<p>LA is new for me. Have three days to visit in May 2012 for graduation week. Please write your top 10 places to visit.</p>
<p>Knowing I will have only three days in LA- name those places close enough to each other so I will be able to visit in so short period of time. Appreciate your recommendations.
I will not be driving in LA so I will depend on Tour companies and Taxi transportation.</p>
<p>So far it was recommended (restaurants too-not to expensive please (not more than $15 to 25 per person):
-J. Paul Getty Center
-Sunset Boulevard</p>
<p>I definitely agree with Getty Center. I would also add Griffith Park and Observatory (plan to be there at sunset.) All the museums in Exposition Park (across from USC) are free though special exhibits may have an admission price. </p>
<p>Fun restaurants in downtown LA include Bottega Louie (noisy) and I love the food at Wokcano. There are restaurants and attractions at LA Live as well.</p>
<p>The Grove and Farmer’s Market (adjacent to each other) offer great shopping and dining.</p>
<p>If you have never been to Disneyland, then go!</p>
<p>If you want to see celebrities, head to a Lakers game. There should be a playoff game the weekend of graduation.</p>
<p>No need to buy tickets. Just check out the Southwest VIP entrance prior to tip-off. That’s where celebrities and the LA elite valet their cars. It’s almost like a car show. With paparazzi abound, it’s the quintessential La-La Land experience.</p>
<p>That would also be a good time to experience LA Live. It doesn’t get much more festive (or scary, depending on your perspective) than a Lakers playoff game.</p>
<p>You might also see what folks recommend at losangeles.reddit.com.</p>
<p>Thanks, Minnymom, JJalfonso.
Your recommendation of free museums is very helpful. I found the following museums:</p>
<p>Museums in Exposition Park (free): </p>
<p>Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History
California Science Center </p>
<p>I have visited Disneyworld and other similar parks in FL, so I prefer not visiting this type of park (except if I would have the time and it a must see place-if it is similar, which I will assume they are, I will prefer to see different sites in LA.)</p>
<p>You may want to check out the Santa Monica Pier. 3rd Street Promenade is fun with street performers on weekend evenings. Then I recommend the Border Grill on 4th Street, the restaurant of Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, “too hot tamales”. </p>
<p>Agree you should see the Getty and Griffith Observatory, which had fairly recent major reconstruction. Both are amazing!</p>
<p>There are countless things to see and do in Los Angeles County. So much depends upon your interests.</p>
<p>Here are some cultural favorites:</p>
<p>The Getty Museum-Priceless art from around the world
Norton Simon Museum-A gem-Many of Rembrandt’s paintings can be seen
The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens
Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown-Designed by Frank Gehry, SC alumnus and Pritzer Prize winner</p>
<p>Architectural Interests</p>
<p>Gamble House in Pasadena-Preserved by the USC School of Architecture
Historic synagogues and churches</p>
<p>Shopping</p>
<p>Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills
Old Town Pasadena
Farmer’s Market at The Grove</p>
<p>I also recommend The Grove for either lunch/hanging out and the Third Street Promenade. Venice beach is also really nice for the sort of hippie-style culture. If you wouldn’t mind traveling out a bit, The Americana at Glendale is really nice too. And of course, don’t forget UCLA ;)</p>
<p>food places:</p>
<p>Ramen: Santouka (my FAVORITE place to eat on the westside.)
Pastrami: Langers (k-townish)
Sweets: diddy riese cookies
Burgers: In-N-Out (even if you’re from california.) Also there’s a 5 guys by USC worth checking out.
