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OT: visiting California..

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Rockets05
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OT: visiting California.. 

Post#1 » by Rockets05 » Wed Jan 9, 2013 4:53 am

Seeing that there isnt really that many OT topics in this forum, I'm a bit nervous to make this post. But I just want the opinion of you locals. I'm visiting California from NYC for the first time. I want to check out LA and take some pictures and stuff. Can you guys please recommend some cool picture taking worthy spots? Also the best bars? or spots I need to hit up? Not necessarily LA, I'll be staying in Costa Mesa. Sorry, a little touristy here, i don't mind it lol. I have a question! I see local celebrities posting pictures of them sitting on a cliff or something and the background showcase your skyline or just a really cool view in the back. Where can I go to take those kinds of pictures? Thanks in advanced guys!
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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#2 » by LA_Sports » Wed Jan 9, 2013 6:35 am

Simplest would be travel to Hollywood... do the Walk of Fame and handprints. You should eat at Pinks hot dogs. You could easily do that in a afternoon. Universal City Walk is close to Hollywood.
Costa Mesa is about 15 mins from Disneyland. If you head to Huntington Beach or Newport Beach they have lots of bars with young people at night. Those are in Orange County.
Venice beach might be neat but a little bit of a drive. Also try to go to the Getty Museum, the have world famous art.
You could double or triple up most of these in a day. Hope that helps
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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#3 » by cbrown32 » Wed Jan 9, 2013 6:44 am

^That's like the most typical, boring stuff to do in LA.

I'd say go to Venice Beach, Santa Monica pier, Hollywood sign (not sure exactly where but google it - you can hike around there), LA Live would be cool on a game night...lots of good restaurants.

Newport and Huntington are good to go out and day drink on the weekends. I guess you have to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame but in all reality it sucks...dirty, grimy people everywhere, no good shopping...but it's a spectacle.

My fiance just did the Warner Bros studio tour and loved it. For those cliff pics try to do some more research on beaches around Laguna, there are some really nice places around there.

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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#4 » by LA_Sports » Wed Jan 9, 2013 6:55 am

Rockets05 wrote:I see local celebrities posting pictures of them sitting on a cliff or something and the background showcase your skyline or just a really cool view in the back. Where can I go to take those kinds of pictures? Thanks in advanced guys!

If you want picture like that go to Laguna Beach. That would make great photos and lots of celebrities live there (even Kobe). Lol Best bet is buy a guide book though and plan it out.

You might like going to Westwood and visit UCLA. That is great for pictures. They also have all of the old really famous movie cinemas about a block away.
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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#5 » by Imadogg » Wed Jan 9, 2013 8:20 am

cbrown32 wrote:^That's like the most typical, boring stuff to do in LA.

If it's his first time he should do the typical boring stuff first
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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#6 » by TheMidnightSun » Wed Jan 9, 2013 5:47 pm

check out amoeba music in hollywood, they sell movies used and new cds, cassettes, and records, your hipster freinds in williamsburg would definitely appreciate those cool used records
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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#7 » by ManuteBol69 » Wed Jan 9, 2013 5:56 pm

check out The Grove, 3rd st promenade Beverly center. All three around the Santa Monica Area. Big negative thing about L.A is that you have to drive everywhere compared to New York where a lot of places are a Subway ride away
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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#8 » by Desiderium » Wed Jan 9, 2013 6:47 pm

cbrown32 wrote:^That's like the most typical, boring stuff to do in LA.

I'd say go to Venice Beach, Santa Monica pier, Hollywood sign (not sure exactly where but google it - you can hike around there), LA Live would be cool on a game night...lots of good restaurants.

Newport and Huntington are good to go out and day drink on the weekends. I guess you have to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame but in all reality it sucks...dirty, grimy people everywhere, no good shopping...but it's a spectacle.

My fiance just did the Warner Bros studio tour and loved it. For those cliff pics try to do some more research on beaches around Laguna, there are some really nice places around there.

Use YELP!


you pretty much suggested everything he suggested? lol
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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#9 » by cbrown32 » Wed Jan 9, 2013 9:58 pm

Desiderium wrote:
cbrown32 wrote:^That's like the most typical, boring stuff to do in LA.

