<p>Be aware that the traffic in LA is horrible. I am not sure that Culver City is the most ideal location for a hotel given where you want to go. Unless you have a non-refundable reservation, you might want to reconsider staying in Culver City. None of the places you want to go to are Culver City adjacent and will require some driving.</p>
<p>mdcissp, I don't mind being 5 or 10 miles from things, at first -- We're actually staying the last two nights in Beverly Hills, so that should be fun and a good location for walking around.</p>
<p>Juniper, you'll have a great time here in Los Angeles. I would urge you to reconsider the SCA department part of the USC tour--especially since the brand new gazillion dollar SCA building is opening in just a few weeks. Also, walking through the soundstages and editing facilities is impressive and that will be where your S will likely spend a lot of time if he comes to USC. The rep also talks a bit about admissions and can answer questions.</p>
<p>I think Culver City, as well as BH are fine locations for your hotel stay. Since everything is spread out in L.A. anyway, you have to sort of pick a nice spot and realize there will be driving involved. I second the recommendation of getting a GPS for the car. Look around as you drive and experience the sights of the city. It will get you into the L.A. frame of mind. :) </p>
<p>Moment of reality: As the SCA is such a competitive school for admissions (4% admission rate), has your S investigated other film schools in our area? LMU has a film department, as does Chapman University in Orange. Visiting those campuses would take up some precious sightseeing and fun time, but...</p>
<p>Hope you have a great visit and soon your S joins mine (freshman now) in SCA next year.</p>
<p>If you're in Culver City, you are near two of LA's finest restaurants:
Versailles (Cuban garlic chicken!) on Venice & Overland; and Hu's Schezwan (sp?)
a little bit east of Overland on the corner of National and National. (sic)</p>
<p>Okay, I'll bite (so to speak), you're also near Paco's Tacos on Centinela - great Mexican food (and margaritas for mom and dad) with handmade tortillas! I haven't had dinner yet, so don't get me started on food on the westside.</p>
<p>Another vote of confidence for Versailles. </p>
<p>OP, you might want to consider going on a studio backlot tour rather than Universal. A tour of Warner Brothers or Paramount (I think there's one other) are going to be more of "working" Hollywood, as opposed to Theme Park Hollywood. Both are enjoyable, depending on what you want. WB and Paramount tours are several hours, rather than the whole day Universal experience. </p>
<p>One more suggestion on the off-chance you're still reading: I can't believe no one has mentioned the Hollywood sign. You can get a great view of that and of much of LA from the Griffith Observatory in Griffith Park.</p>
<p>Thank you, again, everyone. I will definitely re-read this thread just before our trip. I also added a comedy club to our 'must sees.' I visited the Grounding Theatre years ago, but stand-up is more my kids' 'thing.' Hoping you only have to be 18 years old for one of those!</p>
<p>Go tour USC... then go to where UCLA is cuz they have food and places to live there too. A lot safer. Plus you get the getty museum and maybe see a few stars while ur there :]</p>
<p>Want to second the suggestion that you do the department-specific SCA tour. Your S is going to want as much info as possible before applying and this is an excellent, info-packed tour. Also, this is the portion of the USC tour that will be the most relevant for him. (Not clear why you wouldn't want to visit the film school if your son is applying for film.)</p>
<p>To Nester: My son is a senior and has already applied to SCA and to a '2nd choice' major in another dept. at USC; he is extremely enthusiastic about both opportunites. I'd like him to get a general sense of USC and given the 4% acceptance rate in SCA, I hate to rev him up in that direction at this late stage -- he would be thrilled to be admitted to the university, in general, so we're downplaying one major over another. If SCA admits him, he certainly would come back for USC's equivalent of "Accepted Students Day," or whatever it's called there. But I do appreciate your opinion very much -- thanks!</p>
<p>Another vote for the Warner Brothers tour. It gives you a pretty authentic taste of TV and film production.</p>
<p>Juniper -- Completely understand your rationale. Your S should know that USC students do transfer into the SCA, but good good luck on getting in now! Adding applause for Versailles, not just the garlic chicken, the ropa vieja with fried plantains. Also, if you've seen Crash and worry about the (IMO greatly exaggerated) ghettoization of various LA populations, Versailles is a great antidote. Everybody's there together.</p>
<p>Hollywood blvd and the area is mostly worth a visit late at night, preferably on Fri or Saturday. During the day it is absolutely nothing special, late at night it makes for an interesting people-watching experience. The "Singing Elvis" Thai restaurant is pretty good, though very typical. Expect to pay an arm and a leg for parking.</p>
<p>Santa Monica/Venice beach is alright, if you are there for the shopping and the beach any time will do. As an amateur photographer I would favor sunrise/sunset. Rent bikes at the pier and bike along the beach. Go see the steroid-abusing freaks at Muscle Beach. Sunset around Santa Monica peer can be really pretty if you get the right kind of weather. My preference is to watch it from the beach on the north side of the peer.</p>
<p>Getty... meh, I expected more from a famous museum in a major city. Go up there, look at LA's haze, peruse the not particularly impressive collection. When we were there they had a Bernini special exhibit. Very disappointing, maybe we were expecting too much after all the beautiful Bernini works one gets to see in Rome. If you want to save a bit of dough go there around 1 hr before closing, they will let you in for free (the museum itself is free, but like everything else in LA parking is steep). The collection is modest enough to allow hitting the highlights in about an hour, and they will let you stick around the garden for about an hour after the buildings close.</p>
<p>The Ivy, Robertson Street, Abbot Kinney --- perhaps interesting if you come from the suburban wastelands of New Jersey, where the biggest entertainment seems to be going to the mega-mall on Friday. San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle all have bohemian neighborhoods with more character.</p>
<p>There are some really great sushi places near Downtown, and the usual collection of great restaurants. Catalina Island is pretty nice, but is a whole day and gets a bit on the spendy side.</p>
<p>Of course there are the usual standby's of amusement parks, Rodeo Drive, etc, etc.</p>
<p>its all about the food.
pinks- long wait but it's all about the experience ...la brea avenue, hollywood
langers- best pastrami sandwich w/ coleslaw...but macarthur park (very dangerous)
houstons- insane bbq and prime rib..expensive but worth it...pasadena or santa monica</p>
<p>For barbeque, not too expensive but extremely good -- in fact, divine -- is Baby Blues on Lincoln Blvd. in Venice.</p>