Are spending 4 days in January 2005 in LA with 3 boys aged 16, 17 and 18. Any suggestions of what to do? They have never been there before.

Where are you travelling from? If you don't have amusement parks near you, Magic Mountain has thrill-seeker rides. Universal Studios and Citiwalk are also fun places to spend the day. Venice Beach has lots of activity on a weekend. As does Santa Monica pier and Third Street Promenade.
Studio tours are another option, like NBC or Warner Bros. Hope this helps.

The Getty, The Petersen Auto Museum, the L.A. Zoo, UCLA if they're looking at colleges, The Museum of Natural History...........

The Pier and the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica are fun, as is fairly nearby Venice Beach. If you go to Venice Beach check-out beforehand what is the most interesting strecth to walk--Muscle Beach, etc.

Thanks for all the replies so far. We are from Sydney and will be coming back from skiing in Whistler. Oldest interested in gyms, bodybuilding. Any suggestions? Where shall we stay? Downtown safe and fun?

If you were coming in summer, I'd say hit Muscle Beach in Venice. However, January is our winter, and it will be cool on the beach. You may want to send your bodybuilder to the World Gym off of Main Street in Venice-- it gets the élite of hardcore bodybuilders on the Westside.

Have you yourself EVER been to the LA area? It's huge. The metro area is over 5,000 square miles, comprising over 100 separate cities. And you do NOT want to stay in downtown LA, unless you're there on business. It's dead after dark, other than right around Staples Center and maybe Disney Concert Hall.

I am guessing you have not researched this at all. I would start by reviewing the LA destination guide here on fodors.com. I'm very surprised no one has mentioned strolling down Melrose Ave., which has lots of cool places for teens to spend money. And you would enjoy a spin in Old Town Pasadena, which is a lovely area.

As you're from Sydney, you might be interested in seeing where we locals surf. Malibu has some good beaches, but I always think of Huntington Beach, down in Orange County, as Surf City USA. The waves can be incredible in the winter, and surfers are out no matter how nippy the water.

I agree, you don't want to stay downtown. It is mainly for business and not where the tourist attractions are. As the area is huge, you'll want to be closer to the areas where most of your activities would be. I would suggest somewhere on the West Side - Santa Monica, Marina del Rey etc. I would spend one day at one of the big amusement/tourist parks. I'd probably pick Universal Studios because it is so prototypically LA and it ties in with the movie theme. You could probably find the "thrill" amusement parks more easily in other locations, but if that's what your boys want then the suggestions earlier in this thread are good. I would agree that walking around Santa Monica Third Street Promenade and Venice Beach are fun and provide great people watching.

It's worth taking one day to drive around Beverly Hills and see some of the mansions. You could combine that with a visit to Westwood where the boys can see some of UCLA and the related restaurants/stores. A drive down Santa Monica is interesting. You might enjoy seeing a show filmed if any will be filming in your area, but there is a lot of waiting that goes on with any taping so if you are short on time, that may not be your best bet.

A trip up to Malibu is interesting. Maybe a drive to Pomona so they can see the school and the houses in the area. The Getty is a lovely museum, but I'm not sure the boys would enjoy it.

Travelkitty, forgive this question if I am missing something obvious, but why are you suggesting a trip to Pomona and what school? CalPoly perhaps? The last place I would send a visitor from out of town is Pomona.

Let's not forget Hollywood Boulevard, the La Brea Tar Pits, the beach cities in LA and Orange Counties, the Peterson Automotive Museum, a Laker/Kings or Clipper game, the Museum of Modern Art, Pinks hot dogs (for dinner) etc.

Also, if you're lucky, you can have a uniquely LA experience... drive up to one of the close-in ski resorts (about 60-80 miles) in the morning and play in the snow for an hour... then come back and catch the afternoon on Santa Monica beach - skiing in the morning, surfing in the evening - LA is about the only place.

here2day, you are absolutely right! I think my brain started vacation early! For some reason even though I was thinking Pepperdine I typed Pomona.

Pepperdine was part of my drive to Malibu day and I think the views from the school are great and it would be a good place for everyone to get something quick to eat.

Thanks for catching my mistake!

LOL OK, travelkitty, that makes more sense. I thought maybe I had missed where the OP had asked about schools in Pomona! I'm thinking Cal Poly? DeVry? North-West School of Dental Assisting?

Very big difference between Pepperdine and Pomona!

Seriously, laugh --> diet coke --> nose