Los Angeles travel guide: Travel tips, reviews, photos, & videos from real travelers.

Reviews(Average Rating: 75% for 12 reviews)

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llworldtourReviews: 4
Posts: 0
Livin' the LA Life
09/14/2009
Rating
51%
Los Angeles, CA, USA
After traveling all over the world and now working my way across America from New York to Chicago to Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Vegas, Palm Springs, and finally hitting the Pacific Ocean, there was just one place left for me to go: Hollywood, baby. Sure, I’d been there at least a half a dozen times and actually never loved it, but my good friend, Mark, had moved out there to pen screenplays and his couch was just begging to have me sleep on it. I learned there are some pros and cons to this odd world of schmoozing, cruising, and boozing: • Pros: It’s always sunny. It’s always warm. There’s always a kind of ‘hollywood’ buzz in the air. If you are not from any kind of city there is a lot to do – museums, beaches, cafes, shopping, and ethnic ‘hoods. • Cons: It’s always sunny. It’s always warm. In other words, if you like any kind of ‘weather’ it ain’t here. L.A. is not really a city per se in the grander sense of the word. Unlike New York, Chicago, London, Paris or Hong Kong, L.A. has no thriving city center nor does it have great public transportation. Unfortunately, this is a place where a prerequisite is a gas-guzzling, air-polluting motor vehicle. And, as the smog attests to, everyone drives everywhere. L.A. is not a walkable city. In fact it is more like one big spread out suburb sprawling out across the land with a schlocky amalgamation of shopping plazas and mini malls chock a block with 7-11s, donut shops, nail salons and ubiquitous hamburger joints dotting each corner. I don’t find it a pretty city unless you have a lot of cash to purchase one of the amazing homes here or you catch a glimpse of the snow-capped mountain views the ‘day’ of the year that the smog lifts. Los Angeles is definitely a unique place where life revolves around ‘the biz.’ If you don’t work in the entertainment industry, then you are probably a gardener to someone who does. There is no avoiding the in-your-face marketing blitz for movies and TV shows here: a 7-story high movie poster draped over an entire building, ‘smoking’ billboards for the James Franco/Seth Rogen summer release of ‘Pineapple Express’, buses wrapped in Ads for the new ‘90210’ and even planes flying overhead with banners telling us to watch the oh-so-boring reality show, ‘Tori and Dean.’ Ah, Hollywood it’s hard to not try to get in shape here…either that or constantly compare yourself to these androids and lose all self-confidence, self-esteem, self-respect and bury yourself in your million-dollar-mansion and hope the gardener finds you somewhat attractive.
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llworldtourReviews: 4
Posts: 0
Chasing Taco Trucks
09/14/2009
Rating
64%
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Who hasn’t sidled up to a grease truck in Los Angeles on a late Saturday night or bought a tasty falafel filled pita from a New York City food cart? But there is a new phenomenon under foot. Taco trucks are actually nothing new to Los Angeles, but lately they seem to be everywhere. And their customers are no longer just construction workers or other blue collar Joes. Now, thanks to the social media craze, a truck called Kogi BBQ is causing quite a feeding frenzy. Lines of LA hipsters stretch around the block. People show up from all over just to try one of their Korean-slash-Mexican fusion creations. But what caused this to go from buzz to an all out taco tizzy? Twitter, of course. Launched in November, Kogi tweets (under @kogibbq) their trucks’ whereabouts throughout the day and their loyal followers come running. If you Tweet it, they will come. According to the Los Angeles Times, the operation has become a “social networking juggernaut,” drawing between 300 and 800 people at each stop, with waits of up to two hours. Traditional trucks always parked in the same spot. These new trucks give the air of exclusivity because you have to be in the know to find out where to find them any give day. My friend Mark and I decided to run down the Kogi truck one afternoon. I found their weekly posting of whereabouts on their site. Then I cross-referenced it with updated Tweets they were making every few hours on Twitter. There was going to be a truck just around the corner at lunch time. Sweet! We were golden. We walked over and found no less than 5 imitator trucks dishing out slop to the LA citizenry. But where was our Kogi? Nowhere to be found. And since we are not so connected and didn’t have a Blackberry or iPhone – we were in a social media black-out. We asked some other Kogi cravers the obvious question and no one knew where the heck it was. So, we ate some imitation tacos which were good at $2 a pop, but still not the fusion flavor I had heard so much about. Okay, cut to two days later. This was it. We were going to track down a truck and shove some tacos down our gullets if it was the last thing we did. We drove to a Best Buy parking lot and…there it was. Actually there they were – two gleaming white Kogi trucks churning out the coveted chow and pumping out some reggaeton (kind of a Latino hip-hop/reggae mashup) to a small lunch mob that had gathered. I asked for the special – the Blackjack Quesadilla. Mmm, crafty Kogi goodness. It was a crunchy well done tortilla filled with some damn yummy caramelized onions, spicy pork, gooey cheese, topped with a sesame sauce with just enough kick to make my lips tingle. It was good, but I think it was the whole manufactured ‘coolness’ of the scene that I enjoyed the most. Or, as my friend Mark put it, “It was good food and everything, but ya know, it was just eatin’ food from a truck.”
