trip report - LA with teen
 

Just returned from our trip to LA with 16 yo son. Had a great time - thanks to all on the forum for their helpful advice.

Hotels
Stayed 6 nights at the Doubletree Suites in Santa Monica. It was good for our situation. It had a real 2-room suite with a door between the rooms for privacy. Everything was clean & worked fine. It was a 10-15 min walk to the "Promenade" and about 20 min to the beach. (Fine with a teen, not so great if you have small kids.) They also had a small pool and hot tub, nice at the end of a long day.

Changed to the Candy Cane Inn in Anaheim for the last 2 nights. - Very nice place in a great location at a reasonable price. It was definitely worth changing hotels so we could be next to Disneyland. This place is really a short walk there - you don't even have to take the bus, but they do have one. Rooms are fine - clean and everything worked. There is a small pool & hot tub, but we didn't have time to use them. A continental breakfast is included which is another convenient touch.
Two other points - though the rooms are standard motel rooms, the landscaping and greenery is really nice. Doesn't seem like you're on a major street. Also, the people at the front desk were very friendly and helpful.

Highlights
Warner Brothers tour - thanks for the recommendations. It was very entertaining. Also, the guide said they and Universal are the only studios who still have back lots.
Seeing a live taping of Deal or No Deal. It was fascinating to watch how the show is made and what goes on behind the scenes. Be sure to call the night before the taping, though. The time for ours was changed at the last minute.
Seeing our son actually stand up on a surfboard. He took a lesson from www.LearnToSurfLA.com We called once we arrived to arrange it. They meet right on the Santa Monica Beach.
The fireworks show at Disney was the most amazing I've ever seen. We live in the DC area, so are used to first rate fireworks on the 4th. However, this show actually had themes and summarized all the rides at Disney.
Dinner at Mr. Chows. Very expensive but outstanding. They treat you like a star even if you aren't. Also, you just tell them your likes & dislikes & they bring out an array of dishes. Really fun.

Disappointment - The famed Santa Monica Pier is nothing. Why is it so famous anyway? There were a few rides, a couple restaurants and lots of empty space. Not nearly as nice as the humble Ocean City Maryland pier.

Well, that's enough for now. Be glad to answer questions if I can.

Glad you had a good time, and thanks for the report.

More info from trip

Best tip - We bought a portable GPS system (<$300) right before we left for CA & it was a huge help. Definitely worth bringing if you'll be doing any driving. If you miss a turn, no need to panic, it just recalculates.

Restaurants in Santa Monica - Had printed out info from websites, but wound up trying places on the Promenade-easier to just walk over.

Cafe Crepe - very nice place at beginning of Promenade. Both sweet & savory crepes were great. Ate here twice.
Broadway Deli - across from Cafe Crepe. Standard sandwiches etc. Good points - open late, great desserts & helpful staff.
Trastevere - good Italian place with lovely outside seating on Promenade. Rather pricey.

The Santa Monica Pier is just a pale shadow of its former self. Several things ruined it over the last 30 years: primary among these have been demographic changes and rent control in Santa Monica. I watched first-hand as one of the nicest beach areas (from SM to Venice) in the world was converted into one of the world's largest magnets for homeless and mentally ill people. Just heartbreaking.

As kids in the 1970's we spent nearly every Saturday night at Pacific Ocean Park. We had parties and sleepovers (with our dogs, and beer, and bonfires) on the beach, PCH was a sleepy road with little traffic, etc etc. It was like a different country compared to what it is now. But you know, the same thing is true for virtually all of Los Angeles.

Sorry for the typo, I meant 1960's not 1970's.