LA siteseeing must dos?

[ehsmum]

We're in LA for a week but most of our time will be taken up by theme parks. We're planning 1 day at Universal, 1 day at Legoland, 1 day at Seaworld and 3days at Disneyland. That only leaves us one day to do the Hollywood/LA siteseeing thing. We'll also have a bit of time on our last day as well (driving down from San Francisco the day before for an 11.30pm flight out of LAX).

What are your must dos in LA?

What I would like to do/see:

- tour of stars homes
- Kodak Theatre
- Hollywood sign
- Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Santa Monica Pier
- The Grove

Any tips on other places to see or where we should eat?

[Willow25]

Sprinkles cupcakes in Hollywood!!

[queenie82]

We're in LA for a week but most of our time will be taken up by theme parks. We're planning 1 day at Universal, 1 day at Legoland, 1 day at Seaworld and 3days at Disneyland. That only leaves us one day to do the Hollywood/LA siteseeing thing. We'll also have a bit of time on our last day as well (driving down from San Francisco the day before for an 11.30pm flight out of LAX).

What are your must dos in LA?

What I would like to do/see:

- tour of stars homes
- Kodak Theatre
- Hollywood sign
- Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Santa Monica Pier
- The Grove

Any tips on other places to see or where we should eat?My must dos are none of the things on your list. Although you should do the Hollywood Sign and Walk of Fame once.
the tours of the stars homes is more like a tour of their front fences (and is actually often wrong given the starts move so frequently.

Must dos
- Getty Museums (villa and the new one)
- Walt Disney Concert Hall (and the whole strip of various halls infact)

To Eat - get a Dolewhip float in Adventureland at Disneyland.

[ehsmum]

Sprinkles cupcakes in Hollywood!!

I just googled and they look yummy! Alas, my son is diabetic so we generally have pass on sweet stuff like that. We might be able to do one (small one!) for a treat though :).

My must dos are none of the things on your list. Although you should do the Hollywood Sign and Walk of Fame once.
the tours of the stars homes is more like a tour of their front fences (and is actually often wrong given the starts move so frequently.

Must dos
- Getty Museums (villa and the new one)
- Walt Disney Concert Hall (and the whole strip of various halls infact)

To Eat - get a Dolewhip float in Adventureland at Disneyland.

I've done the stars homes tours a few times before and even though you only see the front gate, I still think it's fun. This is more for my kids though, we'll be hunting out the homes of Miley Cyrus et al this time. I'll look into the Museum and Concert Hall, thanks!

[Feej]

If you're going out towards Santa Monica, may I suggest taking in the sunset at Venice beach? My wife and I did this in 2007 and it was both fantastic and romantic.... :)

http://feej.smugmug.com/Travel/2007-Holiday/2007-11-10-001-115/761396145_FyMUf-L.jpg

[PrincessInOz]

Must do list looks good.

I like eating at the Cheesecake Factory. Mexican food in SoCal is also great...we tend to eat this near my Aunt's place in San Marcos or in San Diego.

Your kids may also enjoy Rainforest Cafe (or TRex, which I haven't tried but will do so this trip).

[ehsmum]

Feej - gorgeous photo!

PrincessInOz - I'm planning on booking Rainforest Cafe :thumbsup2. Actually it's 60 days today until we get to Disneyland so I should call tonight to book. Is there a Cheesecake Factory in Anaheim? What about In n Out Burger? We want to do Rainforest Cafe and ESPN Zone at Downtown Disney. I'm still tossing up whether to do Goofy's Kitchen. I don't really want to waste time in the morning with a breakfast but it looks like so much fun and I know my kids (the littlest one anyway) will love it :confused3. I think we're going to pass on Medieval Times and do the Tournament of Kings in Vegas instead. I just don't know that I want to waste a Disney night to go to Medieval Times although it does sound like fun :confused3

I think we'll skip the Getty Museum as we'll be doing all the museums in NYC and Washington DC and I want to keep our one day in LA for frivoulous/cheesy Hollywood stuff! :laughing:

[PrincessInOz]

Feej - gorgeous photo!

PrincessInOz - I'm planning on booking Rainforest Cafe :thumbsup2. Actually it's 60 days today until we get to Disneyland so I should call tonight to book. Is there a Cheesecake Factory in Anaheim? What about In n Out Burger? We want to do Rainforest Cafe and ESPN Zone at Downtown Disney. I'm still tossing up whether to do Goofy's Kitchen. I don't really want to waste time in the morning with a breakfast but it looks like so much fun and I know my kids (the littlest one anyway) will love it :confused3. I think we're going to pass on Medieval Times and do the Tournament of Kings in Vegas instead. I just don't know that I want to waste a Disney night to go to Medieval Times although it does sound like fun :confused3

I think we'll skip the Getty Museum as we'll be doing all the museums in NYC and Washington DC and I want to keep our one day in LA for frivoulous/cheesy Hollywood stuff! :laughing:

There's a Cheesecake Factory in Garden Walk in Anaheim. It's about 10 minutes walk from DTD. There's also a Bubba Gumps there as well; and a PF Changs.

