Los Angeles trip and onward ideas

[Fibonaccithesequel]

We’re going to LA in July 28 for the Olympics. Our tickets are over 5 days. Any must dos in LA, where did people stay that worked well, and where would you go before and after? We have 2-3 weeks. I’m think July will be too hot for Palm Springs and Grand Canyon, don’t fancy Vegas.

We have our kids (boys) but they are early 20s - they will enjoy a combination of film, vintage stuff, iconic sights and beach time.

We’ve been to San Francisco and down to Big Sur on the Coastal Highway , Yosemite, Sequioa before.

Any input/ideas/experiences would be amazing - thanks.

Well, I love Vegas 💁I wouldn't really go there for culture and sight-seeing, but if you love gambling and tacky shows it's awesome 😄I've been several times and I know my daughter will love it.

I posted up thread about La Jolla and San Diego. What the teens loved actually was doing surf lessons at La Jolla, brunch on the pier at San Clemente and we also stayed in the Mission Beach area, the teens liked that as its quirky houses.

Agree about La Jolla - gorgeous place! We went to La Jolla Cove last time and watched the seals and sealions playing in the surf and this time we're going sea kayaking, which will hopefully be fun! Our kids are teens and very physical, so I'm hoping they do most of the paddling

Getting excited now! I’m thinking South California will suit us better. Any beach towns in particular for young adults? La Jolla sounds nice although I’m a bit nervous about kayaking 🦈 If we can squeeze 3 weeks then Hawaii sounds good, but the journey home will be painful. 😬

Yeah, the return trip from Hawaii would be brutal. I'm not sure which town would suit your 20-somethings best OP. What are they into? Some of the towns are definitely younger and more lively, whereas others are quieter and attract an older crowd. AI might be your friend here - at least to give you some pointers.

I’ve only done a short break in LA of the night but lots of recommendations as planning my return!!

it’s difficult to understand how the place works before you go ( I know you have been before)

we stayed at the garland near universal which was a lovely lovely hotel near universal. Would recommend. it shad a lovely pool and as you are there a long time this would be some much needed down time. I would also recommend stating in more than one location. It just takes so long to get around.

I would do Santa Monica. Everywhere has it drawbacks. But everywhere I really enjoyed even the super tacky Hollywood walk of fame!

We did the grove and the farmers market that was great.

Other things I want to do
griffiths observatory, Warner bros tour, la brea tar pits (prehistoric maybe the fossils you mention?) Star bus tour in the Hollywood hills
Dodgers stadium
Hollywood bowl event
outlet shopping
trader joes shopping
raising canes chicken fast food

If you go to joshua tree then get up in the dark, make sure you take lots of water, have all your maps offline as no gps or mobile signal in the park, its very easy to drive into the park and go to a great location to watch sunrise. Then you can drive and hike small loops seeing the eerie scenery and sstunning views. Read about the route in advance. If you get there super early (which you won't mind if you're still on UK time) you can be back by the pool in Palm springs by noon. I stayed at the Hilton.

The other thing to do that's literally cool in palm springs is the cable car up mount san jacinto. It's cool at top and views are amazing.

We then went to temecula wine region which again you can stay on uk time get up super early and have a hot air balloon ride over the vineyards as the sun comes up.

From there we went to San diego which I loved.

We only used LA as our flight from the UK was 9 hours direct which was great. We didn't bother with the city as we've been before and didn't get on with it.

We loved the Griffiths Observatory and Warner Bros studio tour.

A highlight was the balcony where spiderman hangs upside down in the rain (my marvel obesessed teen was wowed by this) and the hats from the movie of My Fair Lady. Warning. You'll never watch TV or movies the same way as you can spot all the studio locations!

Santa Monica was awful. Grimy. Would never go back. Santa Barbara was good we had a motel and enjoyed it. Loved SF

Thanks everyone! I am a really keen hiker but my kids less so. They are more party boys into sport, bars, beach, music, film. But maybe in two years time they will be more into the outdoors?! 🤔 😁 The Joshua tree stuff sounds amazing but I wonder if it will be too hot and wasted on them. Maybe one for another trip? There sounds like loads to do in LA and south California to keep us busy. They actually like a lot of down time (as does my husband) so won’t be keen to do sights every day. I think we’d definitely could stay in 3 or 4 locations over 2/3 weeks. Is Long Beach a good base for the central LA sights (thinking that that’s where the beach volleyball is). I’m hoping they will improve public transport for the Olympics!

