your kids are, a hike at runyon canyon
-As mentioned before, Santa Monica pier/3rd street. Can rent some bikes and cruise the area. Can even ride down to Venice Beach (which isn't kid friendly, unless you're cool with your kids seeing a bunch of weed)
-Bossa Nova for Brazilian food
-Hockey or Basketball at Staples Center.
-
 
Appreciate all the help...keep the suggestions coming

...kids are 7 (boy) and 4 (girl)

Is San Diego worth the drive? We have the option of going to a spot down in Carlsbad if we get tired of the LA scene since we're gonna be out there so long.
 
Last edited:
Appreciate all the help...keep the suggestions coming

...kids are 7 (boy) and 4 (girl)

Is San Diego worth the drive? We have the option of going to a spot down in Carlsbad if we get tired of the LA scene since we're gonna be out there so long.


It is. But that drive is grotesque.
 
Where in LA r u staying

Near Disney in Anaheim. Have the "option" to go out to Carlsbad also, but it seems not too much is happening there.

It is. But that drive is grotesque.

Grotesque as in being stuck in traffic or length of drive? When I google it San Diego is about 90 min from where we are staying and since we could always crash in Carlsbad I figured we may spend a day or two out there since we've heard how pretty that area is.

I don't mind a long drive as long as I'm not sitting in traffic. It can take you 45-60 minutes to get from one end of Houston to another even when traffic is flowing.
 
Last edited:
There aint S goin on in Carlsbad except Legoland... unless you golf and you can get your wife to watch the kids while you get 18 in. Aviara is one of the nicer public tracks. If you do decide to stay in Carlsbad for a few, I'd recommend La Costa resort. Its very family friendly. You can sometimes find great deals on owner-rented units at La Costa through VRBO.

As far as commute/travel times. As long as you miss traffic, its not too bad. I used to drive from OC to Carlsbad all the time when my buddy was living down there. From Anaheim to Carlsbad you can easily do that in 60 minutes with no traffic. With traffic though it can easily be double that. I think traffic should be fairly easy to avoid for you since youre here on vacation. As long as you are getting on the road between 10a-2p you should be straight.

Now keep in mind, with traffic Anaheim to Santa Monica is also quite the drive. No traffic its close to a 60 min drive. With traffic, its death. My office is Santa Monica adjacent and it will take me 2.5 hrs to get from here to Disneyland during mid-week rush hour traffic. If you are trying to make it out to this side of LA, I advise you leave your hotel in Anaheim late morning and spend the entire day out here. If you get back on the road after 830p or so, it should be much clearer heading back.
 
@Mojodmonky1 Thanks for the heads up on traffic I heard it was bad but DAMN! Def gotta plan our attack around that.
Check out six flags out in Santa clarita. My kids rather go there then cal adv.

One of my co-workers said that california adventure wasn't worth it with my kids being so small. (7,4) they suggested just Disneyland. Thoughts?
 
Last edited:
if your looking for places to eat, go into the food thread either here in the general or the socal regional thread and search for chiva1908 posts :pimp:
 
Some of these suggestions in here are terrible...

Definitely hit up Laguna Beach, it is beautiful and eat at the Oceanside restaurant called the Deck! Make sure to make reservations for lunch because this place gets packed.

Areas to check out in Newport beach is Fashion Island and the Balboa Peninsula(lots of shops)

The kids will love "The Grove" in LA- it is an outdoor shopping center that has a mini train that takes you around for free. There is also a water fountain in the middle plus a farmers market.


Santa Monica 3rd street promenade is mostly just shopping but the Pier and mini amusement park they have is ghetto IMO.

Griffith observatory is great for the views and the easy hike
 
Back
Top Bottom