JJ5

June 2014 -back to back Dodgers and Angels White Sox series. ZOO, beach, and lots of other L.A. destinations, but not Disneyland. What would be your suggestion for location area of lodging? Not so much a hotel or motel, we may use vacation by owner, but may not; but which AREA of the larger area? Never been to L.A., not once. So we need and would very much appreciate L.A. savvy heads up. We know we will be driving regardless and will obtain rental car / LAX. We could move once, but would rather stay in one place all 7 days. Driver is accustomed to horrendous Chicago area and I-80-94 IN and MI truck density and 5 or 6 lanes each direction with added 40 inches of snow every month, so driving would not be a huge issue.

L.A. and Dallas are our last two really large USA for baseball never visited. So happy we can hit both teams in one week! Will put up stadium questions later.

THANK YOU!

clarkgriswold

Might seem like silly questions but I would ask how many games you're attending at each stadium....and the times of day. We'd like to keep you out of the worst traffic messes as often as possible, not so much that driving is difficult, it's more the wait times/waste of times.

I'm thinking 2 different locations will probably work out better for you.

janisj

I'd definitely stay in two different places -- one Orange County-centric and one in LA area. But what days of the week are the various games -- that could make a difference whether you could manage w/ just one base.

JJ5

That's exactly the crux. The Dodger's games are all at night and we would probably hit the Wedn. night game. (Arriving Tuesday) The Anaheim games are Friday, Sat. and Sun. Saturday's game is not timed yet (TBA)and Sunday's game is a day game. We would most likely hit the Sunday day game for sure. Thursday would be the "move" day. I think that both of you are right and that 2 locations would be best option. The time element in driving is precisely what I know we do NOT know. Any suggestions - I am all ears.

JJ5

And I am sure we will not attend baseball games on Tuesday or Friday nights. I forgot to answer your very pertinent question. Thursday is their off day between series and we will go to the Zoo most probably. We have other shifting plans too, but always do a lot of them serendipity to locations on these city baseball trips. We have been to Santa Monica on CA coast drive. But have not been L.A. area visitors otherwise.

clarkgriswold

The Zoo would actually work on Wednesday game day, especially if your desire is to stay out at Santa Monica or Manhattan Beach. You could head east at maybe 10:30am after traffic...and see the Zoo, maybe the Gene Autry next door, or Griffith Observatory around the corner. You'd be in easy position to get to Dodger Stadium.

Sat & Sun are, by far, the best days to do any drives in the city...but that won't work for this trip.

I don't think I'd shift hotels on Thursday, that's your only full day-and-evening to sightsee around L.A. I'd plan the switch for Friday, maybe between 11am and 2pm to avoid the worst of traffic.

If you're flight back from LAX is on Monday and you don't time it right, you might want to stay nearer LAX on Sunday evening.

Depending on how much beach time you are hoping for, a stay near Huntington Beach or Newport Beach should be doable, you'd have 30 minute drives to the games on Saturday and Sunday.

But actually,since your Anaheim games are both on the weekend, if you found a great weekly beach rental near the beach in Santa Monica or Manhattan Beach, that might work out the best. The traffic is not anywhere near as nightmarish as it would be getting back and forth to weeknight games in Anaheim. And also this way you'd be in decent position for your flight out of LAX. So, I guess I'd vote for a weeklong stay @ SMonica or MB.....knowing that you will have an annoying drive to and from Dodger Stadium one day (an hour going if you time it right, 40 minutes returning) , and will have to allow just under or over an hour each way to the Anaheim games on Sat &/ or Sun, depending on the exact location of the rental that you find.

JJ5

That's so excellent all around- the entire evaluation. The flight out is around 11:25 am so being near the airport might be a factor, as you say, too.

I like the idea of Zoo on Wednesday and game at night too. Would driving time direct from zoo to Dodgers for a Wednesday night game, by your estimate, be in the 45 minute category too?

And also to be honest, we have always stayed central downtown on baseball trips, but have realized more each year, that we have less liking for the density. Denver, Cleveland and even Houston- we would have preferred just a bit more "out". But that is so hard to know if you have never been before. Seattle, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore it was ideal to be right in the middle.

This has helped immensely. THANK YOU.

clarkgriswold

If you're at the Zoo/Observatory, it won't even take 20 minutes to get to the game. Traffic will be heavy but you won't even need to get onto the freeway. Just ask at the zoo for the Crystal Springs Drive exit...this becomes Riverside Drive and takes you to Stadium Way.

dbdurand

How about staying in the Glendale or Burbank area for the Dodger game days. That is near the intersection of the Interstate 5 and California 110 freeways. That puts you near Griffith Park and Dodger Stadium. Also a short drive to downtown LA to see the Disney concert hall or other attractions. Then move to eastern Anaheim for the Angel games.

JJ5

Yes, that is the other alternative if we choose to move once. I will consider that option of Glendale or Burbank if we find moving once more economic. Both in time and by lodging $$- than staying near Santa Monica or Manhattan Beach for the entire visit and driving more. I have time to grid up some plans for using each option. Although right now, staying near the beach side sounds more appealing. (We are having another blizzard as I type in Northern IL- you literally can not see more than 50 feet for solid snowfall in the air.) Thank you, dbdurand, for that suggestion. That narrows the other option considerably.

And I will remember that advice for asking at the zoo too for the right exit. Like that Wed. scheduling combo- perfect for us, clarkgriswold! THANKS.

The only large downside I can see to being near E. Anaheim at the end- might be the drive to the car return and airport. It might be nasty on a Monday morning. Too nasty? What do you think? Or it might be better to stay at an airport hotel on Sunday night after the Angels game. We don't mind moving. We did that before in Texas when traveling large distances between game dates. But I'd rather just get up extremely early, I think. Anaheim to LAX on Monday morning? Would that be the reverse of a "normal" commute- or not really?

JJ5

I've solved that "end of trip" problem (getting back to LAX from Anaheim in Monday morning rush)and killed two birds with as it was one stone as it is a cheaper air fare later in the day now, anyway. Air tickets purchased and done. Both non-stop, and we have a return flight 1:45pm instead of at 11:45am. Plenty of time to get car back and board on time without a rush from Anaheim.

Now I will look for some lodgings. We will do two different. One in L.A. and one in Orange County/Anaheim.

Burbank/Glendale is fine and that will be most probably. But how about a place called The Farmer's Daughter? Hollywood area? Has any one any knowledge of this hotel?

Thanks for so much help with the timing and placements, and please help me again when I put up a lodging thread in a week or so.

Dodgers tickets look like an easy pull during the week. Angels on the weekend, I am not so sure.

Look for some threads in the coming months. Thank you, again.

janisj

I haven't stayed there for years - but The Farmer's Daughter was, and probably still is, great.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Rev...alifornia.html

JJ5

Thanks, janisj. Look for a lodging thread next week. You are a fabulous resource. There is a strong possibly of a VRBO in Hollywood but it might not be available for 4 full days.