Advice for 5 nights in LA (previously: SFO or LAX in Nov/Dec?)
Feb 19, 2019, 2:01 pm
#31
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It depends on the day and my mood how much fine art I can digest. Also it depends very much on what's on display. Modern art? Well, you can count my attention span in minutes. Old photography? Sure, perhaps an hour, depending on the theme and mood. 
Yeah, I'm not exactly an art junkie, hence I don't despise it either.
Yeah, I'm not exactly an art junkie, hence I don't despise it either.I was going to write that the end of November may not necessarily be convertible friendly weather in Southern California, but then I noticed your home airport.
Feb 19, 2019, 2:16 pm
#32
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So Cali is definetly suitable for topless driving (the car, not me) on my scale that time of the year. 
But I have a hardtop booking as well and will follow how the weather forecasts look like closer to my arrival. I'll then cancel the one that's less suitable.
Feb 19, 2019, 2:30 pm
#34
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Feb 19, 2019, 2:31 pm
#35
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November has been very bad for fires the past couple of years so I would be careful about booking anything too far in advance, there are plenty of rooms available that time of year so you will have no problems finding something. If I were looking for one place to stay for 5 nights I would pick Santa Monica but I have spent 3 one week vacations there in the past 4 years and not once did I stay in Santa Monica. I tend to pick two or three nights in a location then move somewhere else.
The beaches are excellent and all completely different, the hiking is excellent, the art is world class. Everyone mentioned the Getty which is fabulous but Norton Simon in Pasadena is great also, and LACMA is not far behind. The Reagan library is excellent. There is so much to see and do in LA and while the traffic is awful as a tourist you can pick your times to avoid the worst of it. Waze is really good at finding quick routes there.
The beaches are excellent and all completely different, the hiking is excellent, the art is world class. Everyone mentioned the Getty which is fabulous but Norton Simon in Pasadena is great also, and LACMA is not far behind. The Reagan library is excellent. There is so much to see and do in LA and while the traffic is awful as a tourist you can pick your times to avoid the worst of it. Waze is really good at finding quick routes there.
Feb 19, 2019, 2:36 pm
#36
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For a uniquely eccentric experience, don't miss the Museum of Jurassic Technology. Note that it's only open four days a week.
Feb 19, 2019, 2:37 pm
#37
Join Date: May 2015
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I should have added also that there are so many wonderful parks and gardens in and around LA. Griffith Park, the Huntington, LA County Arboretum, Descanso Gardens, the Krishna shrine and many more. Also Venice Beach canals, particularly if Christmas lights are up.
Feb 19, 2019, 3:50 pm
#38
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My tentative plan is now two nights (Fri-Sun) in Santa Monica or Hollywood (somewhere in the West anyway), then stay Sun-Mon in Santa Monica and then return to LA for two nights SE or E of town.
Noted. Thanks!
I'm making fully refundable bookings (and what's not possible to cancel for free, my travel insurance covers it, if there's something like a natural disaster) so that I can guarantee a good early rate, but I can still jump at some last minute savings or change my plans all together. Yes, I've indeed looked at Santa Monica for a few nights as it's supposed to be a nicer area. I was also thinking of something like San Bernardino, but that'll end up quite East. Will have to ponder my options, but indeed, I'm certainly not too late to book and can get back to the drawing board later on.
As for forrest fires: have no fear - you have a Finn en route there, so it means your raking savior will be in town.
(Claiming anything else is fake news. 
)
For a uniquely eccentric experience, don't miss the Museum of Jurassic Technology. Note that it's only open four days a week.
Thanks!November has been very bad for fires the past couple of years so I would be careful about booking anything too far in advance, there are plenty of rooms available that time of year so you will have no problems finding something. If I were looking for one place to stay for 5 nights I would pick Santa Monica but I have spent 3 one week vacations there in the past 4 years and not once did I stay in Santa Monica. I tend to pick two or three nights in a location then move somewhere else.