I don't eat at In n Out Burger...much prefer to find a diner for this (and from memory Bubba Gumps also do burgers).
I signed up to the ESPN Zone (online) for the first time in 2008 and they sent me either $10 or $20 worth of tokens for the games machines. Might be worth checking this out and seeing if it is still available.

Character dining is always fun. I haven't done one in Anaheim but have done these in WDW. Depending on what characters you see, it may save you time in the park queueing for a photo with them e.g., Mickey's House can take a while to get to see him if busy.

If you're looking at DTD, Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen is always good for us; as is La Brea Bakery and Naples restaurant (italian).

Oh - and eating in NYC? If you're staying around the Times Square area, 9th avenue around 55th or 54th street - there are a few nice restaurants there. I think this is the bottom end of Hell's Kitchen area and the food is great there.
(There's also a Bubba Gump in Times Square).

[ehsmum]

I've booked some character meals for WDW so I'm not really fussed about doing them at DL but Goofy's Kitchen looks like fun. I'll have to think about it some more.

I'll look into the ESPN Zone website, thanks for the tip :). One of my sons is a sports fanatic and that's the only place in the US that he has requested to go! I know there's one in NYC too and we'll probably end up going to both, but we'll have to do the Disney one as every time we look at the maps it's the first place he points out. I think the Socceroos first World Cup match is while we are in NYC, so ESPN Zone there will be a good place to watch it.

We are staying at Times Square (Radio City Apartments) and am looking forward to discovering the restaurants in NYC! Good to hear there are a few options for Bubba Gumps as I definitely want to try it since someone was raving about it on here (Ms Shuttergirl I think)!

[aussiegirls]

OMG Bubba Gump's :worship:

We loooooved Bubba Gumps and went to 3 different ones (Gardenwalk, Hollywood and Santa Monica) in 14 days.

Mmmmmmmmm, I am feeling a little hungry now :cheer2:

xxx

[PrincessInOz]

OMG Bubba Gump's :worship:

We loooooved Bubba Gumps and went to 3 different ones (Gardenwalk, Hollywood and Santa Monica) in 14 days.

Mmmmmmmmm, I am feeling a little hungry now :cheer2:

xxx

Stop!! Forest! Stop!! I'm thinking about the 'Po Burger right now! :laughing:

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

OMG, the Mahi Mahi fish at Bubba gumps, my mouth is watering :lmao:.

If you are going to New York you MUST MUST MUST go to Ellen's Startdust Diner. There is a website i think. Only about a block off Times Square. Get the burgers, the other food not so hot but it's the entertainment that is amazing. Get there early though. We got there at 5.30 and within about 10 minutes there was a line out the door. The wait staff take it in turns singing songs, and they are fabulous singers. I can't tell you how COOOOOOOLLLLL it is. Please do yourself a favour and go, it's like being in Arnolds in Happy Days. One of my fave things about NY.

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

We are staying at Times Square (Radio City Apartments) and am looking forward to discovering the restaurants in NYC! Good to hear there are a few options for Bubba Gumps as I definitely want to try it since someone was raving about it on here (Ms Shuttergirl I think)!

I am really looking forward to hearing your report about Radio City Apartments. And photos too please. If i can convince DH to go to US again in Dec 2011 I am thinking of staying here. We loved where we stayed last time (Crowne Plaza Times Square) but the price of RCA is amazing so I would definitely consider it based on reviews I've read, just waiting on Ehsmum's final opinion.

[Kalice]

I second Ellens Stardust Diner, whilst the foods definately not the best we had, it was good (desserts were great), the singing definately was good. Best of all for Miss 9 she got another pressed penny, with Ellens Stardust Diner on it. It's very central to times square, we watched the police group and disperse on NYE. The crowds were already huge when we finished eating at approx. 2pm.

[PrincessInOz]

I am really looking forward to hearing your report about Radio City Apartments. And photos too please. If i can convince DH to go to US again in Dec 2011 I am thinking of staying here. We loved where we stayed last time (Crowne Plaza Times Square) but the price of RCA is amazing so I would definitely consider it based on reviews I've read, just waiting on Ehsmum's final opinion.

Me three!! I was interested to stay at RCA but it was all booked out. I ended up at the Doubletree, which was great!...but I am still wondering about RCA. THANKS!

[ehsmum]

OMG, the Mahi Mahi fish at Bubba gumps, my mouth is watering :lmao:.

