Fodor's Travel Talk Forums - First timers to California

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You are going to love Laguna Beach - it is quintessential California. Have fun when you are here!!

I have to agree, Laguna Beach is quintessential <i>southern</i> California :)

Laguna Beach, although nice, will put you too far from Hollywood. It's a bit of a chore to get to on the canyon road or PCH. A better alternative and lots more beach is Newport Beach peninsula. There is plenty to do to make everyone happy and it is easy getting to the freeway.

Due to your budget and number of rooms you may want to consider renting a vacation home. The most "hotel" like rentals are from Casa de Balboa:

www.casadebalboa.com

or try

www.vrbo.com

and weed through the pics.

Enjoy your trip!

Thanks for the info. We actually are staying in West Hollywood at Le Parc for 5 nights and THEN going to Laguna so we don't need to go back to Hollywood. I have reservations at Vacation Village in laguna. Any info on things to do,(we like everything) and where to eat, Hollywood area and laguna (we want great food and atmosphere and don't care about price necessarily). Thanks for everyones input!!

katy- I vote for Newport Beach! Excellent beaches, shopping, etc.

Fashion Island is a must! :)

And don't forget posters- they are a family. They get to use the HOV lanes, so staying a little south won't be so traumatic. :)

katy, we loved Universal Studios, also! Maybe you can get tickets to Leno! :)

Have fun!

Paula

<i>And don't forget posters- they are a family. They get to use the HOV lanes, so staying a little south won't be so traumatic. </i>

Sorry, but what does this mean?

I shouldn't have posted so quickly -I just figured out what you meant by "posters - they are a family". Took me awhile LOL!

One fun activity in Laguna is the Pageant of the Masters:

Ninety minutes of "living pictures" - incredibly faithful art re-creations of classical and contemporary works with real people posing to look exactly like their counterparts in the original pieces.

http://www.foapom.com/

You'll need to get tickets soon if you want to go.

The Sawdust Festival is a fun outdoor craft festival.
http://www.sawdustartfestival.org/

July is crowded in Laguna, but you can easily walk, and there is a trolley shuttle. There are plenty of good restaurants.

I think Vacation Village is a good choice. There are ping pong tables and a teen game room (I think), it's right on the beach.

There is an interesting place called Crystal Cove, which is where the movie "Beaches" with Bette Midler was shot. There are a bunch of old beach houses and a restaurant.

Downtown Laguna is so charming. There is a nice movie theatre, and lots of shopping. You can do a lot of people watching at the main beach.

Now, in LA, be sure to go to Farmer's Market, and you may see stars there. The La Brea Tar Pits is unusual. You can get tickets to see television tapings which is fun.

One hotel I like in LA is the Magic Castle Hotel, which is next to the Magic Castle, a members only magic club, which you can go to if you are staying at the hotel. You are also near Grauman's Chinese Theatre, and Hollywood Blvd. You might want to see what is playing at the Hollywood Bowl while you are there.

http://www.magiccastle.com/

And, in LA, one good place to see stars in the Chateau Marmont. It is a very fun place to stay, but may have gotten too expensive, however, you can go there for a meal. I always see stars when I stay there, especially by the pool.

http://www.chateaumarmont.com/

I'm not sure about posting links, they seem to appear twice, and the first one doesn't work.

Hi katy,

Now that the writers' strike is over, there are new show taping schedules posted at www.tvtix.com, and www.tvtickets.com. Shows such as Jeopardy and Deal or No Deal and some Disney Channel shows have lower age minimums. The schedules only go 30 days out, so keep checking.

These sites also show some movie productions that need extras. There is one filming at the Pyramid in at CSU-Long Beach in June. (min. age 18) Last year, one Fodor's poster was a extra in a stadium scene in the movie "Semi-Pro" with Will Ferrell.

I really appreciate all the recent info. Initially it was my son that wanted to go to southern CA but since I posted and have gotten info, Iam so excited to go too!! Thank you all soo much!!