Visiting Los Angeles for a few days, what to do?

[sw1tch]

Hi everyone,

My wife and I will be visiting LA for a few days next week and were wondering if anyone had any ideas of good things to do/ places that would be recommended that we "should" visit.  I have never been there before (my wife went with her family once a while ago)  We have an AirBNB that we already booked near Hermosa Beach within walking distance and were considering going beach hopping on the bus (I still need to look into it some more).  We will also have a rental car, so were thinking of driving down to Rancho Palos Verdes.

We really only have a couple of days and want to make the most of it.  The only thing that we are certain of going to see is downtown/Chinatown.  Does anyone have any recommendations of good local restaurants or must-see outdoor places near Hermosa or within reasonable distance?

Thanks all!

[Aphalite]

Din Tai Fung!

mmm soup dumplings (xiao long bao)

[Inkedup]

You'll want to visit the Tar Pits: http://www.tarpits.org/la-brea-tar-pits

[sw1tch]

Thanks for the ideas!

Din Tai Fung sounds like something we would like to go to.

The tar pits look like a good time as well.

[jeromedawg]

If you're into museums, art, and or gardens:

Getty
Getty Villa
Huntington Library
California Science Center
Griffith Observatory and park

Rancho Palos Verdes is also a nice place to drive around and look at the homes and also views of the ocean. It just really depends on what you want to do. Din Tai Fung isn't too close to Hermosa Beach but if you were really wanting it you could go there and then also to Griffith Park and Observatory as there's one not far from it. The drive along the 1 through Malibu is also nice if you have the time.

[sw1tch]

Thanks for all of the suggestions!

I will keep all of those in mind.

[zoltani]

Watts Towers - Do not miss this!!!!!!!!!

If you like record stores check out Burger Records or Gnarburger

[dodojojo]

The 'real' Chinatown in LA (county) nowadays is in San Gabriel Valley--Alhambra, Monterey Park and eastwards.  As Chinatown is my old neighborhood, I'm happy to see anyone make plans to visit it.  Just wanted to manage expectations as the best Chinese restaurants, markets and stores are no longer in Chinatown. 

[jeromedawg]

The 'real' Chinatown in LA (county) nowadays is in San Gabriel Valley--Alhambra, Monterey Park and eastwards.  As Chinatown is my old neighborhood, I'm happy to see anyone make plans to visit it.  Just wanted to manage expectations as the best Chinese restaurants, markets and stores are no longer in Chinatown.

This is very true. Although, if you want good Korean Food, Koreatown (closer to downtown) is a hot spot. Alhambra/MP, and that area are definitely where a lot of the good stuff is. If you want good Japanese food, Torrance/Gardena isn't too far either. 

[sw1tch]

Yes, drool on Korean food/Koreatown.  I'm sure we would really enjoy that.

So many good recommendations, there's just so much to do and so little time!

Anyone have any beach restaurants that they'd recommend?

[SunshineAZ]

I second the Getty Museum and the Huntington Library, and would also add the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. 

[jeromedawg]

Yes, drool on Korean food/Koreatown.  I'm sure we would really enjoy that.

So many good recommendations, there's just so much to do and so little time!

Anyone have any beach restaurants that they'd recommend?

Honestly, most if not all "beach restaurants" are going to be overpriced and overrated. If you really want to eat on the beach, Yelp the area, buy, and then walk the food over yourself hahaha - http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Hermosa+Beach%2C+CA&ns=1

Oh forgot to mention 3rd St Promenade. That's also a fun place to walk around if you have some time.

[SilveradoBojangles]

I grew up in Hermosa. In PV, check out Point Vicente light house for a nice walk along the cliffs with gorgeous views of the Bay (and free!). There is also public beach access at Trump National Golf Course in PV, which can take you down to the beach (also free!). One of my favorite things to do when I'm home is grab food at El Burrito Junior (on PCH in Redondo - a tiny little shack with excellent cheap Mexican food), and then walk the two blocks to the beach for a picnic. You might want to rent bikes and spend a day biking along the strand up to Venice or Santa Monica. It's flat and easy, and a great way to see the coast, and better than bussing, I assure you. Public transport is not LA's strong suit, though it is doable. Though you can easily take the metro line to downtown/china town/Olvera street/3rd street Market.

