LAX to DL: the scenic route

[uncleleo]

We'll be arriving at LAX at 9:25 on a Wednesday morning. Rather than making a beeline to DL, I'd like to take a less direct route. Not necessarily touring, but driving on visually interesting roads, perhaps near the coast part of the way, with potential to stop and look at minor sights or have a snack at an untouristy restaurant.

I'd appreciate suggested routes from locals or seasoned LA visitors.

 

[StageTek]

You could head south on Sepulveda Blvd which turns into. then PCH
(Pacific Coast Hwy). Then turn onto Palos Verdes Blvd which will
take you all the way around the Palos Verdes Peninsula and some
very expensive homes.

You can head toward Long Beach and cross the famous Vincent Thomas
Bridge which will take you to Ocean Blvd. and right past the
Queen Mary.

From there you could travel towards Newport Beach along PCH - and
take Harbor Blvd all the way to DLR or jump on the 55 freeway. Or
you could head inland along Westminister Blvd. to Harbor Blvd.

 

[uncleleo]

You could head south on Sepulveda Blvd which turns into. then PCH
(Pacific Coast Hwy). Then turn onto Palos Verdes Blvd which will
take you all the way around the Palos Verdes Peninsula and some
very expensive homes.

You can head toward Long Beach and cross the famous Vincent Thomas
Bridge which will take you to Ocean Blvd. and right past the
Queen Mary.

From there you could travel towards Newport Beach along PCH - and
take Harbor Blvd all the way to DLR or jump on the 55 freeway. Or
you could head inland along Westminister Blvd. to Harbor Blvd.

Thanks! Since you're in Hollywood, I've got another question: is it a good idea to walk from Hollywood & Highland to the Hollywood Bowl? We have tickets for an 8:30 Friday night show and, reviewing the shuttle bus possibilities, I see there's a bus stop at the H&H Center. But looking at the map, it's less than a mile up Highland to the Bowl. Is there any reason not to make that walk before or after the show? Parking at H&H appeals to me because I'd like to get there in the afternoon and tour the area before heading up the show.

Thanks again,
Lee

 

[Lesleyluvsdisney]

Hi!

Hope you dont mind me jumping on, but would really like this info too if possible!

Thanx
x

 

[kikiq]

What a great idea. Also a brave soul to face our socal traffic.

On mapquest, type in El Segundo, California. You will see the airport and North Sepulveda Blvd. Follow that down the coast around Palos Verde to Long Beach. At Long Beach, you will have several choices to get to DLR. You can continue along the coast until you get to the 55 freeway to the 5 freeway north and DLR. OR make your way to the 405 freeway go south to Harbor Blvd and travel through the neighborhood to get to DLR.

Can't help with places for lunch, I'm not familiar with too many non touristy places along the coast. If you decide to go as far as the 55 freeway, there are plenty of places in Huntington Beach and Seal Beach along the beach to eat.

 

[uncleleo]

What a great idea. Also a brave soul to face our socal traffic.

On mapquest, type in El Segundo, California. You will see the airport and North Sepulveda Blvd. Follow that down the coast around Palos Verde to Long Beach. At Long Beach, you will have several choices to get to DLR. You can continue along the coast until you get to the 55 freeway to the 5 freeway north and DLR. OR make your way to the 405 freeway go south to Harbor Blvd and travel through the neighborhood to get to DLR.

Can't help with places for lunch, I'm not familiar with too many non touristy places along the coast. If you decide to go as far as the 55 freeway, there are plenty of places in Huntington Beach and Seal Beach along the beach to eat.

Thanks, K. I followed your suggested route in Google Earth with the restaurant layer turned on and saw plenty of places to eat along the way. No matter what we're in the mood for - breakfast, Mexican, Japanese - we'll be able to find something on the drive.

Lee

 

[StageTek]

I do it all the time.

I'm very often hired to work shows at the Bowl and I
take the subway from my home to Hollywood/Highland
and walk up the hill. Beats fighting traffic after a show

It IS a hill and it's a bit of a walk, but I love it. You'll
be walking - both ways - with others doing the same thing
so you'll feel quite safe.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I can outline this on a map for you - it's basically what kikiq said.

