Things to do in LA .. apart from the obvious...
Replies: 16 - Last Post: Jan 26, 2013 7:26 AM Last Post By: olhaeuaqui
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Things to do in LA .. apart from the obvious...
HiI am trying to do some research on things to do in and around LA and am aware that this is something that I shouldn't be asking as a thread as it must have been discussed to death in LP...but I don't know about you folks, but the search engine within this website has stopped working for me...Even on 'Grand Canyon', I get noll results??!?!?!? Could it be because of the shutdown???!?!?
To the questions:
1. I'd like a recommendation for a good taqueria, a place where I can do some people watching...
2. One of those iconic biker's clubs...
3. Any tips on visiting Griffith's Park, like best hour of the day...can you catch the sunset while there...dangerous for a woman alone...
4. A great/iconic diner in the city....
5. Any other places/suggestions you'd like to make for someone who is into arts/motorcycles/people watching/nature ...and that are not that obvious and might elude the guide books, even LP.
Thanks folks!
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How many days do you have and where are staying? Its a huge city and area, also, as above says, without a car, much would nearly impossible.For all the cultural, dining and hip cool and new places to go, as well as the arts, read this and use as your guidebook.
http://www.timeout.com/los-angeles
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Hi nrclibnI will be in LA between 19th and 23th Feb and will rent a car. Am off to San Francisco on 23th so would like to see what I can of LA during my first three days there and will maybe leave some odd place to visit for when I am back at end March...
Whale watching would be cool. I thought I could do that from somewhere off Highway 1, maybe at the Pfeiffer park? Any other suggestions on where to park for a few hours off Highway 1 to try some whale watching would be greatly appreciated!
Cheers
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Whale watching in that area pretty much requires that you get on a boat and go out to sea. The best place to do this on your route m be Monterey. One place where you often can see whales from the land is at Point Reyes, north of SF. Whale watching Pt. Reyes Infortunately, you will be in between peak watching seasons.Just north of Hearst Castle is Piedras Blancas, where you can watch elephant seals. The price is right--free. You watch from a bluff above the beach. Late February-early March is a very good time for this as you are likely to see seals of all ages and sizes, up to the 5000 pound/2300 kilo adult males.
For good places to eat, a great resource is the boards at Chowhound. That link takes you to the LA section.
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Some land-based options are listed here but note that from land, all you might see are some spouts of migrating gray whales. Bring binoculars, layers, and patience. If you want to head south for a day, the Point Vicente Interpretive Center (natural history museum) in Rancho Palos Verdes is another possible viewing spot, and there may be American Cetacean Society volunteers on hand to do a little nature interpretation. You also have chances of seeing sea otters off the coast at various state parks and a very good chance of seeing and hearing sea lions.6
1. king taco east la location2. cooks corner but it's in Orange County
3. dusk or dawn. depends on the time of year you're visiting. I would think it's safer than visiting biker clubs or taqerias.
4. pantry cafe , phillipes, panns, pienburger
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I might be shot for saying this but the chain store Baja Fresh taqueria in west hollywood does a pretty good job!For your drive up to SF from LA, Santa Barbara and Montery are lovely places to break your journey.
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Thanks to all..@AskStupidQuestions - Do you think I should steer clear of taquerias and biker hangouts? Bear in mind I am not talking about gang places...I am a biker myself and thought it'd be great to get to speak to bikers in California....and tacos are supposed to be amazing in LA.....Is it a matter of having company with me?
@nutraxfornerves - It seems I am ALWAYS in between peak seasons when I visit places and nature watching is at stake.... :( ....
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- Stay away from Baja Fresh, please. You're going to be in LA, the land of amazing Mexican food.
- Going to a taco place that's not in a gang-infested area is not by any means dangerous. Neither is going to Griffith Park (consider going to the Observatory).
- You can Google for a lot of info from food blogs. For example, best tacos in LA: http://blogs.laweekly.com/squidink/2012/05/10_best_tacos_los_angeles.php Chowhound.com is also a great forum for food recos specifically
- Apple Pan is another iconic diner. There are a bunch of others as well. Yelp.com is a good tool for this. Also, check out this list of iconic restaurants in LA: http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g32655-c51671/Los-Angeles:California:Landmark.Famous.La.Restaurants.html
Here are some other suggestions for someone into the arts and nature:
- Venice Beach (boardwalk, Canals, Abbot Kinney artsy shops, Main Street shops)
- Melrose Ave shops
- Silverlake neighborhood shops and bars http://www.notfortourists.com/Hood.aspx/LosAngeles/SilverLakeEchoParkAtwater
- LACMA
- Runyon Canyon hike in Hollywood (with great views)
- The Getty Museum (also consider the Getty Villa)
- LA Fashion District in Downtown http://www.fashiondistrict.org/. Also check out Little Tokyo nearby
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Yea California has a great biker culture, as its such a great place to ride a moto 365 days a year, winding roads and a lot of types of bikes and clubs, crotch rockets to choppers, BMW's to Ducatti's, I am super jealous...Let me see what I can dig up for you can and make some calls to buds out there,,,I am sure there is a some good bike night meets in some parts of LA, here in Chicago Sunday downtown has 4 different gather spots depending on your wheels...
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Here's a list of best known biker bars in LA: http://www.riderzlaw.com/Los-Angeles-Motorcycle-Accident-Lawyer/Los-Angeles-Motorcycle-Bars.aspx (keep in mind that most of them are not located very close to tourist sites)There is a biker event in Santa Ana (Orange County, about 1 hr or a bit less from LA) on Feb 23. http://www.bikerornot.com/Event/101591 http://breakawaysportslounge.com/calendar/
Here's some info on the only gay bikers club in LA: http://www.satyrsmc.org/
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is on the way to SF up PCH at County Line north end of Malibu. I don't know how 'iconic' it is but on weekends there are a lot of bikes there. I doubt if you would see Hell's Angels or Mongols but maybe Jay Leno (tv guy) who rides. The food is ordinary but plenty of people to watch on Sat and Sun if the weather is good.Sometimes there are whales visible off shore but you would be lucky.
Lots of Mexicans in Oxnard maybe google for good tacos when passing through if you do go the coast route.
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