Suggest an LA itinerary!

Arden01

Mouseketeer
Joined
Mar 23, 2014
Planning ahead my CA trip next summer. Roughly planning itinerary for 2 1/2 days in LA. First time in CA.

Who: Me and my 14 year old twin girls.
When: Arriving Wed., July 31. Flying into LAX. Landing at 10:30 a.m. Planning on rental car.
Where: Staying at Loews Hollywood.
Leaving LA: Sat, Aug 3 and driving to Pismo Beach and Central Coast for 3 days, then 2 days in Disneyland and then 5 days with family in San Diego.

Can you suggest a 2 1/2 day itinerary that makes the most sense taking into account our hotel location, traffic, etc? What to do on what day, etc.?

Interested in seeing/doing:
Usual Hollywood stuff-Walk of Fame, Dolby, Gauman's, maybe Hollywood museum in Max Factor Bldg
Bus tour (Surf City tours?) to see stuff like Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, etc.
Griffith Observatory
Warner Brothers tour
The Getty
Original Farmer's Market and The Grove
Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach - worth the drive/traffic from our hotel location?

Thanks in advance!
 
Won't be much help, but here's a couple things to keep in mind.
Warner Brothers tour
I have heard that this is better to do on a weekend because many areas are closed during the week for filming. You may want to do this on your last LA day before your drive to Pismo.

Santa Monica Pier, Venice Beach - worth the drive/traffic from our hotel location?
It is worth it if you are going to be in the area have a couple hours to spare. It would also be a nice place to see a sunset.

I am not sure what types of city stuff you are used to seeing and I know everyone wants to see the Hollywood walk of fame. I just want to mention that what looks "glamorous" in the media can also have a lot of homeless, drug addicts, etc. You will enjoy your visit, but I don't think you'll want to spend a lot of time there. You'll definitely get to see everything you want to see and have plenty of time to go somewhere else on that day.

While I haven't been to the Getty Museum and grounds, I've been told it can be a whole day event. It's pretty close to Santa Monica, so maybe you can spend the day at the Getty and then hit Santa Monica for dinner and a sunset.
 
Won't be much help, but here's a couple things to keep in mind.

I have heard that this is better to do on a weekend because many areas are closed during the week for filming. You may want to do this on your last LA day before your drive to Pismo.

It is worth it if you are going to be in the area have a couple hours to spare. It would also be a nice place to see a sunset.

I am not sure what types of city stuff you are used to seeing and I know everyone wants to see the Hollywood walk of fame. I just want to mention that what looks "glamorous" in the media can also have a lot of homeless, drug addicts, etc. You will enjoy your visit, but I don't think you'll want to spend a lot of time there. You'll definitely get to see everything you want to see and have plenty of time to go somewhere else on that day.

While I haven't been to the Getty Museum and grounds, I've been told it can be a whole day event. It's pretty close to Santa Monica, so maybe you can spend the day at the Getty and then hit Santa Monica for dinner and a sunset.

Thanks! I live in the NYC area so am used to big city grit. Friends gave me the 411 about Hollywood and compared it to Times Sq or 8th Avenue in Manhattan. I have an idea what the area is like. I got a great rate at the Loews and it seems nice enough, which I booked with my Chase points. West Hollywood and Beverly Hills are just outside of my budget, as is Santa Monica.

Good idea about The Getty. My girls want to go to Santa Monica, so we may do that combo as you suggested.

Thanks for the tip about Warner Bros tour!!
 
The Warner Bros tour and Griffith Observatory make a nice combo because they are fairly close together. Book a midday/early afternoon tour of Warner Bros, then go over to Griffith Observatory to see it before, during, and after sunset. I would actually do both on a weekday -- they may have one area at WB closed for filming, but there will be others open and there's a small chance they'll see someone notable! And Griffith is less busy on weeknights.

I am guessing you are doing beach time in San Diego?

PHXscuba
 


The Warner Bros tour and Griffith Observatory make a nice combo because they are fairly close together. Book a midday/early afternoon tour of Warner Bros, then go over to Griffith Observatory to see it before, during, and after sunset. I would actually do both on a weekday -- they may have one area at WB closed for filming, but there will be others open and there's a small chance they'll see someone notable! And Griffith is less busy on weeknights.

I am guessing you are doing beach time in San Diego?

