Need suggestions for what to see and do in LA this summer

[Damn Dirty Ape]

Going out to the BIL's retirement from military ceremony, latter part of May taking about a day. Leaving to come back on 6/6. After the ceremony we have from Saturday morning until Friday evening to do whatever we want; rental car, unlim mileage. Being a gadget nerd like many here, I will have a handheld GPS, notebook computer with verizon broadband access, cellphone.

Staying right around the LA area.

On the list.

1. Joshua Tree National park (he lives in 29P, Marines)
2. Six Flags Magic Mountain (season pass for SF nationwide)
3. La Brea Tar Pits
4. try to get tickets to see Price is Right (damn... why couldn't Bob have stayed longer)
5. Santa Monica Beach/Pier and Venice Beach
6. Malibu Creek State Park to hike to the former M*A*S*H set location
7 Eat at In-N-Out at least once.
8 Would like to ride a boat out to Catalina Island.


Anything that anyone who has been there or lives there would suggest TO DO or NOT TO DO? We're not going to be independently wealthy on this trip, but have some $$

 

[johnjbruin]

1. Joshua Tree National park (he lives in 29P, Marines
This is a maybe. There is really not that much to see there.

2. Six Flags Magic Mountain (season pass for SF nationwide)
Very fun day - do it.

3. La Brea Tar Pits
Meh - I think you will be wasting your time.

4. try to get tickets to see Price is Right (damn... why couldn't Bob have stayed longer)
This could also be fun - do it. Go to universal studios if you can on the same day.

5. Santa Monica Beach/Pier and Venice Beach
Must do.

6. Malibu Creek State Park to hike to the former M*A*S*H set location
Good as well.

7 Eat at In-N-Out at least once.
This is a MUST.

8 Would like to ride a boat out to Catalina Island.
This is a also something that will take up a full day - good choice.


Since you have a car, two options are:
1. Go down to san diego and spend a day there - its not that far.

2. Do a drive up on PCH beyond Malibu - maybe up till Santa Barbara - its just a fun/scenic drive.

 

[RichieZ]

I was just there for a month for work.

Other good eats:
Pinks, Fathers Office (this one is in Santa Monica), Diddy Reese Cookies

just some random stuff I liked

 

[everman]

If you're going to the la brea tar pits, then go to the LA county museum of art (LACMA) which is right next door.
And try Tommy burger too, get a double chili-cheese burger with chili-cheese fries.
Universal Studios

 

[summit]

dude forget in-n-out go to pie n' burger in pasadena, ca. once you go to pnb you will never want to eat another burger except for... shake shack nyc.

 

[Kadarin]

The Getty museum, if you're into museums.

 

[yhelothar]

You need to try the mexican food in so cal too
A good place I would recommend is Taco Nazo, but most run down places that you drive by on the streets are usually really good.

 

[buzzsaw13]

If you like arcades, visit Family Fun Arcade

They have like 10 head to head cabinets for 3rd Strike lol

 

[QueBert]

if you're going to be in LA, the Original Tommy Burger on Beverly & Rampart is legendary. The absolute best chili burger/fries in the world. You gotta stand up and eat, possibly the only fast food place in LA that will be more crowded than an In-N-Out I might even suggest Pinks in Santa Monica delicious Dogs.

I'm sorry but to me Tommys > In-N-Out. Both are good though

 

[skim milk]

I'm off to L.A. in two days!!!!!

 

[yhelothar]

Originally posted by: QueBert
if you're going to be in LA, the Original Tommy Burger on Beverly & Rampart is legendary. The absolute best chili burger/fries in the world. You gotta stand up and eat, possibly the only fast food place in LA that will be more crowded than an In-N-Out I might even suggest Pinks in Santa Monica delicious Dogs.

I'm sorry but to me Tommys > In-N-Out. Both are good though

Tommys = diarrhea fest

 

[z0mb13]

go to thai town for some incredible thai food.

 

[MotionMan]

Originally posted by: Damn Dirty Ape
On the list.

1. Joshua Tree National park (he lives in 29P, Marines)
2. Six Flags Magic Mountain (season pass for SF nationwide)
3. La Brea Tar Pits
4. try to get tickets to see Price is Right (damn... why couldn't Bob have stayed longer)
5. Santa Monica Beach/Pier and Venice Beach
6. Malibu Creek State Park to hike to the former M*A*S*H set location
7 Eat at In-N-Out at least once.
8 Would like to ride a boat out to Catalina Island.

Um, hello? Disneyland?!?

Also, the M*A*S*H set burned down a few years after they wrapped shooting, so all you will see is sagebrush.

If you are into Joshua Tree and you are a typical nerd, you should go to Star Trek Rock (a.k.a. Vasquez Rocks). (See also here)

You can try to catch a Dodgers' (or Angels') game.

Finally,

7 Eat at In-N-Out at least once a day.

Fixed.

MotionMan

 

[gwai lo]

Originally posted by: QueBert
if you're going to be in LA, the Original Tommy Burger on Beverly & Rampart is legendary. The absolute best chili burger/fries in the world. You gotta stand up and eat, possibly the only fast food place in LA that will be more crowded than an In-N-Out I might even suggest Pinks in Santa Monica delicious Dogs.

