One day in LA

[iismum]

We're going to be staying with friends in Santa Barbara and are going to do a day trip to LA. We will make a full day of it and want to see lots but don't want to make it too frantic. The kids are 7 and 9. Any suggestions? Thanks!

One of those hop on hop off bus tours? You get to see all the main sights with commentary and if you are beach lovers they cover Santa Monica and Venice beach.

Good idea, thanks. I'll look into it.

Please don't get on those hop on hop off tours. They are overpriced and slightly unsavory. And they take forever to get around. If your kids are not beach goers, you can go to the Santa Monica pier…very touristy but fun. There's a small amusement park on it, and a little aquarium with very nice and informative docents underneath. Also the old carousel. From there it's a two block walk to the 3rd St Promenade, where there's plenty of restaurants and shops and street performers. If you're more active sorts, you could rent bikes at one of the many bike/skate rental places near the pier and ride the beautiful bike paths along the ocean. A short ride south gets you to Venice Beach, a little further and you're in the Marina. If you don't want to go to the shore, how about Griffith Park? You can take in the observatory--great shows for every age group-and the best view in LA. Some wonderful playgrounds in Griffith, also Travel Town, an outdoor train museum, and if you're there on Sunday morning, LA Live Steamers, trains that you sit on and go through all kinds of lovely little villages and landscapes. Lots of wonderful hiking trails for every ability in Griffith Park, too.

well I have to completely disagree with that opinion! Unsavoury? What do you mean? We found it excellent and also good value for money especially with children that age who quickly tire of traipsing around in the heat and get bored in the car. An open top bus is fun. I would also say that with typical LA traffic there is no way you can get around the same number of places in the same amount of time in your own car, not to mention the hassle of parking. And also the car driver will be missing seeing the sights themselves. Well, each to their own, whatever you do OP have a great time!

Universal studios