Coming to Los Angeles/Coachella!!

[JARdan]

Hey guys,

I'm finally going to visit LA. I'm arriving Fri April 27, going to Coachella for the music festival, then spending mon,tues, wed in LA, and flying out thursday!

PUMPED!

Anything I should make a point of seeing/doing?

[ChrisLA]

Three days would be hard to cover a lot in Los Angeles, its massive.

What I would suggust is spend one day Downtown, Hollywood, and Old Town Pasadena for dinner. If you have a car I would park at Union Station and start out here on the subway. First purchase a day pass from the machine for 3 dollars. It will be your best value in LA, and you can use it on all metro trains (Not Metrolink Commuter Rail) and buses, plus on the Dash Bus.

You could check out the Historic District (Streets such as Broadway, Hill Street-Jewlry District. Pershing Square is a nice place to get photos, and make sure you cross the street and go into the Biltmore Hotel to check out the architecture. It will blow you away, and there is a bit of Hollywood History there as well. I believe it held the 1st Academy Awards there, and they have pictures of it on the walls. Also check out parts of Spring to see some of newly coverted lofts, it was once the Wall Street of the West Coast.

You don't want to miss the Fashion District (a lively area full of pedestrians) and you might even find some knock offs very cheap. You can easily catch the Dash Bus that says Fashion District off of 7th Street that will take you to the area in about 10 mins. I would suggest picking up a map on the Dash Bus so you know the route.


Next come back to the Financial District, and check out the Central Library.
If you want mall shopping I suggest Macy's Plaza and 7th & Fig. Also 7th from Broadway west to Figuroa has some very nice historic buildings and is worth walking around to check out. You may also want to take the Dash over to the Music Center & Disney Hall to check it out. Its at the corner of Grand Avenue and Temple.

Next I would take the subway Red Line (Make sure you get on the one that says North Hollywood and Not Wilshire/Western) and exit at Hollywood Highland. This is where the Mann Chinese Theater is, Virgin Records, Jimmy Kimmel Live (Theater), and Disney El Capitan Theater, along with the H&H Complex. This intersection will be entertaining, so enough said. Also make sure you go to the top of H&H, there are some great views of the city. Make sure you bring your camera. If you have time you can leave here and head north one subway stop to Universal City Walk. The station is at the bottom of the hill, but cross the street and there is a free tram that takes you to the top to City Walk.

Later in the evening you can head back to downtown Union Station. Transfer over to the Gold Line to Pasadena for dinner. You can exit at Memorial Park (station is stops directly under a nice condo building) and walk one block south to Colorado Blvd, and take your pick because there is a lot to choose from.

The next day I would check out the west side of LA, but use your car this day. You should visit The Grove/Farmers Market at 3rd and Fairfaix. If you have time head east down 6th Street or Beverly Blvd just to see the upscale hood of Handcock Park. IMO its much more impressive than Bevelry Hills residental hoods. Once you reach Western Avenue I would turn back and perhaps head over to Wilshire Blvd and go west all the way down to the ocean to Santa Monica. I would make detour and circle the downtown area of Bevelry Hills (Rodeo Drive, etc). Next stop on the westward route visit Westwood Village. You can turn right on Westwood Village and if like park and walk around to check out this village. UCLA campus is nearby so you'll notice some of its influence. Its also where many of the top movie premiers are held. Once you leave Westwood Village head west down to the beach. Visit the 3rd Street Promenade and then you can walk over to the pier to check it out along with the beach.

The 3rd day I would check out beach cities such as Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach. These are all next to each other, just south of LAX. I think these three communties will give you sense of the beach culture California is known for. Personally I like Manhattan Beach the most. The center would be Manhattan Beach Blvd and Highland. The pier is up the street from here, and there are numerous places to eat, shop, etc. I suggest the Kettle to eat at. Its a nice place to dine, not supper great, but not bad either. Its sort of have this California/French theme to it. Its also open 24 hours, and weekends can be busy when the clubs start closing down at 2am.

