LA in a Day?!

[vickalamode]

Just booked a really awesome, really BUSY trip to California. Spending 2 1/2 days at Disneyland by myself before I meet up with a friend. My friend told me to make a list of the things I wanted to see in Hollywood/LA and that he would make it happen...the only thing is, I will only have about a day's worth of time to do so-we're talking 6-8 hours because he told me he already has something planned for us that night. The next morning we will be hitting the Pacific Coast highway and cruising to San Francisco in a convertible , so there literally is NO room for more time. Obviously, this limits my options on what I can see and do in that day. We are going to be staying at a hotel hopefully right in Hollywood, which would allow me to walk around Hollywood Boulevard and explore that general area before his flight gets in. Once he gets to LAX he is going to rent a motorcycle and meet me and then pretty much drive me around on the motorcycle to go do whatever I want to do that day.

So what are the highlights that I should definitely check out? I know I definitely want to take cheesy tourist pictures like with the Hollywood sign in the background etc...what else is worth seeing? Even if just for a photo op

 

[pipervali]

I think it'll depend on your interests. We're doing an LA/Vegas trip in October, staying in Beverly Hills. One big must do for me is the Paramount Studios tour. I'm a big film buff, and a Glee fan to boot, which films at Paramount, so it was a no brainer for me.

Maybe you'd like to take a drive through Beverly Hills and the Hollywood Hills, from what I understand some of the scenery is fantastic. The Griffith Observatory is in the area as well, and offers some wonderful scenic views I'm told. There's also shopping at the Grove and Farmers Market.

 

[3inthefamily]

We just got back from a trip to SoCal and I think you can easily see enough of LA in a day. I have to say I really had a vision of the way I thought it would be from all of the movies and tv and dreams I had about it as an East Coast girl...and it wasn't what I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong, its cool to see but I wasn't as enamored as I thought I would be.

If you park at the Hollywood and Highland center ($2 validated parking) you can hit the Hollywood Sign views, Walk of Fame, Disney Soda Fountain, El Capitan, and Grauman's (Where the footprints are) all in one shot rather quickly. Just be warned...the 2 times I tried to go to Grauman's to see the footprints it was closed down and covered up for a private party. The 2nd time my husband finagled our way in...and we got to see the 25th anniversary showing of Dirty Dancing and see Jennifer Gray and go to an afterparty. That was CRAZY!

But really, that area was very much to me like Times Square...so you can do that pretty quickly then drive to Beverly Hills and see Rodeo Drive, etc. The Farmers Market in LA was great for lunch. Stopped quickly at the Tar Pits. Drove past some other landmarks. We drove on Mulholland, went to the cemetery where Marilyn Monroe and a bunch of other people are buried. That was about it because honestly...we loved Disney too much and our resort (Grand Californian) so we spent more time there.

 

[rsleleux]

We just got back from a trip to SoCal and I think you can easily see enough of LA in a day. I have to say I really had a vision of the way I thought it would be from all of the movies and tv and dreams I had about it as an East Coast girl...and it wasn't what I thought it would be. Don't get me wrong, its cool to see but I wasn't as enamored as I thought I would be.

If you park at the Hollywood and Highland center ($2 validated parking) you can hit the Hollywood Sign views, Walk of Fame, Disney Soda Fountain, El Capitan, and Grauman's (Where the footprints are) all in one shot rather quickly. Just be warned...the 2 times I tried to go to Grauman's to see the footprints it was closed down and covered up for a private party. The 2nd time my husband finagled our way in...and we got to see the 25th anniversary showing of Dirty Dancing and see Jennifer Gray and go to an afterparty. That was CRAZY!

But really, that area was very much to me like Times Square...so you can do that pretty quickly then drive to Beverly Hills and see Rodeo Drive, etc. The Farmers Market in LA was great for lunch. Stopped quickly at the Tar Pits. Drove past some other landmarks. We drove on Mulholland, went to the cemetery where Marilyn Monroe and a bunch of other people are buried. That was about it because honestly...we loved Disney too much and our resort (Grand Californian) so we spent more time there.

How did you get there? Did you have a rental car? WE went to San Diego in May and went to DLR for 3 days, we had a rental car and should have gone to Hollywood then! We decided to return to see Carsland in October but this time we are flying in and out of SNA and using supper shuttle to get to our hotel. I really want to go see Hollywood, even if it is just for a few hours but I'm not sure hoe to get there the best way without renting a car.

 

[3inthefamily]

We did have a rental car...it was a pain with traffic to get to LA from Anaheim but it was about 40-45 minutes without major traffic. Maybe you can rent a car for a day? Get it in Anaheim?

There are bus tours that could take you, but if you can get a cheap car it may be worth it for one day.

We did 6 nights in Anaheim and 3 in San Diego...got the car at LAX and returned at San Diego airport.

Good luck!