My husband and I will be in Los Angeles for one day on our way back from Tahiti (en route to the East Coast). We get to LAX in the early to mid-afternoon and will stay in a hotel close by. Does anyone have any suggestions for sightseeing and mid-priced dinner choices? We want to see some of the touristy things like Mann's Chinese Theatre and Hollywood Walk of Fame. Do any of the TV shows have tapings arorund dinnertime? I would love any suggestions!!

Jay Leno tapes at 5 pm, but you have to be there a few hours before - even earlier if there's a really popular guest (even if you have reserved tickets).

I would forget a show taping as that would take up your whole day and night. Rent a car for the day if you want to see Mann's Chinese and Hollywood--buses will take to long.

Go for dinner somewhere in Santa Monica then you won't be to far from your hotel. Sunset with drinks at the Casa Del Mar Hotel is lovely.

No car is needed; utilize the very civilized, convenient, and cheap bluebus routes hubbing at the pedestrian friendly restaurant haven of Santa Monica. See their web site explicity listing all the tourist places they go (but not including many that you mention).

They include LAX, but I was just stunned to learn they have just stopped being the privileged bus line that drives into the Getty Museum. I think you can still do it by going to Getty's new satellite parking lot, but the published alternative is to take an LA express bus 561 that luckily leaves from near LAX (then return on Bluebus thru UCLA, Wilshire, Santa Monica area). Details on web...

Message: jt
Could you post the web site you mentioned re: bluebus routes and Santa Monica?
And thanks for your comment, I appreciate it a lot!

Look at line 3 for the airport run; it goes within blocks to most LAX hotels or you can take a free airport shuttle to catch it just outside (not in!) the LA airport bus center. Have some quarters and look for the bluebus sign, then a friendly deep-blue colored bus.

http://www.bigbluebus.com/placestogo/index.asp is a place to start looking at the geography (plug in your hotel street address into mapblast to see how close).

http://www.getty.edu/ suggests you should now get there by LA bus (and gives you it's web site), which I will give a try. But I hope to confirm you can still use bluebus (eg line 3 to VA hospital) which seems to be near Getty free shuttle destination. I'll try this on way back where it's always worthwhile to stop at UCLA museums, etc.

jt: Thanks very much for the info! I will look into these sites. My husband and I hoped to avoid having to rent a car for one day and attempting to drive in LA traffic. Your suggestions are most helpful!

Hi Denise:

I'll make an alternate suggestion if you're interested...

If you don't have your heart set on doing the Hollywood thing, you might want to check out Manhattan and Hermosa beach. I suggest this area primarily for it's proximity to the airport. It's about a 15 minute cab ride away, and shouldn't cost more than $20. Once in the area, you don't really need a car, as there are plenty of cabs. The area is quintessential SoCal beach living, in my opinion. It's just too bad that most people can't afford living there anymore!

I'm thinking you may be pretty tired coming in from a long flight, so this would be a relaxing option. There are many good restaurants in the area (as it's a pretty affluent neighborhood) but not much to "see" in terms of typical L.A. tourist stuff. The beach is nice, but you'll have just come from Tahiti, so I don't know if that's a big draw.

The Inn at Hermosa is a small beachfront property. It's pricey, but is right by the pedestrian block of bars and restaurants. Sangria is reasonably priced dinner. Cafe Boogaloo offers live music most nights. There's even a comedy club where Jay Leno performs from time to time. The last time I was there, the scheduled magic act was booted because some comedians were in town and wanted to perform. So we got to see Kevin Nealon, Gary Shandling, and Jerry Seinfeld instead!

In Manhattan Beach, Michi's is good for martinis, Fonz's steak and seafood isn't half bad, Talia's has good Cioppino, and Mama D's is a local favorite for reasonably priced Italian. El Sombrero is my favorite for cheap mexican food. There are many more restaurants in the area.

As others mentioned, Santa Monica would be a fun choice as well. Enjoy your one day stay!

Thanks Mina! I am so glad I found this site to post my question b/c I've gotten a lot of helpful feedback. I should have mentioned in my intial post that we are staying at a hotel near LAX (which provides a free shuttle between the two). Anyway thanks again!

Oh, OK. I didn't realize that. Just be aware that the hotels near LAX aren't in the prettiest part of town.

Have a great stay!

We did the same thing - except it was on the way to Tahiti. We had all day in LA (we arrived around 11:00 am and our flight to Tahiti was 11:30 pm). We ended up taking a tour of the LA sights which I thought was fun. It included some "Star's" houses and Mann's. We found it at an Information Center at the airport. It was a good way to spend the day - I wouldn't get a car either (too much hassle). I bet you could find a website for LAX information that might have some tour information options. I hope you have a great time in Tahiti - we LOVED it!!!!!!!!!!

Hi,

If you really want to see Hollywood and you only have one day-then trying to negotiate the busses in Los Angeles would be a mistake. It would take you at least 2 hours to get TO Hollywood and you would have to change busses at least 3 times. I don't think the Blue Bus goes to Hollywood anyways.

Please trust me, you will spend most of your time staring out a bus window. Pick up a car, and drive. If you are dead set against it, then I would opt for a tour or take cabs--check your hotel for listings.

Also, you might check on hotels in Santa Monica--not much to see around LAX.

Thanks to everyone who replied! I have a lot of things to check out before we leave next week (and that's on top of preparing for a trip to Tahiti). No matter what we decide to do for our one day in LA, I', sure we'll have fun, even if we are tired from travelling. Thanks again everybody!!!

Here's what I would do ( and have done)ick up a car at LAX but try to rent from National or another car rental co. that is actually on site (saves time and is easier). Then drive south from the Airport on the road that runs from LAX to SAnta Monica (and beyond-forget the name) but it passes Venice Beach. Stop and walk the Boardwalk at Venice Beach if it's early enough in the day. Continue past Marina Del Rey until you reach Santa Monica. Stay at a hotel there. Do the Third Street Promenade. Then later drive down Santa Monica Boulevard or Wilshire Boulevard and have dinner at the Cheesecake Factory in Beverly Hills on Rodeo Drive or one street over, I forget. Have coffee and dessert at the Polo Lounge of the Beverly Hills Hotel.
What time do you leave the next day? The drive from Santa Monica to LAX is non-freeway, very pretty and really simple. You'll be glad you rented a car, it's the only way to see the sights there.