Things to do in LA

I'm heading out to LA for a week (Apr 4-12) and wondering what i shouldn't miss. Automotive/Bike related or not...

I'm already planning on Univ. Studios; Petersen Auto Museum; and Cars & Coffee in Irvine on 11th.

Interests = cars/bikes; punk/indie/metal shows; lowbrow art; thrift stores; interesting eateries; etc...

What would you all suggest?

-Mike

Go to the tar pits, they are pretty damned cool.

Bob's Big Boy in Burbank on Friday nights. Every Friday is an awesome cruise-in and you might just see some famous cars or car people. Look for a guy named Spencer Getty in a 32 Model A. Tell him that Curtis Kraft loves him, but would rather have sex with his girl.

www.socalcarculture.com then click on events. Tons of stuff happening while you're out there. Petersen Auto museum is directly across the street from the tar pits and its worth the entry fee. Gotta cruise Mulholland Drive, and take Sunset all the way from Silver Lake to Malibu.

I can't even begin to tell you about the few thousand landmarks that are in L.A. I'm talking things like where they set Grease at "Rydell High," and where they filmed so many car culture movies. It was great living there because I would constantly drive by massively awesome references from movies all the time. Here are a couple links where you can research some of your favorite movies and go visit the locations.

http://www.seeing-stars.com/Locations/ http://www.famouslocations.com/

Set aside a good half-day for the Peterson Museum. Also - even though they bill the top floor as being for kids, it's cool for adults too

Don't miss the parking garage at the Peterson Museum too - they often park a lot of random cars in there that aren't currently being shown. They won't be all polished and shiny, but are cool to look at.

Bob

Saturday 4/4 through 4/5 is the national hot rod show in Del Mar (an hour or 2 south of LA)

Doughnut Derelicts - Same time as Cars and Coffee, in Huntington Beach at Magnolia and Adams. Lots of older iron.

The Rock Store - Motorcycle hang out. Never know who will show up.

I personally would suggest against Universal Studios and head about 20 miles north to Magic Mountain. It will cost about the same, but MUCH better rides. The only really unique thing about Universal is the rather cliche studio tour.

Also, if you are not from the southwest, you might want to check out one of the Pick Ur Part lots in Sunland (just north of North Hollywood). Lots and lots of cars that turn over quickly. You can still find a fair amount of 80's cars, but most will be 90's at this point.

One of my favorite breakfast and lunch places.

The Schooner or Later in South Long Beach. Outdoor tables overlooking the marina and Alamitos Bay.
Google map: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=215+n+Marina+Drive,+Long+Beach+CA&sll=33.751605,-118.111718&sspn=0.008457,0.013733&ie=UTF8&ll=33.752497,-118.110087&spn=0.008457,0.013733&t=h&z=16&iwloc=addr&lci=com.panoramio.all Located just off Stutabaker Rd where it meets PCH in a large building that also houses a West Marine Store and a boat dealer.
Their website is not great but the food and location is awesome. http://www.schoonerorlater.com/

What is the name of the restaurant/dive on the beach maybe close to Malibu? Neptunes Net?

If you are into music, you'll need to check out the Sunset Strip in Hollywood. Tons of rock bands got their start at the clubs along the Strip. The Rainbow Room is a good place to get a bite, and a drink. The outside bar is laid back and pretty cool. Look out for Ron Jeremy....he hangs out there!

Also in Hollywood is a great deli called Canter's. Slash (GnR) used to work there. Great food, cool 50's era California ambiance.

If you have time, take a drive up PCH North of Malibu. Once you are out of major traffic, the road becomes really nice. +1 for Mullholland Dr. as well.

Don't even attempt to get anywhere on the expressway between 7-10am, or 3-7pm. L.A.'s traffic issues are not exaggerated.

Look up Giela, he has some free time ;)

Learn to swim?

Seriously, my list would include:

Mulholland Drive (both ends)..then over towards Mt. Lee (Hollywood sign)

Paramount Ranch is a neat ghost scca track and was where MASH was filmed

Chequered Flag in Marina Del Rey has cool cars and that's a gorgeous area.

My favorite road is actually up above Santa Barbara—they paved the fire access road that branches off from Painted Cave road and it goes along the ridge above Santa Barbara. Think the most intense tarmac rally stage and you'll be close.

If you like crime fiction, I'd actually recommend you read a Michael Connelly book before you go or on the plane—It's a neat mix of gritty crime stuff and LA-area trivia/sightseeing that makes the flight into LA kinda fun.

JFX001 wrote: What is the name of the restaurant/dive on the beach maybe close to Malibu? Neptunes Net?

Yes, the first Fast and Furious movie had a scene there.