Anyway I hope this helps get you started on some thing to see and do.


Anyway I hope this helps. :)

[Fern~Fern*]

[QUOTE=JARdan;11474341]Hey guys,

I'm finally going to visit LA. I'm arriving Fri April 27, going to Coachella for the music festival, then spending mon,tues, wed in LA, and flying out thursday!

PUMPED!



^ Hey I might attend Coachella myself with some friends. Not sure what day or problaly both. I would need to check the band line up. I'll PM if I end up attending this year. Have you reserve a room, if so where Palm Springs or closer to the festival.... Dude a heads up it's going to be hot in the desert. Once you arrive in L.A. the temp is usually more fresher.....:banana: :banana: :banana:

[Westsidelife]

The best advice I can give you is to PLAN ahead. Getting around this city, especially for a tourist, is a nightmare. Try to avoid the freeways at rush hour and find alternative routes using streets (Wilshire goes from Downtown all the way to Santa Monica).

From what I've noticed, the quality of your stay really here really depends on what area you stay in. I highly suggest you stay in either Beverly Hills or Santa Monica, Santa Monica recommended.

Try to take the metro whenever you can. One day you could drive to Hollywood and park your car in that area. Take the subway to Downtown Los Angeles and then take the Gold Line to Old Town Pasadena. The next day you could tour Beverly Hills (Rodeo Drive/Stars' Homes). Though a tour of the Stars' Homes would being in Hollywood so maybe you could do that on the day you visit Hollywood. While in the Beverly Hills area, you might want to visit The Grove.

Also, YOU MUST visit the Getty Center in West LA and Griffith Observatory in Los Feliz. IT'S ALL ABOUT PLANNING AND DOING ALL THE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO IN A SPECIFIC AREA THE SAME DAY.

Tell you what, why don't you give us a list of the things you have planned and we'll or I'll help you plan out your schedule! :)

[Elsongs]

Hey guys,

I'm finally going to visit LA. I'm arriving Fri April 27, going to Coachella for the music festival, then spending mon,tues, wed in LA, and flying out thursday!

PUMPED!

Anything I should make a point of seeing/doing?

I hope you realize that Coachella is about 100 miles from Los Angeles...

[Westsidelife]

Things to do:

This is assuming that you will stay in Santa Monica. I've organized all the activities by area.

Getty Center
UCLA
Westwood Village
Santa Monica Beach
Third Street Promenade
Palisades Park
Venice Beach
Malibu

Beverly Hills (Simple. Just go down Wilshire and you'll be in the heart of Beverly Hills and Century City)
Century City
The Grove (It's I believe a couple of blocks north of Wilshire in the Miracle Mile area where you can also visit La Brea Tar Pits and LACMA)
Miracle Mile

Koreatown (Just take Wilshire Blvd. though it may take some time)
Downtown (Park car on Wilshire and take Purple Line to Downtown)
Pasadena (Take Gold Line from Union Station in Downtown)
Long Beach (Take Blue Line from 7th/Figueroa in Downtown. Avoid the Blue Line at night because you will pass through the South Central including Compton)
Hollywood (Take Red Line from Downtown to Hollywood)
Griffith Observatory (MAKE RESERVATIONS ONLINE! RESERVE WITHIN TWO DAYS AHEAD OF PLANNED VISIT AND IT'LL BE FREE. THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN GET TO THE OBSERVATORY IS BY SHUTTLE BECAUSE THE OBSERVATORY RECENTLY RE-OPENED AND SO THEY WANT TO KEEP TRAFFIC LOW. SELECT HOLLYWOOD/HIGHLAND FOR YOUR SHUTTLE DEPARTURE POINT)

You might want to get a map of the LA area. You're going to be here for three days so it looks like you wont have time to cover the OC. Hope all of this helps!

[JARdan]

Thanks for all of this guys. We just booked our airline tix and concert tix yesterday, so all we've really accomplished is being super excited, lol. Anyway, for sure, once we figure out specifics as what we really want to do, I will let you guys know!

