| Los Angeles |
Re: 3 days in LA Posted: Tue November 1, 2011 06:30 PM UTC
Perhaps Venice with its beach and 'crazy' boardwalk.
Although I'm not sure, I suppose it must be doable by bus.
happy travels
Jaap
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| Los Angeles |
Re: 3 days in LA Posted: Tue November 1, 2011 06:33 PM UTC
Strongly advise against visiting Griffith Park at night unless very comfortable driving in twisty dark places. This is not the safest part of LA - we lived there, and after a while just did not go at night. May be OK in a group during the day, but I'd be very careful going at night.
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| Los Angeles |
Re: 3 days in LA Posted: Tue November 1, 2011 06:38 PM UTC
Griffith Observatory is a great choice - you can spend hours there and it is one of the best spots in town to see the Hollywood sign. Yes, there is a bus and it is the best way to get there - parking is almost impossible and the bus takes you right to the door.
Another good bet is the Museum of the Southwest - the Autry Museum. It shares a parking lot with the LA Zoo so is easy to get to - I think there is a city bus there also.
If you drive to Malibu check out the Getty Museum but you need reservations - again for parking but with the new structure it is usually available.
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| Los Angeles |
Re: 3 days in LA Posted: Tue November 1, 2011 07:34 PM UTC
Hi Guys...here is the local's view.
Griffith Park is not a night-time no go area. It's fine and should be no problem. It is a bit twisty, but nothing extreme.
I very highly suggest getting a car and going to Malibu one day if you are interested in the beach, nature, hiking etc.
Getty Museum (a large museum with a varied art collection in a modern building) is NOT in Malibu. Getty Villa (a classical mediterranean museum)housed in a reproduction of a Roman Villa IS in Malibu right on the PCH.
I recommend having a lunch at either malibu seafood on the PCH literally right across the street from the beach. A kind of sea food shack with patio area. Or go to Dukes and sit outside int he bar area literally on the rocks over the ocean.
Let me know if you'd like more info...
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| Los Angeles |
Re: 3 days in LA Posted: Tue November 1, 2011 10:10 PM UTC
If you are interested in the Getty, you will find all the information you need here. It say that you do not need reservations (although at one time you did) for the Getty Museum, you must have them for the Getty Villa. Admission to both is free but if you drive there is a $15 parking charge, public transport options are listed
http://www.getty.edu/visit/
I would find it odd that it wouldn't be safe to visit an Observatory in the evening hours but I've only been up there in the daytime and that was to view the Hollywood sign. Here's some information on how to get there without using a car but it may only be available on the weekends. The route does wind through the hills so if you are a nervous driver, it might not be for you in the later hours.
http://www.griffithobservatory.org/vshuttle.html
Can 11 year olds really get too much of Disney/Universal type locations? If I were your son, I'd probably be begging you to go to one or the other :-) I don't think Disneyland is similar to Universal, Universal is more about movies, Disney is well, Disney. I'm not familiar with what is at the one in Singapore but you might look into Universal Studios before you write it off.
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| Los Angeles |
Re: 3 days in LA Posted: Tue November 1, 2011 10:17 PM UTC
Good idea about Universal....
We recently went, and while I otherwise personally wouldn't really dig the place we went indoor skydiving and it was a blast. An 11 year old would love universal probably...and certainly the indoor skydiving
http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/ba553/
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| Los Angeles |
Re: 3 days in LA Posted: Wed November 2, 2011 05:08 AM UTC
Point of clarification: PCH mentioned above = Pacific Coast Highway. This may be either US Highway 101 or California Highway 1, depending on where you happen to be.
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| Los Angeles |
Re: 3 days in LA Posted: Wed November 2, 2011 04:52 PM UTC
Well - I lived in LA many years, but did move out in 1980. My husband played soccer near Griffith Park (we used to call it Griffith fields whatever they were) - and at that time we went once only to find many gang types and cholos hanging out. Perhaps they've cleaned things up since 1980 - yikes, that's almost 30 years ago.
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| Los Angeles |
Re: 3 days in LA Posted: Wed November 2, 2011 04:56 PM UTC
Yeah, it's been a while. Should be fine now...and I too used to play soccer there :)
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| Los Angeles |
Re: 3 days in LA Posted: Thu November 3, 2011 05:36 AM UTC
If it's not too far for you, I'm positive that your son would LOVE Legoland in Carlsbad, about 1 1/2 hours away. If that doesn't fit your schedule, consider the La Brea Tar Pits (google it--very interesting!), the Queen Mary, Knotts Berry Farm, and a real studio visit if you don't want to do Universal. You are doing all the regular Hollywood stuff, like visiting Hollywood/Highland Center, right?
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| Los Angeles |
Re: 3 days in LA Posted: Fri November 4, 2011 04:10 AM UTC
Thank you all for your replies. Looks like we will probably give Griffith a miss this time. Is one day enough at Universal, if we take the 2 day HOHO pass or should we do 2 days at Universal. My son loves the rides. Does an adult have to be on the ride with him, since I come close to passing out on even the simplest roller coaster and cannot be with him on the faster rides.
We are put up at the Hyatt Century plaza. How can I get to Universal from here.
Thanks again
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| Los Angeles |
Re: 3 days in LA Posted: Fri November 4, 2011 01:38 PM UTC
For info on how to get to Universal, you should have a look at their website
http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/visitor_info_transportation.html
As long as your son meets the height requirements he shouldn't need you to ride with him
I'm not sure how much time you'd need at the park but when I was looking at their website, I noticed a 2 days for 1 offer that is good through the end of 2011.
http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/ticket_2_for_1.html
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| Los Angeles |
Re: 3 days in LA Posted: Tue November 8, 2011 06:15 PM UTC
You'll need a car to visit the places you mention. Also, check out Barnsdall Park if you are interested in Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture:
http://www.barnsdall.org/
This is in Hollywood. Not many visitors see it, but I think it is worth taking the tour if you are interested in that kind of thing.
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| Los Angeles |
Re: 3 days in LA Posted: Tue November 8, 2011 06:29 PM UTC
That's a good piece of advice too...
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