Ns1
No Lifer
- Jun 17, 2001
- 55,420
- 1,600
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yeah OP, if you want to actually enjoy your trip here get a car. Just because you can travel to all those places via metro doesn't mean you want to.
yeah OP, if you want to actually enjoy your trip here get a car. Just because you can travel to all those places via metro doesn't mean you want to.
Muse
Lifer
- Jul 11, 2001
- 41,347
- 10,466
- 136
My neighbor couple did a trip to L.A. recently. Before going she told me they booked an Airbnb for them and their two kids (about 6 and 8?) for a few days and IIRC it was maybe $150 a night for the bunch. Sounded great and knowing them it probably worked out fine. Haven't had a chance to ask her. I think the place was near Hollywood.
Muse
Lifer
- Jul 11, 2001
- 41,347
- 10,466
- 136
I think they probably drove to L.A. from here, Berkeley, a bit over 400 miles. So, they had their SUV with their 2 kids.
- Sep 28, 2005
- 21,131
- 3,667
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Since kid wants to visit colleges in CA, wife missed her parents, even I am still unemploye, the trip must go on. Time to ask a few questions from our experts here.
First we will go to LA and check out UCLA, USC, Occidental College and Claremont McKenna College.
Since we try to minimized cost, we will be staying in a placed called Metro Hotel, which is just a block or so North West of the Los Angeles Union Station. this way we can take the metro to go to Hollywood or Santa Monica, or combination or riding mtero and using lyft to get around. I have heard that the area near union Station was not what it used to be, and it is rather dangerous after 8pm. Is that true?
After a week in LA, we will be taking Amtrak to San Diego to visit UCSD, U of SD, and SDSU. We thought about staying near La Playa, but most hotels are too expensive or fully booked, so back to Mission Valley area we go (I hate how they charge daily fee for parking). I planned to use Turo to rent a car and drive around. Last i remember SD is easier to drive around than LA, but that was years and years ago.
Will not be going to the zoo or Gaslamp Quater as they been there before. Anyone been to that old Town Historial Park? Looks interesting.
Are National City and Chula Vista good areas? I saw hotels are cheapr down there, but they are further from where we want to go.
Anyone knows a few good places to eat? My brother told me there are plenty of good Korean and Chinese places at Clairemont Mesa area when he took his kid down there to tour school. Also a friend told me I must visit a place called "100s seafood grill buffet", and it does looks interesting. But we are staying between Friday and Wednesday before flying back, so will miss the all you cna eat lobster Thursday..
1. I would look at AirBnB options instead of anything in downtown thats not 4 stars or located at the L.A Live.
2. All of downtown LA is dangerous. Los Angeles, is dirty, and has homeless population issue.
We have a very high crime rate, although its not as bad as Seattle, but its still pretty bad. Downtown LA is just straight up not safe, unless again, its L.A. LIVE. Basically this place:
L.A. LIVE
If your near there, its pretty safe, but if your more east, or west, yeah, it can get really skid rowish fast, long with encampment camps all over the place.
3. can't say much about SD traffic, but LA traffic has gotten exponentially worse each year.
As for food recommendations for Los Angeles...
What kind of budget you guys looking at? Also any preference in ethnicity for the food? For example, if your looking for a great AYCE Korean BBQ, or you want a Epic AYCE Brazillian, or you want that super expensive chinese house season'd crab special, or you want something the locals only really know about.
Hollywood is one place all the locals avoid.
If you do the hollywood thing, might i also recommend you do that double decker open top bus tour.
Double Decker Hop-On Hop-Off Hollywood City Tours | Starline Tours
Welcome to Starline Tours! Visit our site to learn more about our Los Angeles and Hollywood celebrity home tours and sightseeing packages.
www.starlinetours.com
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- Sep 11, 2007
- 1,013
- 319
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Ahhh double decker. I might do that since wif eand kid never been on one. Would be a treat for them. Thx aigomorla
Kid has been 'researching' - via Youtube foodie channels I think, about places to eat in LA. He said we have to try the following..
Near Ktown - the menu prices are somewhat cheaper than Austin
Sun Nong Dan
Soowon Galbi
Little Tokyo
Kouraku
Fugetsu-Do bakery (i missed manhu and real mochi)
Hollywood
Sahags Basturma sandwich
Sapp coffee shop
Do you know any good ayce Japanese around LA?
Kid has been 'researching' - via Youtube foodie channels I think, about places to eat in LA. He said we have to try the following..
Near Ktown - the menu prices are somewhat cheaper than Austin
Sun Nong Dan
Soowon Galbi
Little Tokyo
Kouraku
Fugetsu-Do bakery (i missed manhu and real mochi)
Hollywood
Sahags Basturma sandwich
Sapp coffee shop
Do you know any good ayce Japanese around LA?
