help cant decide San Diego LA or both
 

Hi everyone,
My wife and I are thinking of going to California in July for about 7-8 days. Is it possible to do LA and San diego in that time frame? We were thinking of driving between the two in order to see the sights . How long of a drive is it between the two? I realize that they is a ton to do in both cities. We're more city folk than beach people. Was thinking of Hollywood blvd, Bel Aire etc. in LA not sure in SD.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

It sounds like you've done little research in either area. Both areas are discussed thoroughly on this very forum....

First question first: Yes, both in one week is perfectly doable, although you'll barely scratch the surface in either city (after all, they're the second- and seventh-largest cities in the US). It takes between two and three hours to drive from one to the other-- barring freeway accidents.

Los Angeles is a huge, sprawling metropolitan area; LA County spreads over 4,000 square miles and incorporates almost 100 cities. Most people combine it in their minds with Orange County, which raises the geographic area to 4,800 total square miles. Hollywood and Bel-Air are but two disparate neighborhoods in greater Los Angeles (what made you choose Bel-Air? It's just a very very very very very expensive suburb). "Hollywood" itself is a slippery cultural construct; TV and film production is scattered all over southern California. LA is a city full of museums, art galleries, live theatre (more numerous than in New York City!), live music, and other cultural riches.

San Diego is a fun town, lively and a bit shinier and newer in feel than LA. It has many of the same perks of a big city, along with the headaches-- but it's a bit more conveniently set up for tourists. Most outsiders will prefer it to LA, simply because it's more manageable in size and because it's cleaner and prettier overall (LA is a mature city with beautiful spots as well as eyesores).

You need to pore over the destination guides for both LA and SD on this site, then come back with concrete questions.

Fly into one, and out of another. Fare should be the same but check on one-way car rental rates first as they can vary.

Yes, as the others have said, you can see quite a lot of both cities in a week. Stay for three or four days in one, then move to the other. Don't base yourselves in LA and do day trips top San Diego. You'll spend way too much time on the freeways!

You don't say where you're coming from, but if you live in an East Coast or Midwest city, the chances are you won't consider either LA or San Diego to be "cities" because they are so spread out and the downtown, high-rise areas are relatively small.

rjw, I think you missed one "very"!

And thanks for finding it for me, Barbara! How could I have left it out...? ;)

the drive's about 2 hours between the two depending on time of day, day of the week, and traffic on the freeway.

8 days is definitely enough time to get a taste of both. because LA is so much bigger I'd probably divide my time not quite equally, with a few more days in Los Angeles than San Diego.

HI..
Hands down San Diego! Stay Downtown and enjoy our beautiful city..
It is a 2 hour+ drive to LA...maybe do side trips to Laguna or Newport Beach but I would at all cost stay out of LA..
There is so much more here to do and the air is cleaner and I think the people are alot nicer :)
Here are some websites for you:
www.gaslamp.org
www.signonsandiego.com

If you're more city than beach, I'd go to LA. I love visiting LA and Santa Monica, It's more vibrant and lively. San Diego's a nice place, but to me, it's a little dull. (I live in OC, right in between the two...)
With 8 days, you could easily find time for both, though.

HI..
The more I think about it you need to go to San Francisco then LA or SD..
Now that's a City!

There is so much to do in both LA and SD but here are some initial thoughts for LA:

First pick up an LA Access book

The Getty (and/or visit the villa in Malibu which is open now too).

a day in Pasadena (shopping, eating and museum going - The Huntington Museum and Gardens ar enot to be missed, Norton Simon Museum and Asia Pacific Museum are good choices too)

visit downtown for the museums and eating but don't stay downtown.

BH is good for a day of tourist activities such as walking Rodeo drive, driving around the expensive neighborhoods, shopping (or window shopping), dining

Hollywood is interesting and usually takes people by surprise. See a movie at El Capitan or Mann's Chinese. Hollywood and Highland is a big mall with a good view of the Hollywood Hills (and sign).

pick one beach town for a day trip, shopping, eating, walking the pier - consider Santa Monica, Venice, Manhattan Beach or further south: Newport or Laguna. Others will have good beach suggestions. You should plan to visit, enjoy the beach community even if you aren't going to spend time at the beach.

If you like architecture there is a walking tour downtown (I've heard of but not taken) and lots of Arts and Crafts houses you can tour (such as Gamble House)

If you like to hike or just want to get outdoors - try hiking Mount Hollywood, it is paved and a good view on a clear day, or take a horseback ride out of Griffith Park.

There is also the LA Zoo in Griffith Park and Gene Autry Western Museum across the street.

The Long Beach Aquarium is a good destination too.

Visit The Grove farmer's market and LA County Museum.

It is still pretty early as I type this, so please excuse the errors. If you provide some idea as to your tastes, what you'd like to see and do, we'll be able to give you more suggestions.

Thank you so much everybody for all your help. We decided to take one city at a time to fully enjoy them both as they both seem so wonderful.