MSalzbank1

My wife and I flying from NY to LA for a short trip (her first time to Ca) 5 days/4nights//
Need some advice...

1. What is a good thing to do in or around LA that first day...arriving in LA Sunday around noon?
2. She will want to do a "Hollywood" thing.. studio, etc.
3. We want to go to a quiet beach...also ..check out Venice beach..santa Monica???
4. Everyone says drive to San Diego... it is so beautiful???
5. would love to drive up the coast... but Big Sur is way too far... any advice?
6. Any possible National Parks that are not too far?

Yes I know,, we should be spending more time... but we are limited..

TIA

MmePerdu

What time of year?

MSalzbank1

First week of August

DebitNM

If you haven't booked flights; fly into LA and home from San Diego [or the other way] so you don't have to back track.

MmePerdu

With 4 nights, you have 3 full days and, presumably, parts of 2 more. Yes, Big Sur is too far, as are the national parks. If this is a leisurely visit I wouldn't leave the LA area and there are no quiet beaches, by my definition of quiet, in summer within a reasonable drive. Maybe someone else will have a secret beach for you.

There are more than enough touristy things to do right in LA for your 3+ days. There are also some great museums and gardens if that interests you, as well as Santa Monica and vicinity. You could go up the coast a bit along Hwy 1 to Malibu. Zuma is a good beach but you'll have plenty of company.

It'll take at least a couple of days to make San Diego and the drive down, worthwhile so I suggest you just stay in LA. You might like to mention other interests beyond beach & Hollywood.

mlgb

The Venice/Marina Peninsula beach is a bit quieter, and you can access it from either Via Marina, or the Lighthouse Bridge, parking in Marina Del Rey.

But I'd rather go to Manhattan Beach. Nicer overall atmosphere than Venice.

It takes about 6-7 hours to drive all the way through from Los Angeles to Big Sur, so not really a day trip.

I like Torrey Pines State Beach and State Park in San Diego, you can get there in about 2 hours from Long Beach. Another good day trip is San Juan Capistrano.

mlgb

The National Parks closest to Los Angeles are no fun in summer!...Joshua Tree, Death Valley, too hot.

Yosemite, King's Canyon...too crowded.

Save those for another trip. Stick to the coast!

janisj

4 nights doesn't = 5 days. Unless your flight out is quite late at night you'll only have 3.5 days. Not enough time for drives up the coast.

Have you booked your flights already? If not, I'd fly in/out of SFO instead. The types of things it seems you want to see/do are on the north or central coast -- not in the LA region.

MmePerdu

Not much "Hollywood" in SF, or on the north or central coast.

janisj

Of course not - but they also mention quiet beaches, parks, and Big Sur. Hollywood is just one - taken as a whole it just sounds more like a Carmel/Big Sur/Redwoods type trip.

But if Hollywood is a 'must', that is out and they are stuck in SoCal.

jamie99

Previous post got lost? Spend 1-2 hours in Hollywood, that is all it will take, then take a tour of Warner Bros studio, lasts a bit over 2 hours, very well reviewed.
As others have stated, Big Sur is too far and closest national park would be Joshua Tree, too hot at maybe 100F

fdecarlo

> We want to go to a quiet beach

So do 22 million other people in southern California. In the first week of August you'll have to choose between crowded and wedged. At least in Santa Monica. If you're willing to drive a ways north (Point Dume, County Line etc) or south (Huntington/Redondo/etc) the beaches aren't as bad, only because they're so wide and stretch for miles.

MSalzbank1

Thank you everyone... Let me clarify about the beach... We would like to walk along a boardwalk type and enjoy the views of the water... Would love to find nice parks.. Places to just relax.. Along with all the touristy things... Getty etc.

MSalzbank1

We arrive at noon and leave on the red eye... So really have 4 plus days

mlgb

I'm still voting Manhattan Beach for you.

fdecarlo

Venice would be my first choice for a beachwalk. If you're coming from NY you should be able to handle the funk factor there, which is substantial. In addition to the beach, the neighborhood itself with its canals makes for an interesting walk imo. Many of the homes are noteworthy for their architecture.

jamie99

Like the suggestion for Manhattan Beach, lived there for 19 years. Very nice pier, you can rent bikes and ride along the bike path down to Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach, or north as far as Santa Monica (too far for me). Lots of nice restaurants and shops as well. Venice is too gritty these days for my taste. OK if you can tolerate MJ paraphernalia shops and such. More lively on weekends.
In August they may still be having concerts in the park, free on Sundays (think they start at 5pm or so) at Polliwog Park, take a picnic or snacks, lots of fun.

clarkgriswold

The Getty Center is open til 5:30 on Sundays, that might be a nice way to spend arrival afternoon. In what part of the city is your hotel?
I wouldn't recommend Getty Villa on Sunday afternoons because of all the Malibu beach traffic and the current construction mess between Malibu & Santa Monica.

fdecarlo

"4. Everyone says drive to San Diego... it is so beautiful???

Not really imo. It's certainly more beautiful than Tijuana.

As for a quiet beach, if you're heading that far south, you won't have a problem finding one even in August. Today my other half reminded me of Salt Creek Beach just south of Laguna. We used to live there and can vouch for its relatively sparse summer crowds. It sits below a steep bluff, and the equally steep walkway seems to steer many people to other beaches. But it's a gorgeous place, immediately adjacent to the Ritz-Carlton which is handy for lunch.