BoomerD
No Lifer
- Feb 26, 2006
- 66,695
- 15,097
- 146
I can't offer any suggestions for food in LA or San Diego...been too many years since I was in either place, but DO NOT stay in "budget" hotels/motels...way too great of a chance of bringing home bed bugs. (Yes, I know it's even possible at nice places...just a lower risk)
Oh, and has already been recommended...DEFINITELY get a car. Your time is limited...you don't want to piss it away being stuck on public transit for hours when you could instead, be stuck in freeway traffic for hours.
Oh, and has already been recommended...DEFINITELY get a car. Your time is limited...you don't want to piss it away being stuck on public transit for hours when you could instead, be stuck in freeway traffic for hours.
- Sep 28, 2005
- 21,131
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Sun Nong Dan - a lot of hipsters go there, i don't know if its your crowd or not, but if you want a less packed outing avoid dinner hours as the wait can get long.
Soowon Galbi - the BBQ is a bit Sweet to me. Also its a bit pricey for meat. Its good quality, but your asking for near wagayu prices for non wagayu meat.
Addition:
Ktown
Oo-Kook - Its a AYCE Korean BBQ
Mapo Chicken - its a local spot.
M Grill - Very pricey but well worth it... Brazillian BBQ.
(I would try to make this a objective. M Grill is a experience if you like brazillian.)
Ssam - a great alternative to Soowon.
Wako - Tonkatsu place, its reasonably priced. I recommend you try the chicken katsu.
The best AYCE Japanese i think is in KTOWN.
AYCE Japanese has tiers for lunch time.
The dinner tier offers 1 order of specials.
If you like the items on the special, its worth it, othewise, id suggest you save some and go for lunch as its reasonably priced for AYCE for lunch.
Lastly, i can't be a local and not tell you, make sure you grab a In and Out Double Double Combo, before you leave California, as In and Out is one of the only few things besides only having 2 seasons though out the year about California.
Lastly Disneyland if you expect to do it is going to make you file chapter 11.
I think its approximated to spend about 500 per child, and 750 per adult after tickets food, and the "Trump" style speed pass. Meaning it only makes you look important but holds no real value, because when you realize everyone has one too, its sort of too, that moment of feeling special only lasted past that entrance to the park.
BoomerD
No Lifer
- Feb 26, 2006
- 66,695
- 15,097
- 146
Once upon a time, I'd have recommended Rubio's fish tacos, especially in San Diego...but ever since Ralph Rubio sold out to the corporation...it's just not the same quality.
Ns1
No Lifer
- Jun 17, 2001
- 55,420
- 1,600
- 126
Lots of good food these days in Hollywood and if you want live music / theater, can't really avoid Hollywood.
Generally won't find locals near Hollywood/Highland though...
nakedfrog
No Lifer
- Apr 3, 2001
- 63,592
- 20,035
- 136
It's probably a thousand miles from where you'll be, but I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that you'll be in the state with some of the largest trees on the planet. Touching those is an actual once in a lifetime experience, as opposed to 'i saw a manmade structure with a different skyline'.
Captante
Lifer
- Oct 20, 2003
- 30,354
- 10,881
- 136
People go to Times Square instead of Montauk Point or the High-Peaks region in NY state too and I have no explanation other than they don't actually want to do anything different. (and/or they have no idea what they're missing!)
I remember Crater Lake in Oregon (for example) clear as a bell .... from my life-changing visit with my father when I was 8 years old.
We went to Disneyland on the same trip and it's mostly a blur.
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IronWing
No Lifer
- Jul 20, 2001
- 73,669
- 35,501
- 136
If the timing works out, there are some okay inexpensive hotels at Capistrano Beach that will make the drive from LA to San Diego much more better than starting the drive further north. Stop at the San Clemente pier on the way to SD.
The Santa Monica Pier is kitsch but kind of fun, some very talented buskers playing.
The Santa Monica Pier is kitsch but kind of fun, some very talented buskers playing.
Dr. Detroit
Diamond Member
- Sep 25, 2004
- 8,650
- 1,022
- 126
The Giant Sequoias (fattest trees) are 4.5hrs drive from LAX - General Sherman tree
The Coastal Redwoods (tallest trees) are 6hrs drive from LAX - Big Sur Redwoods
- Sep 28, 2005
- 21,131
- 3,667
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Your thinking of LACMA... Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
Its about 60% free.
There are special exhibits i think that require a donation of some form.
There is also the USS IOWA parked in Long Beach which u can physically go onto if you have any boys, unless you have girls which are into battleships of ww2 era.
