LOTS of questions: first trip to So. Cal....

[WDW4us2006]

Hi...we will be spending several days in Southern California in August. In addition to a couple of days in Anaheim, we would like to do some sight-seeing in the LA area. We will be travelling with our kids 14 and 17. So, for anyone who lives out there, or who can help me, here are a few questions to "start"...

How long of a drive is it from Hollywood & Highland to Disneyland?

How far/long of a drive is it from DL to LAX on a Friday around noon?

How BAD is the traffic?

If we wanted to spend a day along the coast, what is the best route, with the best scenery, and the most important question, what's a good/fun/maybe scenic place to eat lunch???

What are the seedy, bad areas to stay away from, especially in the Holywood area? I'd like to NOT shock my kids as much as possible!!! Ha ha, although they are teenagers and probably have seen as much as I have, we're trying to keep it family friendly.

Any good guidebooks/websites out there?

We dont have a lot of time, so I'd like to cram as much as possible in.

Thanks!

 

[tracys2cents]

Hollywood & Highland to Disneyland is about a 40 min drive on weekends or between 10am and 3pm or after 8pm on weekdays. During higher traffic it can take an hour to an hour-and-a-half.

Disney to LAX on a Friday noon, I'd allow about an hour, maybe 90 min if you want to return a rental car etc. So for a 2pm flight you'd want to leave Disneyland around 11:30

"Top Ten Los Angeles" is a great guidebook for the area.

http://www.amazon.com/Los-Angeles-E...2493540?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1177369630&sr=8-1

 

[hjohnson6]

I would stay out of West Hollywood if you want to keep it family friendly.

Have a great trip!

 

[amjt660]

Hi...we will be spending several days in Southern California in August. In addition to a couple of days in Anaheim, we would like to do some sight-seeing in the LA area. We will be travelling with our kids 14 and 17. So, for anyone who lives out there, or who can help me, here are a few questions to "start"...

How long of a drive is it from Hollywood & Highland to Disneyland?

How far/long of a drive is it from DL to LAX on a Friday around noon?

How BAD is the traffic?

If we wanted to spend a day along the coast, what is the best route, with the best scenery, and the most important question, what's a good/fun/maybe scenic place to eat lunch???



We went in August 05 & 06 with 2 DD (now 10 &12)
Here are a few suggestions:

We enjoyed DL and USH.
The Getty Centre is a beautiful museum/gardens/view of the city.
Santa Monica pier was fun and did not take too long.
Driving through Beverly Hills and walking on/window shopping Rodeo drive.
We toured the Queen Mary at Long Beach and then drove down Hwy 1 through Laguna et all and also spent time at Newport Beach.

Drew

 

[eeyoresnr]

from DL to LAX can be from 30 minutes to who knows how long,,,just depends on traffic... as long as it's moving you'll be fine. it's the accidents that slow you down.

 

[DizTheWiz]

There is not a whole lot to do in Hollywood other than Hollywood and Highland mall and the stars. you walk just a block or so from Hollywood and Highland then the blvd is lined with Tatoo shops, and lingerie stores (stripper lingerie). Hollywood is not all glamorous like many people think, although it is getting better since they built the Hollywood and Highland complex.
As mentioned by others the Getty Center is a nice place, kids might get bored though, and the Santa Monica pier would be fun.
Allow yourself plenty of driving time! freeways are always unpredictable, you may get lucky and get no traffic if oyu travel between 10am-3pm or wait until after 8pm.

 

[Amber15]

I have to disagree about there being nothing to do in Hollywood. If you are a movie fan, there is plenty to do! Several cool movie museums, tour buses that take you all around (Capital Records, movie stars homes ect). The Warner Bros. Studio Tour is very good, and just a short drive (or cab ride) away. They have great Harry Potter memorabilia, along with other movies. Watch a movie at Grauman's Chinese Theater. Very beautiful inside, and it's just neat to tell people you've actually done that. Take a tour of the Kodiak theater, and see where the movie stars go during the Oscars. Head over to Universal Studios and spend a day there. It's fairly close as well.

Ok, so I'm a movie dork, but I really enjoyed my 4 day stay in Hollywood. Never got bored once, and would do it again in a heartbeat

 

[Disneyfamily2005]

some of the fun things we like to do in orange county is the OC marketplace{open air swap meet on sat and sunday @ the costa mesa fairgrounds} its got to be one of the neatest place to shop it all new stuff sold swapmeet style,great selection of just about everything,you can go online to oc marketplace.com.then we drive down to newport beach and eat at the crab cooker.great crab and fish,served on paper plates