Full day in LA after cruise

[ama-sam]

Our flight home from our cruise (RCCL Mariner, disembark on Sunday, June 20) is a red eye (11:00 pm), not ideal, but the price was right.

What can we do all day in LA? I have never been there. The cruise offers a short excursion, but certianly not long enough to fill the 12 hours of free time we will have. Is it necessary to rent a car? Is there a tour (non cruiseline) that we could take? Public transportation from the pier to anywhere?

Thanks!

[Cruisin' Chick]

Our flight home from our cruise (RCCL Mariner, disembark on Sunday, June 20) is a red eye (11:00 pm), not ideal, but the price was right.

 

What can we do all day in LA? I have never been there. The cruise offers a short excursion, but certianly not long enough to fill the 12 hours of free time we will have. Is it necessary to rent a car? Is there a tour (non cruiseline) that we could take? Public transportation from the pier to anywhere?

 

Thanks!

 

What are you interested in? Checking out the sights (Hollywood, Santa Monica, ?)?

 

One thing, I wouldn't try to use the transit system here, especially as you are unfamiliar with the area and you won't want to drag your luggage on a city bus.

[jasmith52]

rent a car . and then ...

 

<Fun Things to do in LA - From the Frommer's guide>

1. Hollywood Walk of Fame

Forget the culture/museum stuff -- it's time to see for yourself all those famous Hollywood sites you've watched on TV since you were a toddler. Start the day by spending the morning on Hollywood Boulevard, following the path of bronze-and-marble stars along the Walk of Fame. Since 1960, more than 2,000 celebrities have been honored along the world's most famous sidewalk, but you'll need an old-timer to explain who a lot of the now-long-dead entertainers were. For a few bucks you can buy a map that lists every star; better yet, log on to http://www.hollywoodchamber.net and plan your own "Favorite Celebrities" route.

On Hollywood Boulevard, between Highland Avenue and La Brea Avenue, you'll find:

2. Grauman's Chinese Theatre

It's sort of a tourist rite of passage to compare your hands and feet with the famous prints set in cement at the entrance court to Grauman's Chinese Theatre, a tradition started when silent film star Norma Talmadge "accidentally" stepped in wet cement during the premiere of Cecil B. DeMille's King of Kings. Because it's along the Hollywood Walk of Fame, you're already here. Go ahead -- compare your shoes to footprints left by Humphrey Bogart or Marilyn Monroe. There are about 160 celebrity squares to scrutinize: See if you can find Whoopi Goldberg's dreadlocks, Bob Hope's nose, Betty Grable's gams, and R2D2's wheels.

Stay at Grauman's for the:

3. Movie Stars' Homes Tour

Oh, c'mon! You know you want to do it. It's not like you're the only one who feels slightly guilty by paying to peek into the private lives of Harrison Ford, Barbra Streisand, and Richard Gere (hey, nobody forced them buy a home around Hollywood). Besides, you're already here -- the 2-hour tours leave every half-hour between 9:30am and 5:30pm in front of Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Just buy a ticket at the Starline kiosk in front of you, hop into an air-conditioned minibus, and let the voyeurism begin.

4. Musso & Frank Grill

Time for lunch. Walk down the street to Musso & Frank Grill, Hollywood's oldest restaurant (since 1919) and a paragon of Hollywood's halcyon-era grillrooms. Part restaurant, part museum, this is where Faulkner, Hemingway, and Orson Welles derived liquid inspiration during their screenwriting days. Slither into one of the red-leather booths, order one of the legendary martinis or bloody marys from the gruff red-coated waiters, and work on that Atkins diet with a fat rib-eye. 6667 Hollywood Blvd. (at Cherokee Ave.). tel. 323/467-7788.

