still trying to work out this itinerary
will be staying at hermosa beach should we stay there and do LA things for three days or go to SD for three days. have not made plane reservations will only be one way so we can fly out of LAX or SAN thanks again.

If I understand your question, you want to know if you should go to LA or to San Diego.
I would go to San Diego hands down. It is a beautiful place and there are tons of things to do. You can do the beach, the zoo and even go to Tijuana.

Ditto for San Diego! You'll be swallowed up by L.A. On the other hand, San Diego is much more liveable, picturesque, enjoyable, and on and on. Three days in S.D. will be enough to draw you back for a second visit (and a third, and ....).

I Love LA!!! I've lived here most of my life. I spent 5 years in San Diego while in college. It was nice back then. You can visit the beach, Sea World, the zoo, wild animal park, and Tijuana. In the last 5-10 years, they have really built up San Diego. It's a great place to visit. However, there is SO much more to do in LA. There are 4 theme parks, the zoo, beaches, the best restaurants, museuems, sight seeing, and on any given day you might run into an actor, muscian, or rap artist. If you can, visit both. San Diego is a lot slower than LA and more of a college town. You'll be able to get in some sights and relax. LA is much faster and you might not want to leave :0)

HAVE FUN!!!

Hi FlyDST: I agree with your about L.A. I grew up there and we had to move to San Diego b/c of my husband's job. I loved San Diego when we used to vacation here years ago, but don't like living here. It's too built up, the traffic is just as bad as L.A. and there isn't nearly as much to do here. We're hoping to move back to L.A. when my husband retires. That said, we do love the S.D. zoo and Wild Animal Park, but we've been so many times that it's enough already. Have fun wherever you go.

Lucky the OP's planning to visit and not live in San Diego. I wouldn't agree that SD is "more of a college town" although as you lived here when you were in college I can see how that would be your impression.

San Diego hands down!

I recently went to a trip to LA & SD (in March 07). Loved the relaxed atmosphere in SD and so much to do. Didn't care for LA and definitely not the traffic.

You will not be "swallowed up" in Hermosa Beach/Manhattan Beach area. Really pleasant beach towns. I actually prefer them to San Diego.

I would vote for San Diego as well - I think it is a terrific vacation destination and definitely a lot easier to get your hands around than LA.

I lived in Orange County for 16 years and I love LA versus San Diego.
But it all depends on what your interests are. What do you want to see and do?
I love the Getty Museum and also the Autry Museum and maybe you can catch a concert at the Greek.

Hermosa Beach is a great place to stay, and you can't beat the weather, long stretch of clean white sand and all the restaurants in the area. Are you saying you have another 3 days, after your original stay in Hermosa?

Yes, San Diego is also a great place to visit, and if you have extra time to fit it in, go for it. Otherwise, LA has lots to offer as well if you only have 3 days here.

we will be in hermosa Sat night and then have 3 more nights to either spend in LA or SD we figure Wed night we will stay near LAX to fly out the next day

What about Orange County? LOL - just kidding.. I say hands down San Diego. I live in O.C. - grew up in San Diego and still vacation there now by choice!

Taking the family there tomorrow.

Downtown is amazing, (unlike L.A. imo), cannot beat La Jolla, North County, Coranado..all of it - I would definately elect to spend 3 days in San Diego.

I live in the midwest and travel to both LA and SD regularly on business. I much prefer SD. La Jolla is wonderful. Lots to do, and the beaches are great. Del Mar is also a great spot.

We spent 3 nights at the Hotel del Coronado this past Dec., loved it! I would go for San Diego. SeaWorld was a lot of fun and we spent one beautiful afternoon in La Jolla relaxing at the cove, catching a sunset and we enjoyed a nice meal at George's at the Cove which has recently been re-named to George's California Modern.

San Diego is a beautiful city with lots of gorgeous beaches and things to do. ***kim***

LA has Anaheim but San Diego is my favourite coastal US city. Traffic is mayhem but get there and only use the car to get out to eat. Take a bike ride around Mission Bay - across to Sea World and back. You could take the tram to Tijuana but I didn't like it - too many people trying to sell you something.
Take the Trolley Bus Tour to spend one day finding out what's worth spending more time looking at.
Find the Outback Steakhouse (out of town) and have a really good steak.
LA's fun but San Diego is where I'd like to live and holiday

LA most certainly does NOT have Anaheim. (Despite the ridiculously named baseball team) Anaheim is not even in LA County. It is a city in Orange County. Yeesh!

Both the Hermosa Beach/South Bay area and the San Diego area are very nice. You can't go wrong with either, IMO.

LA and San Diego are both in Southern California, they both have nice beaches & lots of sun. Other than that, they're really different places, imo. I've lived in both, visited both; and, as much as I like SD, I find LA much more interesting, more stimulating. But once again, this kind of question is so personal -- there's no right or wrong answer!

In order to answer this with confidence, I'd wish to know where the original poster is from.

If, say, she were from Orlando, then certainly one aspect of the L.A. area would not be as compelling.

It certainly doesn't matter that there is "so much more to do in L.A." when she's only talking about three days. Few would state that San Diego couldn't fill up three days of anybody's life.

San Diego is gorgeous almost all year around, and the temperatures there are more hospitable during the warmest months than are those of L.A.

If the original poster is the sort who loves the film/entertainment industry then of course more time to roam the Hollywood area might be just great.

I say that s/he should decide based on what matters most.

Oh, but I will say, it might be far more enjoyable to fly out of San Diego than to have to go anywhere near to LAX.

Unless you want to go to the San Diego Zoo, there isn't much more value added in San Diego in terms of beaches, climate or restaurants than you will find in Hermosa and Manhattan Beach. And there is a LOT more to do here beside the beach. As far as flights, you might want to look at Long Beach airport if you aren't afraid to fly Jet Blue!