# Help me plan a trip to Los Angeles **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** vacation-travel\ **Created:** [January 30, 2024, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873 "2024-01-30T19:01:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2024, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/61 "2024-02-13T22:18:44Z")
Oh, yeah, I forgot he was coming from Sacramento, not the Bay Area. I’m like three blocks from the ocean, so I usually get on the I5 and just stay there. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/62 "2024-02-14T02:13:41Z")
When you’re our age and your Mom is worried about you driving in one day, that usually means aged Mom is thinking that 40mph is highway cruise speed, and nobody could stand to drive more than 2, or maybe 3 hours per day. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/63 "2024-02-14T02:23:17Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > we find 99 better because there are more towns and services, more miles with 3 lanes instead of 2, and slightly less truck traffic. That is my planned route. Having driven at least part of I-5 before, that route is _boring_. 99 at least passes through more cities. And the slight additional distance is basically negligible. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/64 "2024-02-14T22:31:05Z")
> [@carrps](#): > > ETA: I’ve never eaten a sitdown meal on Olvera Street. Our tradition was always start with taquitos and finish later with churros. But as a kid, I always wanted to eat at La Golondrina. It looked very cool to my little kid eyes. My friend owns Junaita’s Cafe on Olivera Street. The _best_ taquitos. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2024, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/65 "2024-02-14T22:38:58Z")
That’s the place! (Olvera) ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2024, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/66 "2024-05-15T16:48:03Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Day 5: Museum of Jurassic Technology. Maybe the Getty in the afternoon? > > Day 6: ???, Dinner and car show at Bob’s Big Boy. So it turns out the Museum of Jurassic Technology is only open in the afternoon. I’m thinking if I try to do the Getty in the morning I’ll feel rushed, so I think if I do the Getty it’ll be Friday (day 6). Which means I now have free time Thursday morning. Is there anything else interesting to do in the Culver City area before my MJT visit? ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2024, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/67 "2024-05-15T21:32:12Z")
There’s some really nice parks and views of the city in the Baldwin Hills. Other than that, the only other thing in the area I can recommend is the omakase at Sushi Zo…bring about $300. Worth every penny. Alas, not open in the morning. ---
**Author:** ![Push\_You\_Down](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/push_you_down/32/9095_2.png) [@Push\_You\_Down](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Push_You_Down)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2024, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/68 "2024-05-15T23:25:24Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Is there anything else interesting to do in the Culver City area before my MJT visit? The Wende Museum maybe. " **The Wende is an art museum, cultural center, and archive of the Cold War that preserves history and brings it to life through exhibitions, scholarship, education, and community engagement.**" I’ve never been but I interviewed there a decade ago. ---
**Author:** ![TJEckleburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ebca7d/32.png) [@TJEckleburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJEckleburg)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/69 "2024-05-16T01:21:40Z")
> **thread shit hidden by Puzzlegal** > > Okay, I hate to be the bringer of sucky news, but here goes: > > **L.A. is disappointing.** 😀 > > Let me explain. I first visited L.A. in May 2022, stayed for 2 weeks. Downtown L.A. is tiny and sucky and no sight to behold, either up-close or from a “scenic viewpoint.” Yes, I know, L.A. is a city that grew outward, not upward, per its history; that doesn’t change the fact that it sucks. There’s nothing to see there. > > Hollywood: the Hollywood sign is underwhelming, disappointing, and sucky, like all of L.A. Hollywood Boulevard is boring, uneventful (unless you happen to be on it during the .00001% of the time when some notable celebrity is there giving a speech at their Star’s unveiling, and even then it probably sucks), smells of dry urine at every corner, and is full of dangerous homeless people. Don’t expect the awe-inspiring magic of Times Square, or you’re in for a huge disappointment. As for it and Sunset and Santa Monica Boulevard… > > Well, you know how in the opening credits of _Entourage_ (a sucky show, I know, but still better than real Los Angeles), a young up-and-coming star is cruising around Sunset and Hollywood Boulevard and going to clubs and bars and buying drinks for everybody? Never happened in the history of Hollywood. You’ve got more chance of seeing a celebrity in Manhattan, NYC than in Hollywood or L.A. Not to mention that, to quote other internet users, “L.A. nightlife scene is non-existent.” > > Speaking of other internet users: I’ve spent hours reading thousands of posts on various boards and sites (Reddit, Quora, and many more) dedicated to the topic of “L.A. is disappointing.” Here’s some of the best quotes, recited or paraphrased to the best of my memory ability: > > “I live in L.A., and I don’t know a single person who’s visited who hasn’t expressed disappointment.” > > “L.A. is great… if you make six figures a year. Otherwise, the average person can’t afford to do anything remotely worthwhile there.” > > “If L.A. wasn’t in California it would be fly-over territory.” > > “With big cities like New York City and Chicago, you can just show up and feel like you’ve arrived in an amazing place. L.A. is… not like that. L.A. is a vast sprawl of unremarkable suburbs; expect to travel vast distances to get from even one remotely-interesting place to another. And, it takes years to even find any locale that you actually like.” > > “New York City is a fun hell; L.A. is a boring paradise.” > > “Hollywood movies and popular culture have exaggerated L.A. so much that any first-time visitor is in for crushing disappointment.” > > Now, I’ll tell you the only things in L.A. county I liked: > > 1. Mulholland Drive, but only in the canyon part around the Hollywood sign, and even then, only if you’re the one driving, if you know what I mean. > > 2. Torrance High School: located in the suburb of Torrance, it’s where countless teen T.V. shows and movies have been filmed, from 90210 (original and remake) to Buffy the Vampire Slayer (T.V. show) to She’s All That… Visit the famous courtyard there, it’s worth it. > > That’s about it. > > Sorry to have to be the one to tell you. ---
**Author:** ![TJEckleburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ebca7d/32.png) [@TJEckleburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJEckleburg)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/70 "2024-05-16T01:36:28Z")
> **thread shit hidden by Puzzlegal** > > Also, a few more things I should have mentioned: > > 1. You know how in T.V. shows and movies all the L.A. characters are movie-obsessed and have stars in their eyes and a script they’re dying to show to you? No way. Half of L.A. is Hispanic people, some of whom barely speak English, trying to sell their wares, and the other half is homeless white people who do drugs all day. Almost 0% of the residents there know or care at all about movies or T.V. or celebrities, nor are they ready for their close-up, Mr. Demille. Forget it, the Hollywood state of mind is non-existent. > > 2. I used to think Scientology was an exclusive club for the rich and famous, but no… You’ll find countless average working-class people standing on street corners handing out pamphlets or extolling the virtues of Scientology. I was shocked, but then I realized that if you can get 1,000 ordinary citizens to give you $1,000 each, it’s the same as getting one rich person to give you $1 million. > > 3. Speaking of religion: you’re much more likely to encounter a fundamentalist Christian than a mover-and-shaker. The same fundie religious crap that exists everywhere else in America is there, too; it’s like nobody got the memo that they’re in L.A. and aren’t supposed to be that way, or something. ---
**Author:** ![TJEckleburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ebca7d/32.png) [@TJEckleburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJEckleburg)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/71 "2024-05-16T02:12:35Z")
> **thread shit hidden by Puzzlegal** > > One last thing: I just typed in “Los Angeles is disappointing” into the 6 different Chatgpts that I use, and one of them linked to an article about an L.A. mountain called- this is too perfect- Mount Disappointment: > > [Mount Disappointment (California) - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Disappointment_%28California%29) > > That’s great! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/72 "2024-05-16T04:20:29Z")
> **response to thread shit hidden** > > > [@TJEckleburg](#): > > > > Let me explain. I first visited L.A. in May 2022, stayed for 2 weeks. > > Well, that certainly makes you an expert. The OP can just ignore those posts by people with a mere lifetime of experience with that city. ---
**Author:** ![TJEckleburg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ebca7d/32.png) [@TJEckleburg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJEckleburg)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/73 "2024-05-16T05:16:02Z")
> **response to thread shit hidden** > > > [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > > > Well, that certainly makes you an expert. The OP can just ignore those posts by people with a mere lifetime of experience with that city. > > I _knew_ someone was going to say that! That’s why I should’ve followed up: I went back to L.A. in May 2023 and stayed for **3 months** this time. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/74 "2024-05-16T07:09:59Z")
