I need help planning a trip to California. We want to visit the Reagan and Nixon Presidential Libraries in addition to Hollywood, a drive up the PCH, and possibly taking in a talk or game show. Are there other sites we shouldn't miss? We plan to vacation in July and will have 5 days. Please include airport and hotel suggestions, along with the most efficient route to take. Our hotel budget is $250-$300 per night.

With only 5 days, I would focus on the LA area only, perhaps go as far north as Santa Barbara. Its hard to suggest an entire itinerary though without knowing anything about you - your interests, the size and make up of your group, etc. Flying into LAX is often the best choice since there are direct flights from lots of places, but depending on where you are coming from, another airport may be better.

You mentioned the PCH - this is the designation given to Hwy 1 in the LA area, but some people have started calling the entire Hwy 1 PCH, including through Big Sur and north of SF. What area are you thinking of?

With only 5 days you do not have time to drive any further north than Santa Barbara (which I prefer as an overnight).
Reagan Library is near Simi Valley and Nixon Library is near Yorba Linda, opposite ends of LA County so no one central place to stay without having to drive a fair amount.

5 days is not very much time and LA is one spread out city. I agree with the suggestion above that Santa Barbara would be about as far north as you'd have time to fit in (if that).

My favorite things about Los Angeles are more old-timey things (I grew up there) like: Olvera Street, Chinatown, Farmers Market (The Grove), La Brea Tar Pits, Griffith Park, Walk of the Stars, the Hollywood sign, Venice Beach boardwalk, Santa Monica palisades.

Airport suggestions? Where are you flying in from?

How many people in the room? THIS July? That's two weeks from now. Get crackin'.

Surely you have the most flight options using LAX?

Some of the talk shows may be on hiatus in July (think Ellen stops taping for most of July and August) but others you may be able to get tickets for like Jimmy Kimmel. This does require more of a time commitment than you may be prepared for and tickets do not guarantee admission.

I have read all the posts to date and have the following comments.

suze's list of "old-timey" things is a good start. I suggest you go to the following site for additional suggestions of places to experience.

http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/l...city-guide.htm

There are several major airports in the LA area. Your decision for which one will depend on your itinerary and of course cost. Here's a link.

http://golosangeles.about.com/od/get.../a/FlytoLA.htm

Maybe...
Day 1 - LAX - Overnight around Manhattan Beach
Day 2 - Drive to Yorba Linda, Nixon Library and
overnight in Hollywood (p.m. traffic may be a problem
Day 3 - Hollywood
Day 4 - Drive to Simi Valley to Reagan Library - overnight
in Santa Barbara (cheaper hotels in Carpinteria 10
miles south of SB.
Day 5 - SB - Drive back to LA

This is a rough itinerary, but hopefully you can get some idea of timing and distances and arrange it to your choosing.

Thanks so much for all the information!! Itinerary is complete!!