Los Angeles: Bigger Than Life
Let me state it right off at the start: I love Los Angeles. It is a great city to visit or to live in … IF you know how to get around, and how to put up with the eccentricities of the place.
Getting Around L.A.
Originally, Los Angeles was a much smaller ... Read review
incl. Breakfast - HRS Rating: 5,79/10 - Mission Revival Style family run hotel located in ... more
Hollywood near all tourist attractions and business center. Across the street from a metro Station. In Hollywood and near to all major Hollywood and Los Angeles attractions including: Universal Studios, Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood Sign, Griffith Park, Griffith Observatory, LA Zoo, Hollywood Walk of Fame, Chinese Theater, Greek Theatre, Ford Amphitheatre, Magic Mountain, LA Convention Center, Downtown Los Angeles
not available - HRS Rating: /10 - The Sky Hotel graces Los Angeles' Westside with modern ... more
style and panache. Full of Rich furnishings and Stylishly appointed, The 28 room Sky Hotel is an intimate urban oasis amid the excitement of L.A. Located in Los Angeles' Westside, the hotel provides a perfect retreat while exploring Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Just footsteps away from shopping, dining, entertainment and L.A.'s premier attractions.
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Advantages: A World Class City Disadvantages: Don't try walking, the bus, or light rail
Los Angeles: Bigger Than Life
Let me state it right off at the start: I love Los Angeles. It is a great city to visit or to live in … IF you know how to get around, and how to put up with the eccentricities of the place.
Getting Around L.A.
Originally, Los Angeles was a much smaller city. Long Beach, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Santa Fe Springs….those were all separate ... ...made a conscious decision: Los Angeles would be a megalopolis connected by a system of freeways…people living in the megalopolis would, of course, be wealthy and every person would own a car. So, during much of the 1950's the streetcar lines were ripped up and freeways laid down. All those small, independent, villages and towns became virtual vassals of Los Angeles. The towns and cities grew together until now, the entire Los Angeles basin is one ... more
Los Angeles: Bigger Than Life
Let me state it right off at the start: I love Los Angeles. It is a great city to visit or to live in … IF you know how to get around, and how to put up with the eccentricities of the place.
Getting Around L.A.
Originally, Los Angeles was a much smaller city. Long Beach, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, Santa Fe Springs….those were all separate towns a long way from L.A. You reached those towns by riding the old red trolley cars. Sometime in the late 1940's the urban planners who are responsible for this awful sprawling mess made a conscious decision: Los Angeles would be a megalopolis connected by a system of freeways…people living in the megalopolis would, of course, be wealthy and every person would own a car. So, during much of the 1950's the streetcar lines were ripped up and freeways laid down. All those small, independent, villages and towns became virtual vassals of Los Angeles. The towns and cities grew together until now, the entire Los Angeles basin is one huge sprawling city made up of smaller communities with interesting names like: Artesia … Bellflower….and, my favorite: Azusa.
Visitors depending on public transportation to get around in L.A. are in for a difficult time. The city is simply TOO BIG, and the bus and rail system too inadequate to be of much use. You'll need to rent a car. Most of the car rental agencies will avail you a map of the freeway system and some minimal directions for finding the nearest on-ramp. After that you are largely on your own. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the freeway system map. True Angelinos NEVER take surface streets anywhere, and most driving instructions will sound like some kind of weird numeric code like: "Take the 405 to the 105 to the 605 stay in the right lane and take the first exit to the 5". Another skill you will want to perfect is listening to the traffic reports on the radio. Find a good news/talk radio station and keep listening for reports on the traffic conditions ahead.
If you want to stay near the heart of the city and close to "action" … try finding a place to stay at Echo Park. It is just off the 101 freeway (the famous Hollywood Freeway) and very close to Dodger Stadium, Olivera Street, China Town, the classic AMTRAK Union Depot, Hollywood, and down town L.A. Not that there is much in downtown L.A. that would be worth seeing. One of the side effects of being a megalopolis is that the "downtown" died years ago and became the exclusive turf of winos, druggies, and cheap stores. You'll recognize Echo Park Lake immediately because it has appeared as the backdrop in so many movies.
