My wife and I (early 60's) will have just a single day - a Saturday - in LA between flights at the beginning of August. We have never been there before. We will be staying close to the airport (LAX). We don't really want to do a whirlwind city tour and, given the size of the city, I guess that we should just concentrate on one area. I have in mind spending the time in or around Santa Monica -- my wife has in mind doing some shopping. We quite like walking, but, obviously, we won't have a lot of time to work our way around aimlessly. Can I have some suggestions as to what we might do to get a reasonable exposure to the area, please? Or any other suggestions would be welcome. (Not forgetting the shopping, of course!)
I have posted this request elsewhere but didn't want it to get buried. Sorry for the duplication.

I think Santa Monica would be a great idea. You can take Hwy 1 up from the airport to Santa Monica. There is tons of shopping there - 3rd Street Promenade & Montana street. And quite a few restaurants along Ocean Avenue too. There is also the pier & beach to walk along. If you have time, have a drink at the Hotel Casa del Mar at sunset. The views are amazing!

The Getty Center is also fairly close. It's a nice museum & on a clear day, you have a great view of LA.

Thanks Lolly100. It's great to get local input.

I agree. Santa Monica is a great choice given your circumstances/time frame/likes.

I have family in Santa Monica, so I always go there when I'm in Southern California. I also like walking & shopping, and Santa Monica fits both. The Third Street Promenade *is* a great place to walk & shop. You can park at the Santa Monica Place Mall (across the street from the Promenade. Don't go to the Mall... it's just a Mall.)

Or you can also go to the Main Street area which is just a block or so from the beach. I like it, because I can wander, shop, eat, and also get some walking in on the extensive beach-side walking paths. The best area is Main Street between Ocean Park Blvd and Rose Ave. Lots of little shops, galleries, a nice Museum, stuff like that. That's where I usually go. Parking can be a problem some time is the only caveat. The Promenade is definitely easier to park at.

And Santa Monica is a pretty straight shot up Lincoln Blvd to LAX. Not a bad drive at all.

"Rodeo Drive, baby."

Thanks once again for your input. We will not have a car, so parking is not a problem. I have assumed that the best way to get to Santa Monica from LAX is by taxi, although we do quite like using public transport to get a bit more of the local "flavour". Does one hail taxis in LA or are they best picked up at taxi ranks or by phone order? And the tip is around 10%, right?

Public transport is available via Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus. Check the schedules for Route 3, to see if they work for your timing:
www.bigbluebus.com/busroutes/index.asp

Taxis may be lined up outside of your LAX hotel. If not, the hotel staff will call one for you. In downtown Santa Monica, they are located at Santa Monica Blvd. & Arizona:
www.downtownsm.com/bvistors_taxicab.html
Enjoy your short stay!

We have just returned after a great trip. "LA in a day" just about became a day in The Getty. What a fantastic facility! I thoroughly recommend it to anyone visiting LA for no matter how short a time.
We did get to Santa Monica for just enough time to grab a wee bit of the flavour and then have an interesting taxi ride back to our hotel near LAX with a Russian-speaking taxi driver who did not know where he was going, spent most of the journey on the phone trying to get directions, and could not understand us when we tried to point out to him that he had, in fact, driven past our hotel while still talking on the phone.
It's an interesting place.

Try this site for some ideas on where to visit in LA-

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=443587


Mapper

I'm in LA. Santa Monica is your best bet. A cab from the airport will cost about $30 each way. There isn't really public transportation from the airport, though you can take one of the hotel shuttles and then get on a bus. But I wouldn't recommend it since it would take you several hours to get to SM that way instead of 20 mins. LA had bad public transportation and I don't think you will need it. Santa Monica is walkable. Stay by the Promenade where there are tons of restaurants and shopping, and the beach. I would only take the Blue Bus around SM if I were you if you wanted to get away from the Promenade. It's only 75 cents per person and these buses are nice and clean and easy to navigate.

OP has already come and gone. I believe they took a taxi.