FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - LAX DO - June 2nd or 3rd ???
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Old May 14, 2006 | 12:20 pm
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SkiAdcock
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I'm sure you'll get some of the locals who could make it and will post here. You might post whether you want to get together Fri or Sat - or both. Also, what area you want to get together at? Are you all staying near the airport or elsewhere, and will you have cars?

In the past, the LAX area has been a meeting spot because it's mutually convenient (or inconvenient) for those coming from the Valley & Orange County.

Some of the places people have met at are Siam (Thai) Restaurant in Westchester, Proud Bird (but only on weekdays for their 'early bird' specials), Pancho's Mexican restaurant in Manhattan Beach, Encounter Restaurant AT LAX (the space age-looking building in the middle of LAX), Reed's Restaurant in Manhattan Beach (usually smaller groups though as a bit more $$).

Regarding things to do (whether w/ FTers or on your own) if you do a search in the Los Angeles Forum, a # of items will crop up. Some require a rental car (which can be gotten cheaply); some don't. Please remember the 'Greater Los Angeles Area' is HUGE.

Off the top of my head:

* Head to the Beaches - Hey, it's LA in June! Either down to Manhattan Beach or up north to Venice, Santa Monica or Malibu. If you have a car, all are doable. If not, hotel shuttles & "Ocean Express" run to Manhattan Beach for free from LAX hotels/Century Blvd. Big Blue Bus gets you up north to Santa Monica cheaply. If in Santa Monica, check out the Santa Monica Pier, as it's in a lot of TV shows & movies. Manhattan Beach is a cute seaside town w/ pier, shops, restaurants, bars. There's also Hermosa & Redondo Beaches, but usually the shuttles don't run that far south, so car for those.

* Go to Museums: - the Getty is famous, has great architecture, artwork & gardens, and on a clear day you can see from Catalina Island to downtown Los Angeles as it's located on a small mountaintop. LACMA (LA County Museum of Art) is running a special art exhibit on the 5 Klimts through end of June (details in the LA Forum).

* Go to a Baseball Game or Concert: check the schedule for baseball teams (Dodgers, LA Anaheim Angels or whatever their goofy name is now) or concerts at Staples Center, Greek Theatre, Hollywood Bowl, or Arrowhead Pond.

* Theme Parks/Studio Tours - none of them are close to LAX & getting to them via public transportation isn't easy (ie, get a car), but for anyone who's into Theme Parks/Studio Tours, Universal Studio or Disneyland are options.

* Regular Touristy Stuff - again, car required. Beverly Hills Baby - Rodeo Drive, Sunset Strip through West Hollywood/Hollywood.

Yes, there is public transportation in LA & depending on where you want to go it can be effective, but the area is so large quite frankly it's easier to get a rental car unless you're staying at the airport & just want to hang at the beaches.

Downtown LA is 30 miles inland (give or take) from LAX area, and not really much happening down there (short of Staples Center) so unless you have a craving need to see it, cross that off the list. Again, check out the LA Forum for more ideas.

Cheers.

PS - I'm available Fri the 2nd, but Sat the 3rd is iffy for me as I fly to VIE that night & will probably be packing/last minute errands before heading to airport at 5:30pm.
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