Places to see:
When we visit L.A. there are some "standard" places we almost always hit:
Universal City Walk (101 freeway NORTH from central L.A.) is nice place for dinner and a movie. I have avoided the theme park for years…but, the City Walk is free to enter and has some interesting shops and entertainment.
Ruby's Diner (on the pier at Seal Beach). I remember this place from my youth and it is pretty much the same. Hamburgers here are great…and, the milkshakes are wonderful. Park at the beach parking lot and walk down the pier to get to Ruby's.
The Fish Market at Ports of Call in San Pedro is interesting. You can purchase a nice piece of fish in the market and have it fried or grilled to order with accompaniments very inexpensively. Dinning is outside overlooking the L.A. Harbor. Eating in a fish market can be an olfactory challenge…if you get my drift.
The Santa Monica pier is a great visual experience. Just watching the people who crowd this place is an experience. Food vendors are everywhere, and the food is cheap…even if most of it isn't worth eating.
Olivera Street: The original "main street" of L.A. Of course L.A. was originally a part of Mexico, so Olivera Street is a monument to that heritage. There are lots of small shops selling tourist stuff…and, the shopkeepers will bargain on the prices. Mexican food is served to the mellow sounds of some great mariachi music. But, for the best Mexican food drive back up Sunset Blvd about 2 miles to the Echo Park area and eat at Barrigans on Sunset Blvd near Park Street. (They have parking on Sunset Blvd. across the street from the restaurant.)
Of course for Mrs. Grape_nehi no visit to L.A. is complete without a stop at In and Out Burger. This chain of burger stands has been around since the 1950's and they still cook everything from fresh. For a treat-if you like grilled oinions-order your burger "animal style". And, don't get confused-as I did once-and order it "doggie style".
When the Dodgers are playing at Dodger Stadium I never miss a visit. Mrs. grape_nehi is a huge baseball fan so I try to arrange at least one night game visit. The high point of the evening for me is eating the Dodger Dogs. Parking and traffic--before and after a game--is an experience to remember as well.
Places Visitors Should Avoid:
Anywhere south of the LAX airport on either side of the 110 (Harbor Freeway) should be avoided like the plague. This area is know as "South Central L.A." and is a huge blighted area that was created by "white flight" in the 1950's when the freeways were being built. (The problem with taking the "green line" into the AMTRAK Union Depot is that you have to make a transfer to the "red line" at a platform smack dab in the middle of this area. VERY interesting transfer point after dark!)
The area immediately East of downtown L.A. on either the 5 or the 10 freeways is known as "East L.A." and is another street gang controlled area. If you are a visitor stay out unless you want more "action" than you are prepared to handle.
Century City: This is a very exclusive huge shopping area that grew up on the site of what was the 20th Century Fox back lots. I avoid this area like the plague...unless I first divest the Mrs. of all the credit cards. (In the 1950's my Dad had a barber shop across the street from 20th Century Fox studios on Santa Monica Blvd. The building is still there...but, everything in the neighborhood has changed).
Bottom Line:
L.A. can take a lifetime to discover properly. And, if you happen to take the wrong exit off the freeway in South Central L.A. that lifetime can flash by rather suddenly. I love the city. I love to visit the city. I wouldn't live in L.A. for all the tea in China.
Advantages: movie history, one of the best cities in the world, great beaches, Disadvantages: so spread out - you NEED a car, smog at some times of the year
Any review of Los Angeles - unless contained within the covers of a City Guidebook - can realistically merely ‘prick the surface’ of what is to offer in this sprawling metropolis on the West Coast of America. I’ve tried to cover what I have personal experience of during two brief visits to the ‘City of Angels’
• HOLLYWOOD – MOVIE MAGIC
On our first visit to L.A, we stayed at the Holiday Inn, right on HOLLYWOOD ... ...last year to make way for a huge development to include Cinemas, Shopping and a new home for the Oscar ceremonies. But it was pretty neat to stay there all the same and could almost literally step out onto the ‘WALK OF FAME’. You’ve seen it on TV, documentaries etc – all the way along Hollywood Boulevard there are golden ‘stars’ inserted in the paving slabs, with the names of all kinds of stars, from Film, TV and ...
flashpointz 08.03.2001 (16.11.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Los Angeles (California)
Advantages: You will see lots of pretty people Disadvantages: Realization that you are not pretty
...Southern California and consists of Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego area. This is the area where I spend a great deal of my time when in California, especially the LA area.
