Our first trip to Los Angeles
Oct 8th, 2009, 09:51 PM
#21
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Ooh, and one last thing....if you want to go to the Getty Villa (the one on Pacific Coast Highway that houses the antiquities), you should get a reservation online before you go. It's small but gorgeous so I highly recommend (and would combine with Malibu activities if you're going to check out Malibu). Also love the Getty Museum off Sepulveda, if nothing else, to admire the grounds and the building, which still has visible fossils embedded in the walls.
Oct 9th, 2009, 07:46 AM
#22
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Getty Center would be my choice for dinner on Saturday night, because not only is the food great, the setting is very memorable. So I'd make my Getty Center visit maybe 4 or 5pm on Saturday, staying for sunset dinner. Spectacular!
Note that staying in Manhattan Beach puts you into heavy heavy traffic during much of the day, though Sat & Sun is usually quite manageable. Stay away from 7:30 to 9:30am freeways and also from 4:30 to 8pm freeways (yes, it's THAT bad). Also watch the morning tv news traffic reports. If you're planning a day at the beach, staying close to your hotel etc, make it a weekday because your Saturday should be used for on-the-road adventures and touring while traffic is easier to handle.
Note that staying in Manhattan Beach puts you into heavy heavy traffic during much of the day, though Sat & Sun is usually quite manageable. Stay away from 7:30 to 9:30am freeways and also from 4:30 to 8pm freeways (yes, it's THAT bad). Also watch the morning tv news traffic reports. If you're planning a day at the beach, staying close to your hotel etc, make it a weekday because your Saturday should be used for on-the-road adventures and touring while traffic is easier to handle.
Oct 10th, 2009, 06:10 PM
#23
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letsdance2gether ,
I have not yet dined there, but the setting and views from new 5-star resort hotel, Terranea, are spectacular. They have several restaurants there.
Located on Palos Verdes peninsula ... about a 30 minute drive south of Manhattan Beach. Obviously, go in daytime or late afternoon, to take advantage of the PV views.
hotel web site: www.terranea.com
recent LA Times article: http://travel.latimes.com/articles/l...le_page=y#show
trivia: Terranea is located on the site of the old Marineland, the first aquatic theme park, AFAIK, and inspiration for the modern Sea World.
To Jean's list of Manhattan Bch restaurants, I would add "Darrens" if you want a splurge dinner. Pricey, but IMHO perhaps the best food in town, and a quieter ambience.
I have not yet dined there, but the setting and views from new 5-star resort hotel, Terranea, are spectacular. They have several restaurants there.
Located on Palos Verdes peninsula ... about a 30 minute drive south of Manhattan Beach. Obviously, go in daytime or late afternoon, to take advantage of the PV views.
hotel web site: www.terranea.com
recent LA Times article: http://travel.latimes.com/articles/l...le_page=y#show
trivia: Terranea is located on the site of the old Marineland, the first aquatic theme park, AFAIK, and inspiration for the modern Sea World.
To Jean's list of Manhattan Bch restaurants, I would add "Darrens" if you want a splurge dinner. Pricey, but IMHO perhaps the best food in town, and a quieter ambience.
Oct 17th, 2009, 10:33 PM
#24
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O! M! G!!!!! in NINE days we are leaving Milwaukee for Manhattan Beach!!! This is going to be sooooo awesome,...
As you suggested,... we'll go to the Getty Center ???Tuesday, I looked it up,.. spectacular! The 10 day weatheer is awesome,... you natives are really lucky! Thanks to you all,... I'll write more later,
As you suggested,... we'll go to the Getty Center ???Tuesday, I looked it up,.. spectacular! The 10 day weatheer is awesome,... you natives are really lucky! Thanks to you all,... I'll write more later,
Oct 17th, 2009, 11:01 PM
#25
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YIKES! I followed Ivk's advice annnnnnd now we have tickets for " American's Home Video" on Wednesday!!! Thanks!!! 'have to get there 90 min before the 6:00 show! Here's another idea,... what do you think??? Taking the green line, and than the blue???... connect to the red line and walk around Graumans theatre and Avenue of the stars??? I heard it might be disappointing,... but, it is what L.A. is all about ,...isn't it ??? Hollywood and the stars????
