zago

I'm planning my first trip to the Los Angeles area for the end of July. I would like to stay about 7 days and nights and then go either to San Diego for 2-3 days or to Santa Barbara for 2-3 days before heading back east.

I would like suggetions: Where should I stay in LA? Is 7 days to travel around the area too much or too little? What sights should I not miss? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

JRP

Please, pardon my sarcasm- I just spent a day and night trying to get in and out of LA on a day trip from San Diego.
7 days will be fine if you have a minimal itinerary of attractions to visit because you'll spend 6 days in your car. Prepare yourself by exercising your sense of humor.
You will need it.

janisj

welcome to Fodors. Your questions are next to impossible to answer w/o more info from you.

What sorts of things interest you?
What is your budget for accomodations?
You are renting a car I assume??

The LA Basin is HUGE. You are going there for some reason - probably already have some ideas of your own, right? So, what research have you done? I'd start by clicking on DESTINATIONS above and get a basic idea of what you want. And then come back w/ a bit more focus.

zago

Gee, how friendly are the two of you. First of all, no problem with dealing with the traffic. I live in Manhattan. I'm familiar with traffic. Second of all, I just wanted some suggestions...throw out some ideas and I'll decide whether to reject or accept them. What would you recommend to a friend who has never been to LA area and wants to get the lay of the land and a flavor for the LA area. If you were planning a 7 day trip to LA for someone, what would you plan, where would you stay and what would you absolutely include? Is that too much to ask?

janisj

"Is that too much to ask? yes.

I wouldn't plan a trip even for a friend unless I at least knew what sorts of things they liked.

If you check we did not mention traffic - we mentioned SIZE. The LA area is huge, covers several counties and we need to know what sorts of things interest you before we can give you any sort of useful advice.

crazycatladyk

Hi zago,

I don't think they meant their responses to be rude. It's just very difficult to suggest anything without knowing: 1) your age, 2) will you be traveling alone, w/friends, spouse, kids, 3) your interests--museums? beaches? theme parks? shopping? sightseeing? culture? 5) mode of transportation, 4) your budget.

People can suggest places to stay that range from a few bucks a night to hundreds of dollars a night.

To give you some perspective, I've lived in SoCal for almost 40 years. I still haven't seen some of the "recommended sights." And traveling between sights, well it takes me 1 hr & 45 minutes to drive to work in the morning (37 miles) during rush hour traffic. That's roughly the distance between Anaheim (Disneyland) to Beverly Hills. And don't let the term rush "hour" fool you. Rush hour, in the morning, is usually from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. LOL

Here is a thread from another site which lists a few SoCal attractions.

Take a look:

http://www.frommers.com/cgi-bin/[email protected]^[email protected]

Sorry, I don't know if the hyperlink will post properly...don't scream at me you fodorite pros. LOL

zago

I live in Manhattan. If someone who never visited Manhattan told me that they had 7 days to visit, I certainly could knock off 7 days of suggestions, all without knowing what sorts of things they liked to do. So Janisi, please refrain and restrain from replying. To everyone else, please throw out suggestions for me. I'd like to stay somewhere in the LA area for 7 days, preferably on the ocean, and do day trips around the City and the areas, north, south & east, to experience the lay of the land.

frank_and_beans

7 hours would be too much LA for me but if you have 7 days you could see...

Hollywood
Universal Studios
Disneyland
Santa Monica / Venice Beach
Beverly Hills / Rodeo Drive
Getty Museum
Newport Beach / Laguna Beach

You should stay in the Santa Monica area. Or maybe stay a few days in Santa Monica and a few days in Orange County for things like Disneyland, Laguna Beach, etc.

I would personally take a day or 2 off and add it to San Diego so you had either 5-5 or at least 6-4. But I am biased.

zago

Thank you. Forgive me. I see your point. We are late 40 something straight couple, no children in tow. We plan on renting a car at LAX and keeping it for the entire stay. We are interested in beaches, sightseeing, museums, some shopping and NO theme parks. We would consider culture but it is not necessary. A friend works in the travel department of a large corporation and has suggested staying in the West Hollywood area at either Grafton, Le Montrose, Mondrian, Bel Age or Luxe on Sunset. All are within our budget. However, I am inclined to stay at the beach and the suggestions from our friend are Delfina Santa Monica, Doubletree Santa Monica, Le Merigot Beach Hotel, again all within our budget. Any recommendations based on our friend's suggestions? On the other hand, he says that the Ritz Carlton Huntington is a beautiful hotel in a beautiful setting and that it is nice to walk in the old town Pasadena.

GP

Hi Zago

Love the East coast ATTITUDE. Manhattan is about 23 square miles The LA area is about 10 times that. Anyway go to the Beach you could go one each day Manhattan Beach, Long Beach, Venice Beach, The Beach at Santa Monica, Newport Beach, Malibu beach. Go see the dodgers, go to the LA zoo, Hollywood, Disneyland, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive Universal Studio. My guess is you'll fit right in in laid back LA.