After lunch, waddle to your rented convertible red Mustang (you did rent a convertible red Mustang, didn't you?), put in a Best of the Beach Boys CD, and slowly cruise the legendary:

5. Sunset Boulevard & The Sunset Strip

This 45-minute-or-so drive takes you from sorta-seedy Hollywood to flamboyant West Hollywood, past the moneyed minimansions of Beverly Hills, through neighborhoods most people can't afford to live in such as Westside and Brentwood, winding your way into the secluded enclave of Pacific Palisades toward Malibu, and finally the Pacific Coast Highway ("PCH," if you're hip). The entire drive takes you through a cross section of nearly everything the western side of Los Angeles has to offer.

Drive south on the PCH into the big-city beach town of Santa Monica, and park at the:

6. Santa Monica Pier

Built in 1908 for passenger and cargo ships, the pier does a pretty good job of recapturing the glory days of Southern California. Buy an ice-cream cone at one of the snack shacks and stroll seaward past the wooden carousel, roller coaster, and arcades, then buy a ticket to ride the Ferris wheel (when's the last time you rode on a Ferris wheel?).

From the pier, walk south to the carnival-like stretch known as:

7. Venice Beach's Ocean Front Walk

For first-timers, this pseudo-bohemian scene is a bit of a shock to the senses: a surreal assemblage of street performers, musicians, musclemen pumping serious iron, apocalyptic evangelists, break dancers, stoned drummers, and endless schlock shops. By now your feet are probably talking to you, so stop at one of the outdoor cafes and have a beer while taking in the scene. This is also where you can rent a bike and cruise along the 8-mile bike path that runs along the beach.

8. Jody Maroni's Sausage Kingdom

Along the Ocean Front Walk is a brightly colored food stand called Jody Maroni's Sausage Kingdom (look for the line), a favorite among sausage-worshiping locals. The all-natural, preservative-free "haute dogs" come in all sorts of flavors -- Toulouse garlic, Bombay curried lamb, orange-garlic-cumin -- served on a freshly baked onion roll and smothered with grilled onions and peppers. No matter which one you choose, they're all wieners. 2011 Ocean Front Walk (north of Venice Blvd.). tel. 310/822-5639.

Pile into the convertible and cruise northeast on Santa Monica Boulevard all the way across town (or take the I-10 east to Hwy. 110 north to Hwy. 101 north) to the:

9. Hollywood Bowl

I've saved the best for last: the Hollywood Bowl. I've yet to meet anyone who hasn't had a wonderful experience at the Bowl, an elegant Greek-style natural outdoor amphitheater cradled in a small canyon northeast of Hollywood. Truly, it's one of L.A.'s grandest traditions, watching a live performance under the stars on a warm summer night while noshing on caviar and champagne. It's the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Hollywood Bowl orchestras, and often hosts internationally known conductors, soloists, and popular acts ranging from Radiohead to Garrison Keillor. Here's how you do the Bowl right: Reserve a box seat section as far in advance as possible, then preorder a gourmet picnic basket filled with hot and cold dishes, desserts, and fine wines from the excellent on-site catering department, which will deliver the goodies to your box once you arrive.

 

 

 

 

Read more: http://www.frommers.com/destinations/losangeles/0014020766.html#ixzz0ixBQlEcm

[Roses2]

First you have to get to LA from your dock in either Long Beach or San Pedro. Since there is no real public transportation that would give you rapid access from the ports to the downtown LA/Hollywood area and back to LAX, probably a rental car would make the most sense (the downside is it means you will be driving on the notorious SoCal freeway system).

 

What ever you do, if you decide to rent a car at the port with drop-off at LAX, research where you want to go, the routes, parking, etc. If you have a GPS, bring it.

 

There is much to see, including the beautiful drive along the sea from San Pedro through to Redondo and then up the coast to Santa Monica. You will have seen it on TV so it will seem familiar. In addition to the sights mentioned, there are many others almost too many to mention, such as the old Alvarado Street area where LA began as a small Mexican village.

 

(Good luck and drive carefully)

 

(Ex SoCal residents)

[PatriciaF]

I think your best bet would be to take the SuperShuttle to LAX to pick up a rental car so you don't have to pay the drop off fee, if you pick up at Long Beach Airport and drop off at LAX.