This is one of the scenic ways you could get to Disneyland:

When you leave LAX Airport, take Imperial Hwy west to the beach (not far - maybe 2 miles), and when you get to the coast you'll be on PCH. Turn left. You will be at Dockweiler Beach. In a few minutes you'll be at El Segundo Beach - this is one of the beaches where the Beach Boys grew up & hung out at (they lived in Hawthorne, CA - I've driven past where their house used to be). Also, there is a plaque there that says this is where handgliding first got started.

Continue on PCH, and it will turn into Sepulveda. Continue straight. You'll be driving through Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, & Redondo Beach.

You'll get to a street called Torrance, and the Redondo Beach Pier. If you're hungry this is a good place to stop and eat at Tony's on the Pier. Next to it is an El Torito restaurant, if you'd rather have Mexican food than fish. Near this area is Kings Harbor, where the Black Pearl would be docked while they were shooting the 2nd/3rd Pirates of the Caribbean (I have pics of that, too).

When you pass Redondo Beach Pier, take the next street (Pearl) and turn right to Esplanade - you'll turn left. Follow it along, and it will open up to Torrance Beach, with the Palos Verde Peninsula in front of you. You might see surfers. Take Esplanade until it ends & you'll be on Paseo de la Playa for a block or two. You'll then be on Palos Verdes Blvd. Turn right, and keep to your right. This is a nice drive around the Palos Verdes Peninsula. You will pass the Pt. Vicente Lighthouse - you can stop here or not, and you will pass the Wafarer's or Glass Chapel that overlooks Portuguese Bend. Back in the day, this is where pirates would store their loot. Also, back in the days of Spanish rule there was no harbor so cattle hides would be slid down the cliffs, and long boats would pick them up and take them to ships. More recently, Pirates of the Caribbean filmed part of the movie here (old Marineland site). Today there are apartments/condos in that same area. This area is constantly shifting, so you'll see water pipes above ground, and may see the center divider line broken in places. They keep repaving that part of the road.

Continue on the road and you will pass Donald Trump's golf course (they made reference in the first season of the Apprentice when the winner had a choice to choose the golf course or new buildings in Chicago - he chose Chicago).

Palos Verdes Drive turns into 26th Street. When you get to Western, turn right to West Paseo del Mar to continue. You'll then pass Point Fermin, & may see handgliders there. You'll also see the Point Fermin Lighthouse, which is said to be haunted. W Paseo del Mar turns into Shepard St. At the end of the street you'll see a small parking lot. You can stop there for a few minutes for a view of San Pedro/LA Harbor (where Disney sails from when it's here on the West Coast). Right below is Cabrillo Beach (where they filmed the final boat chase scene in Face Off), and in the distance is Long Beach with the Queen Mary, and the rest of LA. If you're lucky, & it's a clear day you'll also see Catalina Island.

When you leave the parking lot, you'll be on Pacific Ave (Shepard Street ends at Pacific Ave). You can either go to have a bite to eat in Ports o' Call along the marina at Acapulco (yummy margaritas there), or just continue your drive.

Go over the Vincent Thomas Bridge (hwy 47), which will take you to Long Beach. You'll be on Ocean Blvd. Continue on Ocean Blvd to E. Livingston Dr, to 2nd Street, back to Pacific Coast Hwy. Continue on PCH through Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, & Newport Beach. When you get to Newport Beach, turn left on Newport Blvd, which is the 55 Freeway. Take the 55 all the way to the 5 and go north, which will take you to Disneyland.

 

[uncleleo]

Mary Jo, this is terrific! You must sticky these directions for the benefit of everyone who would like a little California with their Disney.

Thank you,
Lee

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Thank you.

I've actually driven that route, or parts of it, a few times for the heck of it.

 

[tjl1388]

What is the time difference between these scenic routes and the bee-line route?

 

[lcasa]

There are some neighborhoods near the airport that are a bit unsavory. ie, if you go Imperial blvd, make sure you head west and not east.

The beach paths are good - just be forewarned in the summer driving down PCH can be VERY slow. But it would give you a nice view of the wide variety of beaches we have here in So Cal.

