first time Southern California visitor from Italy
Oct 16th, 2008, 04:32 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 24
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
first time Southern California visitor from Italy
Hello,
My cousin and her parents (from a small town in Southern Italy) will be visiting my parents (in Upland, CA) for a week starting this Saturday. My cousin is in her 20s and it is her first trip outside Italy ever! I am trying to help my parents plan entertainment itineraries for each day, but I need help as I haven't live in Southern California for 15 years now.
So the 4 "adults" in this group are in their 60s and 70s, one of whom can't walk very much without stopping to rest. I need to plan the days to entertain them and a 20-some year old at the same time. To make the matters more difficult, my cousin and her mother understand very little English!
My questions:
1) My cousin and her mom want to experience Disneyland and others don't. How can we get them there with public transit (from Upland)on a week day? Are there any tour companies that we could use to send them there, say from the Ontario airport maybe? My parents won't be able to drive all the way to Disneyland and back.
2) My parents will be buying everyone train tickets to take Amtrak from Upland to Los Angeles to see LA. What tourist attractions in Los Angeles are better accessible for someone taking the train from Upland? Any tour companies you suggest that may have Italian audio tours of some sort and are worth the money we'd have to pay?
3) My father says he can manage the drive to Burbank, so I thought I'll plan for them to go on a Warner Bros Studio tour. What tour company, etc. should I chose (considering the language issue, etc.) and how should I fill up the rest of their day in or around Burbank without exhausting the one that can't walk much? I think someone mentioned taping of the deal or no deal show. I think they'd love that (and you don't need to know much English to get what is happening)- would that be a good idea, and how do I go about making that happen?
4) Which Pacific beach is easiest to get to from Upland and worthwhile the drive? I'm sure they want to be able to say they've seen the ocean!
5) Anything else you can suggest to fill the 5 weekdays for these folks? They are an olive-farmer family, so I thought I'd have my parents take them to the Graber Olive House in Ontario on one of the afternoons. I have never been there though. Do you think that is a good idea? Any other farms or local free or semi-free attractions or events you can recommend?
I'd be grateful for any and all suggestions. It is quite funny and frightening to me how idealized their image of the United States/ California is when they talk or write about their upcoming visit!
Sonia
My cousin and her parents (from a small town in Southern Italy) will be visiting my parents (in Upland, CA) for a week starting this Saturday. My cousin is in her 20s and it is her first trip outside Italy ever! I am trying to help my parents plan entertainment itineraries for each day, but I need help as I haven't live in Southern California for 15 years now.
So the 4 "adults" in this group are in their 60s and 70s, one of whom can't walk very much without stopping to rest. I need to plan the days to entertain them and a 20-some year old at the same time. To make the matters more difficult, my cousin and her mother understand very little English!
My questions:
1) My cousin and her mom want to experience Disneyland and others don't. How can we get them there with public transit (from Upland)on a week day? Are there any tour companies that we could use to send them there, say from the Ontario airport maybe? My parents won't be able to drive all the way to Disneyland and back.
2) My parents will be buying everyone train tickets to take Amtrak from Upland to Los Angeles to see LA. What tourist attractions in Los Angeles are better accessible for someone taking the train from Upland? Any tour companies you suggest that may have Italian audio tours of some sort and are worth the money we'd have to pay?
3) My father says he can manage the drive to Burbank, so I thought I'll plan for them to go on a Warner Bros Studio tour. What tour company, etc. should I chose (considering the language issue, etc.) and how should I fill up the rest of their day in or around Burbank without exhausting the one that can't walk much? I think someone mentioned taping of the deal or no deal show. I think they'd love that (and you don't need to know much English to get what is happening)- would that be a good idea, and how do I go about making that happen?
4) Which Pacific beach is easiest to get to from Upland and worthwhile the drive? I'm sure they want to be able to say they've seen the ocean!
5) Anything else you can suggest to fill the 5 weekdays for these folks? They are an olive-farmer family, so I thought I'd have my parents take them to the Graber Olive House in Ontario on one of the afternoons. I have never been there though. Do you think that is a good idea? Any other farms or local free or semi-free attractions or events you can recommend?
I'd be grateful for any and all suggestions. It is quite funny and frightening to me how idealized their image of the United States/ California is when they talk or write about their upcoming visit!
