Los Angeles Travel Forum

I'm flying into LA late on a Friday. I have a hotel reservation for Friday and a rental car that I'll pick up on Saturday. I can take some time for myself in LA before I have to head down to San Diego, so I have 2 questions:

1) Do you have any suggestions for things I absolutely shouldn't miss in LA?

2) Since I'm driving to SD on a Saturday, do I need to worry much about traffic (since there's no rush hour)? Are there better times than others to drive south?

Thanks!
Marissa

It is ALWAYS rush hour in LA! Although SD from LA is only about an hour and a half, on a saturday it can take up to 4 hours depending on what time you leave. One time I left on a friday (at noon) and it took almost 8 hours to get there. I would suggest you leave before 9 am if you want to make it there in a reasonable amount of time.

Other then the "typical" things to do in LA: Hollywood Blvd, Chinese Theater, Disneyland etc you might want to give Melrose ave a try.. There is cheap shopping and you can mingle the locals. I am also a fan of the clothing/flower/jewelry district in downtown LA.

I am assuming you are going to San Diego the day after you arrive (that is, you do not have a full week in LA) - so you don't really have much time. One thing about LA is that sometimes if your luggage is in the car and you park somewhere, you may find your luggage is gone when you are going to get it - this what happened to my best friend.

Driving in LA can be challenging, unless you memorize where you're going. If you're off the airport, you are situated on the San Diego freeway - shame to deviate. Assuming you're staying by the airport, you can perhaps go have breakfast in Marina del Rey - many places there. But I would not really spend too long in LA - I personally would get going to San Diego by mid day.

Do you have any interests? Maybe if we know what interests you we could suggest one place to go - but again, beware of your luggage!

Sorry, possibly not what you wanted to hear ...

I would forego anything in LA, pickup the car, and head to SD, ASAP. You will find the traffic going into San Diego on a Saturday afternoon slow and stop. The sooner you get there the better. Once in SD then go do something close you your hotel and stay off the freeway.

As others have pointed out, you might think about just heading to San Diego when you get up. Most of the LA attractions are in the opposite direction from San Diego so you'll just be adding to the drive. What I'd do is get the hotel room (I've had great luck with Priceline at LAX, 4* hotels for $60) and get the rental car in the morning from one of the rental car places near LAX and then hit the road.

May the rain run off your shoulders when you're caught in a storm.

You shouldn't have to worry about rain on this trip, and while I have not driven to SD in a while, the gas prices seem to be alleviating some of the traffic so it might be a little bit better than the horror stories others have told you about.

I would suggest the Getty Museum. It isn't far off the path, it raises you above the city so you get an ok view, and the ambiance and architecture is really worth seeing. Oh, and there is art.

http://www.getty.edu/

I haven't made it to the Villa since it reopened, but that is also stunning, or at least it was before the remodel. I dare to say that has not changed.

Best, Eric

you haven't told us anything about what you like.
if you are into museums, then the getty is a good place to go. is it worth the hassle of la traffic - wouldn't be for me but that's your decision. venice beach isn't far from the airport. if you want to say you saw something in la you could go have breakfast there.
i too would just head off to san diego. but, i would detour for a few hours at laguna beach to waunder this unique town and have lunch. then at oceanside, i'd get off the freeway 5 and get back on the pacific coast highway taking that into san diego. be relaxed, enjoy the scenary.
if you are into shopping, i believe there is a huge mall somewhere off of freeway 405 or 5 between la and laguna beach.

Rather than driving to San Diego during the day, spend the whole day in LA and drive to San Diego after 8pm. There will be no traffic and you will have more time in LA. There's so much to do here, as others mentioned it all depends on what you like some iconic things to do of course are Hollywood and Highland, you can ride horses in the mountains around the Hollywood sign, you can go to Venice Beach or Santa Monica. You can go downtown and see some "old" architecture. If you like French dip sandwiches you absolutely should not miss Phillipe's downtown and the Disney Concert Hall architecture.

Lots of good advice:

Distilled:

either leave really early or really late - Saturday traffic is often the worst of the week.

www.sigalert.com, if you have a computer, can give you a visual on where trouble spots are.

And, yes...Laguna Beach is gorgeous