Going to Los Angeles for spring break

[Anonymous]

is this nuts? we have friends who live in L.A. and want to combine a visit to see them (just not stay with them) and show our DCs (12 and 9) LA. Is there a good place to stay where the beach is accessible, yet close to LA attractions such as the Getty, Universal Studios, etc. We would like to travel to San Diego to see the Sea World during that week so would appreciate suggestions on a place to stay there. Also does it even make sense to take the kids to LA and what else can we take them there besides the Universal Studios and Getty?

[Anonymous]

That sounds like fun for the whole family. Don't have a specific recommendation of where to stay. Maybe somewhere on the West side nearer to the beach like Santa Monica (kinda pricey though). But most places are within 20 minutes by car. Other places you might like to visit:

- Universal Studios City Walk (Hollywood)
- Grauman's Chinese Theater and Walk of Fame (Hollywood)
- Griffith Observatory (Los Feliz - beautiful view of the city at night)
- Third Street Promenade (near the ocean in Santa Monica)
- Drive up to Malibu (~ 30? minutes north on Pacific Coast Hwy)
- Catalina Island (boat ride from Long Beach or Newport Beach)
- Knotts Berry Farm (~ 45 minutes south of LA in Buena Park, Orange County)
- Disneyland (~ 45 minutes south of LA in Anaheim)
- Legoland (Carlsbad - on the way down to San Diego)
- Children's Pool (La Jolla - on the way to San Diego)

[Anonymous]

PP: thank you for a ton of ideas. I honestly did not think it would be possible to find that many places to visit, especially for older kids.


On another note: does anybody know how to get tickets to be the live audience when they tape the shows?

[Anonymous]

Don't know about the shows, but in SD, we've always had great luck going on Hotels.com and choosing La Jolla (a VERY upscale neighborhood) and then putting in 4 stars. The resulting hotel is very luxe and La Jolla is not that big, so you know you're not going to end up in some nasty part of town. Plus, La Jolla is cute, beachside, and has lots of fun restaurants and overlooks to see the seals, etc. I'd do the same in LA in Santa Monica.

[Anonymous]

23:51 here again. Just wanted to mention that the Getty has two locations - the Getty Center is near the 405 Fwy in West LA, near Brentwood and the Getty Villa is on Pacific Coast Hwy in Malibu. Both are well worth visiting. Also, the estimated time to drive up to Malibu is based on starting out in W LA.

You might also like visiting the Venice boardwalk in Venice Beach (just below Santa Monica).

There's also Sunset Blvd in W LA and Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.

As for getting tickets to tapings, go online and request tickets for the specific shows you might want to see. I think some shows also pick people standing in line outside the studio to be part of the audiences - not sure about that though so ask at your hotel.

Try AAA and hotel brochures for discounts to major attractions.