Ever been to LA?

[JanieDough]

I am driving to Irvine, CA to help my brother move for school. He has orientation ALL day for one whole day. He says I can take his car or he can drop me off some where while he's at orientation.

I am a traveler - I know how to figure out mass transit, budget time, etc. (I travel a lot) and I would probably be OK with just staying on the beach ALL day, BUT I'm tempted to take a tour - one of those cheesy bus tours. I'm sure I'll be really embarrassed to be there by myself, but if I get to see things and on the cheap without having to worry about directions and parking, then it might be worth it to me.

So what do you people who have been to LA suggest? Should I just drive around town and find things on my own, should I take one of those horrible tours? Should I park somewhere and ride the bus? Should I stay on the beach all day?

Should I got to Mexico instead??

 

[Peter Parka]

No but this thread instantly made me think of this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZ9KfKx8PmM

 

[itsmeJonB]

I grew up in LA
If you've never been there before its one of the most confusing places to drive, id say pick a few places you want to actually see and map out how you want to get there

 

[Darrell]

Don't attempt to just "drive around" Los Angeles. You will want to hang yourself with your seatbelt. As Dex said, find a place you want to go, and then plan it.

 

[JanieDough]

yeah I heard the traffic was HORRIBLE. and I've driven in some smaller cities - not fun.


Should I take the cheesey tour thing so I can "See it all"?

 

[MoonOwl]

Irvine? Fuck LA. Go hang at Laguna Beach... The OC is much nicer than LA. But, as I lived in Mission Viejo, I'm biased.

Wanna do a drive? Take the PCH (Pacific Coast Highway). Take it to San Diego then turn around and go North. As far as ya want.

 

[Darrell]

Should I take the cheesey tour thing so I can "See it all"?

Nah. Those tours are crap IMO.

 

[itsmeJonB]

Fuck the OC
Go to Venice if you want to see california in a nutshell

 

[Alien Allen]

San Diego has an incredible zoo if that stuff interests you

Depends on what interests you and if you want to spend any money

Dead celebrity tour

Celebrity house tour

LaBrea Tar Pits

Hollywood

Disneyland

Universal Studios



Been there a couple of times. And definitely it is not driver friendly. So plan it out in advance

 

[Alien Allen]

oh and do NOT go to Mexico. Unless you are with somebody and one of you speaks the language very fluently. That place is dangerous as hell with the drug gangs and no matter what I would avoid it if it was me.

 

[retro]

I wouldn't bother taking a tour... waste of money and time. But if you're in Irvine, I say to just drive the 10 miles north and spend the day at Disneyland. Or you could drive down to Dana Point and take the ferry to Catalina Island, which is a really cool place as well. Laguna Beach is definitely nice, like moon said... or you could go up to Venice like Dex suggested. Manhattan Beach is another one in driving distance that you could consider as well. Or you could go do the cheesy LA stuff like going to Hollywood and taking a tour, going to Grauman's Chinese Theatre and taking a walk around the walk of fame. Mission Beach in San Diego is probably the best beach in all of SoCal, it's a good hour and a half drive (without traffic) from Irvine, but is one of my favorite places in the state. Plus, you could go to Old Town San Diego as well, which is really cool and has some good food.

 

[purpledove]

I agree with the horrible traffic :nod:

I am also biased as OC/ Irvine is my most fave hang out area either hang out by the beach: numerous beaches from Huntington, Laguna to Newport beach. You can also drive pacific coastal highway as Moonie said towards San Diego. Either you visit Wild Animal Park, Sea world or go to Mt. Cabrillo national Monument.

By LA the only maybe good sites to see are Universal Studios, Hollywood or walk a short trail on the mountain to the Hollywood Sign.

 

[purpledove]

Btw- there's an International festival going on in NewPort beach this labor day weekend and also starting Sept 4: Oktoberfest of Old world Festival. Lots of good food, shopping and live musical bands if that interests you

http://www.yelp.com/events/newport-beach-ca

Depends on when you're coming to Cali- there's an arts festival too in Laguna Beach till Aug 31. And these beaches are not so far away from Irvine.

 

[itsmeJonB]

If you decide to drive down to san diego I'm right off the 15, temecula

 

[purpledove]

Mission Beach in San Diego is probably the best beach in all of SoCal, it's a good hour and a half drive (without traffic) from Irvine, but is one of my favorite places in the state.

I'm just wondering how long ago, you've visited Mission Beach :unsure: That's the first beach we visited among all others as per review, it's an awesome place. No doubt that it's really a good beach esp the varied restaurants/activities, shops to visit etc . However we were disappointed as it was filthy. There were lots of trash, bottles of beers/liquors ( broken and unbroken), soda etc on the beach. During our walk too, we've seen police break up 2 separate incidences of guys fist fighting ( they'd been drinking) :willy_nilly:

, you could go to Old Town San Diego as well, which is really cool and has some good food.

Is Old Town separate from Balboa park that has in the area: Spanish colonial/historical architecture, museums, gardens etc?

If you decide to drive down to san diego I'm right off the 15, temecula

No wonder you mentioned b4, you're close to Lake Elsinore

 

[itsmeJonB]

I'm just wondering how long ago, you've visited Mission Beach :unsure: That's the first beach we visited among all others as per review, it's an awesome place. No doubt that it's really a good beach esp the varied restaurants/activities, shops to visit etc . However we were disappointed as it was filthy. There were lots of trash, bottles of beers/liquors ( broken and unbroken), soda etc on the beach. During our walk too, we've seen police break up 2 separate incidences of guys fist fighting ( they'd been drinking) :willy_nilly:




Is Old Town separate from Balboa park that has in the area: Spanish colonial/historical architecture, museums, gardens etc?




No wonder you mentioned b4, you're close to Lake Elsinore

Mentioned what? Lol

 

[Johnfromokc]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBOQiMxwk1o

 

[Maulds]

I made several trips to LA as a teenager visiting my Dad for the Summer. He was staying in West Covina. Got to hit all the tourist traps.

 

[purpledove]

Mentioned what? Lol

When i had that info re: therapist you mentioned you needed b4. His clinic is in Lake Elsinore and you said- "wow that's really close to me." I guess you've forgotten :ninja

check ur rep for the link.

 

[JanieDough]

yeah I travel a lot so I don't know about going to places like Sea World and the Zoo, but I heard that the San Diego aquarium is the best anywhere so I might have to see that. I'm also pretty full up on California beaches. I've been to California from I-40 to I-5 on up, then up and down the Highway 1? or is it 101? from San Francisco to Santa Barbara - it does go that far right (I just know we drove down the coast and through some valleys in Selinas?) We to San Louis Obispo and all these other places - I've seen the missions, the beaches and the scenery.

I want to see touristy stuff unique to LA, but like I said don't know where the things are or know what's out there or want to drive!!

I was just joking about Mexico - I know better than to go alone. I may not be too hot, but I'm hot enough to steal That and I don't know enough Spanish to get around.