Going to California needs some ideas for places to stay

[AMCRambler]

My girlfriend and I are taking a trip out to California for spring break. We need some ideas for places to stay around Los Angeles as we are flying into LAX. I know there are a lot of tourist attractions around there. As far as theme parks go we'll probably hit Universal Studios. I've heard LA is a little rough though. I was thinking there might be a better place to stay that's outside LA but still close so we can drive to the different attractions. Any suggestions?
I believe we'll be spending a couple days around LA then probably drive down to San Diego as I've heard that's nice. I'd like to stay a night or two in a beach front hotel either up by LA or down in San Diego so we can do some swimming or at least walk on the beach if it's still too chilly. Any recommendations are welcome as I haven't been to California since I was like 10, so I'm pretty much clueless.

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Hey there...there is a ton of places you could stay....it sounds like you're looking for two different places for your trip-one in the city and one on the beach. It depends a lot on your budget. If money isn't an option look at a night on the town by staying at the Mondrian or the Standard on sunset or staying at (can't remember the name, but its easy to find for a search) the hotel on La Cieniga. For things to do, I mean, i guess you could do the standard touristy stuff like going to the theme parks or whatever, but LA is really cool outside of that stuff...if you're into outdoorsy stuff there is a lot of great hiking and biking in the santa monica mountains or the san gabriel mountains. If you're staying in the city you may want to walk around sunset, go to 3rd street in santa monica, go to rodeo drive, maybe hit up melrose, or walk around hollywood or go to the arclight and catch a movie. You might want to go to a show at like the key club or the viper room one evening. I think that Wicked is playing at the pantages now.

For the beach part of your trip, its so hard to recommend one area over another, but the best ones in southern california would be driving north to Santa barbara, Malibu, Huntington, Newport Beach, or driving down to San Diego. San diego is cool if you go to mission bay because you can rent katamarans and stuff like that, but for a typical so cal beach experience i would recommend newport the highest. Santa barbera is by far the best for the most laid back experience and isn't any further from where you'd be than san diego.

HOpe that helps a bit...thats just a touch of what you can do. There is so much (obviously). If you feel the need to go to a theme park I would say don't go to universal studios. You could go to city walk to mess around for a night (fun bowling there) but don't waste your time or money on the park. Go to magic mountain or the quintisential disney land trip.

 

[Ameesh]

Shutters in Santa Monica is a nice place. its very close to all the great restaurants on ocean ave which is where i would suggest getting dinner one night.

 

[CraKaJaX]

Is it bad that when I first read your topic title I thought of "Going to California" as in.. the Zeppelin song? :Q

 

[GrantMeThePower]

Originally posted by: CraKaJaX
Is it bad that when I first read your topic title I thought of "Going to California" as in.. the Zeppelin song? :Q

At least it wasn't Going going back back to cali cali