I need help planning my coast trip from SF to LA
Jun 18th, 2012 | 11:52 AM
#41
Joined: Nov 2011
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If you only want to get from say the Hollywood area to downtown - the Metro is great for that.
There also is an extensive bus system in the greater LA Basin - that could work for you. http://www.metro.net/riding/maps/
Just google away here to see if you can get from say Hollywood out to the Getty Center and further to the beach (maybe along Sunset) or from Pasadena to wherever you want to go.
If you did wind up taking the train from SB to LA - you could also take/hire a taxi to get you to wherever you are staying and then think about public transportation thereafter.
There also is an extensive bus system in the greater LA Basin - that could work for you. http://www.metro.net/riding/maps/
Just google away here to see if you can get from say Hollywood out to the Getty Center and further to the beach (maybe along Sunset) or from Pasadena to wherever you want to go.
If you did wind up taking the train from SB to LA - you could also take/hire a taxi to get you to wherever you are staying and then think about public transportation thereafter.
Jun 18th, 2012 | 12:00 PM
#42
Joined: Nov 2011
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For example - here is a webpage for the Gold Line in Pasadena that can get you downtown. http://www.ci.pasadena.ca.us/Transportation/Gold_Line/
My brother in law - way back when he was a newlywed - commuted from a nice Pasadena neighborhood to his bank in downtown LA - using an express bus, and his wife also commuted to the dental office she managed.
There are ways to get around - but you have to check it out ahead of time - and might have to transfer depending on how are from you want to travel from where you are staying. And you might have to transfer - but people do it all the time.
West Hollywood has some basic type motel/hotels on up to luxury- and is fairly central, plus has a number of places to see on foot - as well a number of dining options.
Here is one webpage and there are others:
http://www.hotels.com/sd1487060/hote...est-hollywood/
My brother in law - way back when he was a newlywed - commuted from a nice Pasadena neighborhood to his bank in downtown LA - using an express bus, and his wife also commuted to the dental office she managed.
There are ways to get around - but you have to check it out ahead of time - and might have to transfer depending on how are from you want to travel from where you are staying. And you might have to transfer - but people do it all the time.
West Hollywood has some basic type motel/hotels on up to luxury- and is fairly central, plus has a number of places to see on foot - as well a number of dining options.
Here is one webpage and there are others:
http://www.hotels.com/sd1487060/hote...est-hollywood/
Jun 18th, 2012 | 03:01 PM
#43
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 25,597
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Okay, it's unfortunate that more people who live here or have visited have not chimed in yet, so I will if it is not too late.
I totally understand wanting a break from driving. If you take the train from Santa Barbara to Union Station, downtown is the logical place to stay (at least for a few nights). You can see a lot with out a car (which will save you a lot on parking!) Not only is there quite a bit to see downtown, it is the center for public transit lines. The platitude that downtown is dead at night is no longer true, the more active areas are around Staples Center, & Little Tokyo (Thursday thru Saturday in particular). There are also good hotels in the Bunker Hill area but that is quieter at night since it's mostly office towers around. From downtown you can get to Hollywood and Pasadena on the Metro, as well as Wilshire as far west as Western. There is an express bus from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica beach which takes about an hour (Blue Line 10).
A good hotel might be the Biltmore, which is near Pershing Square and a Metro Station. The Sheraton is another one near the Metro. Although there are hotels near Staples Center, they tend to be more expensive.
If you decide you want to visit some more far flung places you can also rent a car for the day. There are also a number of Starline tours and a Hop on Hop off tour from Downtown all the way to Santa Monica http://www.starlinetours.com/
Instead of the Getty, I'd recommend going to Griffith Park Observatory (near Hollywood) or to the top of City Hall (during working hours) for a free view. You can get to the Observatory on weekends by taking public transit to the Vermont/Sunset Metro Red Line station. The LADOT Observatory Shuttle operates every Saturday and Sunday, except holidays, between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and stops in front of the Observatory along the horseshoe driveway every 35 minutes. The fare is 50 cents.
I don't think you will be impressed by the Getty collections, but I do think you'll like the Autry National Center. There is a local bus from downtown to the Autry Center, but it's a slow one that makes a lot of stops (about an hour each way).
