My spouse and I are off to the bright lights of LA for the weekend (our first time there) and wanted to know what FTers consider must-sees. We arrive LAX Fri night and leave Mon morn. We're not big on Hollywood/Disney events, so any hidden gems would be greatly appreciated.

What are people's experiences with the Getty musuem, esp. parking on the weekends?

I've searched the board and haven't found any prior threads.

Regards,
cic

We've yet to pick where we'll stay, though will likely let Priceline/Hotwire pick the place (Hotwire's prices for four star places are really cheap for the weekend).



[This message has been edited by crampedincoach (edited 06-13-2001).]

http://flyersplaces.infopop.net/2/Op...22&f=314099322

If you enjoy aviation, head over to the Santa Monica airport. Great plane spotting (with tons of corporate jets and some helicopter operations), an aviation museum, and a restaurant with views. Of course, Santa Monica itself is a great place to visit (downtown business district, beach, pier).

The LA farmers market can be fun on the weekend. Walking along Rodeo Drive and Beverly Blvd. in Beverly Hills is interesting (I like to stop by the Museum of Television and Radio and visit the library. They have a huge catalog of old TV shows.).

What part of town are you staying in? What are your interests?

The rose garden in Exposition Park is a pretty neat place to kill some time if you have any interest at all in roses. Quite nice.

Admission to Getty Museum is free, with your paid parking, however, you need appointment to be able to enter parking lot. I've known people to go to neighborhood hotels park, and take the hotel shuttle up to the museum. It is pretty nice, but try to go early as it gets pretty crowded especially in the weekend. Phone # to make res. 310-440-7300.

Take the 2 hour ride and head south to "south of the border" - Tijuana is a great day trip, and certainly a unique experience.

You'll drive by San Diego, and on your right will be a tremendous view of the Naval base.

The San Diego Zoo is also a great way to spend an afternoon.

EAT: a bit of the offbeat

San Antonio Winery: 737 LaMar St. a mile or so E of downtown. Last operating winery in LA and a fun experience. Eat inside with the wine casks or cross the little street and dine in their park. Wine at shelf prices available for lunch. Say hello to Santo and tell him Randy sent you...he will not remember who I am though.

Olvara Street: for that Mexican experience..on the East side on Downtown in the pueblo de Los Angeles. Lots of walk around, gift shops and history

Phillipes (sp?): for the oldest sandwitch shop I know, again by Olvera Street. Order your sandwitch from the counter and eat at community tables without any decor or fuss. Free parking midblock accross from entry. Suits, shorts, and homeless together to eat.
Long Beach Aquarium
LA County Museum of Art (5905 Wilshire Blvd)

The above may get your juices flowing, however this list could be completely different if I knew your likes and dislikes. I have done all of the above and therefore recommend them if we have similar tastes.
Natural History MuseumOf LA (Exposition Park)
Musuum of Tolerance (9786 W Pico Blvd)

McDonalds: Lakewood and Florence in Downey(15 miles SE of downtown off I-5), the oldest operating McDonalds in the world. Take your camera. If you do not eat there but only visit, then eat at Chris and Pitts (like the bbq sauce in the market. It is located just off the I-5 at Lakewood Blvd and you pass it on the way to the McDonalds. Good pork ribs, modest place and prices.

Tommy's: 3rd and Rampart, w of downtown- argueably the oldest and best hamberger experience in LA. Open 24 hours? NO sitdown

Pacific Dining Car: 6th st just a few blocks west of downtown (SWC)..Outstanding food and service, medium dress code..expensive!!! Crummy neighborhood, private parking lot ($2 or $3).

Farmers Market: 3rd/Fairfax: eat and shop in informal atmosphere. Also nearby is Canters for the Jewish Deli experience.

visit:
LA Zoo...Griffith Park
Gene Autry Museum...Griffith Park
Chinese Theatre..6925 Hollywood Blvd. try you hand prints in the cement with movie star impressions, visit the Wax Museum, people watch, drive the neighborhood for a look at the complex mix of homes.
Queen Mary: Long Beach, brunch on the Queen is delightful and then a walk thru the ship and down to the ocean can be delightful. A few nice shoping villages. Get in the water if that is a thing for you!
Universal Studios is worth the visit if you have not had that type of movie making experience.

Thanks to all for the replies. Ranles, our tastes sound right in line (with the only exception that my spouse is a very tolerant vegetarian).

Any specific recs for Olvara St? One of the things that we don't like about our current Ky home is the homogeneity of the people and the food so we'd like to enjoy the culture and cuisine in LA that has yet to reach critical mass here at home.

I think we'll have plenty do to fill our weekend. Thanks again to all for your suggestions.

cic

Ethnic food abounds in LA. Chinatown is big downtown. Japanese food at the New Otani (not really new at all) hotel is probably great (I do not eat most oriental food by choice so these are not part of my speciality). Garden Grove in Orange County probably has the greatest group of Viet people. Also we have in OC a large group from Tonga. So I am sure many rest.exits with those specialities. We have great Italian places, but I am only familiar with some local ones here in Downey. Salvatores on Paramount(S of Firestone) is a modest place with good food and the best pizza (silly statement) is at Frantones (on Telegraph, E of Lakewood). There are more Mexican Rest. in LA than Mexico (no true, just seems so). I love the food but have none to recommend over others. No recommendation on Veggie either. No offense ment to any group left out (100's) as there is not food that is not represented in the greater LA area.

Did forget Cole's (118 E 6th Street) in downtown, the oldest restaurant and saloon in Los Angeles, and modestly priced.

Enjoy your stay. If I can be of any specific assistance e-mail me.

You mean Beverly DRIVE in Beverly Hills! Beverly Blvd. in Beverly Hills in an entirely different street with no shopping.

[This message has been edited by Colin (edited 06-14-2001).]

Since you mentioned your wife is a tolerant vegetarian, an interesting thing for her to experience is Vegetarian Chinese food, which can be found around Monterey Park.

A Dodger game!

OMNI I thought My wife and I were the only people who ever eat at Chris and Pitts (albeit, the one in Van Nuys). Prices are laughingly inexpensive, which makes up for the incredibly dumpy interior.

Craig, Downey unit remodeled 2 years ago. Not open on Tuesdays

Two only-in-LA ethnic restaurants are Guelaguetza, which serves Oaxacan style Mexican cuisine, and Yongsusan, which serves Imperial style North Korean cuisine. Both are located in around Koreatown.

http://www.newtimesla.com/issues/200...estfood57.html
http://www.calendarlive.com/top/1,14...-34728,00.html

For Thai food, try Thai Town, on the Eastern fringes of Hollywood.

http://www.epicurious.com/b_ba/b03_goingout/thai.html

If you want a one of a kind Chinese cultural experience you can drive 20 miles east of downtown and visit the Hsi Lai Buddhist Monastary in Hacienda Heights. Aside from being associated with the Al Gore fundraising scandal, it's reputed to be the largest buddhist monastary in the western hemisphere. They offer tours of the grounds and a vegetarian lunch buffet. Once you enter their gates you'll swear you were in China!

http://www.hsilai.org/