Have Fun
GP

mlgb

At the end of July, Santa Monica is likely to be experiencing overcast and fog, aka June Gloom. Also, the water is colder than you would expect. So my inclination is to recommend the Pasadena location. But the standard response on this forum is Santa Monica.

Museums: Without even mentioning the Contemporary Museums or the County Museum of Art, I can think of the following:

West side: The Getty, the Getty Villa (Malibu-needs reservations), Peterson Automotive Museum, Museum of Tolerance, Fowler Museum of Archaeology at UCLA, Hammer Museum at UCLA.

Pasadena: Norton Simon, the Huntington (library, art collection, and gardens).

Downtown LA area: Autry Museum of the American West, Japanese American Museum (the two MOCAs are also downtown). I'd also recommend a walking tour of Downtown LA.

frank_and_beans

If you can't recommend that somebody stays near/at the beach in July in So. Cal when can you?

End of July is great beach weather.

SusanM

Without any regard to what anyone likes but me, here are my recommendations:

Getty Museum
Farmer's Market (Saturday am)
Driving up in the canyons/around Mulholland
Driving up the PCH as far as you feel like, then heading back
Get tickets to the taping of a TV show - any show

One thing that I was totally unaware of, but soon became obvious to me, was that it's quite a "thing" to congregate on the beach at sunset to - watch the sunset. Don't miss it!

janisj

"So Janisi, please refrain and restrain from replying"

That is just sooooooooo silly. I did NOT say one rude word - I simply asked what you liked. And then after sniping at me you climbed down off your NY high horse and actually provided what I asked you.

go figure???

have a great trip . . . . .

lcuy

Definitely won't have June Gloom at the end of July. It will be hot at the beach and hotter inland. The perfect time for So. Calif beaches.

If you read the recent thread titled something like "If you arent't at the GTG in Pasadena, you're missing out", you find some great tips on the Pasadena area. I grew up in So CA and was amazed at how nice it is there. Lots of great dining and entertainment, many historical sights, etc.

San diego is a great town to relax in. Stay in the GAslamp quarter or in Coronado. Rent a bike and cruise coronado or walk on their long beautiful beach. Take a pedestrian ferry, see the Star of India, do a lot of eating & drinking in the Gaslamp, stroll through La Jolla, see the sea lions at the cove, visit Old Town, the museums at Balboa Park, and of course the Zoo.

jbass

Other ideas:
The Tonight Show – Burbank
Hollywood Bowl www.hollywoodbowl.com
The Greek Theatre (outdoor music) www.griffithobs.org
Griffith Park Observatory www.griffithobs.org
Watts Towers http://www.misterpants.com/library/wattstowers/
Santa Monica Pier

Shopping Areas:
Rodeo Drive (Beverly Hills) Prada, Armani, Gucci, Versace, Hérmes
Melrose (West LA) contemporary, funky, and vintage style clothing, jewelry, shoes, and accessories.
Montana Ave (Santa Monica) Upscale chic, linen shops, clothing stores, and jewelry vendors

Hotel Bel Air (for a drink; gorgeous place)
701 Stone Canyon Road (off of Sunset)
http://www.hotelbelair.com/

Will Rogers State Historic Park: Around the corner from Hotel Bel-Air. Picnic or hike; also the original home.

If you drive to San Diego – make time for Laguna Beach. Sit on the deck at the Laguna Beach Hotel (overlooks the ocean/beach) – have lunch or late afternoon cocktail. Laguna is also a cute town.

kleroux

I think the La Brea Tar pits and the Page museum are interesting, and right across the street from the Peterson Auto museum...close to the art museum too. I think its fun to see the Santa Monica 3rd St. walk st..lots of people watching... and Venice beach. Rent a bike and ride a while. The Santa Monica farmers market is beatiful..don't remember what day its on. L.A. is interesting...you'll probably spend most of your time West of Beverly Hills... Then I'd go south to San Diego rather than Santa Barbara.

dawnnoelm

Hi Zago,
I live in Orange County - grew up in San Diego. I would not spend 7 nights in L.A. - I would cut it in half and do the rest in San Diego. Can you fly back from S.D.? It would make it more pleasant.
On where to stay in L.A. I noticed you had listed the Double Tree S.M. as an option - I would pass. I recently stayed there when we took our girls up to see Wicked. I used points - so it was not that big of a deal for me. It is RIGHT on the 10 freeway - I mean RIGHT - I would personally cross that off my list unless it is free.
When in Santa Monica - I recommend you and your dh have dinner at BOA - we love it there and go whenever we are in Vegas (they have one there) or Santa Monica
I would suggest Wicked..but since you are from NYC - I suppose seeing a show is not on the top of your list.
Spend a few hours at 3rd Street promanade - it is a fun outdoors shopping area in Santa Monica...

dawnnoelm

I disagree about June gloom at the end of July...I have lived here my most of my 39 years and the end of July is usually nice..at least by 12:00 noon <grin>.

dawnnoelm

Zago,
Have you considered a few nights in L.A. then a few in O.C. and then onto San Diego?
The Surf and Sand in Laguna is wonderful, if you can afford the price tag a few nights at the Montage or St. Regis are to die for