The Big Booper Posted September 3, 2006 #1 Share Posted September 3, 2006 We are flying into Long Beach Airport on Oct 5 for our Radiance cruise leaving Oct 7. My tentative plan is to rent a car at the airport, drive to the Best Western in San Pedro drop our stuff in the room and shoot out for the rest of Thurday and Friday to sightsee in the LA area. Our flight gets in at 10 AM Thursday morning. I just discovered this section of CC today. We are early 60s and come from the suburbs of NYC so LA traffic doesn't phase me. And we are not angling to see celebrities. Curt Jerome, what would you advise us? I have seen your other posts on this forum. Our goal is to see the unique stuff of LA, like the SIGN, Malibu, Graumans etc. We go to Orlando quite a bit so don't care about the parks. I figure we will have Thursday aft from 2PM and all day Friday. Thanks in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
telesaps Posted September 3, 2006 #2 Share Posted September 3, 2006 I just thought I'd throw my two cents in! I live here and I think going to Venice Beach is a must as well as the Santa Monica pier and 3rd St. Promenade. If you have time, I'd see the Getty Museum, and maybe the MOMA. If you are staying in San Pedro, you may want to visit Redondo Beach or Manhattan Beach, which are fairly close by and nice beach towns. The weather at that time of year should be perfect. There is a really good Italian restaurant in San Pedro called Marcello's. I think it is 410 7th St. I know you can find them on the internet Have fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big Booper Posted September 3, 2006 Author #3 Share Posted September 3, 2006 Thanks for the ideas. We have a month to plan this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruin Steve Posted September 3, 2006 #4 Share Posted September 3, 2006 Note on the Getty: There are actually two of them...The Getty Center, now the main Art Museum, is located in the Sepulveda Pass, right off the 405 at Getty Center Drive...The older Getty museum, located in Pacific Palisades (but often referred to as "Malibu"...I know better, I grew up next door to Getty, mostly pre-museum--his old house is behind the museum) , is now called the "Getty Villa" and houses the "antiquities collection"...it just reopened this past year after major renovation...Both are worthwhile visits if you have the time...BUT, caution, you may be required to have reservations--especially for the Villa...I would contact the Getty people in advance. Most popular restaurant in LA is near the Getty Villa--Gladstone's--right on the beach where Sunset Boulevard hits Pacific Coast Highway... Other notes: I agree on Venice Beach--it's uniquely an "LA" experience... Santa Monica Third Street Promenade is a good place to go for restaurants and a little free nightlife...It's not that thrilling during the day... A lot of folks, for some reason, like to visit Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills to see the expensive shops (they don't thrill me)... Malibu, past the Getty, is really just a long residential area along the beach...some nice homes--but you won't see much from Coast Highway... Graumann's (Now Mann's) Chinese Theater is pretty typically an LA landmark...next door is the new Hollywood & Highland shopping/restaurant complex with the new Kodak Theater (where they hold the Oscar ceremonies)...You can get an interesting view of the Hollywood Sign from there (No, not quite Curt's list of unique views from hard to reach locations)...Out in front on Hollywood Blvd. from here all the way down to Vine Street is the famous "Walk of Fame" with the "stars" in the sidewalk...Yes, Hollywood has become a bit on the scuzzy side, but still of interest ot tourists. You might want to check with the TV studios for tours and tapings...They tend to be all over LA--NBC is in Burbank, not far from Universal...CBS is on Fairfax near 3rd (Perhaps the nicest shopping center in town is the "Grove"--next to CBS at the old Farmers' Market site...it's really an amazing piece of shopping center architecture that simulates an entire old fashioned city downtown (If you go there, try Wood Ranch BBQ for lunch) ...Another LA landmark restaurant is "Canter's" a little ways up Fairfax, just south of Melrose in the old Jewish section...It's a classic old-fashioned deli frequented by everyone from local old folks to rock stars (I've been in there at ungodly hours and seen everyone from the late Frank Zappa to Jon Bon Jovi to Bob Dylan enjoying a late night nosh)... Down by the piers, in Long Beach, you've got the old Queen Mary and the Aquarium of the Pacific (and my restaurant recommendation for this area is Parker's Lighthouse--with nice views of the Harbor and the QM)... There's lots more, depending on what you want to see/do...but it's spread out over quite a wide area... Good luck... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big Booper Posted September 5, 2006 Author #5 Share Posted September 5, 2006 Thanks for the tips. We have some much to see and only 20 some hours (need to sleep some time;) ) and will return the car Sat AM before the cruise. I'm guessing from your screen-name you went to UCLA? DW has no idea what I mean, but then watching Weekend today where Campbell Brown picked guys for her football fantasy team by how good they looked in their publicity photos, she had no clue as to why her co-workers named her team "4th and long" so I guess it's common. Go Jints. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Jerome Wild Posted September 8, 2006 #6 Share Posted September 8, 2006 Hey sorry, I have been swamped with work projects...:o That being said... Here is the great (and frustrating) thing about LA... There are SO many things that you can see and do, that you can't even come close to doing them all... It is the only place (as far as I know) on the planet Earth, where you can literally (depending on the season) go to the beach and surf in the morning, and ski or snowboard in the afternoon... That being said... What do you like, what are you into? If you're into the Hollywood Sign, if you follow my mapblast or mapquest directions (from a previous post, I'll try to link it here), then you will get THE BEST up close and personal pics... Venice Beach, highly recommend, (try to find street parking East of Nelson/Ocean Avenue - either on Venice North or South, or Washington Blvd.);) - Also just check the street signs, so that they are not street cleaning... In your time frame... Are you SUPER into art? If so, then get to the Getty... If not, don't bother... Are you super into Dinosaurs and Art? Get to the LA Museum/La Brea Tar Pits... If not, don't bother... Hotels... Also, are you REALLY comitted to that hotel (whatever it is) in San Pedro? There are a lot more fun, interesting, cool, LA hotels in Santa Monica, Hollywood, etc. that would be more fun, and still 30 minutes driving distance to the cruise port... Just sayin... CJW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Jerome Wild Posted September 8, 2006 #7 Share Posted September 8, 2006 Hollywood Sign: http://boards.cruisecritic.com/showthread.php?t=404640 CJW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big Booper Posted September 8, 2006 Author #8 Share Posted September 8, 2006 Thanks for the answers. Our main goal is to see stuff that we can't see anywhere else. We live in the NY suburbs and are not big museum goers, even with MOMA, MMA, etc. La Brea sounds interesting. I remember a post you wrote to a young couple where you sent them thru surface streets past all the different LA neighborhoods such as Bev. Hills, Hollywood, etc. winding up at the beaches. Considering our goal, I guess that for us a route would include the sign, Bev Hills and Rodeo Drive ( I know its just a fancy outdoor high end mall), Hollywood, etc, the La Brea tar pits and the beaches (Venice, Malibu?). Is that doable withhout much doubling back and forth. We will be spending 15 nights on the cruise ship so not looking for a pig out at fancy restaurant. We are staying in San Pedro because it .5 mile from the pier and offers free shuttle service to the pier. DW gets extremely nervous the day of getting to the pier and doesn't want to stay 30 miles away and have to take a long distance shuttle to the pier. Are there any specific spots on the beach boardwalks where the TV shows like to film? We were on Martha 's Vineyard last summer and saw the Jaws locations. Thanks in advance, I am : Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Jerome Wild Posted September 8, 2006 #9 Share Posted September 8, 2006 I'm running out for the weekend, but it's do-able. I'll think on it and get back to you with a detailed idea/itinerary Monday or so... CJW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big Booper Posted September 9, 2006 Author #10 Share Posted September 9, 2006 Thanks a lot. Enjoy the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mo from Canada Posted September 11, 2006 #11 Share Posted September 11, 2006 O.K. Anybody out there I need help Flying in from Detroit (nearest airport to us in Canada) on Thursday Dec 7 th . larriving approx 5.00 pm . Going out of LA on Diamond Princess Dec 9th Want to see anything of real interest in the time we are there . 1. Should we get a hotel near the attractions and then take a cab to port or get a hotel near port and find our way to the attractions . 2. Should we rent a car or take tours on a bus 3. Ideas of what to see and do 4. Do any of the hotels run tours . Two active 53 year olds who don't mind walking Any ideas Please reply Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruin Steve Posted September 11, 2006 #12 Share Posted September 11, 2006 O.K. Anybody out there I need help Flying in from Detroit (nearest airport to us in Canada) on Thursday Dec 7 th . larriving approx 5.00 pm . Going out of LA on Diamond Princess Dec 9th Want to see anything of real interest in the time we are there . 1. Should we get a hotel near the attractions and then take a cab to port or get a hotel near port and find our way to the attractions . 2. Should we rent a car or take tours on a bus 3. Ideas of what to see and do 4. Do any of the hotels run tours . Two active 53 year olds who don't mind walking Any ideas Please reply Mo, Trust me...it's not a simple question... First...as to "not minding walking", as most of us know: "NOBODY WALKS IN LA"... What you have to realize is that LA is a REALLY, REALLY BIG place...In real terms, the land area of the metropolis is perhaps the largest in the world...It literally can take hours to get from one end of the city to the other. And our public transportation systems are pretty poor... So, what you find out is that EVERYONE in LA practically lives in their car...Angelenos go everywhere in their cars...and we can't ever picture being without them... So, what most any Angeleno would tell you is "RENT A CAR"... Of course, obviously, that