Sonia
Oct 18th, 2008, 08:09 AM
#2
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13,812
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is a REALLY difficult thread and I've been on this forum for years. I'm from L.A. County and honestly, I don't know how in the world they'll be able to do all of that, from Upland, and not have a car. This is probably the only post I've read where I'm stumped. Sorry. Happy Travels!
Oct 18th, 2008, 12:59 PM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 5,379
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Guenmai is right. This are very difficult queries.
After all, take a look at the map. Upland is thirty miles from Anaheim. Two counties away in San Bernardino County. To attempt public transportation is to fritter away at least two hours one way. Maybe three. Your idea of getting a tour coach from ONT is best-- in fact, maybe the only way to do it without doing the drive. Which isn't that awful, but it is up and down mountains.
Taking the train into LA and then catching LA Metro Rail, you can hit Hollywood, Pasadena, Long Beach.... There is bus service into West Hollywood, West LA, Santa Monica, and other places. Santa Monica would probably be the best beach to try to see.
Warner Brothers runs its own tour, so don't worry about hiring anyone. Contact them and see if they can supply an Italian-language guide. You never know.
After all, take a look at the map. Upland is thirty miles from Anaheim. Two counties away in San Bernardino County. To attempt public transportation is to fritter away at least two hours one way. Maybe three. Your idea of getting a tour coach from ONT is best-- in fact, maybe the only way to do it without doing the drive. Which isn't that awful, but it is up and down mountains.
Taking the train into LA and then catching LA Metro Rail, you can hit Hollywood, Pasadena, Long Beach.... There is bus service into West Hollywood, West LA, Santa Monica, and other places. Santa Monica would probably be the best beach to try to see.
Warner Brothers runs its own tour, so don't worry about hiring anyone. Contact them and see if they can supply an Italian-language guide. You never know.
Oct 18th, 2008, 10:29 PM
#4
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,896
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hey, I used to live in LA (also been 15 years or so) and I've been to Italy for a month or so all told.
If your cousin drives, I would have the family rent a car, especially for the day at Disneyland. Yeah, there's more lanes on Los Angeles freeways, but it's crazy to drive in Italy in its own way, too! Help them study up on the maps the night before.
I guess for Italian tours, I would call the Italian consulate or the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce for advice.
Good luck and post back! These are the kinds of posts we all love to hear how they're resolved.
If your cousin drives, I would have the family rent a car, especially for the day at Disneyland. Yeah, there's more lanes on Los Angeles freeways, but it's crazy to drive in Italy in its own way, too! Help them study up on the maps the night before.
I guess for Italian tours, I would call the Italian consulate or the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce for advice.
Good luck and post back! These are the kinds of posts we all love to hear how they're resolved.
Oct 19th, 2008, 11:44 AM
#5
Your desire to use public transportation is a noble one,but no so practical in Southern California. The only resonable public transport choice being the Metrolink train from Claremont to LA. Olvera street and China Town being close to Union Station.
Europeans might be interested in seeing the desert, a drive to Palm Springs perhaps. The road to Mt. Baldy leaves from Upland and would take your visitors for some great views(On A clear day).
Graber Olive only process during certain seasons and is pretty boring with no olives
Europeans might be interested in seeing the desert, a drive to Palm Springs perhaps. The road to Mt. Baldy leaves from Upland and would take your visitors for some great views(On A clear day).
Graber Olive only process during certain seasons and is pretty boring with no olives
Oct 19th, 2008, 06:01 PM
#6
If your cousin is absolutely against driving to Disneyland I would look into using Supershuttle or a similar service from Ontario airport (which isn't far from Upland). You can get an online quote from Supershuttle (one of the larger companies). Eg, for both people to the Disneyland Hotel it was $52 one way. There may be discounts available for a round trip, and there are also options for a private car for around $100 each way. You'll have to reserve these in advance.
You can walk from the Disneyland Hotel a few blocks to the Monorail which takes you right into the park if you already have tickets.
It might be nice for them to spend the night if they have the time.
You can walk from the Disneyland Hotel a few blocks to the Monorail which takes you right into the park if you already have tickets.
It might be nice for them to spend the night if they have the time.