Getting There
If you are flying from another destination in the US there is a myriad of airports to choose from. The largest airport is Los Angeles International Airport which is usually referred to as LAX. You can also fly into the Long Beach Airport or Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena ... ...are usually significantly cheaper than LAX. Long Beach Airport is always fun because it reminds me of the LA of old. It has not been updated since the 50’s and you still come down the rolling staircase onto the tarmac instead of using a jet-bridge like all modern airports. Lodging
It does not matter where you stay in the city, each area has its advantages. I do not suggest you stay too close to LAX as the hotels are rather expensive and there is ...
Scott_Howitt 20.05.2003 (22.05.2003)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Los Angeles (California)
Advantages: speaks for itself Disadvantages: you have to come home
Anyone who has read my Opinion on Las Vegas will undoubtedly already be aware of my fascination with America. My Husband and I have visited the country about 15 times over our 13 ½ years of marriage. Our first trip was with Premier Holidays (honeymoon) costing over £1,500 each for two weeks. I fully appreciate that this is quite a considerable sum of money and over the years we have learnt of ways to make the trip more cost effective. Last June we ... ...and it cost us under £3,000 (an extra week , an extra person and 12 years later) , the same cost as when we went on Honeymoon in 1998. What I would like to do in this Opinion is share some of the "trick of the trade" that we have used and if any of you are able to save money on a trip to America then this has clearly been worthwhile. TOURIST BOARDS One of the first things to do is research where you wish to go , just so that I can speak from a position ...
kayesheard 27.01.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Los Angeles (California)
Advantages: An Amazing place Disadvantages: Can be a little daunting at first
...The City Of Angels - Los Angeles.
This vibrant city has something to offer everyone, but beware, day becomes night, night becomes day and sleep becomes a thing of the past.
We stayed at a Comfort Inn in Hermosa Beach during our time in LA, this was about a 1/2 hour drive away from the touristic centre, which includes such great sites as Mann's Chinese Theater (the place with the handprints in the concrete), Macy's, Bloomingdales and a whole lot ... ...of a tourist do not underestimate the acclimatisation that a guided tour around the stars homes can do - it really is quite interesting, and it gives you a good layout of the roads for when you jump into your hire car.
This leads nicely onto driving in LA, or any big American city for that matter, rule of thumb - DON'T BE AFRAID. Americans are quite aggressive drivers, and you get nowhere by being nice. Don't go stupid, but remember to push your ...
MARKMAN 09.02.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Los Angeles (California)
Advantages: most things are amazingly cheap Disadvantages: none of significance
Actually, that doesn't say a right lot because having been elsewhere in the US and not been impressed, I wasn't expecting to enjoy LA. I was wrong. LA is like absolutely nowhere else on that continent - or anywhere else really. Whatever it is you want from a holiday - sun, sea, shopping, sightseeing, getting away from it all, it's all here or very nearby. You need to take money for shopping! the malls are amazing and everything is so very much cheaper ... ...in the UK, is at least a third cheaper. Staying in LA, on the other hand, often isn't cheap. We stayed in the Econolodge on Vine, however, and it was clean and roomy, if not exactly flash, and wasn't at all expensive. All the usual tourist things, the Hollywood walk of fame; Great Universal studios etc are worth doing at least once. ontrary to what you might expect from the media, violence and street crime wasn't any problem for us - but you do need ...
merlina 15.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Los Angeles (California)
Value for Money
Sightseeing
Shopping
Nightlife
Ease of getting around
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Six Flags Magic Mountain is a massive theme park situated in Valencia California.
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