From a cultural perspective, we definitely want to experience some REAL Mexican food, and the beach culture that California is known for.

As for hotels, will we be able to find a reasonable hotel, such as a holiday inn for a decent rate, $150/night (cheaper?), in the Santa Monica or Hollywood areas?


^ Hey I might attend Coachella myself with some friends. Not sure what day or problaly both. I would need to check the band line up. I'll PM if I end up attending this year. Have you reserve a room, if so where Palm Springs or closer to the festival.... Dude a heads up it's going to be hot in the desert. Once you arrive in L.A. the temp is usually more fresher.....:banana: :banana: :banana:
Sweet man. Yeah, we fly in Friday to LAX at 1145. We're going to rent a car and go straight to coachella and hopefully make it there by 5pm. We have a 3day pass. The big attraction for us is Rage.

Anyway, we decided to camp. It's only $45/person for the weekend so that's a LOT better than $300/night or more at a hotel. I was reading on Coachella's forums how the Canadians always get together to form a Canadian "tent city" or "Camp Canada," lol... Anyway man, definitely let me know if you're going!

[klamedia]

Seeing that you are from Canada you prob would enjoy spending the whole 3 days on the beaches(rent a bike or rollerblades) with a quick run into Hollywood and downtown. And don't forget people if he is staying on the beach and has a bike he could literally bike the 2 miles from Manhattan Beach inland along Marine to the last stop on the Green Line and from their connect with downtown, Hollywood, UniCity, Long Beach or Pasadena.

[ChrisLA]

El Cholo for mexican food, good margaritas. There is one is LA at Pico & Western, and another one in Pasadena. I also think there is one in Santa Monica on Wilshire Blvd. The one in Pasaden is newer, but personally I think the food is best at the one in LA at Pico & Western.

For Beaches I would say Manhattan Beach.

[JARdan]

Alright, how about best route to get to Indio from LAX?

I-105E to I-605N to I-10E?

[LA-dude]

^^that would probably be your best bet just try not to leave during rush-hour the 105 especially gets congested....

[Fern~Fern*]

Take the scenic route to Coachella. From LAX take the 405 North to the 10 East until you hit route 111, your there!

[Jasonhouse]

Hey cool... I'm very likely going to camp out at Coachella for the RATM reunion show... Now all I need is the $$$$ to go with. :)

[JARdan]

^^that would probably be your best bet just try not to leave during rush-hour the 105 especially gets congested....
We arrive in to LAX at 11:45am on the Friday. We will get our car rental and head straight for Indio. Will we be good to go?

Hey cool... I'm very likely going to camp out at Coachella for the RATM reunion show... Now all I need is the $$$$ to go with. :)
haha, we're camping too! We, too, are going mostly for the Rage :D

[solongfullerton]

i second taking the 405 north to the 10. its really not out of your way and involves less freeway transitions, which can be very difficult for newcomers.

[JARdan]

Ok, since we'll probably get on the highway by 130'ish Friday afternoon, what's the best option? How long will this 2 hour drive really take with traffic?

Driving on busy roads doesn't really phase me since I spend a lot of time in Toronto (driving on the 401), I just want the quickest route!

Also, we will want to be able to find a place before we get to Indio where we can stock up on water/food, and liquor!

[thatchio]

Is it hard to get from Hollywood to Santa Monica via transit? I'm in LA in late February and am staying with my sister in Hollywood (near the Kodiak Theater). I have two days of conference and then three and a half days to explore.

My thoughts on where to go (as of now):

Saturday: Downtown, Fashion District, China Town, Toy District, unsure where else
Sunday: Santa Monica (and also check out the Oscars hoopla since I'll be right there), somewhere elese too?
Monday: Unsure, Old Pasadena (late afternoon -> early evening)
Tuesday: Downtown or somewhere near LAX (I have til ~1:30 to get to the airport)

Any ideas for a guy who's using transit the whole time? What's a good thing to do for a morning before going to the airport, having a suitcase in tow? I could go Downtown and leave the suitcase with the brother-in-law. Oh, I should mention I'm there to scope out development design, plaza design, mixed-use projects, vibrant neighborhoods, etc...

