Trip out to LA, what things to do

[RippleChip]

Having never been to LA I have no clue about the area. Looks like end of Oct I'll be out that way on business, staying Downtown LA. With flights paid for I figure its a good opportunity to stay out longer, what areas and things should be on the list to do.

[Obvis07]

little tokyo. its awsome over there. just to walk around to just eat and stuff

[oc-drop]

when are you visiting?

sunset blvd in Hollywood is where it all goes down

[RippleChip]

It will be last week Oct, first week Nov timeframe

[|FYASKO|]

I'd hit up Santa Monica. Lots to do there

[VonPooper]

go down to lb and hit up roscoes chiggen n waffles. drive a couple miles north of that and hang out with the locals in compton.

[toneloc]

hermosa beach thur-sat nite..sun daytime

[akasch]

hit up the beach!

[channad]

Downtown doesn't have too much, there's more to do in hollywood and the beach, what are you looking to do?

[RippleChip]

Looking for suggestions of the must see things in the area.

Obviously staying downtown for the conference, so anythign in the area that is close just to check out. After the conference is over the gf and I are open to staying anywhere and moving around to see different parts

[SoCalS4Avant]

Will you have a rental car? That'll make it much easier to get around and see the "sights." Also, I can make more suggestions that way - although maybe you'll want to add on GPS!

[RippleChip]

I'll probably grab a car and venture around instead of being stuck to one area. GPS, that won't be a problem for the trip

[channad]

make sure to go have lunch or brunch at the rooftop at the Standard Hotel in Downtown. You can try for night time, but it gets really hectic, especially if you don't have a connection. It's pretty nice up there, lots of photo shoots occur there. You're going in Oct? The afternoon parties will be over by that time, I think...unless it's still hot out. Check out the Nokia theater. See if some concert is going on there. Also, check out the Palm restaurant for some great steak and salmon. If I remember any more downtown stuff I'll let you know.

[Calabria]

Downtown really isnt the place to hang out in LA and LA really isnt as touristy as everyone thinks, there trying to renovate it and make it a happening a place - give it 5-10 years if not more before theres actual things to go down there for.
Santa Monica and the Westside have things to do, 3rd St, Pier, Venice Boardwalk.
Hollywood has places to see and clubs if your into that, Hollywood/Highland and Hollywood/Vine.
Theres really nothing in The Valley worth while or the South Bay unless you wanna check out the Queen Mary.
You could go down to the Beverly Center in LA and check out Rodeo in Beverly Hills I guess too, your GF would be stuck there though.

[channad]

^^^^ not to mention your wallet will be a lot lighter...or the CC will be heavier in your pocket

[SoCalS4Avant]

Ok - so you'll have a car, I'll make some suggestions. Excuse the grammar, as I'm just making a quick list. Here you go:

Everyone's already said some good things. If you're looking to hit up the bars and Hollywood nightlife, then definitely go to Sunset. Hollywood Blvd - Mann Chinese Theatre, Kodak Theatre, etc. Pretty cool down there to see the walk of fame, and the freaks!

If it's open, head up to Griffith Observatory. It's a lot of fun up there. Maybe get on the list for the Late Show with Jay Leno or something like that. They're pretty fun too. You can also head over to Studio City and hit up Universal Studios and City Walk - there's a great Italian restaurant over there called Miceli's - lots of wannabe opera and show singers there. Great food and ambiance. Last in this area is the Hollywood Bowl - the best tickets really are only a dollar. The seats are far away, but you get to still hear the music, and you bring a picnic (plus wine, beer, etc. to your heart's content). That's definitely something to check out.

Santa Monica - 3rd street is all about shopping. Your GF ought to love it, and it's not bad for people watching and the like. The Santa Monica pier is only a couple blocks over, and is pretty decent as well. Head down Lincoln Blvd. till you hit Washington and make a right to the ocean - go to the Italian restaurant C&O's. Sweet place.

