Los Angeles with a Teen
 

I will have only 2 days in LA with my 14 year old girl.My question is about Griffith Park. Is it worth spending a day on Observatory tour and a Zoo? If so, how long you think it will take, all day or a part of it, so we could do something else that day? Any other ideas that may appeal to a teen are appreciated as well.Thank you

Our family really enjoys Griffith Park. The Observatory has a great show, don't miss it. If you went in the morning, you could probably do both, have lunch and then go somewhere else.

What is your daughter interested in?

I love Griffith Park which is a very L.A. version of Central Park. Parts are untamed, semi-wild and totally unexpected in the middle of an enormous urban area. The Observatory was recently reopened after extensive renovation, but if your daughter isn't interested in astronomy I'd plan something else. In a short, 2-day trip to L.A., I wouldn't go to the zoo unless your daughter is crazy for zoos. FYI, weekends everywhere in the park are very crowded.

Where are you coming from? Unless you don't have a Zoo in your area, I think your daughter would probably enjoy other sights. Go shopping and have lunch on Melrose Ave. I am sure you are planning a quick trip to Hollywood to see the Chinese Theater and you can also shop or eat lunch at the Hollywood and Highland Center.

Where are you staying? There is also Santa Monica where you can walk along the 3rd Street Promanade and see the ocean.

I do think the Observatory would be worth it and it's not far from Hollywood-in fact very close.

Thank you for the responses. It sounds like Griffith Park is a good idea since my dauhter loves animals and does not care about shopping. Also your info helps with the day choice for the park. We have Friday, Saturday and almost all day Sunday before the flight so we'll try to visit the park on Friday to avoid the crowds.
I've checked the park map and it seems that there is quite a distance between the observatory and the Zoo. Is there some kind of a shuttle or bus between the two? Or we can cover it on foot? If so how long is the walk?
Also if you have some other ideas on how we can spend the time to see and enjoy some of city sites please share.
Thank you

The distances are too far to walk, and unfortunately there is no shuttle.

Have a great day in the park!

What about the Getty Museum? It is in a beautiful setting.

Maybe your daughter doesn't care about shopping but alot of going along Melrose is just seeing all the people. Maybe going to the Farmer's Market might be more interesting.

Like I said, I don't know where you live but if you are coming from a long way, it sort of seems a shame to spend one of your two days at the Zoo. Not there is anything wrong with the LA Zoo, it's just not the way I would spend my weekend when I was trying to get a feel for Los Angeles.

Maybe others have other suggestions.

Her daughter loves animals, so the zoo makes sense. (I'm so pleased when I hear about a young girl who's not interested in shopping and the street scene.)

I like the idea of the Getty Center. It's not the usual museum experience. In fact, the exhibit space is a very small percentage of the total complex. The tram ride to the top is fun, the views (on a clear-ish day) are amazing, a walk through the gardens is nice and there's a cafeteria and dining terrace.

Where are you staying and what time of year is your visit? We might have more ideas.

Jean-I agree that it is nice to hear about young girls who aren't interested in shopping or the street scene. I just don't think going to the Zoo gives you much of the flavor of LA. Just people watching while you have a nice lunch is a good way to spend part of the day. They could get some of that feel by going to Farmer's Market.

If a "flavor" of L.A. were the goal, there is an endless list of options. (And I wouldn't necessarily put Melrose and the Farmer's Market near the top.) But, the OP starting out talking about the zoo and ended up talking about the zoo, so I guess she and her daughter want to go to the zoo. It's only two days. Have fun!

Jean-Needsun asked if we thought it was worth it to spend a day on the Zoo and the Observatory Tour was worth it and my honest opinion is No. Someone else suggested they could do that in the morning and then see other sights in the afternoon. That is what I would recommend if they really want to do the Zoo.

That would give them time to go to the Getty another day and maybe visit Santa Monica. I just through out Farmer's Market and Melrose because they are usually popular with teens. If you don't think they are at the top of the list, what else would you suggest? I know there are a million things to do in LA. Maybe you could suggest something for the other day.

sorry meant to say "throw out suggestions".

