go to www.google.com and enter geoffrey malibu. There are several reviews.

Geoffreys is out. It looks very nice, but it doesn't serve breakfast and that day, I have all ready picked out a place for lunch. As it stands now, I need: breakfast and dinner on Aug. 9 (Day 5), Lunch for Aug 10 (Day 6) and finally, breakfast Aug. 11 (Day 7).

Lunch in Santa Monica
 

I was a guest at the luxurious Shutters hotel in Santa Monica not too long ago. It felt like I was living in a beachfront cottage.

I absolutely loved their two waterfront restaurants called Pedals and One Pico. Pedals is more like a cafe and One Pico is a bit more formal. Highly recommended - and perhaps you could do lunch here?

Yea, I checked those places out and they look very nice. That would be perfect for August 10, because I will be in Santa Monica for most of the day.

As a follow-up to TheTravelingPirate's posting about the Dryden Flight Research center in the desert, it is not currently open to the general public.

http://www.edwards.af.mil/trip/docs_html/museum.html

I agree that Geoffreys is worth a trip. Even if you can't go this time, worth trying another for the spectacular view. I had a rather ordinary salad but if you pick a nice day to go you won't even notice the food - not sure what that says about the food, I suppose.

Also, AOC is very good. I know some people weren't crazy about the concept, which is decidedly different, I will admit. But if you can handle the following you will have a great meal:
1. Since it's more of a tapas style restaurant, plan on sharing a bunch of dishes with your table. So long as you don't mind the food being served at random intervals you'll have a great meal. I remember a few starters, notably the dates, serrano ham, and some sort of citrus salad as being particularly good. Similarly was some sort of wild salmon or something in a skillet that was quite nice.
2. An extensive wine list, but no hard alcohol. Didn't bother us, but if you insist on one of those ridiculous drinks ending in "tini", may be a problem.
3. Somewhat small restaurant with odd tables. Not overwhelmingly small, but a little cozy and has some odd tables. One time had a seat that reminded me of Craft in NY, an odd shaped bench for parties of fewer than 4 to share near the front.

Obscure L.A. attraction
 

Here's something a little off the beaten path. (I can't believe nobody's mentioned it.)

THE MUSEUM OF JURASSIC TECHNOLOGY

in Culver City. I can pretty much guarantee that it's among the craziest places you will ever visit. It's hard to know if it's a real museum or just a massive piece of conceptual art. I spent a very memorable afternoon there a couple of years ago.

You'll either love it or hate it, but you won't leave without an opinion!

a different way of vacationing
 

It's interesting to see First_Class_Flyer's itinerary for his trip to Cabo and LA. I've traveled extensively, over 60 countries mostly for pleasure, and only once did I ever have an itinerary anywhere near as detailed as his. That was for a three-week trip to China in 2000, when we had drivers, flights, and a river cruise worked out in advance (largely due to my fear about not knowing the language). Still, there was no concern about restaurants, just cities, hotels, and must-see attractions. That let us wander around and pick out a crowded, local hotpot restaurant (resulting in my favorite story from the entire trip). Most of the time, I research cities or countries to which I am traveling, decide upon the several must-see attractions/restaurants/etc., and then leave the specific details to intangibles such as who I meet, what the weather is like on certain days, and other events that shape a trip, including getting there and hearing of new, exciting places to eat or see.

FCF's itinerary strikes me as too rigid, but I may very well be in the minority on this. I don't mean to hijack the thread, but I'd be interested in hearing anyone else's thoughts on this.

Don in LA

Unfortunately, very unfortunately, I am forced to cancel my plans for both LA and Los Cabos. My father suffered a heart attack here at home. It was extremely unexpected and sadly he passed away. My Mom is taking it very bad. I can't thank you enough for all your suggestions. I will definitely use them in the future. Thanks again. Despite current events, I will continue to have a presence in this message board.

Very sorry to hear about your father. Best of luck to you at this time.

Oh thankyou. he was a Christian so he went to a better place. Knowing that, it makes it less difficult to go through. Anyway, my itinerary is "too rigid"? I don't know. For all of my vacations, as far back as I can remember, I have always planned it out like that. My wife and I are the type that have to know everything and have to have the details in front of us. I'm curious, what does anyone else think?

Well, might I suggest just postponing your trip. Right now isn't the best time to go away on a trip, but maybe in a couple months. I know after my dad died I needed to get away and did so a couple months after he died and it was one of the best trips I ever took, I just needed the break.

As for rigidity in plans, I have learned from a friend that posts here as well, that it's best to not plan every single detail on a trip. We took a trip to London in February, we knew what we wanted to do, we just didnt set a schedule and played it all by ear and I can honestly say that was about the best most relaxing trip Ive ever taken. I too am a "planner", well, reformed planner I might say :) so I know what you mean. We're off to Paris this November and although we know what we want to do, we just have no set schedules which is so nice.

Best of luck.

Thanks. I know it will get better. Yea, I definitely plan on taking this vacation. I think I will put it off until January or February. The weather would be even better then. The price is the only drawback, the piece always doubles. It goes form $550 in the summer to almost $1,000 in the winter season.