Also, we like the idea, of the drive around the Penensulla,... Terranea/ Trumps,... can we just get coffee or a drink? do we hAVE TO HAVE LUNCH OR DINNER? Shoud we splurge for lunch at one of these? A walk down to the beach sounds goooood! What about the Crystal Chapel designed by F.L. Wright??? How about doing this on Friday,... and than go to Fishermans Village in San PEDRO TO WATCH the cruise ships leave the harbor??? Can we eat dinner in the Village??? Where? You 'guys' are allllll great! Thanks a bunch
))
Also, we like the idea, of the drive around the Penensulla,... Terranea/ Trumps,... can we just get coffee or a drink? do we hAVE TO HAVE LUNCH OR DINNER? Shoud we splurge for lunch at one of these? A walk down to the beach sounds goooood! What about the Crystal Chapel designed by F.L. Wright??? How about doing this on Friday,... and than go to Fishermans Village in San PEDRO TO WATCH the cruise ships leave the harbor??? Can we eat dinner in the Village??? Where? You 'guys' are allllll great! Thanks a bunch
))
Oct 18th, 2009, 08:46 AM
#26
You'll certainly see a lot of L.A. if you take the metro all the way from Manhattan Beach to Hollywood, but sadly this journey will take probably twice as long (in each direction) as just driving there. Grauman's Chinese and the Hollywood Walk of Fame (not "Avenue of the Stars" which is a street in Century City) are two of those tourist sights people love to check off their list, but for me, unless I'm already in the area, they are both missable in favor of other things...
... Like driving around Palos Verdes Peninsula. For a dense urban area, L.A. has so many undeveloped and underdeveloped areas within a few minutes' drive. Griffith Park , the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Angeles Forest, parts of the P.V. Peninsula and Catalina. OK, you need a boat for Catalina, but it's still close. I love the area around Terranea/Trumps. You could eat at one of the resorts, but be prepared for high prices. Definitely stop for a few minutes at the Wayfarer's Chapel designed by Wright. Also on the Peninsula are two lighthouses (Pt. Vicente near Terranea and Pt. Fermin about 9 miles south) and the Korean Bell of Friendship at Lookout Point Park at Pt. Fermin. I'd skip the harbor side of San Pedro (definitely Fisherman's Village) and go back north to Riviera Village in Redondo Beach instead (generally, South Catalina between Avenue I and Palos Verdes Blvd.). You'll find several moderately-priced restaurants and some interesting shopping there.
... Like driving around Palos Verdes Peninsula. For a dense urban area, L.A. has so many undeveloped and underdeveloped areas within a few minutes' drive. Griffith Park , the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, Angeles Forest, parts of the P.V. Peninsula and Catalina. OK, you need a boat for Catalina, but it's still close. I love the area around Terranea/Trumps. You could eat at one of the resorts, but be prepared for high prices. Definitely stop for a few minutes at the Wayfarer's Chapel designed by Wright. Also on the Peninsula are two lighthouses (Pt. Vicente near Terranea and Pt. Fermin about 9 miles south) and the Korean Bell of Friendship at Lookout Point Park at Pt. Fermin. I'd skip the harbor side of San Pedro (definitely Fisherman's Village) and go back north to Riviera Village in Redondo Beach instead (generally, South Catalina between Avenue I and Palos Verdes Blvd.). You'll find several moderately-priced restaurants and some interesting shopping there.
Oct 18th, 2009, 11:11 AM
#27
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Note that the Wayfarer's Chapel was designed by Lloyd Wright, Frank Lloyd Wright's son. www.wayfarerschapel.org
You can just get coffee or a drink at either Trump or Terranea. I'm not that impressed, so far, with the restaurants at Terranea. I heard that they were improving the menu at Nelson's, the outdoor casual restaurant at Terranea. It is in a great spot, but the food and service has left something to be desired. Trump has been around longer, thus has its act together as far as the restaurants go. Both places have great walking trails for before or after coffee/lunch.
Spirit Cruises used to run a very informative and reasonably-priced harbor cruise in L.A. Harbor. I only see dinner cruises on their website, so you might want to call them to see if they still exist. www.spiritmarine.com/
You can just get coffee or a drink at either Trump or Terranea. I'm not that impressed, so far, with the restaurants at Terranea. I heard that they were improving the menu at Nelson's, the outdoor casual restaurant at Terranea. It is in a great spot, but the food and service has left something to be desired. Trump has been around longer, thus has its act together as far as the restaurants go. Both places have great walking trails for before or after coffee/lunch.
Spirit Cruises used to run a very informative and reasonably-priced harbor cruise in L.A. Harbor. I only see dinner cruises on their website, so you might want to call them to see if they still exist. www.spiritmarine.com/
Oct 19th, 2009, 06:47 AM
#28
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Sorry, had to run out the door yesterday...
Other than a harbor cruise and maybe the fountains at LA harbor (www.sanpedro.com/media/San_Pedro_Fanfare.htm,) I wouldn't spend too much more time there. I wish I could recommend one of the restaurants in Ports of Call Village, but they are all rather tired and not very good. I recommend continuing over the Vincent Thomas Bridge (where you can see the working ports of LA and LB in action) over to Long Beach, where you have a better choice of eateries. For harbor front dining, the Yard House is a good choice. There are other options, as well, in the Shoreline Village area. www.shorelinevillage.com/
Enjoy your trip!
