Montery/Santa Barbara/L.A./Las Vegas
Jul 16th, 2001, 04:08 AM
#1
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Montery/Santa Barbara/L.A./Las Vegas
We have planned a trip to California mid August and planning to stay there for 3 weeks together wil my girlfriend.
We prefer big city holidays with shopping, wining, dining, clubs, bars & fun. We have no kids.
We have never been to U.S. before.
Hotel and plane tickets already booked online, but hotel bookings can easily be changed...
Here is my schedule:
- 5 nights in San Francisco (Union Square)
- rent a car, drive south along Pacific Coast
- 1 night in Monterey
- 2 nights in Santa Barbara (heard something about the wine country
- 10 nights in LA (West Hollywood)
- dump car and catch a plane to Las Vegas
- 3 nights in Las Vegas (Luxor)
I have found lotsa tips what to do in SF. I would like to get more tips on what to do and see for the rest of the trip.
Since we have lotsa time in LA, I would like to go on some day trips. How long does it take to drive to San Diego. Other suggestions?
We prefer big city holidays with shopping, wining, dining, clubs, bars & fun. We have no kids.
We have never been to U.S. before.
Hotel and plane tickets already booked online, but hotel bookings can easily be changed...
Here is my schedule:
- 5 nights in San Francisco (Union Square)
- rent a car, drive south along Pacific Coast
- 1 night in Monterey
- 2 nights in Santa Barbara (heard something about the wine country
- 10 nights in LA (West Hollywood)
- dump car and catch a plane to Las Vegas
- 3 nights in Las Vegas (Luxor)
I have found lotsa tips what to do in SF. I would like to get more tips on what to do and see for the rest of the trip.
Since we have lotsa time in LA, I would like to go on some day trips. How long does it take to drive to San Diego. Other suggestions?
Jul 16th, 2001, 06:29 AM
#2
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If you want to visit San Diego, it is not a day trip from West LA. It will be at least 2.5 - 3 hours driving each way. I suggest spending at least 3 nights in SD from your LA budget and staying in the Downtown/Gas Lamp areas based on your self description.
The Santa Barbara county wine area is in the Santa Ynez valley. I would spend the night in the area (Los Olivos, Buellton, Solvang, etc.) if you want to really enjoy it.
Have fun!
The Santa Barbara county wine area is in the Santa Ynez valley. I would spend the night in the area (Los Olivos, Buellton, Solvang, etc.) if you want to really enjoy it.
Have fun!
Jul 16th, 2001, 09:11 AM
#4
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Sean, with all due respect to the poster above, 10 days is not enough time to see Los Angeles... especially if you plan on spending several days laying on the beach.
Besides the Getty Museum, the various studios, etc. Every Thursday they have free concerts on the Santa Monica Pier. For club info check out
www.laweekly.com A few other things.
1) Beaching Swimming etc.
2) British Isles Ex-Pats pubs and bars in Santa Monica
3) Stroll 3rd Street Promenade
4) Take a Metro to downtown LA and see the Ahmanson, the Music Center of the newly restored downtown Library, Museum of modern art (MOCA)
5) Visit Pasadena,,, (definately a great day trip. Spend the day in Old town, visit the Norton Simon museum, (the Getty gets all the credit but the best Impressionists are at the Norton Simon)lots of places to eat shop et.
6) Go antiquing in the La Brea antiques district, also great for vintage clothes etc.
7) Cruise Melrose and shop shop shop like a trendy person!
8) Visit the Hollywood Forever Cemetary and see all the famous old movie stars graves.
9) Hike Lake Hollywood, for a great view of the Hollywood Sign, or Runyon canyon for 2000 acres and a stunning view that take in the Entire LA basin, you can actually walk all the way to Mulholland
10) Universal Studios, and the Citywalk
11)Take in a movie at the Manns, Chinese, and afterward go for drinks to the Pig And Whistle, then dinner at Micheli's or Musso and Franks
12) Spend Friday and Saturday on Sunset Strip, trying to get into the Sky Bar.. being seen and eating at Chin Chins.. or for cheapy lunch try a hamburger at Carneys or a Chile Dog at Pinks
13) The Miracle Mile is home of the Museum district, La Brea Tar pits, and LACMA (L.A County Museum of Art) plus a fantastic Car museum.
14) Little Tokoyo, China Town, Korea Town or visit Olivera street one of the oldest streets in all of Los angeles and heart of Latin Culture, then take in a latin dance show at the Conga room.
15) Spend a cheesy day, buying a map to stars homes then drive around trying to find them!
16) Beverly hills! Just stroll down Rodeo, be sure and save time to eat at Trader Vics, one of the best B-fests in town.
17) Go to the amusement park on Santa Monica Pier and do all the ferris wheels and that kind of stuff.
18) Hang out in Venice Beach and Muscle Beach
19) Long Beach and San Pedro make also great day trips, as do Hermosa Beach and Laguna Beach.
20) Take Mulholland all the way down to the Ocean and Malibu, be sure and stop and visit the Largest Hindu temple in North America, or the old Planet of the Apes set in Calabasas.