I totally understand wanting a break from driving. If you take the train from Santa Barbara to Union Station, downtown is the logical place to stay (at least for a few nights). You can see a lot with out a car (which will save you a lot on parking!) Not only is there quite a bit to see downtown, it is the center for public transit lines. The platitude that downtown is dead at night is no longer true, the more active areas are around Staples Center, & Little Tokyo (Thursday thru Saturday in particular). There are also good hotels in the Bunker Hill area but that is quieter at night since it's mostly office towers around. From downtown you can get to Hollywood and Pasadena on the Metro, as well as Wilshire as far west as Western. There is an express bus from downtown Los Angeles to Santa Monica beach which takes about an hour (Blue Line 10).
A good hotel might be the Biltmore, which is near Pershing Square and a Metro Station. The Sheraton is another one near the Metro. Although there are hotels near Staples Center, they tend to be more expensive.
If you decide you want to visit some more far flung places you can also rent a car for the day. There are also a number of Starline tours and a Hop on Hop off tour from Downtown all the way to Santa Monica http://www.starlinetours.com/
Instead of the Getty, I'd recommend going to Griffith Park Observatory (near Hollywood) or to the top of City Hall (during working hours) for a free view. You can get to the Observatory on weekends by taking public transit to the Vermont/Sunset Metro Red Line station. The LADOT Observatory Shuttle operates every Saturday and Sunday, except holidays, between 10:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. and stops in front of the Observatory along the horseshoe driveway every 35 minutes. The fare is 50 cents.
I don't think you will be impressed by the Getty collections, but I do think you'll like the Autry National Center. There is a local bus from downtown to the Autry Center, but it's a slow one that makes a lot of stops (about an hour each way).
Jun 19th, 2012 | 12:00 PM
#46
Joined: Jan 2005
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The train should take about 2 1/2 to 3 hours. The website is www.amtrak.com, look up SBA to LAX
You can also check "status" on the website to see actual travel times for a particular train.
You can also check "status" on the website to see actual travel times for a particular train.
Jun 20th, 2012 | 07:27 AM
#48
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 11,375
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Think mlgb had some very good advice - but do not agree with the assessment of the Getty Center. Not only do they have some very fine art (some would opine that the LA County Museum of Art had the equal in art - if not more) - http://www.lacma.org/) - but the Getty buildings and grounds are amazing. http://www.getty.edu/visit/see_do/architecture.html
We took a docent's tour of the buildings/grounds - and how they found and brought over the marble and laid it on the buildings is very interesting - as is the history of the beautiful grounds.
If you do get out to the beach by Santa Monica - the "old" Getty - the Villa - designed more in the classic Italian style - is also very interesting/beautiful - and it houses more of the antiquities. http://www.getty.edu/visit/
We took a docent's tour of the buildings/grounds - and how they found and brought over the marble and laid it on the buildings is very interesting - as is the history of the beautiful grounds.
If you do get out to the beach by Santa Monica - the "old" Getty - the Villa - designed more in the classic Italian style - is also very interesting/beautiful - and it houses more of the antiquities. http://www.getty.edu/visit/
Jun 20th, 2012 | 07:30 AM
#49
Joined: Nov 2011
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And here is some info on the beautiful gardens at the (new) Getty Center. http://www.getty.edu/visit/see_do/gardens.html
Jun 20th, 2012 | 07:35 AM
#50
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 13,540
Likes: 2
Did you arrange to drop the car in DOWNTOWN Santa Barbara? You do not want an airport drop there.
How many days do you have in the Los Angeles area?
I would agree that PCH might be no fun, with a first-time-driver very nervous, and the passenger screaming that she is too close to the edge. You could practice around Monterey and then change your mind and take 101 south I guess.
Not sure what your son will see in Palo Alto. Except lots of traffic between 7:30 and 10:30am. Skip Santa Cruz. Two nights near Monterey/Carmel and one in SLO/Pismo. For the cheap but clean lodging you seek, consider howardjohnsonmonterey.com, shellbeachinn.com and marinabeachmotel.com or masonbeachinn.com. (the latter is a bit closer to the Santa Barbara train station).
