We are making a pit stop in LA for a little over a day before continuing down to La Jolla and are looking for any suggestions on what to do/see. I have a business meeting in Studio City so we will be staying in that general vacinity (hotel suggestions also welcome).

Any must see must dos? I know it is a short amount of time - so any ideas of something that will make a 4 year old happy with out making the parents crazy would be most welcome!

You can stay at Universal CityWalk and hang out there. Lots of restaurants etc, pretty touristy. It really depends on what you're looking to do. Do you want a tourist experience? Have you been to LA before? Or are you just looking for activities for a 4-year old, not related to tourism? Are you considering nature-type activities or something else?

Thanks for the reply. I have been to LA, but it has been years and my husband has never been. Looking for things that are unique to LA - touristy. Places that if you were limited to just a day were a must see - don't want to miss that - I can shop at home maybe not Rodeo but close - also we'll be doing plenty of nature stuff later in the week - so something fun.

I'm not an expert on what 4-year olds like, but you might look at the Griffith Park website. They have Travel Town, pony rides, a zoo, the Autrey, etc. It isn't too far from Studio City.

http://www.laparks.org/dos/parks/gri...activities.htm

How about Disneyland?

Disneyland

My kids love love love the Natural History Museum. They were renovating their Discovery Room (Children's area). Might want to call and make sure it's done. They have awesome animal/dinosaur exhibits. Also within walking distance is the California Science Center with wonderful hands-on kids area as well.

I took my 4 year old niece to CA w/me on a business trip one year. She and DH went to Santa Monica Pier and she absolutely loved it - she walked on the beach, chased the waves and went on the ferris wheel. She also spent a day at Disneyland and loved that!

Since you only have a little over a day, a trip to Disneyland is not really doable unless you're willing to spend an entire day on it. It's about an hour outside of LA without traffic. It's actually in Orange County in Anaheim.

If you want to do typical LA things that would be fun for a 4-yr old, I would go to the Santa Monica pier as someone suggested and also Universal Citywalk. The California Science Center in downtown is also a good idea and your kid would have a great time there, though it's not much of a cultural experience.

Thanks everyone. I think the Santa MOnica Pier might be a hit....

Is there anywhere that is a must stop at point on the drive down to La Jolla?

legoland

One more Q - what is the drive time between Santa Monica and Studio City? I am thinking of staying in SM instead of Studio City and driving up for my meeting - but I see there is a lot of road construction - my meeting is at 11 AM - how much time should I allow?

Thanks again for all the help!

I would 2nd Legoland down near Carlsbad. If you can work out the schedule that would be my 1st pick as our grandson (5 yoa) loves it and has been several times (they live in LA).

If not then probably Griffith Park.

you would be taking the worst freeway (405) from SM to Studio City, so it may take 30 mins without traffic (unlikely) to 1.5 hours. At 11am, it probably will be 45 mins or so. But I would give it at least 1 hour to be sure you're on time, or even 1 hr 15min.

I would definitely recommend staying in Santa Monica, though it will probably be more expensive. Do you have a budget? Is your company paying for it? If cost is not a big issue, I would try Loews SM, The Fairmont, the Viceroy. Doubletree is right next to the freeway, so not as nice as staying right at the beach, but it's walking distance to the pier.

Griffith Park is not on the way to La Jolla. Disneyland actually is, or anything else in Orange County.

Almost everyone seems to have understood that they are staying in LA in Studio City and were looking for recommendations for that area, not for La Jolla.

I think someone might want to come up with a new screen name. Unless it was meant as a joke.

The OP did ask for recommendations for a stop on the way to La Jolla. Legoland would be fun for a 4 yr old but you could spend all day there so not sure it's the type of place just for a stop off. If you are spending a few days in the San Diego area, I would definitely take time to go to Legoland. It's perfect for 4 year olds.

mlgb, i'll try to avoid pointing out your rudeness, but will just say that maybe next time you should try reading the entire thread before jumping in with remarks that make YOU look like an idiot.

smartcookie-Yes maybe mlgb didn't read as careful as she should have but if you were trying to avoid being rude, I don't think you managed to do that.

this is the third insulting posting he's made at me for absolutely no reason. sarcasm.