I'm sorry but to me Tommys > In-N-Out. Both are good though

Pinks is in Hollywood

I'd suggest stuff like Dim Sum, Sushi, and Pho just because I go to school out there and I know you guys are deprived of Asian food However, you'll probably need to bring someone along who can order heh.

 

[quikah]

Honestly, there are sooo many burger joints in LA you would be wasting your time going to In n Out. If you insist though, I would suggest going to In 'n Out, Tommy's and Fatburger (get it char'grilled), those are the 3 big chains in SoCal. (though why you would go to a fast food joint as a thing to do is beyond me anyway, none of them are GREAT)

If you are into clubs you can go down Sunset.

Griffith park is nice.

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: astroidea
You need to try the mexican food in so cal too
A good place I would recommend is Taco Nazo, but most run down places that you drive by on the streets are usually really good.

The Best Mexican Restaurant in Los Angeles

 

[WildHorse]

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[RaistlinZ]

Originally posted by: Damn Dirty Ape
Going out to the BIL's retirement from military ceremony, latter part of May taking about a day. Leaving to come back on 6/6. After the ceremony we have from Saturday morning until Friday evening to do whatever we want; rental car, unlim mileage. Being a gadget nerd like many here, I will have a handheld GPS, notebook computer with verizon broadband access, cellphone.

Staying right around the LA area.

On the list.

1. Joshua Tree National park (he lives in 29P, Marines)
2. Six Flags Magic Mountain (season pass for SF nationwide)
3. La Brea Tar Pits
4. try to get tickets to see Price is Right (damn... why couldn't Bob have stayed longer)
5. Santa Monica Beach/Pier and Venice Beach
6. Malibu Creek State Park to hike to the former M*A*S*H set location
7 Eat at In-N-Out at least once.
8 Would like to ride a boat out to Catalina Island.


Anything that anyone who has been there or lives there would suggest TO DO or NOT TO DO? We're not going to be independently wealthy on this trip, but have some $$

1. Sure, I guess. If you're into national parks it could be cool.
2. Six Flags FTW. A must do.
3. I wouldn't waste a second of my time visiting the Tar Pits. You'd be better off spending a day in Hollywood and doing some shopping on Rodeo.
4. The Price is Right sucks now with Drew Carey, sorry.
5. The beaches are a definate must!!
6. I'm no M*A*S*H fan, but if that's your thing more power to ya.
7. In-N-Out is a must too. I'd also recommend Fatburger.
8. Catalina is a lot of fun, and you can easily spend an entire day there.

So skip the Price is Right and Tar Pits. Everything else is win. :thumbsup:

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Go to a Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles.

 

[Ika]

Just came back from a week in LA. We went to Disneyland, Six Flags MM, shopping, shopping, a little more shopping, lots of korean food, great korean barbeque, and then In-n-Out.

 

[Damn Dirty Ape]

well quite a selection of things to do, thank you very much!

Seems like the tar pits might be overrated, we were planning on going on the 1st tuesday when it is free (that way if it sucked it wouldn't be any big loss).

Well, the list will definitely include catalina, sf MM, a trip to pinks, tommys, innout and fatburger for sure, santa monica beach/pier/venice beach, TPIR. The disneyland perhaps if my BIL can get some resident tickets (shouldbe). I'd like to check out those rocks as the wife recognized the pic when I pulled it up and it is quite famous. Maybe some other places to eat as time/$$ permits.

The price is right.. well, see the MIL and 3 SIL's are also going on this trip (separate flights and rental car FTW), but they have all agreed to meet up one agreed-upon morning to try to get in. In other words I'm gonna make the best of it. Now if it were Bob, I wouldn't be so lukewarm about it. If we get in, great, if not, well we will take a trip down to San Diego perhaps that day.


Ok, trip to Catalina - -- What are some must-see, must-do for there?

Poster that suggested day trip to San Diego, what are the biggest things that can be done on a daytrip there?

thank you all!

 

[mrkun]

Originally posted by: Damn Dirty Ape

Ok, trip to Catalina - -- What are some must-see, must-do for there?

Poster that suggested day trip to San Diego, what are the biggest things that can be done on a daytrip there?

thank you all!

There's nothing to do in Catalina. If you have to make a choice between that and SD, I would definitely hit up SD.

Edit: Or better yet, if you're able to do both, skip Catalina and spend two days in SD.

 

[zerocool84]

No Disneyland? Isn't that every tourists dream???

 

[Paladin]

Originally posted by: mrkun

Originally posted by: Damn Dirty Ape

Ok, trip to Catalina - -- What are some must-see, must-do for there?

Poster that suggested day trip to San Diego, what are the biggest things that can be done on a daytrip there?

thank you all!

There's nothing to do in Catalina. If you have to make a choice between that and SD, I would definitely hit up SD.

Edit: Or better yet, if you're able to do both, skip Catalina and spend two days in SD.

Disneyland in the summer is a big no no. It's way too crowded.
San Diego - Legoland, Wild Animal Park, The Zoo, Sea World, Beaches, go sailing on the bay, Old Town, and bar hopping in the Gas Lamp Quarter downtown, or in PB (Pacific Beach) if you're <25. Padre game at Petco.