If you are going to New York you MUST MUST MUST go to Ellen's Startdust Diner. There is a website i think. Only about a block off Times Square. Get the burgers, the other food not so hot but it's the entertainment that is amazing. Get there early though. We got there at 5.30 and within about 10 minutes there was a line out the door. The wait staff take it in turns singing songs, and they are fabulous singers. I can't tell you how COOOOOOOLLLLL it is. Please do yourself a favour and go, it's like being in Arnolds in Happy Days. One of my fave things about NY.

Thanks for the tip! I just googled it, it looks like fun! 1650 Broadway.

I am really looking forward to hearing your report about Radio City Apartments. And photos too please. If i can convince DH to go to US again in Dec 2011 I am thinking of staying here. We loved where we stayed last time (Crowne Plaza Times Square) but the price of RCA is amazing so I would definitely consider it based on reviews I've read, just waiting on Ehsmum's final opinion.

I'll do my best to get a review up asap once we're there :).

[Sugarglider]

I wouldn't go to any of those places! ummm .... wow
Maybe I'm a sad sack I can't think of anything more timewasting than stars on the pavement, and driving around looking at front gates:confused3
We LOVED the Getty villa at Malibu. You have to get tickets for a time slot so it is not crowed and it is one of the more spectacular collections of roman, greek and eritrean antiquities - all in a fake, recreated roman villa! Really spectacular:lovestruc
We also enjoyed the Le Brea Tar Pits

[ehsmum]

I wouldn't go to any of those places! ummm .... wow
Maybe I'm a sad sack I can't think of anything more timewasting than stars on the pavement, and driving around looking at front gates:confused3
We LOVED the Getty villa at Malibu. You have to get tickets for a time slot so it is not crowed and it is one of the more spectacular collections of roman, greek and eritrean antiquities - all in a fake, recreated roman villa! Really spectacular:lovestruc
We also enjoyed the Le Brea Tar Pits

Well obviously we're very different people :).

[aussiegirls]

Actually we went to the La Brea Tar Pits too. My girls absolutely looooooooved it. In fact it is still one of the highlights that they talk about now.

And the fact that it was just around the corner from The Grove and American Girl was ace :thumbsup2

xxx

[queenie82]

I wouldn't go to any of those places! ummm .... wow
Maybe I'm a sad sack I can't think of anything more timewasting than stars on the pavement, and driving around looking at front gates:confused3
We LOVED the Getty villa at Malibu. You have to get tickets for a time slot so it is not crowed and it is one of the more spectacular collections of roman, greek and eritrean antiquities - all in a fake, recreated roman villa! Really spectacular:lovestruc
We also enjoyed the Le Brea Tar Pits:thumbsup2:thumbsup2

[GrazingGoat1966]

For what it's worth, The Getty Museum is hands down the best FREE attraction in LA. It costs I believe $8 to park your car, but admission is the big doughnut..... and you could spend a day there with ease.

[ehsmum]

Seeming as we only have one day in LA, we won't be visiting the Getty Museum. I think we'll get enough culture at all the museums in NYC and DC.

[aussietravellers]

Another great restaurant at the Garden Walk is PF Changs. YUMMMMM. I also recommend the Cheesecake Factory. OMG, they have pieces of cake that are SO big I have never seen a piece of cake that big. We would get take away and one piece of cake would last for days :rotfl2: If you do go there the Godiva cheesecake is out of this world.
Next to The Grove is the farmers markets, make sure you have a look at them. We had a pizza from there, it was an odd shape, sort of a rectangle for one or two and it was AMAZING. One of the best pizzas I've ever eaten.

In and Out burger is so yummy. I don't know that I'd make a special trip as we don't usually have a car. But last time we were at a big Toysrus store and there was one next door so we went in and YUM, they do have great burgers and one of the table clearing staff was so friendly he stayed and chatted with us about Australia for almost our whole meal, LOL

OMG, the Mahi Mahi fish at Bubba gumps, my mouth is watering :lmao:.

If you are going to New York you MUST MUST MUST go to Ellen's Startdust Diner. There is a website i think. Only about a block off Times Square. Get the burgers, the other food not so hot but it's the entertainment that is amazing. Get there early though. We got there at 5.30 and within about 10 minutes there was a line out the door. The wait staff take it in turns singing songs, and they are fabulous singers. I can't tell you how COOOOOOOLLLLL it is. Please do yourself a favour and go, it's like being in Arnolds in Happy Days. One of my fave things about NY.

I second Ellens Stardust Diner, whilst the foods definately not the best we had, it was good (desserts were great), the singing definately was good. Best of all for Miss 9 she got another pressed penny, with Ellens Stardust Diner on it. It's very central to times square, we watched the police group and disperse on NYE. The crowds were already huge when we finished eating at approx. 2pm.

Oh I am going to look at Ellens Stardust Diner when we go to NY :thumbsup2 Thanks so much for mentioning that. (just under 5 months to go :cool1: ) we are staying at the Doubletree Times Square so that looks like it's just up the road.

