Hi,

LA trip, 7 days, two elementary girls, DH and I. Input welcome. No Disney--we do that yearly. No San Diego--been there, done that. No Venice Beach--come from SF area, have same kind of people.

Activities grouped according to one itinerary day, in no particular order:

--Hollywood, Grauman's Chinese Theater, Walk of Fame, Egyptian Theater, El Capitan, Disney Soda Shoppe
--Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Boulevard, NBC Studios Tour
--American Girl (theater and meal), The Grove, Farmers Market
--La Brea Tar Pits, Olvera Street
--Santa Monica Pier, Third Street Promenade, Getty Center
--Malibu beach, Leo Carillo tide pools
--Universal Studios, Universal City Walk

Do the groupings look doable in a day/in same general area? In what order should I put these days?

Thank you!

The LaBrea Tar Pits are pretty close to The Grove/Farmer's Market. I really dont think the tarpits a must-see unless maybe your kids are dino-crazy.

Olvera Street is not in the best neighborhood, but it's fun for an hour or so. You could walk across the street to ogle the magnificent Union Station. Nearby is the extremely funky and much beloved Phillipe's, "home of the French Dip sandwich."

A twilight trip up to Griffith Observatory would be fun, the views are spectacular especially at sunset and then when the twinkling lights begin to shine in the city below.

Thanks, vivi. So should we combine seeing the La Brea Tar Pits with the Grove/American Girl Day?

I'll check into the Griffith Observatory. Which attractions is it closest to so I know what day to do it on?

Also, where is the best spot to see the Hollywood sign? Thanks.

I don't agree about the Tar Pits... you should see the very small but well organized Page Museum which is on the grounds of the Tar Pits, and then visit the pits themselves. The kids will understand it all so much more.

That's what we're planning to do--see the museum and the tar pits together. I just didn't write Page Museum because I figure that's a given if I mention La Brea Tar Pits.

The best spot to see the Hollywood sign is at Hollywood and Highland, on the bridge in the Babylon Court section. (Hollywood and Highland is connected to Grauman's Chinese theater.)

A great walking tour of Hollywood is Redlinetours.com. I did this about a month ago, and loved it. And I'm a local!!

The Tar Pits are vey close to the Farmer's market - I'd combine for sure. great activities. How about nights - are you coming when anything good is at the Hollywood Bowl that the kids would enjoy? The Bowl is great beacuse you can bring a picnic - but, would park and ride so you can get out with the kids.

FYI - I find Universal City Walk not very kid friendly at night. Better to see in the day or early evening or do a weeknight.

The Getty is particularly great earlier in the day before it gets crowded. There is a great restaurant where you can choose from a variety of stuff (entrees, pizza, salads, etc). My three year old (younger than yours) loves the spaghetti there. Have you been to the newly renovated Getty Villa? Check it out online. You must reserve tickets/car space in advance.

Downtown you could hit the fantastic puppet theater too - I forgot the name but will get back to you.

Thank you, Denice for the tip about the Hollywood sign! I don't know where things are in L.A. and how far they are from each other.

Is that tour good for two girls, 8 and 10? Too much walking might not work or talk that's going over their heads.

Thanks, Renee. I'm guessing we go to the Hollywood Bowl the same day we go to Hollywood, Grauman's Chinese Theater, Hollywood sign, etc. Probably the same area. We are going third week in August. Perhaps they have a website I can check to see what shows are on.

I'll check the Tar Pits/Page Museum hours and see how to fit it in with our American Girl/Grove day.

The Getty Villa is different from the Getty Center, I gather. We were going to see the Getty Center the same day as the Santa Monica pier and Third Street Promenade. Is the Getty Villa in the same general area?

Still don't know where the Griffith Observatory is and where to fit that in. My guess is it's close to downtown, so maybe that should go with the Olvera Street day.

So these are my revised days, in no particular order:

1. Hollywood, Grauman's Chinese Theater, Walk of Fame, Hollywood sign, Egyptian Theater, El Capitan, Disney Soda Shoppe, maybe a tour???

2. Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, cruise down Sunset Boulevard, NBC Studio Tour (is this near Beverly Hills)?

3. American Girl theater and meal, the Grove, Farmers Market, La Brea Tar Pits

4. Santa Monica Pier, Third Street Promenade, Getty Center

5. Griffith Observatory, Olvera Street

6. Universal Studios, Universal City Walk (not at night)

7. Malibu beach, Leo Carillo tide pools

Don't know where the Getty Villa fits in.

