Thanks for all the help everyone!! Got some great tips to follow now. We actually don't have a Lush store here, but have been to the one in Vancouver, its great! We're looking forward to the California sun, still very much winter here!!!!
Oh, one more thing,will we need reservations for the restaurants, expecially Ocean Ave Seafood? Or that Toppers place?

On a weekend night it will be a good idea to get a reservation wherever you want to dine. Note that there is a trend in some LA-area restos to NOT take reservations for parties less than 4 (VERY annoying). It does give you the excuse to hang out in the bar. Ocean Ave. Seafood has a nice bar area next to their oyster bar.

Toppers? I wouldn't eat there, but I'd go for the view. I don't think you'll need reservations for the bar.

If you feel the need to squeeze in another splurge kind of eatery, Chinois on Main is one of Wolfgang Puck's most well-regarded joints. And the new head chef at Spago Beverly Hills has turned that place from a "skip the food, gape at B-level celebs" dump to a "come for the facelift show, stay for the incredible food" place. If you feel like heading to Beverly Hills (you WERE going to make a pilgrimage to Gucci, weren't you?)....

Hopefully the Holiday Inn has some kind of concierge service to help you with restaurant reservations and stuff like that.

A quick word of advice. I just had family in town for a baby shower. They stayed at the Holiday Inn. Very respectable, no problems, EXCEPT...one couple had a very noisy room on the 5th floor, overlooking the McDonalds. They were up all night listening to the bussses pass on the street. They could even hear the noise from the cross walk. So, I would ask for a room away from that street.

The front desk did tell them their room was "less quiet".

Just call ahead and request a "quiet room".

Welcome to LA.

I have two more Venice suggestions. Our favorite pizza joint is on Abbott Kinney - Abbott's Pizza Co. Really good gourmet pizza's. Grab a pizza and eat it at the little table outside.

Our other more casual place is on Washington Blvd in Venice (not sure how to get there with public transportation). C&O Trattoria - down close to the Ocean is really good. Huge servings of Italian food. You have to eat in the outside area. After 8pm they have sing alongs. Lots of fun.

Have dinner at Jiraffe. I go to Sm alot for business and it is my very favorite. ALso like the dining rooms at Casa del Mar and Shutters.
SM has a bad homeless problem. I was there for a week last summer and it was much worse than ever before, and it's always been a big problem. My kids were w/me and it bothered them so much they never want to go back. I don't want to get into a social discussion, really. But on vacation, or when having your kids w/you, begging is not something I want to encounter. I have a friend who lives on the beach in Ocean park area and they are leaving SM due to the homeless situation.