Other than a harbor cruise and maybe the fountains at LA harbor (www.sanpedro.com/media/San_Pedro_Fanfare.htm,) I wouldn't spend too much more time there. I wish I could recommend one of the restaurants in Ports of Call Village, but they are all rather tired and not very good. I recommend continuing over the Vincent Thomas Bridge (where you can see the working ports of LA and LB in action) over to Long Beach, where you have a better choice of eateries. For harbor front dining, the Yard House is a good choice. There are other options, as well, in the Shoreline Village area. www.shorelinevillage.com/
Enjoy your trip!
Oct 19th, 2009, 03:27 PM
#30
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If your group likes to ride bikes I would recommend the beach bike path that from Manhattan you could choose to go north to Venice and Santa Monica or south to Hermosa and Redondo. I would suggest north where you will experience the hippy vibe in Venice.
I think you would enjoy the PV peninsula on a clear day. Stop at Terranea, Pt Vicente and the Glass Church but save lunch for Trumps. For 12 -15$ you will dine in a resturant with a view to remember and then follow up with a cliff/ beach stroll. Do not go at dinner unless you are willing to spend mega bucks unless they are still running the $30 mid week special.
Remember whereever you choose to eat at night to check the time of the sunset as once it sets the oceanfront table becomes a view of darkness. A great oceanfront view resturant near Manhattan on the border with Hermosa is The Chart House but plan to arrive way before sunset to really enjoy the view.
Have a great time on our girls get away!
I think you would enjoy the PV peninsula on a clear day. Stop at Terranea, Pt Vicente and the Glass Church but save lunch for Trumps. For 12 -15$ you will dine in a resturant with a view to remember and then follow up with a cliff/ beach stroll. Do not go at dinner unless you are willing to spend mega bucks unless they are still running the $30 mid week special.
Remember whereever you choose to eat at night to check the time of the sunset as once it sets the oceanfront table becomes a view of darkness. A great oceanfront view resturant near Manhattan on the border with Hermosa is The Chart House but plan to arrive way before sunset to really enjoy the view.
Have a great time on our girls get away!
Oct 19th, 2009, 06:54 PM
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Hi Jean, I also prefer Riviera Village over Long Beach, (if for nothing else but the burrata at Buona Sera 
) but none of those restaurants have the water view that I thought the OP would enjoy.
Also, most of the restaurants on the Peninsula (except for Admiral Risty), SP and Long Beach are south facing and don't have great sunset views. For sunsets, you are better off at the west-facing places in Redondo, Hermosa or Manhattan Beaches. Of course, on days (like today) that the 4pm wall of fog rolls in, there are no sunset views at all.
) but none of those restaurants have the water view that I thought the OP would enjoy. Also, most of the restaurants on the Peninsula (except for Admiral Risty), SP and Long Beach are south facing and don't have great sunset views. For sunsets, you are better off at the west-facing places in Redondo, Hermosa or Manhattan Beaches. Of course, on days (like today) that the 4pm wall of fog rolls in, there are no sunset views at all.
Oct 19th, 2009, 07:29 PM
#32
letsdance2gether, sunset will be at 6:00 p.m. on Oct. 26-31. As Barblab points out, by about 6:30-6:45 your "view" will be your own reflection in the windows of the restaurant. And as lvk points out, there could be no view at all if the fog rolls in.
If you choose Riviera Village, you can pretend you're in Italy and have your passeggiata at sunset along Esplanade which is the waterfront road, two blocks from and parallel to Catalina. The views of the Palos Verdes Peninsula from the Esplanade remind me a little of the Amalfi Coast. If it's clear, you can see all the way to Malibu.
FYI, if you don't already know, the clocks change on Sunday, Nov. 1.
If you choose Riviera Village, you can pretend you're in Italy and have your passeggiata at sunset along Esplanade which is the waterfront road, two blocks from and parallel to Catalina. The views of the Palos Verdes Peninsula from the Esplanade remind me a little of the Amalfi Coast. If it's clear, you can see all the way to Malibu.
FYI, if you don't already know, the clocks change on Sunday, Nov. 1.
Oct 19th, 2009, 08:57 PM
#33
Trump has a bar menu (you can eat it at the tables) with sandwiches at about $15 (really big and with nice sides) and great clam chowder. I think it's a little easier to get into than Terranea right now and the ocean view is fantastic. Call them and ask how late you can order from that menu.
In Long Beach, Belmont Shore has a lot of interesting shops, restaurants and bars, probably the nicest in Naples is Michael's on Naples which has a rooftop dining area with classical guitar on Wed-Thurs-Friday.
http://www.michaelsonnaples.com/
In Long Beach, Belmont Shore has a lot of interesting shops, restaurants and bars, probably the nicest in Naples is Michael's on Naples which has a rooftop dining area with classical guitar on Wed-Thurs-Friday.
http://www.michaelsonnaples.com/