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Captante
Lifer
- Oct 20, 2003
- 30,354
- 10,881
- 136
spacejamz
Lifer
- Mar 31, 2003
- 10,998
- 1,746
- 126
Heck .... I want to check out the USS Iowa nevermind the kid!!
I definitely enjoyed my visit on her a few years ago...
- Sep 28, 2005
- 21,131
- 3,667
- 126
Heck .... I want to check out the USS Iowa nevermind the kid!!
Id always joke about our state legislature.
We may have one of the strictest gun control laws, and have some really stupid additional laws, but i can't think of many states which have as much as California, both illegally and legally, that can kill you worse then whatever your videogames can rerender in that CoD your playing.
The IOWA is a fun trip.
The Queen Mary is not too far, for the wifey and daughter with lots of girly souvineers.
Also if your going to do the IOWA.
I highly suggest you stop by here:
San Pedro Fish Market
San Pedro Fish Market - Long Beach · 6550 E Marina Dr, Long Beach, CA 90803, Vereinigte Staaten
âââââ · Meeresfrüchte-Restaurant
I recommend you pick up a shirmp plate with addon's like whatever fish you like fried.
They look something like this:
I suggest the larger sized ones, which are around 100 dollars.
Enough to easily feed 4 adults.
Its so good worth having.
Or a better venue would be travel a little down south to Redondo Pier.
And stop by Quality Seafood.
Quality Seafood Inc · 130 International Boardwalk, Redondo Beach, CA 90277, Vereinigte Staaten
âââââ · Meeresfrüchte-Restaurant
They have awesome crab / lobster plates.
Its mostly outdoor pier seating, so it can get packed during the weekends.
But man... now im hungry... i think im gonna coax my cousin to go down with me tomorrow on friday.
About the Beachs in So Cali LA Region.
1. Malibu + Zuma - The waters are fairly clean. Its a safe location. Extremely expensive neighborhood.
PITFA to get to, as it requires driving north PCH.
2. Santa Monica - Filthy... do not have your kids in the water. But it has a half boardwalk amusement park. Pay per ride.
3. Long Beach - Dirty, also Very dangerous at night. Do not plan to stay there too late, so do all your IOWA and Queen Mary watching during the suntime.
4. Redondo - The pier is all that is great about this place. Well the Pier and 1 restaurant i mentioned above. It does have an arcade for the family.
5. As you go south of LA in between OC and SD, the waters get clean again. If you go north past Oxnard the waters get progressively more and more oily (crude oil spots) until you reach Goleta / Santa Barbra where the waters start to clear up again.
Past that you need a local for SD to help you out.
North of SB i don't recommend unless you love long pointless drives on the PCH.
Where there is Solvang, if your into Danish style tourist cities.
Meaning if you neeed to get to UCB/CAL any the of the UC's in the north, always take the 5 FWY.
NEVER Scenic it via PCH. You'll die if you scenic it... as it will take almost double the time.
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- Sep 28, 2005
- 21,131
- 3,667
- 126
Sigh... with only 2 seasons, we have like one of the worst homeless encampments.
Our sidewalks are most of the time dry and always warm.
It never snows.
We got more rain this year then we did in the past 5 years combined.
Our mayor's "state of emergency" battle on homeless... day 100+ since she entered office... Karen Bass managed to pull 1000 people off the streets out of 40,000.
She is better then Velarosa, as he completely sideball'd the homeless issue.
But i don't see encampments fixed with anyone even if they were to give out 4 star hotel pricing, because most of the homeless in LA prefer living in encampments, and not shelters, and the environment perfectly allows that.
And we have a lot of Woke Laywers that will fight til the end so that homeless can sleep on the sidewalk and prevent you from traversing on it.
Oh warning... if you see encampments and need to walk past one, be careful where you walk on.
Especially your kids. Used Needles, and Feces is a real thing.
Our sidewalks are most of the time dry and always warm.
It never snows.
We got more rain this year then we did in the past 5 years combined.
Our mayor's "state of emergency" battle on homeless... day 100+ since she entered office... Karen Bass managed to pull 1000 people off the streets out of 40,000.
She is better then Velarosa, as he completely sideball'd the homeless issue.
But i don't see encampments fixed with anyone even if they were to give out 4 star hotel pricing, because most of the homeless in LA prefer living in encampments, and not shelters, and the environment perfectly allows that.
And we have a lot of Woke Laywers that will fight til the end so that homeless can sleep on the sidewalk and prevent you from traversing on it.
Oh warning... if you see encampments and need to walk past one, be careful where you walk on.
Especially your kids. Used Needles, and Feces is a real thing.
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