hi fodorites,

i'm new to this board (i'm normally hanging out on the europe board)... i'm hoping you can help me out.

i'm visiting one of my very dear friends in LA this february for a week (i live in toronto). she had a baby in nov 2008 and is on extended mat leave. i'm planning to go down for a week and hang out with her and help out as well.

i've been to LA several times and have seen all the 'usual' sights (disney, hollywood, getty, santa monica, long beach, etc. etc.). i'm not looking for anything traditionally touristy but was wondering if there are some unique/different experiences that are fairly relaxed (i.e. no reservations required), budget friendly (my friend is taking a leave of absence and therefore money is tight), and child-friendly (we'll take the kid with us in his stroller). my friend is going a bit batty with competitive mommy-groups and doing laps in the mall! she's excited to have adult company during the day.

my friend lives in torrance (zipcode is 90503). the nearest intersection is anza avenue and del amo blvd. we will have a car (it's LA!) ...

a few things i have thought about:

1. LA farmer's market
2. beach walks (redondo, hermosa, maybe even santa monica)

any other ideas??

thanks so much for your help!

I love spending a day enjoying the contrasts between Hermosa Beach & Manhattan Beach. Park in the parking garage at Manhattan Beach if you can't find street parking, eat lunch outside at Petro's Greek restaurant http://www.petrosrestaurant.com/ then shop the little boutiques in MB. In addition to some pricey shops there are two "Mandarine" locations that sell inexpensive casual trendy juniors/womens clothes.

Pop into the large well stocked flagship Skechers store across the street from Skechers headquarters (the whole founding family lives in MB)then head down the hill to walk the pier and to stroll "The Strand".

I like to walk all the way from MB to Hermosa Beach (but don't forget to feed the meter before you head that way) on the strand as there are so many great homes of all ages and architectural styles as well as great people watching. My dream job is dogwalker on the strand.

See if you can spot the Dutch Colonial that was featured in Charlies Angels Full Throttle as Cameron Diaz' house and the modern house beside it that was Bernie Mac's house. Even if you aren't up to walking all the way to Hermosa walk south from the MB Pier to see the houses for a bit.

Hermosa Beach is a little grittier and grungier than MB and has more of a surfer vibe (says the midwestern gal who only visits the LA area once a year so others may disagree). Walk along the pier street and sit outside for a drink (or two)and sushi before heading back to Manhattan Beach.

If you still have time head to Venice Beach for a completely different (touristy, tattoo parlor and tacky souvenir and t-shirt shop) beach town vibe. Check out the muscle heads lifting at the beach and see the international crowd of tourists who've all been told to see Venice Beach.

I think Santa Monica Pier and the Third Street Promenade can easily be skipped but if you haven't seen them and really want to go for it. There aren't really any shops there that are different than any mall in America.

If you feel like traveling a little farther go to the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific then spend a little time strolling the Belmont Shore area of Long Beach. http://www.belmontshore.org/

If you can get a sitter for an evening go see a show at Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach. Jay Leno is there on Sundays. http://www.comedyandmagicclub.com/

I have always liked the LA zoo.

Welcome likaki,

Since you will be here in the South Bay there are some suggestions that are a short drive from Torrance:

Drive around the Palos Verdes Peninsula. There are ocean-bluff, stroller-friendly trails at the Trump Golf Course. www.trumpnationallosangeles.com/,
Whale watching from the platform at Point Vicente (there are also some walking trails here): http://www.palosverdes.com/rpv/recre...pretiveCenter/
Tour the grounds at the Lloyd Wright-designed Wayfarer's Chapel. www.wayfarerschapel.org/
You can bring a picnic lunch, because there are lots of places to stop along the way. The weather in Feb. might be a little cool, but still fine for outdoor activities.

In San Pedro, there is a new fountain show at the Harbor. www.sanpedro.com/media/San_Pedro_Fanfare.htm

The South Coast Botanic Garden is also a nice place to spend a few hours: www.southcoastbotanicgarden.org/ There is a children's garden and a little lake with ducks.

Torrance has a great Farmer's Market at Wilson Park on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The Redondo Beach Farmer's Market is smaller, but right along the ocean and is held on Thursdays.

