Los Angeles beaches and food recommendations

[BostonJP]

On the day I fly into LAX, I was thinking of doing something in LA before driving out to my hotel in Riverside. I am considering fun, casual activities close to the airport where I can kill an hour or two.

How is Santa Monica and the other beaches near LAX? Is parking relatively easy to find on a Saturday in mid-September?

Also, my kid wants to see Hollywood but I would prefer not to go out that far. I'll be driving out to Riverside - is the Hollywood sign visible from any of the freeways that I would be taking?

Lastly I am tentatively planning on grabbing food at the hotel restaurant. However, between LA and Riverside, are there any other places to eat that I should consider?

 

[disney144]

Beaches- Santa Monica is fun and your kid may love the pier there. There is plenty of parking, but expect to pay (as with everywhere in LA)

Eat- maybe stop for in n out?

Hollywood- you won't see it on that drive.

What are you doing in riverside? Not a typical tourist destination.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I lived in Riverside. What freeway are you consider taking to Riverside? I mean eating places are a lot of chain restaurants. At the 10 and the 60 freeway you have the Ontario mall, which has Dave and Busters. So you could eat and just mill about for shopping.

I am assuming you are visiting folks in Riverside. I lived in Corona also

 

[BostonJP]

I have family in Riverside and will be spending a few hours with them before moving on to Anaheim.

Beaches- Santa Monica is fun and your kid may love the pier there. There is plenty of parking, but expect to pay (as with everywhere in LA)

Eat- maybe stop for in n out?

Excellent, I was afraid that parking would be a nightmare. The beaches around here are impossible to find parking on a hot day!

In n Out is actually a great idea. I have heard a lot of great things but I've never seen one.

What freeway are you consider taking to Riverside?

Whichever way Google maps takes me! A quick search right now (Santa Monica to the Mission Inn hotel) takes me on I-10 and Route 60.

As a former Riverside resident have you ever tried the Mexican restaurant in the Mission Inn? My dad recommended it but I looked up the menu online and it's a bit pricey for Mexican. (another point for In N Out!)

 

[usnuzuloose]

I have family in Riverside and will be spending a few hours with them before moving on to Anaheim.


Excellent, I was afraid that parking would be a nightmare. The beaches around here are impossible to find parking on a hot day!

In n Out is actually a great idea. I have heard a lot of great things but I've never seen one.


Whichever way Google maps takes me! A quick search right now (Santa Monica to the Mission Inn hotel) takes me on I-10 and Route 60.

As a former Riverside resident have you ever tried the Mexican restaurant in the Mission Inn? My dad recommended it but I looked up the menu online and it's a bit pricey for Mexican. (another point for In N Out!)

No I have never tried Mission Inn. In N Out is really good!

 

[SMD]

LAX to SM Beach to Riverside you're looking at about 3 hours on a Saturday afternoon before you've parked the car or set foot on the beach. You'd be better of going south to Redondo Beach, then taking the 91 to Mission Inn. There's an Old Spaghetti Factory across from the Mission Inn that's in an historic building next to the train depot. If you're going to eat at Mission Inn you'd get more bang for your buck on Sunday brunch than the Mexican restaurant.

 

[BostonJP]

LAX to SM Beach to Riverside you're looking at about 3 hours on a Saturday afternoon before you've parked the car or set foot on the beach. You'd be better of going south to Redondo Beach, then taking the 91 to Mission Inn. There's an Old Spaghetti Factory across from the Mission Inn that's in an historic building next to the train depot. If you're going to eat at Mission Inn you'd get more bang for your buck on Sunday brunch than the Mexican restaurant.

Thanks for the info! I am taking my grandmother out for lunch on Sunday and I have heard that she really like's Coco's, but perhaps I can talk her into that Sunday brunch.