doesn't necessarily work for everyone...Some folks are intimidated by the city and its freeways...For others, there are logistical problems with picking one up and returning it... But, note, with the great distances involved, cabs can be extremely expensive...and, unlike a lot of other cities, there just aren't many cabs...You usually have to arrange for one...You certainly don't find them roaming the streets looking for fares... There are "Tour" companies: http://www.grayline.com/franchise.cfm/action/details/id/106 http://www.hollywoodtours.us/ http://www.sightseeingworld.com/losangelestours.html http://www.starlinetours.com/ http://www.guidelinetours.com/ ...and lots more. I don't endorse any particular ones of these (being a local, I've never taken any of them)...I just linked these as examples... What I'd likely do is ask the concierge at my hotel for their recommendations...if that is what you wanted to do... Chances are these kind of tours are more available if you're staying on the West Side (Beverly Hills, Santa Monica, Westwood, Century City) or in the Hollywood area... Now, where to stay poses interesting choices...My personal recommendation is to stay near the pier only if you're in town just overnight or not interested in seeing the more typical attractions of LA...If you're here for several days, the best area to stay in is the West Side...of course, it's also the costliest... A lot really depends on what you want to see and do...As noted, there's a lot to see (and it's pretty widespread) and you don't have a lot of time to do it... If you stay near the pier, you'll likely head straight there from the airport and won't be venturing too far out that night, leaving you only the day of the 8th to "tour" LA... If you stay, say, in Santa Monica, you could head there from the airport, check into your hotel and spend the evening at the Third Street Promenade (and do dinner there) and have a short trip by rental car the next day to sites on the West side --Venice Beach, Getty Museum, Beverly Hills, etc...even up into Hollywood and maybe finish up at night at Universal CityWalk, then venturing back to the hotel...or perhaps a tour and back to Santa onica for dinner... The following day, you'd likely be checking out of the hotel and either driving to the port...or back to LAX (and getting a shuttle to the port) depending on where you need to return the rental car... If you do this without a rental car, look into "shuttle" companies for trips LAX to hotel and hotel to port... The real first hurdle question is "what do you want to see in your limited time?" Good luck... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Jerome Wild Posted September 14, 2006 #13 Share Posted September 14, 2006 O.K. Anybody out there I need help Flying in from Detroit (nearest airport to us in Canada) on Thursday Dec 7 th . larriving approx 5.00 pm . Going out of LA on Diamond Princess Dec 9th Want to see anything of real interest in the time we are there . 1. Should we get a hotel near the attractions and then take a cab to port or get a hotel near port and find our way to the attractions . 2. Should we rent a car or take tours on a bus 3. Ideas of what to see and do 4. Do any of the hotels run tours . Two active 53 year olds who don't mind walking Any ideas Please reply Okay seriously... Mo from Canada... You have time to plan, but PLEASE start a new thread for yourself... "Mo from Canada, going to LA in December, Bruin Steve and CJW help us out"... There are SO many things (and never enough time) to do and see in LA, that it really depends on each and every person and what they want... So, please start a new thread, and we'll go from there... CJW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deb in Cali Posted September 14, 2006 #14 Share Posted September 14, 2006 Big Booper, I also recommend Olvara Street. It is in the heart of downtown LA and is the first actual street LA. It is a cobblestone street with a museum, a historic home and a church. The rest of the street in filled with tiny shops and resturants selling anything and everything Mexican. You can get great deals on leather purses, shoes, sandals, wallets, etc. I also have a recommendation for a resturant where my family has been eating for over 40 years. It is the last resturant on the right, as you are facing the plaza with the fountain in the center. The last time that I was there,I stood in line with paramedics, business men, secretaries, sales reps, etc. Everybody that has every eaten there loves it. When I was a little girl there were women standing on the stairway next to the kitchen making the tortillas by hand. When I would go up that stairway some of the women would try to give me a piece of dough to see if I could make a tortilla. I remember trying a few times, but didn't have much success. Now their tortilla are pressed by machine. On the other side of the plaza there is an old fire station that is now a fire museum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Big Booper Posted September 23, 2006 Author #15 Share Posted September 23, 2006 Thanks for all the replies. I now know a lot more than I did 2 weeks ago. The trip is 2 weeks away and DW has started her intricate clothes list, every outfit every day is set up on the computer including the accessories. She really enjoys it and this tells her that the trip is CLOSE ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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