I'd say go to Venice Beach, Santa Monica pier, Hollywood sign (not sure exactly where but google it - you can hike around there), LA Live would be cool on a game night...lots of good restaurants.

Newport and Huntington are good to go out and day drink on the weekends. I guess you have to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame but in all reality it sucks...dirty, grimy people everywhere, no good shopping...but it's a spectacle.

My fiance just did the Warner Bros studio tour and loved it. For those cliff pics try to do some more research on beaches around Laguna, there are some really nice places around there.

Use YELP!


you pretty much suggested everything he suggested? lol


I meant stay away from Universal City and D-Land...and probably the Getty too. Being from NY I'm sure he can see much better museums out there.

Imadogg wrote:
cbrown32 wrote:^That's like the most typical, boring stuff to do in LA.

If it's his first time he should do the typical boring stuff first


Disagree 100%...if you have locals telling you what you really don't need to see, you should skip the typical boring stuff altogether.
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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#10 » by Imadogg » Wed Jan 9, 2013 10:12 pm

Well I mean it's boring for us but people not from here who enjoy seeing new things/taking pics (OP posted about being touristy and taking pics of skylines) should go see the walk of fame and everything. If he was asking for the best hangout spots only then he wouldn't need to see the handprints and all
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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#11 » by Slava » Wed Jan 9, 2013 10:33 pm

Even for a first timer to NYC, I'd strongly advise avoiding the trip to Statue of Liberty and Empire state building. Just takes up an entire day waiting in the lines. Instead you could have much more fun just hanging around Little Italy or something like that.

So touristy is ok but you also need to conserve time when visiting a large city like NY or LA.
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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#12 » by Kilroy » Thu Jan 10, 2013 12:27 am

Some more out of the way places.
Huntington Library/Botanical Gardens...
Then take a drive up Angeles Crest.
Grab a bite to eat on Olvera Street or across at Philippes then drive through downtown to Staples/Convention Center...

Definitely do the Santa Monica Pier too... That way you can mark off the beach even if it's not the nicest day, while sticking around LA...

If you want to travel, head up PCH to Malibu... Beautiful drive, but it takes a while.
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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#13 » by LA_Sports » Thu Jan 10, 2013 12:30 am

Haha I love how even a simple thing of what a tourist should do in LA becomes a debate on this board. :) It all depends on how much time he is spending out here. I wouldn't got to certain places but that's because I have been a thousand times. However if I was from New York and I came out here I would want to do all of the stuff you constantly see in the movies, because that's what everyone at home will ask him if he saw. Let's face it most of that stuff can be done pretty quick anyways.

I didn't think he wanted to spend his whole trip bar hoping (it's not Vegas).

I just wonder if he realizes it is like a 40 min drive from Costa Mesa to LA.
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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#14 » by dockingsched » Thu Jan 10, 2013 12:39 am

i got your day planned right here:

breakfast - roscoe's chicken and waffles

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lunch - in n out

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dinner - kogi bbq truck

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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#15 » by dockingsched » Thu Jan 10, 2013 12:45 am

Day two:

breakfast/lunch - Phillipe's

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dinner - Village pizzeria

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late night snack - LA dirty dog

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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#16 » by Imadogg » Thu Jan 10, 2013 1:47 am

Can we merge some of these threads and sticky them?
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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#17 » by iamworthy » Thu Jan 10, 2013 4:42 am

Listen to Doc.
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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#18 » by Rockets05 » Thu Jan 10, 2013 4:46 am

Lol sorry forgot to mention, i'm staying 4 days. Thanks a lot guys, im writing these down! I also need recommendations on bars! Of course i wont spend my entire days doing touristy stuff, hang out spots at night? bars? rooftop bars? Yes i am amare LA is 45 mins away from Costa Mesa. Oh im also going to the laker/thunder game!
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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#19 » by dockingsched » Thu Jan 10, 2013 4:47 am

45 min?

more like an 1 hr - 1:15

oh, and like someone mentioned, yelp.com is your friend.
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Re: OT: visiting California.. 

Post#20 » by EArl » Thu Jan 10, 2013 4:57 am

If you eat what Doc tells you you might just get a heart attack on the way back home.
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