Before you leave, order your friend a copy of the book "Around the South Bay with Kids" by Connie Moretti. It is out of print, but still available at ABEbooks.com. Some of the suggestions may be dated, but most are still valid. I found it very helpful when raising my little ones here in the South Bay.

Have a great time, and if I think of anything else, I'll come back and post again.

hi everyone,

thank you so much for all of the suggestions!

coincidentally, my friend got married @ the wayfarers chapel a few years ago. it was a beautiful setting.

keep 'em coming!

thank you!

lilaki-

I spent 3 weeks in LA last month. Visites lots of historic buildings, modern houses, museums. Here's my trip report if you are interested.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=35173144

These are 'touristy' but in an old-timey way... Olvera Street, Chinatown, LaBrea Tar Pits, and yes definitely the Farmer's Market!

great suggestions!!!

just wondering if there's anything local in torrance i should check out?

thanks!!

Torrance has a nice beach and great parks. It is also the retail and commercial hub of the South Bay. Other than that, though, it doesn't have much in the way of attractions.

I just thought of a few more local places to spend a little time soaking up the scenery & culture:

Starbucks/Subway at the end of Hawthorne Blvd:
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/WbjEV...7KXbaX_MDC1J0w
(There is also a stroller-friendly walking trail across the street)

Rocketship Park in Torrance:
http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/4FUib...tpJU4aJW-mrOZQ

The Japanese markets in Gardena/Torrance:
www.marukai.com/index-e.html
www.mitsuwa.com/english/index.html

OMG - lvk - thank you SO much for the links to the japanese markets. i'm 1/2 japanese and always looking for some good japanese shops when i travel. this will be perfect!!!

You are very welcome. There are also a plethora of Japanese restaurants in Torrance/Gardena, in case you don't get your fix at the food courts in the markets.

Kudos to you for providing your friend with what I am sure is much-needed "girlfriend therapy".

Enjoy your time here!

How about geting tickets to one of the TV shows? Ellen or? maybe you would win something.

hi 1JAR,

thanks for the suggestion, but i'm not sure how 'baby friendly' a show taping would be. unless you know something i don't???

How about "Little Tokyo" in Downtown LA?
And while you're there you can check out the Grand Central Market and have some of the best tacos around at Maria's.
Across the street from the market is the Bradbury Building where the movie Blade Runner was filmed (think wrought-iron stairwells).
There's also the Frank Ghery designed Disney Concert Hall, clad in tons of stainless steel.
There are also two Modern Art (MOCA) museums in Downtown LA.

Sorry, back up & erase. The Studios do have age requirements but one of the self Tours? Or stroll(er) down the Hollywood walk of fame?
Whatever you do hope you have fun.

Little Tokyo is also the home of the Japanese American Museum. www.janm.org/

Closer to Torrance, I also just read about an exhibition that will be running when you are here featuring Japanese-American artists:
www.pvartcenter.org/exhibitions.html#BECK (scroll down for more information).

ooh - cool! i love markets!

is the grand central market better than the farmers market?? different? should we do both?

The farmers market in the Fairfax area (if that's what you're talking about) is complely "sanitized for your protection" (IMHO).
The Grand Central Market is a tad more authetic if you ask me. Plus, GREAT prices on things like fresh produce.
http://www.grandcentralsquare.com/
Oh yeah, and the best tacos are at Ana Maria's (not Maria's as I mentioned above). You can see a vendor map on that website.
As I said, if you do go there, make sure you walk across the street to the Bradbury Building.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradbury_Building

Now if you want true farmer's markets, the kind where the farmer's bring their stuff to roving markets around the city, check out the list here:
http://www.farmernet.com/events/cfms
The two biggest and best are the one in Santa Monica on Wednesday and the Hollywood one on Sunday. That's where all the local chefs go.

lilaki- If you take a look at my trip report (link provided in my post above), you'll see that I went to both the Farmers Market AND Grand Central Market, plus Bradbury building, Little Tokyo etc, complete with pics.

hey everyone,

thanks so much for all of the tips! can't wait to get there now!

lilaki