Tom West

I will on a business trip in the L.A. area the week of 1 Feburary and will have 1 free day (Sunday) to see the city. This is my first vistit and I need to prioritize sites to visit. Plan to travel by car. Would like to concentrate on Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Hollywood areas. Any suggestions? Not interested in theme parks.

Jen

If you've never been to the Chinese Theater, you may want to swing by to see the handprints. That will take all of 15 minutes...
I'd suggest a studio tour. I enjoyed the one at Paramount Studios.
In the evening, you might consider catching the show at The Improv.

Tricia

Let's see- I have my handy dandy Tourbook put out by the AAA (Auto Club) and I will list some of the things they have- if you want more details e mail me for info- here goes: Griffith Park Observatory and Plantarium, Greek Theatre, La Brea Tar Pits, L.A. Zoo, Olvera Street, Farmers Market, Studio Tours Include, Warner Bros. or NBC Studios, or KCET-TV Tour (make res 1 week in adv.) 213/953-5242, Hollwood Bowl, Los Angeles Walking Tour with Map, Beverly Hills Self Guided Walking Tour-see the Visitors Bureau or call 1/800 345-2210-As far as Santa Monico goes the book talks about scenic drives and state parks such as Point Magu, Topanga Canyon and Will Rogers State Parks. This should give you a starting point!

Kevin

My wife are from the Mid-West and found the Chinese Theater/Hollwood area intersting on a Sunday. We also went to the Tar Pits which if you like natural history, is in Hollywood area. That same day we drove down to Santa Monica beach and ate at a great little resturant on the beach, but I'm sorry I can't remember the name. But it was really "on the beach" not next to it. Too bad you're not going to be there on a weekday, Leno's show is a lot of fun.

Polly

This suggestion sounds so tackey, but we really enjoyed the Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum though I can't tell you how to find it. Any good tour book will do that. It is a Smithsonian quality museum which documents the cowboy influence in the development of the western part of this country. A fabulous gun collection, an incredible mural, interactive displays, an exhibit about cowboys in the movies and when we were there, an exhibit about the singing cowboys among many, many other top notch displays. Highly recommended. If I go back, I will do it again.

kat

My husband and I escape to LA occasionally for an R&R weekend. Sunday is a good day for LA: Start the day with sunday brunch at The Restaurant at the Hotel Bel-Air . . . best deal in town! Although pricey the cuisine is superb and the setting is absolutely tops with gardens filled with lush plantings, swan lake, babbling stream, civilized service. The new Getty Center is the No. 1 experience in Los Angeles; miss it on no account! But, take a cab there and back. You might have to wait 15 or 20 minutes to get it yet it will one of the best investments of time you've ever made. The botanical gardens and museum/library at the Huntington in Pasadena are splendid! If you have a free evening and the LA Philharmonic is playing, get tickets -- this is a great symphony orchestra playing exciting programs.

ram

I just returned from a weekend in LA and hit most of the places you mentioned. The big question is how interested are you in shopping and dining- those are really two of the best things to do in the places you mentioned. There's nothing to see in Beverly Hills (except for the Museum of Tolerance and Museum of TV and Radio- both of which I heard good things about but didn't go as I've seen similar stuff in D.C. and NYC). Don't waste your time touring the homes of the stars- the residential areas in Bel Air and B.Hills- are nothing more than well manicured gardens with enormous homes concealed from the roads by large walls/ trees and imposing security systems. The only people outside are the Mexican maids (and of course), landscapers, and other gawking tourists. Santa Monica is a big, scenically gorgeous outdoor shopping mall. Its fun to see the outdoor performers there and on the Santa Monica pier (basically a Boardwalk with rides and carnival games). I enjoyed the Paramount Picture Studio tour; it's a lot less gimmicky than the Universal Tour. The scene along Melrose Ave. (from Doheny to LaBrea) leading up to Paramount Studios is also worth exploring- very Gen-x. There is GREAT dining. For a cheap, delicious lunch I highly recommend World Wrapps- a chain burrito place with a twist. One of the best meals I have EVER (no exaggeration) had was at Cafe Sonora (La Brea and 2nd, I believe). You have to save room for their bread pudding. Enjoy.

ram

I just returned from a weekend in LA and hit most of the places you mentioned. The big question is how interested are you in shopping and dining- those are really two of the best things to do in the places you mentioned. There's nothing to see in Beverly Hills (except for the Museum of Tolerance and Museum of TV and Radio- both of which I heard good things about but didn't go as I've seen similar stuff in D.C. and NYC). Don't waste your time touring the homes of the stars- the residential areas in Bel Air and B.Hills- are nothing more than well manicured gardens with enormous homes concealed from the roads by large walls/ trees and imposing security systems. The only people outside are the Mexican maids (and of course), landscapers, and other gawking tourists. Santa Monica is a big, scenically gorgeous outdoor shopping mall. Its fun to see the outdoor performers there and on the Santa Monica pier (basically a Boardwalk with rides and carnival games). I enjoyed the Paramount Picture Studio tour; it's a lot less gimmicky than the Universal Tour. The scene along Melrose Ave. (from Doheny to LaBrea) leading up to Paramount Studios is also worth exploring- very Gen-x. There is GREAT dining. For a cheap, delicious lunch I highly recommend World Wrapps- a chain burrito place with a twist. One of the best meals I have EVER (no exaggeration) had was at Cafe Sonora (La Brea and 2nd, I believe). You have to save room for their bread pudding. Enjoy.