The beaches are excellent and all completely different, the hiking is excellent, the art is world class. Everyone mentioned the Getty which is fabulous but Norton Simon in Pasadena is great also, and LACMA is not far behind. The Reagan library is excellent. There is so much to see and do in LA and while the traffic is awful as a tourist you can pick your times to avoid the worst of it. Waze is really good at finding quick routes there.
The beaches are excellent and all completely different, the hiking is excellent, the art is world class. Everyone mentioned the Getty which is fabulous but Norton Simon in Pasadena is great also, and LACMA is not far behind. The Reagan library is excellent. There is so much to see and do in LA and while the traffic is awful as a tourist you can pick your times to avoid the worst of it. Waze is really good at finding quick routes there.
As for forrest fires: have no fear - you have a Finn en route there, so it means your raking savior will be in town.
(Claiming anything else is fake news. )
Feb 19, 2019, 4:29 pm
#40
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Quite possible that I might consider Airbnb, hence I just like how convenient it's with a hotel.
Feb 19, 2019, 10:57 pm
#41
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+1 and underlining: from the air, yes, not so much from the ground.
It would be far too much of an unauthentic local experience, if one couldn't curse the traffic like a local. But yeah, joking aside, it's just a waste of time to sit in a traffic jam. At least I'll be driving a convertible, so I maybe feel less crammed in the jam.
It would be far too much of an unauthentic local experience, if one couldn't curse the traffic like a local.
But yeah, joking aside, it's just a waste of time to sit in a traffic jam. At least I'll be driving a convertible, so I maybe feel less crammed in the jam.But I do highlight that one of the unfortunate realities of life in Southern California is the ubiquity of traffic - even outside of what are named "rush hour" periods (7 am - 9 am and 3 pm to 7 pm - and these are potentially too narrow windows).
In our defense, at least we have many freeways in gridlock at the same time. Our Northern California bretheren and sisteren have to deal with a handful of key bridges as well as a part of their traffic flow challenge.
David
Feb 20, 2019, 3:49 am
#42
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While I did post the link to the video of traffic on the 405 as half tongue in cheek, it is/was from a prior Thanksgiving - which is in November, around the time you indicated you'd be coming to the Los Angeles area. So taking a reference from a thread years back, traffic in Los Angeles tends to go pear shaped.
But I do highlight that one of the unfortunate realities of life in Southern California is the ubiquity of traffic - even outside of what are named "rush hour" periods (7 am - 9 am and 3 pm to 7 pm - and these are potentially too narrow windows).
In our defense, at least we have many freeways in gridlock at the same time. Our Northern California bretheren and sisteren have to deal with a handful of key bridges as well as a part of their traffic flow challenge.
But I do highlight that one of the unfortunate realities of life in Southern California is the ubiquity of traffic - even outside of what are named "rush hour" periods (7 am - 9 am and 3 pm to 7 pm - and these are potentially too narrow windows).
In our defense, at least we have many freeways in gridlock at the same time. Our Northern California bretheren and sisteren have to deal with a handful of key bridges as well as a part of their traffic flow challenge.
However Santa Barbara and the presidential libraries will be nice add-ons and I've planned accordingly now, besides the obvious sights from downtown LA and the touristy stuff in Hollywood.
Feb 24, 2019, 8:31 pm
#43
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Just spent last week in LA and Anaheim (Disney). I loved eating at The Grove and Grand Central Market. Also had great brunches at Jon & Vinny’s and Tavern. Anaheim Packing District also had great food!
Feb 25, 2019, 3:13 pm
#44
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Both good choices. I love a salad at Jon & Vinny's although they are known for their pizza. I don't know anything about the Anaheim Packing District--will check it out.
Nov 27, 2019, 3:18 am
#45
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Will arrive in a few days in CA and it's going to be interesting to see how the advice I received here works out. Will of course briefly sum up in this thread how well the advice given were in terms of executing them.
Will of course briefly sum up in this thread how well the advice given were in terms of executing them.