LA area DUers, need some recs

[Xithras]

This was inspired by the Northern California/Southern California thread. I'm not a big fan of the LA area, but I started thinking about it and realized that I've never really SEEN most of it. Most of my preconceptions about the city come from conversations with other people, or from what I've seen from hotel room windows or out of my car as I drive up the 5 or 405. I've taken "weekend vacations" to LA, doing Disneyland, putting my handprints onto the dirty concrete in Hollywood, and ogling the pretty houses in the 90210, but I've never really experience the REAL LA. Since so many Los Angelino's love the place, I'm obviously missing something.

So teach me.

I will be in Los Angeles (Long Beach actually) for a convention thing at the end of the month, and because of the way the calendar falls, I'll have about a day and a half to myself to do whatever I want.

If you had a day and a half to show an LA newbie what makes LA so great, what would you show them? What are the "must see's" on your list? What are the things that make YOU love YOUR home? What do YOU do on weekends that make you love your city?

Please don't say Disneyland!

On edit: Also, landscape and nature photography is a big hobby of mine, and I like to take some time out to get some shots whenever I travel. I know there isn't much "nature" in LA, but I'd also be interested to hear whether any DU photogs have any recommended places to shoot?

[goclark]

1. I love LA and would never want to live any place else

I love the wide streets, palm trees,knowing Hollywood is there, Malibu,leaving the airport at night.

The shopping, the shows, the mix of people and the choices are endless.

For a day in Los Angeles I would go to Farmer's Market and the Grove shopping center. Farmer's Market(attached to the Grove) has been updated to look like it did in the 1950's -- I love that look.

The Tar Pits are in that area and I enjoy the exhibits.

Downtown - the LA Library is great! Lots of great shows at the Music Center!

The area around the Stale Center is lots of fun in the evening - great restaurants. In fact there are fabulous and fun restaurants all over the place.

Culver City is one of the newly updated areas. Not so much shopping but cool restaurants.

Los Angeles is not for everyone but I have lived in the East and the Midwest and as they say, " I LUV LA."

Hope you have a great time.

[roody]

2. I would rent skates or a bike near the Santa Monica Pier.

[SidneyCarton]

3. Depends what you're in the mood for...

And what you have time for.

If you like the desert, there's Joshua Tree. (A little cold this time of year)
The mountains have snow, Big Bear and Mt. Baldy are both accessible for visiting
It is a little cold to go to the beach, but worth the trip. I don't know the LA beaches well, but Huntington Beach in OC is nice, and so are the beaches in Oceanside.

[Xithras]

4. I don't consider Joshua Tree "LA".

I've been to the high desert dozens of times, and love hiking Joshua Tree in the winter. That's how I often "see" LA...as I drive through it going out to the desert or other places.


I'm looking for interesting things to do in LA itself.

[bemildred]

5. Huntington Library

http://www.huntington.org/default.aspx

[litlady]

6. Agreed! The Huntington is amazing

Beautiful gardens, library with tons of old books (Gutenberg Bible, Ellesmere Chaucer, many documents in author hands), and strong museums. LA Arboretum is nice as is Descanso Gardens, but the Huntington is one the jewels of Los Angeles.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

7. Get yourself up to the new Getty Museum!

And the old one in Malibu is well worth a visit too...

The views from the new Getty are phenomenal!

I'll see if I can find a link...

This link shows both museums: Enjoy!

http://www.getty.edu/

[kestrel91316]

8. Huntington Library and Getty Museum are both great ideas.

If you want to see the great outdoors, this time of year Topanga State Park and Malibu Creek State Park are both greening up, but probably not many wildflowers yet.

[KitchenWitch]

9. Griffith Park

I LOVE Griffith Park.

ETA: For beautiful views - take a drive on Mulholland...it is very narrow and very curvy but the view is magnificent.

[Nikki Stone1]

10. Disney Symphony Hall and LA Opera

Great music!

[DBoon]

11. Local Sierra Club hikes

If you want nature, there is lots of it in the Santa Monica mountains.

I'd suggest looking up the local Sierra Club (yes, we have the largest chapter here in LA) and check out some begining hikes. The regular ones in Griffith Park on Thurs evenings are a good place to start

See http://angeles.sierraclub.org/outings/Outings.asp