If you're spending two days in LA, what about one day sight seeing, along Melrose and Robertson Blvd, and Sunset Blvd, and then one day taking the train to the S.D. Zoo, much cooler weather wise? I love the Griffith Park, or the Getty center. You can get a lot in, in two days. Try looking into the zoo or sea world down in S.D.
http://www.san-diego-hotels-resorts.com

Some other things to do in LA. Olvera Street downtown LA or others have suggested a walking tour of downtown LA that sounds interesting.

Rent some bikes and ride along the beach-maybe Santa Monica to Venice Beach (I think there is a bike path).

Maybe it would be better to go to Hollywood in the morning. Then head over to Griffith Park and the Zoo. That way you will be at the Observatory when it gets dark. Not sure exactly what programs they have at night but I am sure you can check out their website.

Needsun-Are you going to have a car? That makes alot of difference in what sights you see. Also where are you staying? Again just getting around with traffic makes a difference in what you have time to see.

Sorry! Forgot to mention that this will be our 2nd visit to LA from Alaska. We went there for 2 days last summer.We took a couple of tours around Hollywood: a guided walking tour of the walk of fame, Kodak Theatre and a Beverly Hills bus tour. We also visited a few museums: Wax, Ripley's... We really enjoyed our time there.
This trip that is going to be in the first half of June, we wanted to do something different. That's why we thought that the Griffith Park with its Observatory and a Zoo would be great things to do.
I already booked the motel that is very close to Vermont/Sunset subway station since I read that there is a shuttle bus running from this station right to the Observatory.

I like the idea of the Getty center. How much time do you think we need for it. What day to go? Is it too crowded on the weekend?
Santa Monica also sound like fun. What bus route goes there from Vermont/Sunset?
As for the SD zoo, we've done it before and really enjoyed it.

Those are important facts. 1) that you will not have a car. 2) that you are coming in June and 3) that you have seen the Hollywood sights before.

You can find out which bus route goes to the Getty on www.mta.net.

Knowing that you will be relying on public transportation, Paula's suggestion of Olvera Street makes sense. It is a short walk from Union Station. www.olvera-street.com/

Also, the Aquarium of the Pacific and the attractions of Downtown Long Beach (Queen Mary, etc.) are accessible by the Metro Rail Blue Line. www.aquariumofpacific.org/

Our famous "June Gloom" might make visibility from both the Griffith Observatory and the Getty Center disappointing, but there's always a chance of afternoon clearing.

Forgot to mention that the Autry Museum of the American West is also located in Griffith Park, if that interests you at all. www.autrynationalcenter.org/

Yes being without a car makes a big difference. Lvk makes some good suggestions.

Don't know what hotel you are staying at, but the area around Vermont and Sunset is a little iffy. I think it's safe but not really the place I would stay if it's just me and my daughter. And I am one who is perfectly happy going to areas that are not upscale.

another suggestion for an animal lover - in addition to the LA zoo (which I do recommend) and Gene Autry Western Museum - you could look into horseback riding in Griffith Park. I seem to recall there are a couple of equestrian outfitters who can arrange rentals or guided trips.

Unfortunately, I think all the horse stables are on the Valley side of Griffith Park in Burbank and not easily accessible from Sunset/Vermont without a car


Needsun, you may have seen these websites, but just in case:

http://www.griffithobs.org/

http://www.lacity.org/rap/dos/parks/...thPK/index.htm


The Getty Center would be great to visit, but you'll spend a fair bit of time on the bus going back and forth. It's also possible our June weather wouldn't cooperate, and there would too much cloud cover for nice views until mid- to late-afternoon.

However, your hotel is just a block or two from Barnsdall Art Park, its galleries and Hollyhock House which was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

http://www.barnsdallartpark.com/

http://www.fodors.com/world/north%20...ty_177536.html

I was the one who recommended the park int he morning and something else in the afternoon.

