travellamb

We will be in LA for a weekend at the end of July. Sunday we are attending a wedding but Saturday we have the day free and a convertible car. Any suggestions of what we can do? I've seen a fair amount of Los Angeles before and not as interested in touristy things as nature. However, an option we are considering is going to the Getty Museum (we have not been and I'd love to see it) in the morning and then Manhattan beach in the afternoon.

Will we sit in tons of traffic and wait in lines at the museum if we do this on a Saturday in the summer? The museum opens at 10, but that's not super early so we're worried that even if we head out there with the aim to be there when it opens, we'll already hit lots of traffic and lines. And also traffic on the way to Manhattan beach (I know traffic is hard to avoid in LA).

Has anyone done this or some other quick day trip and have any recommendations? Thanks very much!

Gardyloo

Where are you staying?

paula1470

The museum should be fine on Saturday morning. Yes it's hard to avoid LA traffic. On the weekends, it usually isn't as bad except by the beaches!! If you don't want to deal with a lot of freeway traffic, you could go to the beach in Santa Monica which isn't as far of a traffic. I love the beach, though, around Manhattan Beach (my DD lives in Redondo). If you are talking the 405 south and traffic is especially bad, you could get off the freeway and cut over to PCH (which along this stretch has several different street names). If you want those directions, I am sure we can help you out.

travellamb

Thanks paula1470- that's reassuring. I'd like to go on PCH, I haven't done that. I've gone to Santa Monica, and it was nice, but I'd like to see more if I can.

We don't yet know where we're staying. Still waiting for the wedding invites to find a hotel convenient for that. I'm too excited to wait til then to explore possibilities for our free day though.

Thanks!

MaureenB

This may be too corny for you, but if I had a convertible and one day in L.A., I'd drive up Sunset Boulevard. You could see Rodeo Drive, UCLA, Bel Air, Malibu, have lunch by the water, go up to Zuma Beach. . . On a gorgeous day in L.A., that's what I'd do.
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gigib

If you do go to the Getty, you could take a scenic route back to the beach instead of sitting on the 405 freeway. The Getty isn't real big, 2-3 hours may do it.

As you leave the Getty, head for Sunset Blvd. and go west (right). This will take you for several miles through Brentwood and Pacific Palisades, a nice stop might be to watch some polo at Will Rogers State Park. It's just a few minutes' off of Sunset, you could pick up a picnic lunch in Pacific Palisades. Then, Sunset ends at Pacific Coast Highway, you'll turn left (south) back towards Manhattan Beach. You pass below the cliffs of Santa Monica, past the Pier, then you can work your way through Venice and the beach towns back to MB.

mlgb

Is the Malibu Getty open that day? Sometimes you can get a short notice reservation. Holidays are funny. A lot of people leave town, go to the beach, or have picnics, so museum type venues can be lightly visited. It depends on the weather. Memorial Day is the unofficial start of the tanning season.