To give you an example of how much time things take, allow me to describe what I did with a friend who was visiting one weekend not too long ago. In the morning we got moving early and drove to the Getty. We saw some exhibits and took a garden tour (the views of the LA basin are incredible). Then we had Turkish food in Westwood for lunch, and went to the Tarpits in the afternoon, and walked around the whole LACMA/Page museum area, which is large and cool. That night we caught a show at the Largo (small venue with affordable tickets and great music/comedy acts), and grabbed a late dinner at Canters, which is a very old school LA diner. The next day we went to China town for dim sum, and then walked around down town and saw union station, the Bradbury building, the 3rd street market, etc. That afternoon we went back to the coast and spent some time walking around Hermosa pier/strand area. It was an excellent tour of LA in two days. You'll have a blast.

[sw1tch]

Yes, drool on Korean food/Koreatown.  I'm sure we would really enjoy that.

So many good recommendations, there's just so much to do and so little time!

Anyone have any beach restaurants that they'd recommend?

Honestly, most if not all "beach restaurants" are going to be overpriced and overrated. If you really want to eat on the beach, Yelp the area, buy, and then walk the food over yourself hahaha - http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=&find_loc=Hermosa+Beach%2C+CA&ns=1

Oh forgot to mention 3rd St Promenade. That's also a fun place to walk around if you have some time.

Thanks for pointing that out.  We are all for finding better and more reasonably priced places and bringing them back to the beach to enjoy.

[jeromedawg]

I grew up in Hermosa. In PV, check out Point Vicente light house for a nice walk along the cliffs with gorgeous views of the Bay (and free!). There is also public beach access at Trump National Golf Course in PV, which can take you down to the beach (also free!). One of my favorite things to do when I'm home is grab food at El Burrito Junior (on PCH in Redondo - a tiny little shack with excellent cheap Mexican food), and then walk the two blocks to the beach for a picnic. You might want to rent bikes and spend a day biking along the strand up to Venice or Santa Monica. It's flat and easy, and a great way to see the coast, and better than bussing, I assure you. Public transport is not LA's strong suit, though it is doable. Though you can easily take the metro line to downtown/china town/Olvera street/3rd street Market.

To give you an example of how much time things take, allow me to describe what I did with a friend who was visiting one weekend not too long ago. In the morning we got moving early and drove to the Getty. We saw some exhibits and took a garden tour (the views of the LA basin are incredible). Then we had Turkish food in Westwood for lunch, and went to the Tarpits in the afternoon, and walked around the whole LACMA/Page museum area, which is large and cool. That night we caught a show at the Largo (small venue with affordable tickets and great music/comedy acts), and grabbed a late dinner at Canters, which is a very old school LA diner. The next day we went to China town for dim sum, and then walked around down town and saw union station, the Bradbury building, the 3rd street market, etc. That afternoon we went back to the coast and spent some time walking around Hermosa pier/strand area. It was an excellent tour of LA in two days. You'll have a blast.

RE: Bikes - my friend recently rented electric bikes in Santa Monica and had a blast doing that. Presumably you'd get from point A to point B much faster too versus doing it on a regular bike. Sounds like a good way to go if you plan to do that and have less time at least. And ditto on public transportation - it's ridiculous how bad it is down here. Now, if you were up in the Bay Area, that's the first thing I'd recommend in terms of getting around; without a blink of the eye.