If you really want to see animals, head to Venice Beach! What an experience. :))

TTess-LOL!

Thank you for all the links and ideas! I am going to read through them and do my homework before the trip.
Now a few more questions:

lkv- Thank you for the idea of The Autry center. I checked Google Earth, it shows that the Zoo and the Autry is just across from each other.
I also like the idea of Long Beach. Is it doable using only public transportation? You mentioned the subway Blue line. How long does it take from Sunset/Vermont? how safe is the Blue Line? I was warned before about southern part of LA. Is it still the case?

Jean: thanks for the idea of the Barnsdall Art Park. We will definitely visit it if there is any time left. I wish we stayed longer:-(

A few questions that were left with no answers: How much time do you think we need for the Getty center? What day to go? Is it too crowded on the weekend?

TTess,I did not get the joke! Do you mean the Venice Beach locals, their pets or both?

You can get to the Long Beach Aquarium by public trans. Take the Red line from your hotel to 7th Street/Marketplace and switch to the Blue line. I think this journey could easily take 90 minutes in each direction. When you get to the Long Beach Transit Center (end of the Blue line), you'll have a walk of just under a half mile. If this Google map link works, you'll find the Transit Center near the top edge and the Aquarium near the bottom edge of the map:

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl

www.aquariumofthepacific.org

I don't ride the metro trains often, but I've never felt unsafe during daylight hours. My 85-year-old mother has made the trip to Long Beach a couple of times.

OK, now the Getty.

www.getty.edu

The MTA link indicates it's a journey of about an hour on two buses:

www.mta.net

Just plug in "Vermont/Sunset" and "Getty Center" as your starting and ending locations. There are not a lot of departure time options, so your plans will dictated somewhat by MTA. I don't think it matters which weekend day you go. If the weather's nice, it will probably be very busy. You could spend anywhere from two to four or five hours there, depending on how interested you are in the exhibits, walking the gardens, eating lunch, etc.

Well, I see the Google map link didn't work. Just go to Google maps and search "Aquarium of the Pacific, Long Beach, California." Zoom in a bit and look for the little blue train symbols and "Long Beach Transit Center" to the north of the aquarium. (I like the satellite view.)

Jean,
Thanks for the info and the links. It will help a lot in my planning since we want to get the most of our 2.5 days stay. Hopefully, we will have enough time to see the Observatory, the Zoo, The Getty center, the Autry Museum and possible Long Beach.
If not we'll save it for the next trip:-)

The Getty, IMHO, takes all day. I wouldn't miss it but that's me. I just don't see how you can get all of that done in two days. I would spend one day at the Getty and then next in Santa Monica.

You could also take the Big Blue Bus into Westwood. You could tour UCLA (GO BRUINS!!) and see the Hammer Museum: www.hammer.ucla.edu. You could have lunch on campus at the student center or in town on Broxton.

Needsun - is there a reason you are not renting a car?

Ttess,
There is a reason... I hate driving in a city that I do not know, especially with crazy traffic like in LA. Watching the road, reading the traffic signs, looking at the map. Nope, that would be too stressful for me. I am used to one highway here, and just do not want to compete with California pros:-)

needsun - I completely understand. We can get pretty impatient with tourists trying to navigate our roads. #-O I hope you have a great trip!

By the way, the animals at Venice Beach? Yes, I was referring to the people. It's lots of fun for people watching.

To be honest, I think needsun's first idea was right on. I think seeing the observatory and zoo were an excellent idea. If there is time left, downtown Los Angeles has Olvera Street. There are other things to do in Griffith Park, horseback riding, etc. I think you get a GREAT flavor of LA by spending a day in Griffith Park, which is what a lot of us who live here actually do, as opposed to shopping on Melrose or going to Santa Monica.

I think there is still a weekend shuttle up to the Observatory from Vermont/Sunset.

I live in Long Beach. I don't recommend taking the Blue Line. It goes thru some hairy neighborhoods that might make you a bit uneasy.