smoot60

I am trying to plan trip to LA and Santa Monica for family (two teens and parents). Have about three days in the area. Want to do the Hollywood area and go to the beach one day and I have set aside one day for Universal Studios. Is this too much time to stay at Universal? Is it really worth spending the day there? I would love to do the Getty and save some time for shopping. Any advise would be helpful.

Thanks, Kathy in TN

rjw_lgb_ca

My advice is: Take a step back and LOOK AT A SCALE MAP OF THE LOS ANGELES METROPOLITAN AREA. Now think about all that you want to see in three days:

-- Universal Studios, Hollywood
-- Hollywood itself

This can be done in a day, actually. Universal in the morning and early afternoon, Hollywood glimpse in the afternoon. Unless you want to consult a trivia-filled guide and hit EVERY historic spot in Hollywood, you can take a spin through, stopping long enough to take in a block or two of the Walk of Fame. If you actually want to go to Hollywood/Highland, you'll make an afternoon and night of it (after Universal).

-- The beach
-- Some shopping

Which beach? You can go to Santa Monica, hit the Pier, take a spin through the Third Street Promenade and its Retail Chain Hell-- er, the popular clothing stores like Gap, Banana Republic, Abercrombie & Fitch, etc., etc., etc. Venice Beach is a bit more exotic, but could be fun. Any other beach, you'll turn it into a day trip.

If you want to do more hard-core Shopping, you will have to hit Beverly Hills or maybe the malls like the Beverly Center and the Grove. The most bang for the buck is at South Coast Plaza way down in Costa Mesa (about an hour down the 405 from LA)-- Rodeo Drive indoors. A Needless Markup-- er, Nieman-Marcus-- is found in lovely Fashion Island in Newport Beach (also an hour away from LA). But you'll need another day for this-- or a more funky shopping excursion down Melrose Avenue.

-- Getty Center

That's a day excursion in itself, although you will have the night free-- unless you decide to stay and catch the sunset.

There are literally thousands of things to do in southern California besides what you've listed-- and you're basically leaving no time to do anything else. Your itinerary is full.

beachbum

Once you pay the disneyesce admission to Universal you might feel it necessary to spend the day to get your money's worth. As rjw writes though, depending on what you want to do, you can tour Universal in a few hours provided lines are not too long. Maybe make an afternoon of it, and spend the evening in CityWalk, just outside the front gates.

Jean

In a heartbeat, I'd pick the Getty over Universal... but, then, I'm not a teenager or a shopper. Do whatever's higher on your wish list.

SimoneSassett

I prefer museums, too. But, I find the Getty lacking compared to other museums like LACMA. I can spend hours at LACMA and not get bored. Spend maybe a few hours at the Getty and you're done. Sure - the architecture is "cool" - but it's blase to me. And, when the heck are they ever going to finish landscaping that place? I know we're in a drought - but come on! I can't wait till the Malibu Getty reopens - at least that place had some really nice landscaping to enjoy. Just my opinion.

I agree with the other person on Universal - I only go when there's a local special going on. Pay 1 day - get a year type thing. Summer is the worst! Bunch of kids without parents being dumped at the theme parks in lieu of babysitters. ugh!

joesorce

You can definitely do Universal, shopping, and the Getty in one day. Breakfast while waiting for traffic to die down, Universal 10am to 2:30, Shopping until 6 then Getty from 6 to 9 (if it's Fri or Sat). Not sure what time the Getty coffee shop closes but the fine dining restaurant is open at night.

You need parking reservations for the Getty on weekdays.www.getty.edu

I have some 2-for-1 Universal coupons if you want them...I'll have to check the expiration dates.