21) Go Horseback riding at the Sunset ranch, you start out on the Hollywood side, ride over the hill, have dinner at a Mexican restaurant, then ride back at Sunset watching all the lights come out all over the city.
That's just for starters, Make sure you eat once at Yamashiro off Franklin take a studio tour... I suppose you could go to Disney Land... if you were really bored!
Welcome to L.A
Besides the Getty Museum, the various studios, etc. Every Thursday they have free concerts on the Santa Monica Pier. For club info check out
www.laweekly.com A few other things.
1) Beaching Swimming etc.
2) British Isles Ex-Pats pubs and bars in Santa Monica
3) Stroll 3rd Street Promenade
4) Take a Metro to downtown LA and see the Ahmanson, the Music Center of the newly restored downtown Library, Museum of modern art (MOCA)
5) Visit Pasadena,,, (definately a great day trip. Spend the day in Old town, visit the Norton Simon museum, (the Getty gets all the credit but the best Impressionists are at the Norton Simon)lots of places to eat shop et.
6) Go antiquing in the La Brea antiques district, also great for vintage clothes etc.
7) Cruise Melrose and shop shop shop like a trendy person!
8) Visit the Hollywood Forever Cemetary and see all the famous old movie stars graves.
9) Hike Lake Hollywood, for a great view of the Hollywood Sign, or Runyon canyon for 2000 acres and a stunning view that take in the Entire LA basin, you can actually walk all the way to Mulholland
10) Universal Studios, and the Citywalk
11)Take in a movie at the Manns, Chinese, and afterward go for drinks to the Pig And Whistle, then dinner at Micheli's or Musso and Franks
12) Spend Friday and Saturday on Sunset Strip, trying to get into the Sky Bar.. being seen and eating at Chin Chins.. or for cheapy lunch try a hamburger at Carneys or a Chile Dog at Pinks
13) The Miracle Mile is home of the Museum district, La Brea Tar pits, and LACMA (L.A County Museum of Art) plus a fantastic Car museum.
14) Little Tokoyo, China Town, Korea Town or visit Olivera street one of the oldest streets in all of Los angeles and heart of Latin Culture, then take in a latin dance show at the Conga room.
15) Spend a cheesy day, buying a map to stars homes then drive around trying to find them!
16) Beverly hills! Just stroll down Rodeo, be sure and save time to eat at Trader Vics, one of the best B-fests in town.
17) Go to the amusement park on Santa Monica Pier and do all the ferris wheels and that kind of stuff.
18) Hang out in Venice Beach and Muscle Beach
19) Long Beach and San Pedro make also great day trips, as do Hermosa Beach and Laguna Beach.
20) Take Mulholland all the way down to the Ocean and Malibu, be sure and stop and visit the Largest Hindu temple in North America, or the old Planet of the Apes set in Calabasas.
21) Go Horseback riding at the Sunset ranch, you start out on the Hollywood side, ride over the hill, have dinner at a Mexican restaurant, then ride back at Sunset watching all the lights come out all over the city.
That's just for starters, Make sure you eat once at Yamashiro off Franklin take a studio tour... I suppose you could go to Disney Land... if you were really bored!
Welcome to L.A
Jul 16th, 2001, 09:14 AM
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Oops forgot to mention Studio City, and Farmer's Market next to CBS, you have great chances of seeing celebrities at either of those places, and if you get too exhausted trying to do it all.
Visit the Beverly Hot Springs, the only all natural hot springs in Los Angels, for $40.00 per person, you can really treat yourself to this amazing place.
Visit the Beverly Hot Springs, the only all natural hot springs in Los Angels, for $40.00 per person, you can really treat yourself to this amazing place.
Jul 16th, 2001, 09:17 AM
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
One last think promise. don't miss a show at the Hollywood Bowl, pack a picnic lunch or order one, bring a bottle of wine. On Tuesdays and Thursdays if there isn't a big act in town they have the Bowl Orchestra performing classical works.. you can get $2.00 tickets.. the acoustics are so great, just nibble on your wine and cheese and enjoy. Oh, and when you go to Long Beach stop in and see the Queen Mary or take a day trip to Catalina island, or you could helicopter over, and spend the day in an open jeep island safari.
Jul 16th, 2001, 09:48 AM
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
All good suggestions--especially the Hollywood Bowl which is a great experience. Many places pack Bowl picnics. You don't have to stay in the Santa Ynez Valley to enjoy the wine tasting there, but if you do, see if you can get a room at the Ballard Inn in Ballard. Most hotels are in Solvang but that is pretty touristy and a bit tacky. I would drive from Santa Barbara straight through L.A. in the middle of the day--not much traffic, comparitively--down to San Diego first. I would spend 3 of my alloted L.A. days in San Diego and then come back to L.A. to spend the time before Las Vegas. Sounds like a great time and don't listen to the LA bashers--it's a city so many tourists like to criticize. Sounds like you're the type who will love it.
