I'm in Venice Beach now. I always stay here. I'll post if my car was broken into last night! I hope not!

The bike ride is a great idea, from Marina del Rey to/from Santa Barbara. Have Sunday brunch at Coast restaurant at Shutters Hotel.

LACMA is huge and exhausting if you try to see too much of it in a day. If you are going to Page, though, walk around the outside of LACMA, and pick an exhibit or two (look at the website). Note that there are some free days or afternoons. I like the netsuke collection in the Japanese Pavilion.

BTW (haven't been) there is a new dinosaur hall at the History Museum in Exposition Park.
http://www.nhm.org/site/explore-exhi.../dinosaur-hall

You might like the Autry Museum in Griffith Park since you said you like history-related museums.
http://theautry.org/

We do like the Japanese American Museum, and it's quite small. First Street in Little Tokyo still has a few of the old stores (don't miss Fugetsu-Do). Family owned and operated since 1903. You could easily do a full day downtown, add in Olvera Street (which has a number of historic adobes), Grand Central Station, Disney Concert Hall, the new Cathedral, Broadway and Grand Central Market, the Biltmore hotel is beautiful inside. Perhaps do the Sunday Brunch downtown? Sunday is a good day for downtown, there would not be any commute traffic and museums are open Sundays.

My favorite breakfast is at Philipe the Original but no liquor license ;(

Here is a link for some other downtown Brunch options
http://downtownla.com/brunch-in-the-city.asp

Mlgb-my main debate is still where to stay. I'm leaning towards a hostel in Santa Monica, mostly because it sounds walkable. Can I see downtown on foot or would I need the car? Ideally I'd like to find safe central place to park and then leave the car all day.

I should probably add that my main issue is that I prefer to eat dinner quite late in the summer, but my eyesight makes driving in the dusk/dark a bad choice. I want to be able to walk to dinner. So I'm open to any suggestions about what area I should stay in, just with that caveat.

Walking distance is not much of problem, but I don't know what parts are safe to walk in the dark.

Here's some places to see, missions to go to and restaurants to dine from on my website (with photos).

In L.A., best restaurants I have dined at in last year are The Factory Kitchen, Bäco Mercat, Maccheroni Republic, Church & State Bistro. By the way, in Fullerton, The Summit House is also very good.

http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/california-dreaming-1/

http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/mission-possible/

http://travelswithmaitaitom.com/toms-dining/

http://summithouse.com/

You can see Downtown on foot, marvelousmouse.

There is lots of parking downtown, it is not expensive on Sundays. I usually drive around Bunker Hill or Little Tokyo and see what is available on the street. One that is convenient for Bunker Hill, Disney etc and safe is the World Trade Center at $8 on Sunday.

If you want to start at Union Station and return there, the Gateway Plaza structure is only $6. Although it isn't very central, you could also hop on the Metro Red Line to get back there at the end of the day.

There is also a lot of safe parking around the Music Center.

If you are going to end at the Biltmore and Grand Central, you can park in Pershing Square but I'd rather not be there after dark. If you would leave while it's still light then there wouldn't be a problem. Grand Central also has parking garage but not sure how late they are open on Sundays.

BTW Grand Central Market has been upgrading their eating spots to appeal to the hipster crowd. My favorite restaurant name "Egg Slut" is there, as well some of the old standards. Click on the vendor name for hours.

http://www.grandcentralmarket.com/vendors

I think you'll love the Getty Villa, a private collection art museum (focusing on Greek, Roman, Egyptian antiquities) with a great view near the beach in Malibu. Not to be confused with the Getty Museum, which is also great! I just thought the former could combine history, museums, and nearby beach for you, plus it's more manageable to combine with something else that day.

OK, finally a tentative schedule

Pick my friend up at LAX Saturday.

Stay Sunday and Monday night in Santa Monica. Sunday: labrea/page and lacma during the day. Santa Monica area that evening.

Monday: Getty villa in the morning, maybe stop at Will Rogers for a picnic or play on the beach some where. LA farmers market in the afternoon.

Tuesday: Huntington library, whatever else looks interesting in Pasadena (maybe gamble house) and then drive to Anaheim. Spend Tuesday, Wednesday night, Thursday nights in Anaheim. Tuesday and Wednesday are for Disney/CA adventure. My friend will fly out probably Thursday morning, and then I will continue on to Santa Barbara!

Any ideas of what could be added easily? I think there's time for other activities Monday especially. Maybe non museum things? Of the geek nature I don't want to exhaust my friend museum wise, and she's not as into the outdoor as I am but she does love beautiful scenery, cultural stuff, and popular culture/art. I may just leave Monday open, because if the farmers market is large enough, we could probably spend all afternoon there.

And Disney can't be moved, or shortened, because that's the one thing she really wants to do.

Also, any dinner or cocktail suggestion in Santa Monica?

Ok-- car survived overnight in Venice.

marvel, I think you'd like staying at the hostel in Santa Monica. It would probably be a nice one, and it's a walk able area. And good for bike riding oceanfront.

We were posting at the same time!

I think the farmers market is on Fairfax, closer to La Brea and LACMA. Maybe move that to Sunday.

On Monday, you could go to Malibu or Zuma Beach.

You might also like the Melrose district, for fun boutique shops, on Sunday.

Monday, you might have time to visit UCLA and next door Westwood.

There is so much to do in LA.

You're right! Ok, adding farmers market to Sunday.

I like the idea of Zuma beach for a few hours. I think I need something else in addition on Monday, though. Maybe explore Santa Monica and Venice beach some more? Because neither of us can really sun bathe, I don't really think we will want to stay on the beach all day. Is there enough to do in Santa Monica/be nice beach to keep us entertained all afternoon?

Sigh. That's Venice not "be nice".

I think I'd definitely enjoy melrose district but my friend definitely does not enjoy boutique shopping, so I'm trying to rein myself in for the LA section of my trip.

http://www.beverlyhills.org/explorin...mansion/?NFR=1

This place is interesting.

For your extra time...look at Descanso Gardens. Also, old town Pasadena has a beautiful library and other historic buildings and its nice way to spend an hour walking. The UCLA or !oyola Marymount college campuses are beautiful too for a picnic ,walking and looking at the buildings and art.

Just a clarification - you have yourself staying in Anaheim on Thursday night, but you also say your friend is leaving on Thursday morning and you'll continue to Santa Barbara. I wouldn't recommend staying an extra night in Anaheim if you don't have to.

BTW, since you are driving to Santa Barbara, you could include Malibu and Zuma in that day. Just head up the coast drive. It's a pretty way to go north.

You asked about having enough to do for the afternoon in Santa Monica, and I think there is, especially if you rent bikes and ride down to Marina del Rey.

FYI, the Huntington Library and Gardens, Gamble House and the Norton Simon Museum are all closed on Tuesdays.

"...Gamble House ... are all closed on Tuesdays.

From the Gamble House website:
"A picnic opportunity awaits every week on Brown-Bag Tuesdays. Enjoy your lunch on the terrace and take a docent-led 20-minute tour at 12:15 or 12:45.
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 11:30am–1:30pm (Brown Bag Tues. tours only)
Wednesday: Closed
One-hour docent-led tours are available to the public Thursday-Sunday. Tours begin at noon with the last tour beginning at 3 p.m."