like Disney...hollywood Since your details didn't mention your age so I am placing what I know of for ages 16 and over as well fun activities other than Disneyland. By the time you read this you will be in California. Bring clothing for summer wear as well as winter wear. You didn't mention if you were visiting Southern or Northern California.
San Diego- the Lamp post district in downtown than take a drive to Tijuana for some nightclub dancing.
San Juan Capistrano- take a ride on the Metrolink to Oceanside for some fun in the sun. Yes, surfers still surf in the cold.
Anaheim- other than Disney check out some other places like concerts or sporting events at the nearby Angels stadium.
Buena Park- Medieval Times, Knotts Berry Farm or drive along Beach Blvd and check out some other places to eat or visit.
Hollywood- CBS Studio, Farmers Market, Kodak Theater along Sunset Blvd or just travel in that route. You may get lucky in the evening to see a movie premiere at the Kodak Theater.
Just google for maps where you seem to want to visit and it will give you directions on how to get there. How about:
Fish tacos on Sunset Blvd.
Disney is always cool. (Young or old)
Beverly hills. (Laughing at all the botox)
But if I was there right now I would love to go to the beach. Besides Disney, go to Knot's Berry Farm, Sea World, The San Deigo Zoo and the beach. Not sure what location you are visiting, but this site is good
http://www.gocalif.ca.gov/
It lists alot of things you can do or visit in California. Welcome! I'd come to the Bay Area.. San Francisco is always great, the Golden Gate Bridge, Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz, and just riding on those hilly streets that you've seen millions of times in the movies. Disney is fun, Universal in Burbank, can also visit the Warner Brothers studios in Burbank. The Chinese theater, The tar pitts and if you go there there's a place called Pinks hot dogs that is very famous and fun to go to for a hot dog nearby. You can also try to get tickets to see a TV show being filmed, you can usually get the Tonight Show tickets last minute and it's free. There are literally hundreds of things to do here in LA. Here is my top ten list:
Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth. Half a billion visitors can鈥檛 be wrong. (Sometimes it seems all at once)
Universal Studios: A theme park that grew out of a studio tour. Check out eBay. You can find some discounted tickets there. And Universal City Walk is a fun place to hang out in the evening after your day inside the park.
Hollywood: Hollywood Boulevard is ready for its close-up, thanks to years of urban renewal and renovation. Enjoy the Walk of Fame, Entertainment Museum, Mann's Theatre and more. You can see a lot for free. I have also added the Hollywood & Highland complex to my top ten list鈥?it has lots of shops and restaurants, and the Kodak Theater (home of the Academy Awards). I like the El Capitan theater, because it has been restored to its former glory, unlike the Chinese, which was essentially gutted and turned into a multiplex.
Rodeo Drive, 90210: Packed with exclusive shops, full of gawkers. They all came to enjoy the excess. Free, unless you intend to buy something.
Venice Beach: Los Angeles kitsch and over-the-top culture at its best.
Here you'll find Muscle Beach, street performers and tacky shops galore.
Fun, VERY interesting, but I avoid it after dark, when it gets a little TOO interesting for my taste. And it's a short bike ride from:
Santa Monica Beach and Pier: Great beach scene and a classic seaside amusement park, complete with antique carousel that has been in a lot of TV and movies. (The Sting and "Three's Company" come immediately to mind).
After visiting the pier, you can ride a bike south a couple miles to Venice Beach.
Santa Monica Third Street Promenade - Downtown Santa Monica's shopping promenade is often the scene of movie star-sightings. Just a short walk from the Santa Monica Pier.
Sunset Boulevard: Perhaps one of the world's most famous streets, it began as a route between the stars' posh neighborhoods and the Hollywood studios. It runs from downtown to the ocean, passing through the "Sunset Strip" on its way. It makes for a fun drive. Along the way, you see a lot of different neighborhoods. Hollywood, West Hollywood, Bel Air, and Pacific Palisades. When you get to the ocean, stop at Gladstone's for Fish.
Queen Mary: Once the largest ship afloat, she's been docked in Long Beach for longer than she sailed, and her elegance never fails to impress. Free to visit. You can actually stay on board, for a price.
Farmers Market and The Grove - A new shopping complex right next to a Los Angeles landmark, The Grove and Farmers Market coexist. Enjoy a movie or shopping, then take the trolley to the Farmers Market for lunch or dinner.
Farmer's Market is right next to CBS, so walk across the lot to see if they are taping "The Price is Right". You might even get in.
Griffith Park - Home of the Los Angeles Zoo, Griffith Park Observatory, Travel Town, the Greek Theatre, and Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage.
Getty Museum - The Getty's architecture is so beautiful that it keeps me fascinated. No matter whether you like their art or architecture better (or maybe you'll just enjoy the view), the Getty is sure to please. Free.
Attend a TV taping - You can get free tickets at audiencesunlimited.com, or see the booth at Universal City walk. It's very interesting to see a show being taped. The most popular, by far, is the tonight show. Check the NBC web site for all the details there.
Places to eat:
In-N-Out Burger: Multiple locations, best burger in LA, ask anyone.
Pink鈥檚 Hot Dogs: 709 N. La Brea, just north of Melrose. Might see a celebrity.
Tommy鈥檚 Chili Burgers: Look for the shack, an LA tradition. Original location at Beverly & Rampart, a couple miles west of downtown.
Canter鈥檚 Deli: 419 N. Fairfax, between Beverly & Melrose. Near CBS, might spot a celebrity.
Phillippe鈥檚: 1001 N. Alameda. Great roast beef sandwiches. Near Union Station, Olvera Street. Watch the mustard, it鈥檚 hot.
Places to Stay:
In Hollywood, I recommend the Renaissance Hotel at Hollywood and Highland, the Best Western Sunset Plaza, or the Hollywood Roosevelt.
In Anaheim, I recommend the HoJo Anaheim, and the Candy Cane Inn. If you want to splurge and make this a most memorable trip, stay at Disney鈥檚 Grand Californian. You get the full Disney experience. If you don't need to stay by the park, then stay at the Doubletree on Harbor, or even the one in Orange on Chapman.
In Santa Monica, the Holiday Inn Santa Monica is close to the pier and reasonably priced.
Places to Shop:
South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa
Fashion Island, Newport Beach
Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica
Citadel Outlets, Commerce
Beverly Center, Los Angeles
The Block at Orange, Orange
Ontario Mills, Ontario |