Fried Chicken: Honey’s Kettle
Coffee: Intellegentsia</p>
<p>Good idea, especially if you’re not comfortable with navigating freeways in a metropolitan area.</p>
<p>If you’re a roller coaster lover, heading up to Six Flags Magic Mountain is a must. </p>
<p>If you love classical music, see if you can get tickets to a LA Phil concert at Disney Hall. The Hall is beautiful and the LA Phil is one of the world’s best.</p>
<p>There are quite a few museums in Downtown LA. Do a bit of research on what’s in downtown LA and the Metro system that’s in place. It’s not NYC’s subway system or Boston’s T, but it’s pretty good public transportation. </p>
<p>There are also Metrolink trains that can take you further inland. If you want to visit the Claremont Colleges, the Metrolink can take you there.</p>
<p>Be sure to visit one of SoCal’s beaches. The Santa Monica Pier and the Third Street Promenade come to mind.</p>
<p>Wonderful ideas. I see many of you have concluded that “must visit” places in three days should be:
-J. Paul Getty Center
-Sunset Boulevard<br>
-Griffith Park and Observatory
-All museums in Exposition Park (free)
Santa Monica Pier. 3rd Street Promenade =Beaches
Norton Simon Museum-A gem-Many of Rembrandt’s paintings can be seen
The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens
Walt Disney Concert Hall in downtown-Designed by Frank Gehry, SC alumnus and Pritzer Prize winner</p>
<p>Sounds exciting! I think this will be more than enough for those days…except if somebody opine that there is a better place than the Getty museum. I heard is extraordinary and I would love to visit it.</p>
<p>Now the logistic problem: what is the better way to go to those places? Should I call a Tour company to pick us at the hotel? From USC should we take a taxi, a tour company or local public transportation?
How far are all those places from USC? A quick response suffice…I ultimately can google it…are we talking less than half an hour distance from USC?</p>
<p>TRANSPORTATION: I have been checking “starlinetours” website. Too much info…kind of overwhelming. Any recommendations for tour companies or transportation?
Appreciate your recommendations. Probably a Tour company is better for the safety experience… we are out of town people and LA is what we have seen in movies, so basically don’t have any personal experience in visiting the attractions.</p>
<p>JJALfonso; I think The lakers last local games are in April.</p>
<p>No one mentioned the Hollywood sign! I’d also say that Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive and Sunset Boulevard are a lot of fun. </p>
<p>If you like bicycling, go to Santa Monica or Venice and rent a bike. You can ride the beach bike trail north to Will Rogers State Beach or south to Manhattan Beach. If it’s a beautiful day, the beach scene is great.</p>
<p>I completely agree with Ohiomom-- your best bet is to rent a car and either bring a GPS from home or rent one with the car. Relying on public transportation would be frustrating and tour companies would be expensive. Nothing is really close to anything in LA and everything seems to take at least 30 minutes. A rental car gives you freedom to take as long as you want and leave on your own terms.</p>
<p>Thanks, sorry …but I’m not driving in LA not feeling comfortable.
I will have to use other alternatives.
Have anyone use the TMZ Hollywood Tour or “Hop off” tour?</p>
<p>We have used the Hop On tour company in Europe. We live in a very touristy area and see the buses all the time, lots of different companies. I know that there are at least two (possibly 3) routes. You can also arrange for a driver to take you places.</p>
<p>Day 1 or Day 1 and Day 2: Do the Getty; then rent a beach cruiser and ride on the strand at the beach starting in Santa Monica and aim south towards Palos Verdes; Santa Monica pier towards sunset; 3rd st promenade at night. All 1 day, could take a cab, but pricey! Or really fun…rent a car and drive up the coast (PacificCoastHwy) to Malibu. A pretty drive and not congested (usually) after you past Santa Monica.
Day 2: Exposition park in day;Walk around the inside and outside of Disney Concert Hall in Downtown to see fun architecture;Walk around LA Live (near Staples center and Nokia theater);alternatively Sunset blvd/Hollywood later in day (don’t do on a weekend…too crowded). Griffith observatory is not worth it. Hollywood/sunset is barely worth it. Maybe jaded from living in LA too long. Warning…all areas listed in Day 2 would look like “bad” areas unless you come from an urban background.
Day 3: Huntington Museum, Norton Simon (haven’t been personally)</p>