Interesting to hear about LA from those that have visited this city. You guys know it better in the sense we just take most of it for granted.

Irvine (Orange County) and Peterson (LA county) are a typical weekend drive for us locals but I've been told by friends that were visiting that it's too damned far. Where will you be staying? which city/part of LA?

Agree with Per, there are miles and miles of beaches here, the PCH (hwy 1) (and Mulholand) is one of the must-do drives if you've never driven it. There's also Ortega Hwy if twisties is what you want but be veeery careful, no guardrails and people die there. With LA you're about 1hr-2hr away from everything, desert, ocean, suburbs, metros etc.

Cars and Coffee used to be in Crystal Cove, beautiful drive, until the yuppies screamed and shouted about it so now it's at the Ford company's parking lot in Irvine near the Spectrum.

There's also Catalina Island, hop on the ferry for a 30 min ride and arrive at the Island, spend 4-5 hours and head back.

Tar-pits have already been mentioned, you may want to see Venice Beach and the Hollywood area as well as Rodeo drive in Beverly Hills...

Thanks for the suggestions guys! I'm in LA now (Simi Valley), been having a good time. On aircooled's suggestion we hit Magic Mtn last night instead of Universal. We had a great time!

We'll probably be renting a motorcycle tomorrow. Should give us some mobility to check out the area a bit more. We're hitting Petersen Museum and the Tar Pits on Thurs, Cars/Coffee and some good riding roads on Sat. Not sure whats up for Fri. Maybe the beach or Catalina and/or The Strip.

Bob's big boy is worth it. You'll see some awesome classics/hot rods

The Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica is pretty fun and you can easily walk from there down to the pier

The Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica is pretty fun and you can easily walk from there down to the pier

went there last evening. Was nice until it started raining and the temp dropped 20deg. Saw the peir but didnt' head out. too cold... Had great food at Kreation grill (organic and vegan stuff), good beer at My Fathers Office, and a typical pub experience at O'Briens.

Friday might be crappy weather.

If you find yourself looking for lunch in Simi, check out The Hat, it is two blocks East of First Street on Los Angeles Avenue (the west end of Simi). They have excellent pastrami and excellent burgers, but make sure to get a cherry coke if you are at all into them, they are great.

Also of note is that Simi is a BIG hot rod city. If you tour around the west end (Easy street west of 1st) there a fair number of car / hot rod shops you can spy out. To bad the weather is turning bad, otherwise there would probably be some good cruising going on.

A place you "might" want to check out (if you are into that sort of thing) is the Regan Presidential Library. It is at the west end of Simi. It's pretty pricey, but it has a great view, so you might want to drive up there just to check out the grounds.

If you want to experience some canyon road "goodness" head down the 23 to the 101 east and get off at Westlake Blvd. Go down Westlake a few miles until it looks almost like a dead end and stay on the road (it kind of goes left). This will eventually turn into Decker Canyon road (intersecting with the famous Mullholland Highway). This is a crazy twisty road that will eventually end at the beach (I almost got car sick on this road, and I was driving!!). You can also just drive around some of those mountain roads, Mullholland goes all the way to the 405. It would be better if the weather was nicer, but it still might be worth it.

You can also take a right at the end of Westlake (Potrero Road) to tour through Hidden Valley (a LOT of "country" commercials are filmed there, it will look familiar) which is also a pretty drive. This is very popular path for cyclists.

dunno if it was mentioned (didnt spend the time to read all the posts), but I really enjoyed walking up and down Venice (muscle) beach boardwalk.

Also, down in San Diego is the USS Ronald Reagan floating Aircraft carrier museum. That was pretty awesome

+458 on Neptunes Net!

Also, Isnt Foose Designs somewhere in LA?

Hi Problemaddict,

I’ve lived right at the entrance to Decker Canyon Road for over a decade and I agree fully with Aircolled’s recommendation…if you want to take it to PCH, there’s actually two “Y’s” rather than one mentioned that you need to stay left on.

I remember mowing my lawn on a nice Sunday afternoon a while back when a new Miata pulled up and a German guy with a super thick accent asked:

“Dee-kar – Dee-kar”

“Oh…I understand…you want Decker…you’re almost there….just turn right at the light”

“Dankeschon”

Yah, it’s a pretty famous road.

Added Later…

A lot of folks get killed on these So-Cal passes and this is a particularly dangerous time as the recent rains have invariably washed sandstone from the banks onto the roads.

So, have fun but don’t get too crazy.

I live a few miles north of Magic Mountain. there are some good driving roads here too.

I put two pretty nice dents in the rear quarter of my '74 2002 going down decker with scuba tanks in the back. I need to move back there :(

Per Schroeder wrote: Learn to swim?

i also heart tool.