[ehsmum]

We have 4 nights in Anaheim but I'm not sure if we'll eat there on our first night as we're driving up from San Diego after a day at Sea World. So I'm really only planning 3 nights of dinners. If we do Rainforest Cafe and ESPN Zone in DTD, then the 3rd night we might go down to Garden Walk and seek out the Cheesecake Factory!

[PrincessInOz]

We have 4 nights in Anaheim but I'm not sure if we'll eat there on our first night as we're driving up from San Diego after a day at Sea World. So I'm really only planning 3 nights of dinners. If we do Rainforest Cafe and ESPN Zone in DTD, then the 3rd night we might go down to Garden Walk and seek out the Cheesecake Factory!

Highly recommend the Cheesecake Factory! If you see in anywhere along your travels, check them out.

I'm going to back to the Farmer's Market/Grove this trip to check out the Pizza.

[Kalice]

I have to add our families absolute favourite place was a diner/cafe called Cafe Duke on west 51st. They made pasta fresh, you chose the type of pasta, the sauce and the ingredients, you paid by wait. Everything was by weight pizza, salads, hot foods, the works, and the food was wonderful. Similar to this and just as good was the whole foods market under Time Warner building, on Columbus Circle, right near Central Park. The worst thing here was choosing what to eat. They had Indian, pizza, pasta, salads. Make sure you check out all the cakes. The supermarket here is great too, grabbed a huge bags of those fab baby carrots, kept them in the fridge in our apartment for the kids to munch on.

[Ms. Shuttergirl]

Ehsmum, my family and I totally loved the stars tour we did via private limo, a real highlight and the first thing we did in Hollywood was the walk of fame, I remember thinking how surreal it was. And the kids love it when something comes on the television now and it is filmed there. They get a real kick out of it. The Farmers Market/Grove thing was part of our limo tour and to be honest we'd never really heard about it and weren't keen but we ended up really loving it. We would definitely go back there.

The Disney Soda Fountain Store was sweet too. We ate there on our first night in the US. The food wasn't anything special but we didn't care :lmao:

[aussietravellers]

We have 4 nights in Anaheim but I'm not sure if we'll eat there on our first night as we're driving up from San Diego after a day at Sea World. So I'm really only planning 3 nights of dinners. If we do Rainforest Cafe and ESPN Zone in DTD, then the 3rd night we might go down to Garden Walk and seek out the Cheesecake Factory!

Oh that Cheesecake Factory is SO good. The godiva cheescake (which doesn't taste like cheescake) is absolutely heaven!:cloud9:

[aussietravellers]

Highly recommend the Cheesecake Factory! If you see in anywhere along your travels, check them out.

I'm going to back to the Farmer's Market/Grove this trip to check out the Pizza.

Oh the Farmers Market is delicious. We were on a tour when we went and it was our lunch stop and we wandered around trying to choose what to eat when we stumbled across this pizza place that made the individual rectangular pizzas (there were several pizza places) where they made it to order and it was different to the others (the others were the massive slice of already made pizza). They must have made their own pizza dough too, it was just so delicious and not really greasy and fatty like some pizzas can be. Oh I am hungry now thinking about it :rotfl:

[PrincessInOz]

Oh the Farmers Market is delicious. We were on a tour when we went and it was our lunch stop and we wandered around trying to choose what to eat when we stumbled across this pizza place that made the individual rectangular pizzas (there were several pizza places) where they made it to order and it was different to the others (the others were the massive slice of already made pizza). They must have made their own pizza dough too, it was just so delicious and not really greasy and fatty like some pizzas can be. Oh I am hungry now thinking about it :rotfl:

I'll try to remember to grab a photo on the pizza before I sink my teeth in and post on this board...just for you :)

[Oz-kateer]

There is a Cheesecake Factory at The Grove - you can kill 2 birds with one stone on that.

Highly recommend the La Brea Tar Pits as well.

[queenie82]

I was just reading how a Legoland Water Park is opening in California in June!
For anyone else who didn't know -

http://www.legolandwaterpark.com/

[ehsmum]

Thanks for that, Queenie! It looks great but I see 2 problems with it. I was hoping to only spend half a day at Legoland (5 hours-ish) and now my kids will want to spend all day and go to the the water park too :lol:. And the other problem is we won't have any towels with us. I wonder if you can hire towels there?

[queenie82]

Thanks for that, Queenie! It looks great but I see 2 problems with it. I was hoping to only spend half a day at Legoland (5 hours-ish) and now my kids will want to spend all day and go to the the water park too :lol:. And the other problem is we won't have any towels with us. I wonder if you can hire towels there?
It was more of a Forewarned is forearmed so you can steer the kids away from the water park. :thumbsup2 :lmao: Because we actually have very good ones now...although not as good as Disney is in the toddler department!
I suspect you could hire towels though. You can at Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon.