California travel advise

[TexasYellowBall]

This is not softball related, but I need some travel advise.

I am taking my son to a LA Galaxy game in July. Is the area around the Home Depot center nice and safe enough . Any advise or suggestions on a decent, reasonably priced hotel. Is there a certain area to stay in?

I have never been to LA........We will have two extra days to do what ever. What would be the must do, must see in LA.

Thanks

[umpinva]

Try:

http://www.latourist.com/

[wadeintothem]

I'd say Universal Studios is great fun if you only got a day or so. If you want to head out of LA towards Orange, then you can go to Knotts Berry farm. Either one is a great 1 day fun time and stay in the general area. Then maybe sight see the next day - Hollywood Walk of Fame is fun. Grauman's Chinese threater is awesome especially if you can catch a premiere with red carpet stuff. Anyway, as far as safety I'm guessing you are staying in a decent hotel and tourist areas, and I'm sure you'll be fine.

[Joe]

I've been once...

The studio tours are great (Universal, Paramount), Rodeo Drive in the Hills, Santa Monica Pier (Pacific Park), Malibu, Hollywood(Sunset Drive).

Want to see some interesting characters? Check out Venice Beach, although not a place for younger kids.

Compton and East LA are must sees...if you're packing.

[Madmun]

This is not softball related, but I need some travel advise.

I am taking my son to a LA Galaxy game in July. Is the area around the Home Depot center nice and safe enough . Any advise or suggestions on a decent, reasonably priced hotel. Is there a certain area to stay in?

I have never been to LA........We will have two extra days to do what ever. What would be the must do, must see in LA.

Thanks

The Home Depot Center is in Carson. This isnt the best area of town. Safe enough to drive into to watch the game, but I wouldnt stay there.

A great place to stay would be at one of the hotels at Universal Studios. You can then drive to the game. But there is a ton of things to do around the hotels there includding City Walk. Kind of a neat place to hang if you have never been before. Or you can stay by the beaches. Either way you will need to drive to Carson to watch the games.

[NumeroUno]

TexasYellowballs

Pm me and we can talk.

[Nzane]

Yea, I would say hit Knotts Berry Farm. Hollywood is really cool too. If you really had the time to drive to a amusement park though, Magic Mountain is DEFINATELY worth the 1 hour drive. Nothing but GREAT roller coasters.

[Sftbll4ever]

If you go to Universal, the best thing you can do is pay for the personal tour. It is pricey, but you get to go on to actual sets and to different parts of the studio than you would on the regular tour. You would still want to do the regular tour, but this is the best way to go. You also get to go to the head of the line with your pass when you are done. You have to register and pay before you go, so you would want to make the earliest reservation you can to get the full use of the front of the line pass. Best way to do Universal.

[coachEd]

The area around the Home Depot Center is not a place to stay, thats for sure. If you are staying near Universal, that is quite a ways away from HDC and is in North Hollywood (also not the greatest area). Universal Studios and the city walk are nice, but the backlot tour is not that good since the fire last year burnt down King Kong and the Back to the Future courthouse square.

A little bit south of HDC would be Anaheim and, obviously, Disnelyand/California Adventure theme parks, along with Downtown Disney. That is a full 2 days in and of itself, but well worth it if you have never been there. There are a ton of hotels around Disneyland, some are obviously better than others.

Having lived in OC now for almost 20 years, for my money, I would take one day and make the trip to San Diego. You can't go wrong there and a visit to Coronado, Seaport Village, Balboa Park would be a great day with virutually no expense. Of course, they have the famous SD Zoo and Sea World too, but if spending money at themeparks is on your agenda, spend the money for Disney/CA Adventure or Universal instead. It is a great drive down the I-5 that gives you a whole different perspective on what So Cal coastal living is really like, getting you out of the concrete jungle of the LA area.

[TexasYellowBall]

Thanks a bunch for all of the great advise. Great to know you can always count on people when help is needed.