How many days do you have in the Los Angeles area?
I would agree that PCH might be no fun, with a first-time-driver very nervous, and the passenger screaming that she is too close to the edge. You could practice around Monterey and then change your mind and take 101 south I guess.
Not sure what your son will see in Palo Alto. Except lots of traffic between 7:30 and 10:30am. Skip Santa Cruz. Two nights near Monterey/Carmel and one in SLO/Pismo. For the cheap but clean lodging you seek, consider howardjohnsonmonterey.com, shellbeachinn.com and marinabeachmotel.com or masonbeachinn.com. (the latter is a bit closer to the Santa Barbara train station).
Jun 20th, 2012 | 12:17 PM
#51
Original Poster
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 48
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clarkgriswold - unfortunately the only drop off for the car is the airport, will that be a problem then? Drop off time is midday. Thank you for the accommodation suggestions. We have as many days in LA as we decide to stay - was thinking 3 or 4 nights??
Someone earlier said that Palo Alto is quite a nice place to visit. I think he just wants to say that he has been there??
The whole point of the trip is to take in the views etc on the PCH so chickening out and opting for the 101 isn't an option really.
Someone earlier said that Palo Alto is quite a nice place to visit. I think he just wants to say that he has been there??
The whole point of the trip is to take in the views etc on the PCH so chickening out and opting for the 101 isn't an option really.
Jun 20th, 2012 | 01:20 PM
#53
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,760
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I wouldn't stay in Pasadena but Burbank is an option. Amtrak stops at Burbank airport and you can get an easier flight to Vegas from this airport. Holiday Inn downtown or Residence Inn Burbank, or since you want to visit a movie studio, stay at the Best Western Burbank or the Tangerine Hotel across from WB. From these last two you have a quick 15 min bus ride back and forth to Hollywood via the 222 metro bus. (From the two downtown hotels you could take Metrolink train to Union Station and hitch up to bus or subway there). Burbank is close to your Autry Western Museum(great place, great cafe for lunch too), I think you'd have to take a cab back and forth, not sure about the bus.
Burbank is not easy to the beach. You'd have one bus down to Hollywood connecting to a 2nd bus for a short hop, then an express bus out to Santa Monica. It's a two hour ordeal. You could rent a car from Avis (picks you up at hotel) for a day to go to the beach if you get the urge, but actually the bus trip, though tedious, gives you a nice little tour of lots of neighborhoods.
And, Starline Tours will pick up at Burbank hotels...or just bus down to Hollywood and catch their tours from the Chinese Theatre.
www.discoverlosangeles.com
Burbank is not easy to the beach. You'd have one bus down to Hollywood connecting to a 2nd bus for a short hop, then an express bus out to Santa Monica. It's a two hour ordeal. You could rent a car from Avis (picks you up at hotel) for a day to go to the beach if you get the urge, but actually the bus trip, though tedious, gives you a nice little tour of lots of neighborhoods.
And, Starline Tours will pick up at Burbank hotels...or just bus down to Hollywood and catch their tours from the Chinese Theatre.
www.discoverlosangeles.com
Jun 21st, 2012 | 09:24 AM
#55
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 31
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I grew up in London (now live in Santa Monica) ... I'd never drive in London ... driving in CA is different so you won't have any problem driving Hwy 1. My advice would be drive the whole way (skip the train) and stay in Santa Monica or the westside of Los Angeles (definitely NOT downtown L.A.). You can take 1/2 day or 1 days bus tours from your hotel. I'd skip that double decker hop-on/hop-off bus because they run so infrequently.
Jun 21st, 2012 | 09:40 AM
#57
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 11,752
Likes: 17
This may help you with transport between LAX and the Santa Barbara airport in Goleta. http://www.sbairbus.com/
There is also city bus service from the airport into Santa Barbara. We recently visited our son and his family at UCSB where he is a student. Most of UCSB is actually west of the airport in Isla Vista.
There is also city bus service from the airport into Santa Barbara. We recently visited our son and his family at UCSB where he is a student. Most of UCSB is actually west of the airport in Isla Vista.