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Jay ReidyReviews: 1
Posts: 0
Ski LA
09/11/2009
Rating
95%
Los Angeles, CA, USA
And in the winter they get snow. Well, not in LA actually, but in the nearby mountains. About 50 miles east of the city, Mt. Baldy Ski Resort's base sits at 6,800 feet (2073 meters) with Thunder Mountain and Chair 4 rising another 2000 (609 meters) feet above that. Baldy is actually three mountains, and has 2100 feet (640 meters) of vertical elevation. Its 26 groomed runs offer some of the steepest drops and scariest chutes in Southern California. The mountain features wide open glades, tree runs, bowls, moguls, groomed runs and cornices. Baldy has just installed an 11 million gallon reservoir, and intends to expand snow making this year to several more intermediate runs and to some of their black diamond steeps. In addition to skiing and boarding, Baldy offers snow play, tubing and winter hiking. If you get high enough, snow camping is available. Both group and individual ski and snow board lessons are available from PSIA and USSI certified instructors. It's highly trained 39 person ski patrol was selected the Best Small Ski Patrol in the Western United States by the National Ski Patrol even though they have relatively few accidents. The lifts, open year round for hiking, mountain biking and sight seeing, usually see deep snow between November and late March. Prices are reasonable with an adult all day ticket for $54 for the 2009-2010 season. Other deals are available including group discounts. This is the mountain to visit if you're a good skier and want to be challenged without having to drive six or more hours to Mammoth. Unfortunately, there is very limited beginner terrain, and even that has some steeper spots.
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VacationHmQueen
- Top member
Reviews: 23
Posts: 6
The real Hollywood tour - all you need is a star map and a GPS
02/09/2009
Rating
90%
Los Angeles, CA, USA
I was born in Santa Monica and I went to U.S.C., so I know L.A. pretty well. Sometimes its way more exciting to visit your ex-hometown as a tourist! When I took Dan there a few years ago, we bought a star map on the road and brought our GPS. We zipped around town programming the addresses of the stars - Tom Cruise, Madonna, the former home of Brad Pitt and Jennifer Anniston, Gwen Stefani, and Harrison Ford. It was interesting to see the personality of the homes as they reflected on their owners. Before getting too excited, most of what we saw were beautiful gates! So we couldn't see most of the homes. Harrison Ford's home was tucked back on an obscure, hard-to-reach street. Tom Cruise, Madonna and Renee Zellweger are all neighbors, practically on the same street! Maybe Renee wants to keep her eye on her Jerry Maguire co-star? Jack Nicholson's home, with the chicken wire and tallgates, lined with bamboo, were clearly intended to do damage to anyone who thought they might be able to cross onto his property line. We even saw Paris Hilton's house - behind the Chateau Marmont. What would you expect from a partier than to be close to the party zone of Sunset Boulevard? And within walking distance of one of the most famous hotels where the legendary John Belushi overdosed and not far from the Viper Room where River Phoenix overdosed as well. Britney Spears' home was the nuttiest. Her house sits up top a hill and is protected by a gate to the community. The guard had said that the 21 or 24 paparazzi cars had taken off following Britney and they are staked out 24/7 to get the money shots of wherever Britney goes. We didn't get to see her house. We didn't even get to see the paparazzi. But hearing the gate guards stories was pretty entertaining. Oh...the life of being a celebrity!!!!
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shakyjake316Reviews: 1
Posts: 0
City of Angels Provides a Devilishly Good Time
10/24/2008
Rating
85%
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Los Angeles provides its visitors with two possible vacations: the standard, land-and-sand trip for the family, and the raving nighttime spectacle for the wild crowd. Beaches and theme parks offer up plenty of amusement for the young–or young spirited–but it’s the grownup activities that keep the city's (and my) blood flowing. When the sun drops below the Hollywood Hills, prepare to be dazzled with all the neon-lit revelry you can handle. Blanketed by a slew of pubs and clubs stretching from Hollywood Boulevard to the Sunset Strip, downtown L.A. is where insanity runs amok every night of the week. Though cover charges can be steep, the unlimited variety of possible escapades warrants the cost. Stripper pole antics, inebriated karaoke crooners, and a general distaste for mediocrity is what the late night life in L.A. consistently doles out. Los Angeles: a devilishly good (night)time.
