OT: Summer vacation in Cali

[SOUL]

Okay sorry this is really OT, and I think you guys would be pretty helpful.

I'm going to Cali in July with my boy, my ex (like my best friend) and her friend. we're all going to be in one room so it should be interesting hahaha.. anyways.. We'll have a car and we're going to be there for about 8 days. the hotel is booked in torrance near redondo beach.

we have some things in mind to do but i'd love some help from you guys since you obviously know the area.

some questions.. how far is where I am from downtown LA? how bad is the traffic? whats the best time to leave if we want to hit up the nightlife?

also how far is it from san diego?

and most importantly, what's some things to definitely hit up, or go out to eat, or anything in the 8 days that we'll be there? lets pretend money isnt a huge issue but not mind blowingly expensive either.. basically stuff to keep us occupied for our trip.

appreciate it..

[AceFresh]

You're about 25-40 from Downtown L.A depending on traffic.

Traffic depends - weekends aren't too bad (but you never know in L.A., esp if an accident happens), but if you're out on a weekday, you'll hit rush hour during morning/evening times.

Try to use carpool lanes when possible.

You're about a little over 2 hrs from S.D., again depending on when you leave - usually I find no traffic until I get into SD county.

Eating wise - anyone will tell you must try in-n-out (cheap and definitely quality food)
I mean look at this!! - http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1413/677 ... eb650e.jpg
Pinks, Tommy's Burger is very good too.
If you don't want burgers, there's a Mexican place near your hotel (Maria's restaurant on the corner of PCH and Anza in Redondo B.

Places to go - Your typical theme parks here you have:
Universal Studios, in Hollywood
Disneyland or Knotts in OC area.

Shopping wise: Glendale Galleria, The Grove in L.A. (outlet mall), Southcoast Plaza in Costa Mesa, or Beverley Center. Or if you want to spend dough, you can try Rodeo, lol.

Weather atm is acutally fine for a beach trip (i'd recommend either Venice, Santa Monica or ones in the OC)

Other sites - Hollywood Blvd, if you wanna see walk of fame (Kobe's having his on Feb. 19 )
Santa Monica Pier has some cool things too
Sunset Blvd. if you wanna be in a car and see things that way.
Griffith Park for Zoo's, etc if that's your thing.
& of course Staples Center!

Just a few suggestions/Tips:
if you have internet on your phone (check sigalert.com for l.a. traffic it'll help you bypass lot of the bad traffic here, or an iPhone it has a great map app to check freeway speed maps, I use very much when driving through those areas .
& most importantly, have fun!

Hope I helped.

[SOUL]

awesome thanks... noted. i appreciate all the tips/places i can get. we want to hit up SD for a day or so just seeing how far it is, and some co-workers told me it would take 4 hours to get to downtown from where i am because of traffic.. that sounded absurd. i was guessing in the hour-2 hour range at worst but like i said i dont know l.a. traffic lol.

but yeah anybody else with information id be grateful

some more questions for people:

what are some nice clubs in the area? everybody will be 21 by that time (pref. not a ghetto ass club haha)

is there a six flags around l.a.? how is that?

im definitely going to hit up in-and-out. just to try it. i also want to take my ex out to a nice restaurant though that isnt too far from my area. any suggestions?

[amb1ent]

six flags is in valencia, 2ish hours north of where you're gonna be staying. as far as restaurants, really just anywhere that yelp recommends. the bazaar is still hugely popular

[dockingsched]

six flags isn't 2 hrs away, more like 1hr.

and yeah, check out yelp.com to see whats around you.

[laduane1]

No one in SoCal uses Cali....That is used by touriest trying to be hip.

[LA Forever]

July huh... well, you'll be too late for the Lakers Parade, so cross that one off.

As for nightlife, you can either hit up the Newport Beach bars, or do it Hollywood clubbing style on Hollywood Blvd.

From where you're staying at, these are approximate distances from these places:
-Disneyland 15mins (30mins with traffic)
-Knott's Berry Farm 10mins (20mins with traffic)
-Six Flags 1hr (2hrs with traffic)
-downtown LA 25mins (45mins with traffic)

Be sure to check out STAPLES Center/LA Live, the Getty Museum (the view from up there is gorgeous, you can see all the smog!), The Grove in Anaheim, The Americana in Glendale, South Coast Plaza (10mins from your hotel), Rodeo Drive/Beverly Hills, the Griffith Observatory, and the LA Museum of Contemporary Art.

As previously mentioned by the homie Ace, go to In-N-Out and order a 4x4, you won't regret it. Try Pinks if you want an overly done hotdog, or try an LA Streetdog sold by various streetcarts in the city. If you see a taco truck, be sure to get something from there as well. Southern California has the best Mexican food this side of the border.

[amb1ent]

and hit up kogi. dunno how i forgot that.

[SOUL]

thanks a bunch.

[laduane1]

Do not forget to bring money. It is not cheap out here.

[CowsMoo]

honestly, goodluck with the women. no joke.

[SOUL]

honestly, goodluck with the women. no joke.

LMAO thanks.. it should be cool. what happens in cali stays in cali right?

and dont worry ladu. ive been saving. im getting money back on my tax return too so a good chunk of that is going to the trip

[chefy]

and hit up kogi. dunno how i forgot that.

this

[Ghost Snack]

tommy's burger is a nice little chain as well. hit that up along with in-n-out. go to Huntington beach, malibu or laguna to swim. dont swim at venice if you go, just enjoy the freak show. if you go to SD check out ocean beach, the zoo or wild animal park. I would spend a day in SD, it's a gorgeous city and much different from LA/OC.

around that time I would check out the gym at UCLA, you might see a few NBA/ ex NBA players