Long Beach is pretty cool, and getting nicer. The pier is nice, and there's some decent restaurants, and great boats to look at. The Queen Mary is on the opposite side of the bay - if you're bored, you could check it out.

Anaheim - Disneyland. Worth a shot.

If you have time, and you're here on a weekend, try and hit up a UCLA or USC college football game (if you're in to sports). If you are, let me know, I have season tix for UCLA, wouldn't mind taking a fellow Audiziner along. I think the NBA season may be opening up as well around that time - maybe hit up a Laker or Clipper game.

[FLACO X3]

crusing on Crenshaw Blvd.

[Reaxion]

I agree w/ everything SocalS4Avant said.

The westwood area can be fun sometimes. I believe Rodeo was mentioned earlier which can be fun, but also dangerous!!

[RippleChip]

If you have time, and you're here on a weekend, try and hit up a UCLA or USC college football game (if you're in to sports). If you are, let me know, I have season tix for UCLA, wouldn't mind taking a fellow Audiziner along. I think the NBA season may be opening up as well around that time - maybe hit up a Laker or Clipper game.

Awesome, thanks for all the details that is a huge help. Having some insight from the locals sure helps, the AZ crowd was awesome for me when I was in SF a couple years ago.

I would love to see a ball game down there, unfortunately UCLA is out of town. However USC is around, that may be an option. Also saw that during the week the Kings are in town, always fun to see a hockey game in a different city.

[R1ceRocket]

LA's food alone is worth a trip. We have every type of authentic cuisine around.

Koreatown has tons of great all you can eat bbq houses. In the same area, you can go visit El Taurino or King Taco for some fantastic authentic tacos. Pinks, in Hollywood, for some crazy hot dogs.

There's tons more, but you'll need to spend a lifetime here to experience it all.

[SoCalS4Avant]

Awesome, thanks for all the details that is a huge help. Having some insight from the locals sure helps, the AZ crowd was awesome for me when I was in SF a couple years ago.

I would love to see a ball game down there, unfortunately UCLA is out of town. However USC is around, that may be an option. Also saw that during the week the Kings are in town, always fun to see a hockey game in a different city.

I may be able to hook you up with USC tix also. I'm an alum from there as well...but I don't want to fork over their ridiculous amounts of cash for terrible seats! The Rose Bowl is much better.

With the Kings having a new coach, and hopefully a new look - that would likely be pretty fun as well!

Give us a holler with you get down here.

[diztek]

may also want to check out "the grove" and get some brazilian bbq and your girl can shop her heart out.

you can also just drive up and down the coast and if you see anything that interests you, stop in and check it out. Gladstones in Malibu is a pretty cool touristy place to grab a bite and look at the ocean view.

if you like mom & pop food, you wont regret Tito's tacos, Pinks, or Roscoe's Chick & Waffles.

[Quattro]

crusing on Crenshaw Blvd.

thats how I roll =)

sunday nights =)


As for places:

Beaches:
Newport beach (30 min away from dtla)
Laguna beach (45 min away from dtla)
Santa Monica Pier - tourist go there, good beach.
Malibu - Hit up moonshine, if its good enough for Mel Gibson to get arrested after, you can go..


I would recommend just driving around los angeles, hit up beverly hills, brentwood (westwood) nice areas and you will enjoy yourself. If you want to sight see, I know some good places where you can go and see the hollywood sign, as close as you can legally!, good views of the city from the mountains (I love canyons)....

For a first timer to los angeles, there is plenty too do, just need to know how much you are willing to spend on "entertainment." I mean, strip clubs, dance clubs etc. are within your grasp....Hell maybe an Audi meet? hehe....You can even go to the zoo... or make the drive to Mexico =D

-randy

[Calabria]

You can even go to the zoo... or make the drive to Mexico =D

-randy

Ha, a drive to Mexico is 5min...in any direction from downtown.

[RippleChip]

What are areas to stay away from? And things that are just not worth checking out on a limited time schedule, like 5 or so days.

