4-5 days in L.A.-Need suggestions
 

Hi! We will be traveling to LA in mid December to attend the Cat Stevens concert! We are so excited! We are unfamiliar with LA and need suggestions on where to stay (which area of LA) and other things to do while there. We are pretty adventurous and love being outdoors. Wasn't sure if there were some good hikes around the area. And then at night we were thinking about maybe seeing a comedy show or two. We are really up for anything as the only thing we have planned is the concert. Thanks for any tips!

where's the concert, will you have a car, what's your budget per night in US dollars

I would go to Santa Monica. Lots of stuff to do and see.

Allow A LOT of extra time when driving around LA to get from point A to point B. Ten miles could take an hour.

The prettiest beach in LA County is Malibu. It's a little out of the way but worth the drive!

Runyon Canyon is a famous hiking spot in West Hollywood Hills. It has a great view of the city at the top. Lots of celebrities hike here, so keep your eyes peeled ;)

If you like art, the Getty Museum is a good spot (it's free). There are a lot of awesome views of the city there too.

Griffith Observatory is another favorite (also free with more great views).

Catalina Island is a nice day trip. You can take the Catalina Express out of Long Beach to the island for the day and explore Avalon, CA.

There are two Getty's: The Getty Center and the Getty Villa. It can be confusing. Both are wonderful, both have free admission, but pay parking at one (or both?).

Go to the website to make a timed reservation.
http://www.getty.edu/

They are fabulous museums, with gorgeous views. The Villa is antiquities, the Center is contemporary.

If you get up to Malibu we always enjoy a hike at Will Rogers State Park. Lovely views and a tour of the house was very interesting. I do remember who he was but maybe not your generation. But it's a lovely spot as are all the California state parks.

Renting bikes at Venice Beach is great, wonderful trail along the water towards Santa Monica, lots of interesting characters around or explore the walk streets in Venice looking at the interesting houses.

In LA a visit to the Farmers Market near the Grove (Fairfax and 3rd) is always fun - food stands, produce, shops and we always stop at the bar for a beer. Say hi to Mike our favorite bartender.

I did two fun hikes with my LA-based daughter on a recent trip there--the hike to the back of the "Hollywood" sign and the hike to the "M*A*S*H" outdoor set in Malibu Creek State Park. Here are links with info on those hikes:

http://www.modernhiker.com/2010/05/1...ollywood-sign/

http://www.malibucreekstatepark.org/ParkInfo.html

For a funny (and low-cost) evening, go to a Second City Hollywood show. Tickets range from $5 - $10. We had a great time!

you can hike up and around Griffith Observatory. I also really recommend the Getty Villa, different than the Getty Museum. It is on a cliff overlooking Malibu and is beautiful. There's lots of other hiking in LA if you google it.

People are batty about Santa Monica on here, you'd think it was the only place to stay in LA. It's can be pretty expensive (although mid-Dec isn't bad), if you aren't going to the beach, there isn't a lot of reasons it's better than many other places in the metro area.

That concert is downtown (Nokia center), a few blocks frm the 7th St metro stop. I'd recommend you stay more central, I often recommend this place as very convenient to HOllywood, Beverly Hills, downtown, Fairfax area, etc., and very good rates. It's not that far to Griffith Park, either.
http://www.elanhotel.com/

Of course there are plenty of hotels downtown if you want, or you could stay in Pasadena, it's nice, also. Depends what you want to do.

The Will Rogers park is off Sunset Dr, nowhere near Malibu. Sometimes there are polo games there, which are fun to see.

Incorrect. Will Rogers Park is in Pacific Palisades which borders Malibu.

http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=626

I am referring to this Will Rogers estate, which is a fair drive on Sunset up to Malibu.

There is also a Will Rogers State Beach.