I have family in Modesto, CA, and Mrs. HeyHomie and I are going to spend some time with them next fall. However, neither of us has ever been to SoCal (well, I was at the John Wayne Airport for a couple of hours 7 years ago), so we’re going to spend four days in L.A. before driving up to my aunt’s house in Modesto.
We’ll probably be arriving early on a Saturday afternoon-- around 12:00-1:00. We’d like to go straight from the airport to the Queen Mary and then spend the rest of the day at a beach. I’d like to watch surfers, perhaps swim in the ocean, and then watch the sun set over the water (I’ve never done that).
So, question number one is: What’s a good L.A. area beach? I’m looking for someplace public and safe, where we can stay until after sunset. Ideally the place would have good waves (to watch surfers) but also be acessible to swimmers. Also, are people still swimming/surfing in October? I don’t know much about L.A. weather, but I assume the water’s warm and the surf is good year-round. And on a related note, how do the daily tides affect surfing?
Question number two: On Sunday I’m thinking we’ll probably just take one of those city bus tours that shows you the major sites. What should we be on the lookout for? I definitely want to see the LaBrea Tar Pits and the Hollywood sign. What else? Also, if we have time I’d like to do a studio tour. Which studios offer the best tours?
Question number three: Any restaurants to reccomend? How about some off-the-beaten path places that I might not see on the tour?
FTR, we’re spending Monday and Tuesday at Disneyland and DCA, respectively, and then taking the Pacific Coast Highway up to San Francisco (and a regular boring old interstate to Modesto) on Wednesday.
And the water’s always cold. But the beach is beautiful and the surfers are usually out in force especially on the weekends. They don’t call this Surf City for nuthin’, you know.
Then drive up Main Street and hit the Longboard for the finest Clam Chowder you’ve ever had.
The Hollywood Bowl is a nice visit. Downtown Disney is fun, a bit commercial, but fun especially at night. Let us know when you’ll be in town and maybe we’ll meet you at the Longboard.
I would suggest either Gladstone’s for fish or one on the other places right on PCH between Santa Monica and Malibu. There you can watch the sun set, and watch surfers right outside the windows.
The water is not warm year around. You may find that wading in the surf is all you want to do.
Driving down Wishire to get to the tar pits will allow you to see the Hollywood sign many times. Rodeo Drive is a good stop as is Grauman’s Chinese.
Downtown Disney is fun, but if you’re closer to Hollywood when you want to go, Universal Citywalk is slightly better (and more crowded).
Studio tours aren’t easy to get into, I don’t think. Universal Studios is the easiest one to catch on short notice, but you’ll only see the backlots and props – they don’t drive the tour trams through real shoots any more. The rest of the park is a fun way to kill half a day, too.
If you want casual outdoorsy shopping, try the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, or The Grove near Farmer’s Market (3rd Street and Fairfax). The Grove is newer, but also more cramped/dense. And if you’ve got the time and inclination, try the Getty Museum in west L.A.
Off-the-beaten-track stuff: Venice Beach (lots of “interesting” people), West Hollywood (San Francisco south ), the Watts Towers, Forest Lawn mortuary (dead celebrities).
I’ve only been to the Gladstone’s a couple of times at Universal Studios, but I thought they were hideously overpriced for the type of food you get.
Ye Olde King’s Head in Santa Monica is probably my favourite place next to The 94th Aero Squadron, below. The best fish’n’chips I’ve head, and the bangers’n’mash are the best as well. Good breakfast, too.
The 94th Aero Squardon at Van Nuys Airport might be my favourite restaurant of all. I love the grounds (the place looks like a bombed-out WWI French farmhouse and is surrounded by WWI airplanes and vehicles, plus they have ducks roaming around and a view of the VNY runway), and the food is great. I recommend a salad, French onion soup, escargots, and prime rib. They have good bread, too. I find it to be reasonably priced. There were three of us the last time we went, and I think we got out for $100 including tax, tip, and a couple of alcoholic drinks. If you sit in a booth, there are headphones that allow you to listen to VNY tower communications. (Obviously, there is more to listen to during the day.)
For something a little different, you could have Polish food at Warszawa in Santa Monica. Sadly, I’ve only been there once; but it was really good. I don’t remember what I had for dinner, but the cold herring in sauce was a good appetizer.
Natalee Thai Cuisine is a great place for Thai food. Thai Beer ((310) 305-0067 13364 Washington Boulevard, Culver City, CA, 90230) doesn’t have a cool building like Natalee on Venice Blvd.; but the food is good, and inexpensive. I like the beef pa naeng and the beef sa-tee.
You could eat at the Cove Restaurant in Paradise Cove, Malibu. If you’ve watched “The Rockford Files” that’s where Jim Rockford lived.
The parking lot is private and if you parked there to go to the beach, you have to pay something like $25, but if you go eat at the restaurant, you don’t have to pay.
I’t’s only $5 to park, free to get in, and on a clear day (cross your fingers) the whole LA basin streches out before you. There’s something for almost everyone there–even if you’re not “into” art.
If you like waterfront atmosphere, shopping, strolling and maybe a harbor cruise (or helicopter ride), I’d suggest Ports Of Call Village in San Pedro. The Ports of Call Restaurant was good the last time I was there (years ago now, I live in the desert), and it has window tables overlooking the harbor. Nice viewing day or night.