We will be driving to LA for 2 days after vacationing in San Diego/Ensenada. We're interested in fun, casual, local restaurants which the kids will enjoy (daughter age 13, son age 8). Any wonderful shopping spots for a 13 year old that shouldn't be missed? Thanks for your comments. We leave next Friday.

One option you might want to think about is a trip to The Grove shopping center. It's a djacent to the Farmer's Market, so you'd have plenty of food choices to satisfy the fsmily. While you're shopping with your daughter, your husband could take your son to the nearby Petersen Automotive Museum or the La Brea Tar Pits.

For another area that the entire might enjoy, head to the 3rd Street Promenade in Santa Monica. Crocodile Cafe in Santa Monica is a casual restaurant that would probably appeal to the entire family.

Kid friendly restaurants in LA that I would recommend are Mel's Drive-In on Sunset (think American Graffiti), Hard Rock Cafe on Beverly Blvd., California Pizza Kitchen on Beverly Drive, Johnny Rockets on Melrose, Pink's Hot Dogs near Melrose and La Brea, Apple Pan in Westwood, and any Cheeecake Factory. Melrose Avenue has alot of funky and trendy boutiques that would appeal to a 13 year old girl. My daughter liked Wacko and Wasteland.

Thanks, Sightseer and Merilee. The suggestions sound great! Looking forward to our adventure in southern California.

I'm going to also suggest El Cholo in Santa Monica on Wilshire. Authentic Mexican, fun room. Crocodile Café is a good idea as well. If they like Thai food, there are good places all over the area (Thai Dishes in Santa Monica is pretty good, for example).

Since the LA area is so huge, it helps if you mention neighborhoods/cities you're interested in visiting. The Melrose Ave area, for example, is full of funky boutiques (watch out for an adult toy store called Drakes, however). The ORIGINAL Johnny Rocket's is on Melrose-- look for a long row of Harley-Davidson bikes out front. There's a good Italian joint called Louise's Trattoria (one of several in the LA area) just behind it.

I hesitate to recommend shopping malls, but here are three (besides the Grove) that just might blow you away:

-- Beverly Center in BH/West Hollywood area (La Cienega at 3rd). Pretty upscale, gets some celebs.

-- Fashion Island, Newport Beach. Outdoor mall with a Neiman-Marcus and some upmarket shops.

-- South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa. Rodeo Drive indoors. If you've ever been to the Shops at Bal Harbour (Miami Beach), this is the west coast original. Boutiques include Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Versace, Armani, Emporio Armani, Armani Exchange, Cartier, Tiffany's, etc., etc., etc. Plus the usual stores that sell that cheap tatt teenagers like.

There are a lot of interesting shops and restaurants on the City Walk outside the Universal Studio. Attractive enough for the whole family.