[sw1tch]

I grew up in Hermosa. In PV, check out Point Vicente light house for a nice walk along the cliffs with gorgeous views of the Bay (and free!). There is also public beach access at Trump National Golf Course in PV, which can take you down to the beach (also free!). One of my favorite things to do when I'm home is grab food at El Burrito Junior (on PCH in Redondo - a tiny little shack with excellent cheap Mexican food), and then walk the two blocks to the beach for a picnic. You might want to rent bikes and spend a day biking along the strand up to Venice or Santa Monica. It's flat and easy, and a great way to see the coast, and better than bussing, I assure you. Public transport is not LA's strong suit, though it is doable. Though you can easily take the metro line to downtown/china town/Olvera street/3rd street Market.

To give you an example of how much time things take, allow me to describe what I did with a friend who was visiting one weekend not too long ago. In the morning we got moving early and drove to the Getty. We saw some exhibits and took a garden tour (the views of the LA basin are incredible). Then we had Turkish food in Westwood for lunch, and went to the Tarpits in the afternoon, and walked around the whole LACMA/Page museum area, which is large and cool. That night we caught a show at the Largo (small venue with affordable tickets and great music/comedy acts), and grabbed a late dinner at Canters, which is a very old school LA diner. The next day we went to China town for dim sum, and then walked around down town and saw union station, the Bradbury building, the 3rd street market, etc. That afternoon we went back to the coast and spent some time walking around Hermosa pier/strand area. It was an excellent tour of LA in two days. You'll have a blast.

Wow, such a good layout of a quick tour.  That actually sounds exactly like what we could do.  Thanks so much for providing this; I'll be sure to use it as a guideline for our quick days of visiting.

[jeromedawg]

If you're craving roast beef dip, for whatever reason (e.g. because I just mentioned it ha ha), check out Philippes which is right around the corner from Union Station. It gets busy there but it's a fun experience and some pretty good food.

[SilveradoBojangles]

If you're craving roast beef dip, for whatever reason (e.g. because I just mentioned it ha ha), check out Philippes which is right around the corner from Union Station. It gets busy there but it's a fun experience and some pretty good food.

I forgot about this, but this is indeed an LA classic.

[jeromedawg]

If you're craving roast beef dip, for whatever reason (e.g. because I just mentioned it ha ha), check out Philippes which is right around the corner from Union Station. It gets busy there but it's a fun experience and some pretty good food.

I forgot about this, but this is indeed an LA classic.

For a second I was considering taking the metro up, but then remembered it would take me all day just to go and come back (Orange County)... hahahaha smh

[SilveradoBojangles]

I grew up in Hermosa. In PV, check out Point Vicente light house for a nice walk along the cliffs with gorgeous views of the Bay (and free!). There is also public beach access at Trump National Golf Course in PV, which can take you down to the beach (also free!). One of my favorite things to do when I'm home is grab food at El Burrito Junior (on PCH in Redondo - a tiny little shack with excellent cheap Mexican food), and then walk the two blocks to the beach for a picnic. You might want to rent bikes and spend a day biking along the strand up to Venice or Santa Monica. It's flat and easy, and a great way to see the coast, and better than bussing, I assure you. Public transport is not LA's strong suit, though it is doable. Though you can easily take the metro line to downtown/china town/Olvera street/3rd street Market.

To give you an example of how much time things take, allow me to describe what I did with a friend who was visiting one weekend not too long ago. In the morning we got moving early and drove to the Getty. We saw some exhibits and took a garden tour (the views of the LA basin are incredible). Then we had Turkish food in Westwood for lunch, and went to the Tarpits in the afternoon, and walked around the whole LACMA/Page museum area, which is large and cool. That night we caught a show at the Largo (small venue with affordable tickets and great music/comedy acts), and grabbed a late dinner at Canters, which is a very old school LA diner. The next day we went to China town for dim sum, and then walked around down town and saw union station, the Bradbury building, the 3rd street market, etc. That afternoon we went back to the coast and spent some time walking around Hermosa pier/strand area. It was an excellent tour of LA in two days. You'll have a blast.

Wow, such a good layout of a quick tour.  That actually sounds exactly like what we could do.  Thanks so much for providing this; I'll be sure to use it as a guideline for our quick days of visiting.

No problem! Happy to help. Enjoy your time there, and let me know if you have other questions.