I'm heading to LA for a couple of days. I've heard many bad things about LA and how dangerous it is. I'll be staying near LAX and just want to see the sights like Hollywood, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills and so on.

Where should I not go in LA? Obviously I know Compton is not a major tourist place, but are places like Long Beach, Inglewood, Downtown, Torrance and so on places to avoid? Is it safe at night to drive from the tourist areas back to LAX?

Thanks in advance!

LA is not a dangerous place and it's no worse than any other major city. Please put on your helmet, because threads like these will usually open a can of worms. C

The biggest danger in L.A. is from the other drivers, some of the worst anywhere as far as using their turn signals when they merge. THERE, I'VE SAID IT! They're also always in a hurry and always on their cell phones. YES, I KNOW THIS IS A GENERALIZATION!

With such a short time in L.A. you should just tell us what you want to see and we can tell you the best way to get there and if there's any route you should avoid. You're not gonna be there very long so the major thing to watch is the OTHER DRIVERS. They all expect that YOU, TOO have been tailgating, speed-merging and turning left on red lights all your life. They have no patience for newcomers/tourists.

I think it's best to just ignore posts like this.

mlgb - If you really thought that, wouldn't you have ignored it instead of posting?

Actually, you can drive through most any place in L.A. at night without too much fear. LAX is practically sitting on Inglewood, and Inglewood is not as friendly as it once was -- at night at least. Having said that, I recently went to see Coldplay at the Forum with my friend (both females) and since the freeway was a nightmare getting off at Manchester Blvd., we continued on and backtracked, since I know Inglewood fairly well. It's not a tourist destination any more than Compton is.

You'll probably be staying on or near Sepulveda Blvd., so find out where that street is, and just use it to get where you want to go, and don't bother with the freeway. Around LAX the streets are not so much on a grid pattern, so you can get lost easily and end up where you don't want to go. That's why you need to locate Sepulveda and NOT get turned around!

If you head north on Sepulveda, which runs, for the most part parallel to the freeway (the 405), you will find yourself, in about 15 minutes at Pico. If you turn left on Pico, it will take about 15 minutes to get to the beach. If you turn right on Pico. it will take you about 10 minutes to get to the Beverly Hills area (past Century City and 20th Century Fox).

Alternatively, to get to Santa Monica (and probably a little faster), north of the airport Sepulveda splits with Lincoln Blvd. Take Lincoln (it veers left), and that will take you in about 10 minutes to Marina del Rey and another 10 minutes or so to Santa Monica.

Once north of LAX, the city is pretty much laid out in a grid pattern (with a couple of exceptions), so getting to Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Hollywood will all be a breeze.

Torrance has its peaks and valleys, as does Long Beach.

If you wear gang colors, they will not shoot at you.

Overall I'd say all the freeways are relatively safe and if you stay in the more touristy areas and on main roads you will be fine. I would not take unfamiliar side roads back to the hotel or to places you want to see. Downtown during the day is pretty safe and you can tell right away where you should not be so just keep driving til you get to another area. Don't think I would go to Inglewood (although it is near the airport) as I can't think of one thing you have to see there. Torrance, Long Beach (near the ocean) and all the other beach cities are safe when down near the ocean areas. Just remember, LA Area is very large and there is some crime like every big city and if you keep your eyes open and don't go to areas that are unsafe you will be fine. Have fun!!

aawww DasFX... LA is not that dangerous . I think you just gotta learn to adapt to our freeway system! We do have some rude drivers out here. So, just be cautious when you drive on the freeway.

In terms of areas, let me know what kinds of places or what kinds of interests you want to see (parks, malls, beach, malls, museums, attractions).. and maybe i can lay down some of my ideas.