> **response to thread shit hidden** > > I’ve never been anywhere, practically. > I’ve never been on all that reddit, chatpts(whatever the heck that is) crap. > > Maybe you shouldn’t travel at all. Get your info online. > Save a bundle. > It doesn’t seem to please you. > What a downer for the OP. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/75 "2024-05-16T08:56:33Z")
heh most of my adventures in LA have been on the dodgy side … ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/76 "2024-05-16T11:10:07Z")
Moderating: > [@TJEckleburg](#): > > Okay, I hate to be the bringer of sucky news, but here goes: > > **L.A. is disappointing** This is a thread shit > [@TJEckleburg](#): > > Half of L.A. is Hispanic people, some of whom barely speak English, trying to sell their wares, and the other half is homeless white people who do drugs all day. This continues the thread shit, and adds offensive bigotry. You are banned from this thread. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/77 "2024-05-16T13:52:15Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > And on that note, I figure if I get a reasonably early start I should arrive at the motel mid afternoon. So I’m thinking after I arrive and get checked in I might go up to the Griffith Observatory that first evening. What is the parking situation like up there? Some sources say parking at the observatory can be hard to come by, and it’s better to take public transit (or hike up, if you’re fit enough). I figure I’ll get to the observatory early evening, spend a few hours checking out the museum and maybe a planetarium show (all that stuff’s open until 10:00pm, right?), watch the sun set (which that time of year won’t happen until after 8:00), and then try to get some good nighttime photos of the LA basin. I went to the Observatory last summer, and getting there was a bit of effort. The traffic moves slowly going up Observatory Drive. We ended up parallel parking on the Drive and hiking up the last half mile or so. The little museum is open until 10 pm, iirc and is pretty cool. There wasn’t any telescope viewing the day I was there for some reason. The views from the top overlooking the city are absolutely spectacular and you definitely should visit. ---
**Author:** ![BippityBoppityBoo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bippityboppityboo/32/5745_2.png) [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/78 "2024-05-16T17:21:17Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Maybe I will splurge. If you go to their website, they offer a room rate of $199 a night, if you deal directly with them. I looked at a midweek one night stay. ETA: I see I was ninja’ed by quicker keyboard fingers. That’s what I get for not reading all the way to the end before responding. Sigh… I agree, the Museum of Jurassic Technology does look interesting. An Amtrak coastal train ride along the Pacific is on my bucket list. If you reserve tickets today Amtrak is offering 30% off tickets that can be used during the next few months. The 30% discount is for the coach ticket price, not on sleeper fares. > **[Summer Travel Flash Sale | Amtrak](https://www.amtrak.com/summer-sale)** > > Save at least 30% off routes nationwide for our Summer Travel Flash Sale . ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/79 "2024-05-16T17:29:07Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > Is there anything else interesting to do in the Culver City area before my MJT visit? I used to love getting the Cuban Roast Pork from Versailles Cuban Restaurant on Venice, between Motor and Jasmine, and taking it home (Clarington at Palms) to eat it. Usually got three meals out of it, and it was only like eight or nine bucks at the time (20+ years ago). ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2024, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873/80 "2024-05-16T18:29:58Z")
It’s still good. And the roast pork is what I always get too…with a mango milk shake. But I remember when it was the Welcome House cafe/diner. The owner was Tilly Gordon, so we kids always called the restaurant Tilly’s. She was a Marjorie Main lookalike, but nice and friendly. Gad, it’s been for_ever_. We went to St. Augies a Go Go, so it was close by. The only restaurant we went to then other than The Patio on Wilshire near Jack LaLanne’s. I don’t know if our visitor will have time, but the drive down Sunset all the way to the beach is a nice one. Plus, the SRF (Self-Realization Fellowship) is about a block from the beach and a really nice de-stressing place to visit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-me-plan-a-trip-to-los-angeles/996873.md?page=5)