Planning for 3-4 day trip in LA and there going to SFO for 3 days by car. Please suggest places other Disney and Hollywood that are good fit on a budget. List me that can be covered on the way drive to SFO like beaches and parks.
Check out hotels in downtown LA for a deal. There are plenty of great little spots around there that won't (entirely) break the bank as well. Guisados, Seven Grand, Pizzanista, Manna Korean BBQ (below) to name a few :)
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2- hop on hop off bus
2- universal studios
3- legoland if u have kids
4- six flags theme park
5- raging water park
6- Madam Tussauds's
7- Stars Homes Tour
8- Warner Bros Studio
9- seaworld in san diego
10- safari park in san diego
Hi Rya, Winifred provided some good recommendations. He is right about needing reservations for The Broad (definitely worth the trip - this is one of LA's hottest Museums right now and right by MOCA Grand Avenue as well). There are lot of great hikes you can take in the Santa Monica/Malibu mountains as well as the Hollywood hills (typically part of Griffith Park. Really because LA is so diverse and offers so much to so many people, the best way to get the most of the city is to decide the type of trip you are looking for and then hit up the neighborhoods that suit your style. I personally would connect with locals if possible to get the insider information and even meet up. I have some friends who traveled to LA recently and used a site called http://filos-travel.com/losangeles/ to get personalized local tips and enjoy authentic LA experiences. It might be worth checking out.
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Definitely do the beaches. I"m partial to the South Bay (Hermosa, Manhattan & Redondo). Rent a bike and cruise The Strand. You can even get a guided tour from Beach Cities Bike Tours:
http://www.surfsidesam.com/beach-cities-bike-tours-gives-guided-tours-of-the-south-bay-strand.htm
Hi Rya,
The following are nice places to check out in LA:
- The Getty Center - museum is free, parking is $15 I believe
- Malibu Beach - nice beaches, good restaurants, nice to walk around
- Santa Monica - good place to walk around and get to a beach that isn't far too far from the Hollywood/Beverly Hills/Mid-City area of LA
In Santa Monica, you can walk in on the Santa Monica Pier or the Venice Beach and Boardwalk. The latter is fun, filled with street performers and local vendors. Funny, kind of crazy crowd, but it makes for a fun walk. Better on the weekends and everything happens during the day.
- If you like nature, you can do a hike in Runyon Canyon Park
- If you like art LACMA is a great museum.
- Griffith Observatory gives you a great view of LA and it's free!
On your way to SF:
It's not clear if you want to do this all in 1 day or make it an overnight journey. If you want to go the fast way the 5 is quickest. However, Pacific Coast Highway which turns into highway 1 is the most scenic and will take about 9 hours - usually more with traffic. Any place you stop along the way will have a view because you are driving along the coast. However, I would recommend any/all of these stops:
- Carmel and Monterey or Big Sur
If you need suggestions for your time in SF, check out my post dedicated to that: http://eatandescape.com/travel/ditch-or-do-in-san-francisco/
There's also restaurant reviews for places to eat in both SF and LA. Let me know if you have any questions.
Best,
Kristal
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Venice Beachand Santa Monica beaches. If the weather is nice, you can rent a bike and ride along a very long bike path. The Getty Center The big one near the 405 has spectacular views of Los Angeles. You have to pay $15 for parking, but that is the only cost. City bus drops you off in front and then you don't have to pay at all. Downtown art museums-- The Broad (free, but reservation recommended) is right near Walt Disney Concert Hall (designed by Frank Gehry) is also worth a tour and MOCA Grand Avenue is across the street. Walk east a few blocks and eat at the Grand central market. Olvera St is a Mexican market (touristy, but fun) downtown across from the Los Angeles Union Station (also worth a look). Watts Towers Arts Center in South LA. El Mercado in East LA is like taking a trip to Mexico.
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Sally
