Broadway Star Joined: 9/26/03
Hello!
I am going to L.A. and Anaheim for the first time in January. I will be there for 7 days. Besides the Disneyland parks, what else should I see and do? Any insight would be great! Thanks!
You could go to Universal or Knotts (both themeparks). Are you staying in LA or Anaheim?
Broadway Star Joined: 9/26/03
I'm staying in Anaheim but I have a friend in LA who I am going to visit for 2 days and he told me to let him know what I want to see.
Ask him if he knows where the Grove is in Beverly Hills. Its a fun mall to hang out in, it not just an ugly building. Its basically all outdoors and has a pretty fountain and trolly (sp?), it reminded me of Disneyland the 1st time I went. They have a really pretty and good quality movie theatre, lots of shop, and restuarants.
Broadway Star Joined: 9/26/03
Cool - thanks!
La Brea Tarpits
Hollywood, Manns Chinese Theater
areas nearby:
Laguna Beach
San Juan Capistrano
Pasadena Oldtown
I'm not much of an LA person......more into things around LA
The Getty Center, if you're into the museum thing.
oh definately the Getty!
Robyn - it really depends on what you mean by L.A. and if you'll have transportation. Anaheim is in Orange County and specific, but L.A. in general is HUGE so if you have a specific city you're staying at in L.A. that may help you get some more suggestions. I like all the ones so far although I must correct that The Grove is not in Beverly Hills. It's in the Fairfax district right by Farmers Market which is near the La Brea Tarpits, the museum district, and West Hollywood.
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
Santa Monica and Venice is fun to walk around if its not too bad outside. Also Beverly Hills is nice too.
Popular- You're right. But they call it "The Grove of Beverly Hills" whcih is kinda stupid..
I would second Venice Beach - it is a fun thing to do in the late afternoons, mornings.
Also, if you want, go to the third street Promenade in Santa Monica. The Pier may not be open this time of year, but if it is, that is also something fun to do.
There is a pretty decent size China Town outside of Downtown LA if you like that kind of stuff. I would also second the Getty. LA also has a decent collection of museums to visit in the Mid-Wilshire area.
There may be something at the Music Center, so you could also check what is playing there.
As Popular said, a lot depends on where in LA you will be. It is a pretty big area, and there is lots to do.
Oh yea! I forgot the pier. Go there. Its open.
If you are into the Hollywood thing, there are usually people near the Mann's Chinese Theater passing out tickets to screenings and TV tapings.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/16/05
Try going to Downtown Disney at night. Go to the Anaheim Museum (sp, which is free usually.) The Buena Park mall isn't too far off if you want to do some more shopping. Also, if you want to drive a little, there's a cool shopping center in Fullerton with Souplantation in it!
I wasn't too crazy about going to the Universal park--at all. It seemed like rather a waste of money for not that many attractions. I wouldn't recommend it.
My personal favorite thing that we did when I was in LA was the boardwalk along Venice Beach, with the vendors and everything. I would imagine that they'd still be out regardless of the time of the year. The Pier was also fun. Walking down Hollywood Blvd, seeing the handrpints outside of Mann's Chinese Theater are fun things that you can do for free. Even seeing a movie, either there or at the Disney-owned El Capitain (sp?) is nice for the Hollywood feel. Be spontaneous, too... we ended up at a random ska show in Hollywood and had fun. There are some great music venues if you want to look at what's going on ahead of time.
Also, we were far too cheap to take one of those "The Stars' Homes" tours, but we did have fun going up Mulholland Dr., and seeing the immense houses, and there are some fantastic city overlooks from up there.
You can also get free tickets to tapings of sitcoms or game shows in Studio City, which is kind of a cool Hollywood thing to do. We were in the audience for (hehe) Wheel of Fortune, which was surprisingly a cool experience.
Wow... I really had fun making these recommendations, it was a nice reminder of how much stuff we actually got to do on that trip.
I wasn't too crazy about going to the Universal park--at all. It seemed like rather a waste of money for not that many attractions. I wouldn't recommend it.
ditto on skipping Universal- if you plan it right you can do all the 'good' stuff in the park in about 4 hours; friends who work on the backlot and can get in for free never go because there's "nothing to do there." Save this one for some other L.A. visit. :)
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