[solongfullerton]

The 304 bus is a limited service bus (only stops at major intersections) that runs on Santa Monica Blvd all the way from hollywood to the ocean. also, if you get down to wilshire (you could take the red line to wilshire/vermont and then hop the bus there), you can take the rapid 720 which is an express bus with stops every mile or so between downtown and the beach. while youre at the beach, make sure to check out the main street area of Santa Monica and also the residential neighborhoods of venice for very unique, modern architecture. my favorite homes in LA are on the strand in manhattan beach, but you would need a car to get there or atleast a bicycle and some strong legs.

good luck and have fun!!!!

[Elsongs]

The 304 bus is a limited service bus (only stops at major intersections) that runs on Santa Monica Blvd all the way from hollywood to the ocean.

The 304 actually starts in Downtown, Union Station to be exact. Though the 720 route is faster, the 304 can be less confusing to a visitor with less transfers to make.

Though I did hear by next year the 304 will be replaced by a bright red bus with a big "704" on the headsign display:)

[solongfullerton]

I knew that the 304 goes downtown, but I figured it would be less confusing for someone from out of town to just say it goes from hollywood to santa monica. anyways, i really cant wait for the 704 to start operating. i use the 304 occasionally from santa monica to century city, but the limited portion of the bus does not start until you get east of sepulveda, it is a local bus west of the 405 and makes almost every stop. i really hope that the 704 will stay express for its entire route, that would definitely be added incentive to get me out of my car everyday. i actually emailed the MTA about the 704 because i heard that it was originally planned on a 12/06 start date, but its been pushed back to june.

[JARdan]

Vantage points! Where are good spots to get those epic pictures? Most notably... the night shots of LA's sprawl from atop hills.

Where are the best spots?!?!

[godblessbotox]

here:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=34.082828,-118.239595&spn=0.002128,0.006781&t=h&om=1

and here:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=16&ll=34.186388,-118.256321&spn=0.008502,0.027122&t=h

and here:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=18&ll=34.128187,-118.291587&spn=0.002127,0.005021&t=h

and here:
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&om=1&z=17&ll=34.223415,-118.062633&spn=0.004249,0.013561&t=h

for starters

[solongfullerton]

Theres a great view point that is much easier to access than those stated by godblessbotox. its on Mulholland and its west of the 101 freeway a mile or so and its right above the hollywood bowl. also, the getty museum has unbelievable views from the other side of town.

[godblessbotox]

yah yah yah...

[JARdan]

Ok guys. Any advice on hotels?

We're definitely staying west LA: West Hollywood/Hollywood/Santa Monica.

We'll be hitting the beaches in Santa Monica for sure... but I think for convenience we would be better off with a hotel closer to Hollywood given that we willl spend a good amount of time there and we also plan to check out an under 21 club ie- Check Yo Ponytail, for our friend's birthday.

Any suggestions?! Any under 21 club suggestions would be appreciated too!

[Westsidelife]

I still recommend you stay in Santa Monica, at a hotel right on the beach perhaps. You have easy access to the beach, shopping, nightlife, and other popular areas like Malibu, UCLA/Westwood, and Beverly Hills/Century City. The quality of your stay will definitely depend on where you stay, and Santa Monica is the best place IMO. :)

[solongfullerton]

The only under 21 club that I know of in the whole city is The Highlands in Hollywood. However, I've heard that one of the hostels in Venice Beach has a bar and doesn't card. Otherwise you're out of luck buddy, LA, much like all big cities in the US, is best enjoyed while being of legal drinking age and having lots of money.

[Fern~Fern*]

I don'tknow of any under 21 clubs happening at the moment. But there's a tone of all ages club. It all depends what kind of music you want to listen to. You might want to check out the "Circus". Then from there you'll get flyers to after party till sunrise....