I’m actually thinking they could be the perfect age for LA! Film/music/vintage clothes and beach! They were fossil geeks when young so the tar pit sounds fun. Also the set tour sounds amazing. My husband is not a city guy, so he may struggle but he will have to dig deep 😁

We stayed at Marina del Rey, made a good base for what we wanted to see (previously stayed in Burbank with friends).

Public transport barely exists. Santa Monica is way nicer! It’s just got better access to lots of places but it can be ultra busy. You have hotels with pools for relaxing.

With 2–3 weeks, I’d be tempted to split the trip between LA and San Diego rather than adding a desert destination in July. Santa Monica and Venice would cover the beach and classic LA atmosphere, while the younger guys may enjoy the studios, Hollywood Museum, and some of the older neighborhoods around the city.

After the Olympics, San Diego could make a great change of pace. La Jolla and San Clemente are good options if you want somewhere more relaxed, while the zoo gives you a full day without needing to spend hours driving.

One practical thing worth planning early is transportation and parking, especially if you’ll be moving between beaches, attractions, and different parts of LA. I’d also check Peacock Rentals and its website when comparing rental options, since having a car can make the wider Southern California portion much easier.

I’d save Palm Springs and the Grand Canyon for a cooler-season trip. July heat can make those drives and outdoor stops considerably less enjoyable.

"Is Long Beach a good base for the central LA sights (thinking that that’s where the beach volleyball is). I’m hoping they will improve public transport for the Olympics!"

No but there is a metro service from Long Beach into Downtown LA. It takes about an hour each way. I cannot see public transport being improved much in time for the Olympics due to cost.

If you think of LA county as being about 100 different cities all joined together in all different directions you've got the idea of what it's like. It is really a sprawl of a place.

Melrose Avenue and La Brea avenue are good places for vintage clothing.

Warner Bros studio tour is worth a visit as is the Sony Studio tour at Culver City.

Would also recommend the Peterson Museum if they are into cars and motoring. They hold special exhibitions from time to time. This museum is not too distant from the La Brea Tar Pits Museum.

Do not bother with any of the Hollywood bus tours supposedly taking you to see the film stars homes. All you will likely see are the people who maintain said residences, high hedges and bins. Many actors no longer live there and have moved away into the hills or Malibu.

Carrying a driving licence as a form of id is helpful particularly if alcohol is ordered in a restaurant. Twenty one is the legal drinking age in CA and you will be asked for ID.

!If you do fly into LAX directly do be aware that taxis and UBERS are no longer allowed into the airport area. They are parked about a mile away in their own areas outside the airport. Passengers from LAXs 8 terminals have to take an LAXit bus to this area (do not attempt to walk there) and these buses are often rammed necessitating a wait for another hopefully emptier bus. There is not much room for suitcases!!. If you can arrange for a driver to meet your party in arrivals via the hotel you are staying at the first night so much the better.

I would not go into any desert area in July. If I went anywhere it would be Northern California or up to Oregon. Just less frantic.

Definitely go South . The greater San Diego area is fantastic. Little coastal towns that are all different so you can visit one each day . Encinitas, Oceanside,Carlsbad etc then all of Mission Beach and Ocean Beach within San Diego . La Jolla and surrounding areas are lovely and Coronado island is so lovely. Point Loma has a lighthouse and military cemetery to visit . Balboa Park is a day in itself and so is Old Town San Diego. Large shopping area on the trolley route too if that’s your thing .

Don’t write off the zoo due to DSs ages. The zoo and the safari are world famous, I visited in the 80s and they were incredible - likely to be even better now!

The zoos are still captive animals! There are decent zoos here. Hardly a Californian invention or unique. Do something unique to California. Plenty to choose from!

Thanks so much everyone 🙏. Brilliant info. I think San Diego area sounds the way to go. We may do that first to get over the jet lag. As I’ve booked mainly evening events and a friend pointed out we’ll be falling asleep!