What to do 2 days in LAX? Enjoy nature as well.

[kmclmc]

We arrive 12/1 in the morning for a 12/3 Princess cruise on the Diamond. We want to get a rental car & see the sights. Is it worth trying to rent from Enterprise so that we can drop off the day of the cruise easily?

I have read the San Pedro tour info, and wonder what else is a "MUST SEE" for the area? Museum? Beach? Mountains? Dont mind driving 1-2 hours out of town if there is something special to see or do. Thank you.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Personally I wouldn't recommend a "San Pedro" tour. Unless it's one departing from SP to go other places in Los Angeles. San Pedro is basically an industrial area.

 

If you drive down to Long Beach, you can enjoy the Aquarium there, for example. There are plenty of places in Los Angeles to enjoy gardens (the Huntington, etc.) and other sights. You might want to check out some of the threads here for suggestions.

 

Just note, that Los Angeles and the environs are very widespread so you'll want to narrow down your sightseeing to a few areas.

[Splinter]

I would recommend a beach tour. Do you already have your hotels? If not, plan to drive south from the San Pedro area through Long Beach and than on down the coast, staying right on Pacific Coast Hwy the entire way to at least Laguna Beach. You will see some of the most famous beaches in Southern California. Stop and watch the surfers in Huntington Beach (the pier there is a nice place to stop and have lunch). Drive all the way around Newport Harbor. Get out of the car and really check out the beaches south of there, including Crystal Cove State Beach. When you get to Laguna (which would be a good place to stay the night), walk the beach and also check out all the art galleries and shops here.

 

You can then go to the freeway (405 or 5) and shoot down for a day in San Diego, or drive north and check out either our nearby mountains (Big Bear, etc.) which may (we hope) have some snow by then, or alternatively drive north to check out the Santa Monica Mountains and Malibu.

 

You will have to drive more than 1-2 hours though...