PHXscuba
Thanks very much! Your suggestion was what I was thinking.
My rough idea is:
Day 1: Hollywood stuff, take bus tour, dinner near Loews and early bed. We'll have come off early am flight
Day 2: LACMA, The Grove, Farmer's Market, maybe Beverly Hills in afternoon so my daughter can walk around Rodeo Drive as she requested. Then, Santa Monica for sunset/dinner/evening.
Day 3: Warner Brothers tour and Griffith Observatory for late afternoon/sunset
Day 4-6: Head to Central Coast: 1 night each - Pismo Beach, Cambria, Santa Barbara
Day 7-8-Disneyland (2 nights)
Days 9-13: San Diego with family. We plan on getting in some beach time in Pismo Beach and in San Diego.

Does that sound doable?
 
Day 2 might be a little full. I'm not sure how early stuff is open at the farmer's Market, but breakfast there might give you a better jump on the day.

Just remind your daughters to pack their patience for the LA days as snarly traffic makes that "5 mile drive" take an hour!

PHXscuba
 
Day 2 might be a little full. I'm not sure how early stuff is open at the farmer's Market, but breakfast there might give you a better jump on the day.

Just remind your daughters to pack their patience for the LA days as snarly traffic makes that "5 mile drive" take an hour!

PHXscuba
Thanks for the tip! Think we'll trim down day 2.
 


Your name sounds familiar so I think you have seen the video my daughter made of the exact spots. Let me see if I can remember our itinerary. We arrived Friday morning into LAX and stopped for very early lunch at In & Out. Went to Santa Monica Pier and walked the beach and girls did some rides. Drove down to Hollywood to the Loews hotel. Walked around a little bit but not much. Saturday morning up early and walked the Walk of Fame, did the Dolby theater tour and took a Hollywood tour. Went to the Grove area and Farmers Market for dinner. Sunday morning went to Griffith Observatory and then came back to hotel area. Used the pool since they like it was a rooftop pool and went to movie across the street at El Capitan. Monday morning checked out and went to Warner Brothers studio tour before heading to Disneyland.

We went back in September for Abbey's 16th birthday and we had a very late night flight on Thursday night and got up and went to The Ivy in Beverly Hills for Abbey's birthday breakfast. Walked around and took pictures of all the spots on Rodeo Drive and then back to the Loews where we met up with family and did another Hollywood Tour but with a different company. Went to The Grove for birthday dinner. Saturday morning walked the Walk of Fame with them before heading to Disneyland. (a few pics and yes she had a broken ankle. Sorry so big, not sure how to make smaller and will add video link in case you hadn't seen it)

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I also agree that Warner Brothers Tour and Griffith Observatory would be easy to do on the same day. If you decide on a Hollywood Tour, we used Ultimate Hollywood Tour the first time and Access Hollywood Tour the second time. Pretty much the same thing.
 
I also agree that Warner Brothers Tour and Griffith Observatory would be easy to do on the same day. If you decide on a Hollywood Tour, we used Ultimate Hollywood Tour the first time and Access Hollywood Tour the second time. Pretty much the same thing.
Aww. thanks for the tips! I did watch your video and, in fact, my 14 year old daughters loved it. Your daughter is adorable and made a great video! They got lots of ideas on what to do during our time in LA. We are also staying at the Loews. At first, I was a little nervous booking it but I got a great deal. How did you like it? Did you rent a car or use public transportation? We're definitely looking into the tours you suggested. Our itinerary seems similar. One difference is I'd like to try to go to Santa Monica for sunset and dinner after our Farmer's Market/LACMA/Grove day. How did you find the drive from central LA area to Santa Monica? We will also head to Disneyland, but after 3 days touring the Central Coast (Pismo Beach, Cambria and Santa Barbara)
 
We loved staying at the Loews. It was so convenient and you were right there in the middle of everything. Just walk down the steps and you were on the Walk of Fame. Also you can go straight to Chinese Theater and Dolby from hotel access. We stayed there both trips. June and then again in September. For some odd reason it was way more money in September than in June although neither were great prices. (where did you get a great price, haha). Traffic is absolutely awful! We rented a car and just used google maps to get us around. It did fine for us. Parking is $15 a night at the Loews which was pretty cheap.
 
We loved staying at the Loews. It was so convenient and you were right there in the middle of everything. Just walk down the steps and you were on the Walk of Fame. Also you can go straight to Chinese Theater and Dolby from hotel access. We stayed there both trips. June and then again in September. For some odd reason it was way more money in September than in June although neither were great prices. (where did you get a great price, haha). Traffic is absolutely awful! We rented a car and just used google maps to get us around. It did fine for us. Parking is $15 a night at the Loews which was pretty cheap.
Good to know. Will send you a PM!
 
We are going in May I would love to know where you found a great rate.
For my dates (late July-early Aug), rates are pretty good right now for Loews. I'm not sure about May. I booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards , but the rates were also good on expedia and booking.com as well. Again, not sure about May!
 

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