What's there? Is it worth visiting if I only have 4 days for travel in Southern California? I already visited California sights in Northern and Eastern California. What about the Hearst Castle? Is it a worthwhile sight?

Thanks for the advice.

Sunset Boulevard and Hearst Castle are pretty much night and day when comparing them as sightseeing places.

Tell us more about yourself so we can better judge what types of places you might enjoy.

What areas of Southern California do intend on visiting in your 4 days?

I'm 21 and traveling with 4 other college students. For most of us it's our first trip to California. We are trying to see places we heard a lot about. We plan on driving up the coast to Monterey after seeing things in LA. One of the others mentioned the aquarium (in Monterey?).

If you're driving up the coast to Monterey, then I'd definitely recommend a visit to Hearst Castle. Advance ticket reservations are necessary - especially during the summer months.

If you're going to stay overnight along the way, I'd suggest a night in the Santa Barbara or San Luis Obispo areas (both college towns).

Due to your age, Sunset Boulevard might be of interest to you. Remember that to get into some of the more hip clubs, you're going to have to have the "look" just to get in and then the money to be able to pay the high drink prices. Some of the other clubs can be pretty sleezy. Most areas of Hollywood aren't near as glamorous as it is depicted on tv and movies.

I recommend staying at the Holiday Inn Bel Air or the Best Western Sunset Plaza.

The Holiday is around the corner from UCLA/ Westwood, lots of shops and restaurants. Getty Museum is right around the corner and well worth an afternoon of your time, even if you're not into "art". Just a beautiful place to experience.

The club scene is a few miles away on the Sunset Strip, north on Highland to Hollywood Boulevard is the new Kodak Theatre(Academy Awards) surrounded by a fashion mall, and nearby is Grauman's Chinese Theatre (footprints) and the Walk of Fame.

Nature lovers can also enjoy extensive hiking in the Santa Monica mountains, and would enjoy the L.A. zoo and Griffith Park Observatory. Malibu and the beaches are nearby as well.

You can easily "do L.A." in one day and one night if you are pressed for time and not into the hikes and Parks. I would say the highlights are Getty Museum, Walk of Fame and Chinese Theatre, a drive down Sunset Strip, a stroll down Rodeo Drive (Restaurant Row on Beverly Drive nearby for dinner), then a visit to House of Blues or a Comedy Club on Sunset Strip in the evening. Next morning, up and at'em early to beat the traffic, drive north to Santa Barbara stopping at the Summerland exit for breakfast (Summerland Beach Cafe or Big Yellow House).

Sunset Blvd is a trip. You can drive it from one end of LA all the way down to the beach and you'll pass through sections of LA that are completely opposite. At one end if Silverlake and Hollywood, which at some times can be slummy but artsy. Then you go through "the Strip" inn West Hollywood, home to tons of bars, nightclubs and hotels. Very trendy, lots of fun if you're young and over 21. Sunset will then wind through Beverly Hills--posh homes on beautiful palm-tree lined streets(though, of course, many of the houses are shrouded behind huge hedges so you'll only see driveways and glimpses of roofs). Sunset will then pass you through Westwood and UCLA's campus, and finally through Brentwood (of OJ and Getty Museum fame), Pacific Palisades (where many of the rich and famous, like Tom Hanks and Arnold Shwarzenneger, live) and finally end in Malibu.

It's an awesome drive. Where you hop out and explore is your choice. If I were you, I'd drive Sunset from Hollywood to the beach, then take PCH (Highway 1) up the coast to Hearst Castle. The drive up and Hearst Castle are beautiful beyond belief. Not exciting in the partying sense but still worthwile in an unwind-and-relax sort of way.

Thanks, everyone! Great suggestions -- sounds like it'll all be interesting and fun.

Some movies to rent before any trip to L.A., to get that "L.A. feeling":
Steve Martin's L.A. Story

Anywhere but Here

Playing by Heart

Slums of Beverly Hills

Down & Out in Beverly Hills

Miracle Mile (don't read the box first, it ruins the movie! Great little sleeper with Anthony Edwards)

and of course, before any trip to Griffith Park Observatory, see "Rebel Without A Cause"!