You may want to consider buying a cheap gps in case you find it is taking more time than you planned - you can get to the 405 freeway many times along that suggested route - wich isn't direct to DL by any means but depending on where you get on it will get you to several other freeways ( 605, 22, etc) that will.

 

[tjl1388]

I can outline this on a map for you - it's basically what kikiq said.

This is one of the scenic ways you could get to Disneyland:

When you leave LAX Airport, take Imperial Hwy west to the beach (not far - maybe 2 miles), and when you get to the coast you'll be on PCH. Turn left. You will be at Dockweiler Beach. In a few minutes you'll be at El Segundo Beach - this is one of the beaches where the Beach Boys grew up & hung out at (they lived in Hawthorne, CA - I've driven past where their house used to be). Also, there is a plaque there that says this is where handgliding first got started.

Continue on PCH, and it will turn into Sepulveda. Continue straight. You'll be driving through Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, & Redondo Beach.

You'll get to a street called Torrance, and the Redondo Beach Pier. If you're hungry this is a good place to stop and eat at Tony's on the Pier. Next to it is an El Torito restaurant, if you'd rather have Mexican food than fish. Near this area is Kings Harbor, where the Black Pearl would be docked while they were shooting the 2nd/3rd Pirates of the Caribbean (I have pics of that, too).

When you pass Redondo Beach Pier, take the next street (Pearl) and turn right to Esplanade - you'll turn left. Follow it along, and it will open up to Torrance Beach, with the Palos Verde Peninsula in front of you. You might see surfers. Take Esplanade until it ends & you'll be on Paseo de la Playa for a block or two. You'll then be on Palos Verdes Blvd. Turn right, and keep to your right. This is a nice drive around the Palos Verdes Peninsula. You will pass the Pt. Vicente Lighthouse - you can stop here or not, and you will pass the Wafarer's or Glass Chapel that overlooks Portuguese Bend. Back in the day, this is where pirates would store their loot. Also, back in the days of Spanish rule there was no harbor so cattle hides would be slid down the cliffs, and long boats would pick them up and take them to ships. More recently, Pirates of the Caribbean filmed part of the movie here (old Marineland site). Today there are apartments/condos in that same area. This area is constantly shifting, so you'll see water pipes above ground, and may see the center divider line broken in places. They keep repaving that part of the road.

Continue on the road and you will pass Donald Trump's golf course (they made reference in the first season of the Apprentice when the winner had a choice to choose the golf course or new buildings in Chicago - he chose Chicago).

Palos Verdes Drive turns into 26th Street. When you get to Western, turn right to West Paseo del Mar to continue. You'll then pass Point Fermin, & may see handgliders there. You'll also see the Point Fermin Lighthouse, which is said to be haunted. W Paseo del Mar turns into Shepard St. At the end of the street you'll see a small parking lot. You can stop there for a few minutes for a view of San Pedro/LA Harbor (where Disney sails from when it's here on the West Coast). Right below is Cabrillo Beach (where they filmed the final boat chase scene in Face Off), and in the distance is Long Beach with the Queen Mary, and the rest of LA. If you're lucky, & it's a clear day you'll also see Catalina Island.

When you leave the parking lot, you'll be on Pacific Ave (Shepard Street ends at Pacific Ave). You can either go to have a bite to eat in Ports o' Call along the marina at Acapulco (yummy margaritas there), or just continue your drive.

Go over the Vincent Thomas Bridge (hwy 47), which will take you to Long Beach. You'll be on Ocean Blvd. Continue on Ocean Blvd to E. Livingston Dr, to 2nd Street, back to Pacific Coast Hwy. Continue on PCH through Seal Beach, Huntington Beach, & Newport Beach. When you get to Newport Beach, turn left on Newport Blvd, which is the 55 Freeway. Take the 55 all the way to the 5 and go north, which will take you to Disneyland.

We have a Limo for 4 hours after we get off the plane. Is that sufficient time to do this route on a Sunday afternoon?

 

[tjl1388]

Anybody know the answer to my above post?

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

We have a Limo for 4 hours after we get off the plane. Is that sufficient time to do this route on a Sunday afternoon?

Yes, you can do this route in 4 hours.