The Griffith Observatory atop Griffith Park. You may want to go to their website to see if shuttle buses are still required for entry (one line left from the ZOo vicinity, another from Hollywood and Highland.)

You can see the Hollywood sign very well from the Observatory grounds!

The Getty Villa in Malibu requires advance reservations.

The tour isn't that long, maybe a total of 5 blocks ... 3 on one side of the street, 2 on the other. I think it would be fine for the kids ... it's only about 90 minutes long, and they will see alot of things. Some of the detail might go over their heads, but there will be alot of fun things for them to see.

I agree with Renee about City Walk not being great at night .... better to stick with it during the day.

You could do the Observatory on the day of Olvera Street. Olvera Street won't take too long ... there are a couple of good restaurants there (the two main ones, sitting across from eachother).

Where are you staying?

I grew up in Los Angeles, and at the age of your daughters I was a big fan of both LaBrea Tar Pits and Olvera Street. Also Griffith Park and the Farmers market. And definitely the walk of stars & movie star handprints at Chinese Theater.

Thanks for all the helpful input! This is our first non-Disney L.A. trip and we are so clueless! Still looking for a place to stay. Thinking of either Santa Monica or Beverly Hills (if we can find something affordable there) or maybe the Farmer's Daughter near the Grove. Any input on these? They say Hollywood is too seedy a place to stay for families--is that true?

We're hoping to find a place that's less than $200 a night, the less the better. I know in LA it's hard to find a place close to $100 a night unless it's far from attractions, in a bad neigborhood or just plain dumpy. Unless you guys know of a clean, decent place that's near the sights and in a safe area.

Hello,

I was in LA 2 weeks ago with my girlfriend, we were visiting from Ottawa, Canada. We happened to discover an amazing bed and breakfast on the net, and had a great experience there. It is about $100 a night, anamazing hot breakfast in the morning, even free parking. And amazing location, in Hollywood just off Melrose.

Check it out here if you are interested:

www.ecaterinasbedandbreakfast.com

All the best,
Claudio

Do you have AAA? We just stayed at residence inn in Manhattan beach and it was $104 a night. I think a penthouse suite wa $199. I am not sure if that is a 2 bedroom but mon-thur they have a "light dinner" included and breakfast in rate the one night they had light dinner when we stayed- swedish meatballs,and ground beef patty, mashed potatoes and salad. Might help budget a little and also full kitchen for picky eaters.

If you are going to Malibu I would also suggest Adamson house. They gave a little history of area and it is right on beach and also next to a bird santuary. Tiles in house were wonderful and it would be interesting to girls, Even had a tiled dog bath.

Thanks for the suggestions. Good to know there are decent places around $100 a night. That place in Hollywood, Hotspur--again, is that area safe for families with kids?Zozozo, how was the distance from MB to the sights?

Okay, here is my revised itinerary because I realized that NBC Studios is in Burbank:

1. Hollywood, Grauman's Chinese Theater, Walk of Fame, Hollywood sign, Egyptian Theater, El Capitan, Disney Soda Shoppe, maybe a tour???

2. Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, cruise down Sunset Strip

3. American Girl theater and meal, the Grove, Farmers Market, La Brea Tar Pits

4. Santa Monica Pier, Third Street Promenade, Getty Center

5. Griffith Observatory, NBC Studios Tour

6. Universal Studios, Universal City Walk (not at night)

7. Malibu beach, Leo Carillo tide pools, Getty Villa

I don't know where to put Olvera Street now.

check out my blog:

http://destinationstation.blogspot.c...of-angels.html

i have tons of ideas!

I'd put Olvera Street with #5. Do NBC tour in the morning (Burbank) ... go to Olvera Street for Lunch (Los Angeles) ...hop across the street and check out Union Station .... then go to the Observatory (Los Feliz area). It's like a giant U Turn. On the way to Olvera Street, drive through Griffith Park ... you can stop at the merry-go-round ... or train town for a bit

If you visit Santa Monica on a Thursday, you'll want to end your day at the Pier where there is the Twilight Dance Series (free concert). Get a picnic, lay a blanket on the sand, or rent a bike and ride along the beach. That'll be a real Santa Monica experience.