Myself, my wife and two daughters (13 and 11) are visiting the west coast this year from Europe. We plan to spend approx 5 days in Los Angeles. We have the first three days and nights planned, staying in the Candy Cane Inn while visiting Disney. We are looking for assistance in organising our accommodation for two nights and sightseeing trips and a studio visit. We are considering Venice beach but don't know how accessible a studio visit or bus tours etc will be. Any helpful advice on tours, places to see, studios etc and if Venice beach is worth the trouble to stay and if not, where is most suitable. We then drive back to San Francisco.

Thanks

I don't know why you have picked Venice Beach.....I'd think Santa Monica would be a better choice. Its just slightly North of Venice, but a nicer place to visit. You will need a car in LA. It will take at least an hour to drive to Universal Studios, if that is where you decide to visit. I think what ever hotel you stay in can arrange tours. I'd skip any "movie Star Home Tours" since that tends to be Old stars who are long since dead. I assume you will fly into LA and out of SF.....if not, do try to do that. It will save you time.

Just read and heard about venice beach, no other reason. We will have a car. Thanks for replying

San Francisco can be very cool in the summer. The fog is especially thick in June and July. Be sure to pack warm clothing for that part of your trip.

Hi pjmflan, I'm in the process of planning a 6 day stay in LA/Anaheim this summer too. As I haven't been before I can't give you recommendations based on experience, but I can tell you some of the things I have read over and over again on these forums..

- in LA, stay in Santa Monica, Westwood or West Hollywood if you have a car. Apparently driving times can be long in LA. Only stay in Hollywood if you don't have a car as it's considered a bit seedy. Venice Beach is not usually recommended for accommodation either.

- tourist attractions are far apart

- the Warner Brothers studio tour seems to be the most recommended, however it is in Burbank near Universal Studio, so would be a long way from Santa Monica. Paramount Studios is in Hollywood. Universal Studios is very popular, but seems to be more of a theme park.

- there are a number of shopping malls/streets around Beverly Hills/West Hollywood area, including: Beverly Center, Rodeo Drive. In Hollywood is the Hollywood & Hyland Center.

- the Farmers Market is often mentioned as a place to go

- if you stayed in Westwood or West Hollywood, you could visit Santa Monica and Venice Beach for a day and drive up to the Getty Center (art gallery with good views apparently). Santa Monica has shopping areas including 3rd Street Promenade and Montana Ave. Venice has Abbot Kinney Av.

- Olvera Street is in Downtown and has Mexican stores and stalls.

I'd work out what you want to do each day and then decide where to stay based on where you will spend the majority of your time.

- in Anaheim, if you want some time out from the theme parks, you could drive to the Orange County beaches ie Huntington Beach, Newport, Balboa Island and Laguna Beach. Laguna has an arts festival during summer. If you don't have a car there is a daily bus tour from the Anaheim Visitors Center which will take you to 3 beach towns for 3 hours each.

- bus tours in LA mostly leave from Graumann's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Some also depart from Santa Monica. Google Starline Tours. They have numerous types. Another group is Grayline.

for someone who hasn't yet been, speckles has given you some great advice (speckles: you are a quick study - you have picked up a lot of the most important info about LA)

I would definitely try to stay in Santa Monica (or almost anywhere in WLA) before I'd choose Venice Beach for a family visit.

Venice beach is kind of strange, but it might be fun to see. You're not far from there, via the freeway from disney. How about seeing Mel Rose or Sunset blvd? Or the Getty? Or Santa Monica? Santa Monica has a great pier, with rides and all. And if you get off on Sunset blvd from the 405 fwy, you can do a map of the stars homes? They sell the maps on the street corners while driving down sunset (you can't miss them)... For your research for more ideas :
http://losangeles.nyctourist.com/

Janis, as I'm sure you're well aware being a long-time regular, after a while the answers are mostly the same on these boards. I've read a few guides and been on two boards. The responses are generally very helpful, but do become repetitive after a while - as do the questions.

I've still got to study up on New York. Less than 4 months to go now...