 

Bruin Steve has a great driving tour of LA. Search for posts by him--or start a new thread asking him the question.

 

Or, if you get to LAX, you can pick up one of the Starline tours at a near by hotel. Check your luggage with your airline--then take the hotels shuttle over to where you will be picked up.

[Cruisin' Chick]

First you have to get to LA from your dock in either Long Beach or San Pedro. Since there is no real public transportation that would give you rapid access from the ports to the downtown LA/Hollywood area and back to LAX, probably a rental car would make the most sense (the downside is it means you will be driving on the notorious SoCal freeway system).

 

What ever you do, if you decide to rent a car at the port with drop-off at LAX, research where you want to go, the routes, parking, etc. If you have a GPS, bring it.

 

There is much to see, including the beautiful drive along the sea from San Pedro through to Redondo and then up the coast to Santa Monica. You will have seen it on TV so it will seem familiar. In addition to the sights mentioned, there are many others almost too many to mention, such as the old Alvarado Street area where LA began as a small Mexican village.

 

(Good luck and drive carefully)

 

(Ex SoCal residents)

 

There is an Alvarado Street, but maybe you mean Olvera Street?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olvera_Street

[Wineaux]

You really need to give us an indication of what you would like to do and then we can give you specifics. Not sure what the ages of your group are but wine tasting is another option is you have 12 hours.

[Gingee]

We hope to go to Olvera Street also. I guess there is a old house there that you can tour. Apparently it is very close to the train station (where we come and leave from) so we hope to do that either before we head to the airport to get our DD and friend or before we leave on the train. I guess it is Mexican stuff. Not sure what.

[jasmith52]

We hope to go to Olvera Street also. I guess there is a old house there that you can tour. Apparently it is very close to the train station (where we come and leave from) so we hope to do that either before we head to the airport to get our DD and friend or before we leave on the train. I guess it is Mexican stuff. Not sure what.

 

Be forewarned that Olvera street is a "tourist place". It's more of a plaza or square than a street. An hour there is more than enough especially if you have just got off of a Mexican Riviera cruise. Add in time for lunch there if you want. Some of the restaurants have a Mariachi band.

 

The train Station is Union Square that you refer to. It's the main Los Angeles train hub.

 

A short easy walk away is also China Town which is the old chineese area of Los Angeles. although (in my opinion) it's not as nice as Olevera Street. If you need some Chinese fans or a Samari Sword then thats the place. You can do them both (Olvera and Chinatown) in a couple of hours

 

here's a link to a map of Downtown Los Angeles showing where Olvera Street, Union Station, and Chinatown are.

 

http://college.usc.edu/geography/la_walking_tour/pueblochinatown.html

 

the photo below is Olevera street.

 

[yogi2929]

We hope to go to Olvera Street also. I guess there is a old house there that you can tour. Apparently it is very close to the train station (where we come and leave from) so we hope to do that either before we head to the airport to get our DD and friend or before we leave on the train. I guess it is Mexican stuff. Not sure what.

 

Olvera Street is across the street from Union Station.

When in the big Plaza Olvera Street will be to your right. To your left will be one of the first firestations in LA. It is now a museum.

Straight ahead and across the street is the Church.

 

Avila Adobe on Olvera Street

http://www.olvera-street.com/html/avila_adobe.html

 

Chinatown is in this area and so is Phillipes, Home of the French Dip.

http://www.philippes.com/

 

http://www.chinatownla.com/

 

Easiest parking in the area seems to be in the train station.

[LBCABob]

Unless they have recently relaxed the rules, the airlines will NOT accept your checked luggage more than a few (e.g. 4) hours before departure time. AND, since 9/11, there are no lockers where you can store it at the airport. Best solution would be to make really good friends with a SoCal resident while on board and then have a tour guide/driver for your hours in LA! :) Bon Voyage!