[AudiA4Turbo22]

orange county is probably the nicest place in Socal, there is so much to do and the sites are really nice! hollywood and sunset is the only place in hollywood i'd recommend, hollywood in reality is a dump! Santa Monica pier is real kool, Balboa island is a must, rent a boat for one hour and tour the harbor, it is very worth it!

[AudiA4Turbo22]

oh and come down to our meet in pasadena!

[RippleChip]

I'd totally be up for that, roll in with some crappy rental car to your meet When it gets closer I'll look to see what you guys have going on and where I will be.

[Quattro]

I am sure the areas you will go too have not been mentioned to go visit. You dont have anything to worry about as long as you mind your own business when you go places....hell even downtown has "bum town" Check that out, very depressing =x

[whartung]

haha you want places to avoid? uh, don't go south of pico cause you don't need to and for the most part you don't want to. Hollywood bowl would be sick, or any of the smaller local music venues like the CIA or the Unknown theater. On the Westside, the beach is always cool, as is the pier and 3rd street promenade as people mentioned. Griffith park observatory is really cool, especially if you hike up the hill behind it to the hollywood sign. Get some sushi. No sushi in the states compares to that of Los Angeles, no matter how much crap the new yorkers talk. Atlantic fish is simply worse. If you go to the Palm, get the baked clam things, and go to the one in West Hollywood on Santa Monica. The Grove is a crazy outdoor mall, its like if shopping had a baby with disneyland. Worth seeing, but really just go to the Old Farmers Market attached to it. Drive around Wilshire, Sunset, Santa Monica blvd and Melrose until you find cool things to do, which I promise that you will. Should be fun.

[oatzel]

Downtown really isnt the place to hang out in LA and LA really isnt as touristy as everyone thinks, there trying to renovate it and make it a happening a place - give it 5-10 years if not more before theres actual things to go down there for.
Santa Monica and the Westside have things to do, 3rd St, Pier, Venice Boardwalk.
Hollywood has places to see and clubs if your into that, Hollywood/Highland and Hollywood/Vine.
Theres really nothing in The Valley worth while or the South Bay unless you wanna check out the Queen Mary.
You could go down to the Beverly Center in LA and check out Rodeo in Beverly Hills I guess too, your GF would be stuck there though.

do people still go to the Beverly Center? I thought it was all about the Grove

[whartung]

yeah the beverly center sucks. I only go there when the line at the Grove Apple Store is too long.

[oatzel]

haha you want places to avoid? uh, don't go south of pico cause you don't need to and for the most part you don't want to. Hollywood bowl would be sick, or any of the smaller local music venues like the CIA or the Unknown theater. On the Westside, the beach is always cool, as is the pier and 3rd street promenade as people mentioned. Griffith park observatory is really cool, especially if you hike up the hill behind it to the hollywood sign. Get some sushi. No sushi in the states compares to that of Los Angeles, no matter how much crap the new yorkers talk. Atlantic fish is simply worse. If you go to the Palm, get the baked clam things, and go to the one in West Hollywood on Santa Monica. The Grove is a crazy outdoor mall, its like if shopping had a baby with disneyland. Worth seeing, but really just go to the Old Farmers Market attached to it. Drive around Wilshire, Sunset, Santa Monica blvd and Melrose until you find cool things to do, which I promise that you will. Should be fun.

Takami on a rooftop downtown has great sushi and views. Convenient for while he's downtown at the conference

[AudiA4Turbo22]

don't go to Compton, El Segundo, anywhere west of the 710, and Crenshaw is the headquarters lol!

[AudiA4Turbo22]

nice shopping:

go to the Americana in Glendale, El Paseo in Pasadena, The Grove is nice, Ontario Mills is the biggest mall in Cali, and Cabazon outlets isn't bad!

[Calabria]

do people still go to the Beverly Center? I thought it was all about the Grove

Thats true, the Center got taken over with people that like the same gender - no joke. The Grove > The Center, but its good to offset eachother once in a while.
Stay away from the East and South Sides of LA

[RippleChip]

Thanks guys, so much useful stuff here.