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Carlin Cwik
- Top member
Reviews: 9
Posts: 32
Buy a kabob, fall in love
10/17/2008
Rating
90%
Los Angeles, CA, USA
I spent a summer in Los Angeles during college and spent the first two weeks wandering (in a car) alone. There were few places I stayed longer than the Famer's Market on Fairfax. And since returning several times, I've brought many friends and family a long with me. The Farmer's Market is a permanent fixture on West Hollywood's Fairfax avenue, boasting a volume of food stalls (my favorite are the kabobs and fish tacos), as well as a few specialty shops and produce stands. This is an excellent place to pick up some southwestern fruits - LA is close to Mexico, ya know, or grab a sizzling meal post shopping at The Grove (Disney's Main Street revisited, or rather face-lifted with designer store fronts and the largest Abercrombie and Fitch in the country). The Farmer's Market has been serving West Hollywood since the 1930s, and me since my second day on the town. Skip In-And-Out and park here...free for two hours with validation! Ahhh, LA....
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mmmogren
- Top member
Reviews: 11
Posts: 13
I don't really love LA that much either...
08/25/2008
Rating
74%
Los Angeles, CA, USA
... but my brother moved there last year, so I had to go for the third time. I don't totally hate it, it just takes so long to get anywhere and I can’t stand waiting in line for a bar. However, on my last trip, I had the pleasure of hanging out in Venice, which was rather charming. My favorite spot was this bar called the Other Room, which has an amazing beer list (and they serve them in the correct glasses... also a plus in my book). Additionally, I did a few touristy things that were entertaining. My brother was working for American Gladiators at the time, and I got to meet Wolf and Justice. If you see a taping of anything, be prepared for a lot of downtime. I still thought it was hysterical and completely worth my time.
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knaniReviews: 3
Posts: 0
I [don't particularly] LOVE L.A.!
08/25/2008
Rating
25%
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Before visiting Los Angeles, I envisioned a sparkling city full of sunshine, palm trees, and beautiful people. AFTER visiting LA, the one image that sticks in my mind is TRAFFIC. It seemed like, regardless of when we were traveling within or around the city, it felt like we had just left a stadium concert that had just ended. Granted, parts of LA are beautiful and worth exploring...the beaches of Santa Monica, the stately homes and quaint bungalows of Beverly Hills, the Farmer’s Market’s open air fresh-foods market and retail shops. Hollywood was NOTHING like I imagined it to be. Sure, strolling down the Walk of Fame, and seeing the famous Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and Kodak Theater are cool, but my family had trouble getting past the fact that if you could “Scratch and Sniff” a postcard of Hollywood Boulevard, it would smell an awful lot like a public restroom.
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HussainReviews: 6
Posts: 4
No Shortage of Choices
08/14/2008
Rating
80%
Los Angeles, CA, USA
At first glance, you may associate Los Angeles with a glitzy Hollywood exterior and creamy celebrity filling, but there’s more to it than red carpets and half-hearted pastry metaphors. Visiting my brother for Thanksgiving, I found the city boasts a plethora of exciting attractions. Museums, parks, and beaches if knowledge and nature excites you; and if the glass is always half-empty, you can look forward to earthquakes, traffic jams, and a tremendous cost of living! We splurged at Spago one night (Al Gore sat just a few feet away from us) and found ourselves conversing with the owner and world-renowned chef face to face. The next day: Getty Museum, Coffee Bean, gourmet cupcakes, and a trip to Rodeo that made me fear for my wallet. Another afternoon we visited the Third Street Promenade, enjoyed ocean air and live local music. The bottom line? Los Angeles truly has something for everyone.
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River rafting Misty
- Top member
- Travel guru
Reviews: 16
Posts: 254
Swimming Pools, Movie Stars, and Great Birthday Parties
08/01/2008
Rating
65%
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Los Angeles has many things that can be turn-offs. The air can be choking, the traffic a nightmare and the city dirty. But, Los Angeles has some charms. Chinatown is not to be missed. You can find things there that you can't get anywhere else. The thing, however, that I most enjoy about Los Angeles are the parties. My sister threw her 30th birthday party on a boat. It was a "Titanic Party", as in the movie and dressing like characters in the movie. While this type of event could have been held anywhere, L.A. just seems to be the perfect setting for anything movie-related. It's fun to walk amongst the stars on the ground and try to find your favorite actor (hopefully, without running into a friendly passerby). Melrose Avenue evokes the 70s Age of Rock with old vinyl and leather stores. On Rodeo, you always get the feeling that you will run into Paris Hilton, Jessica Alba or George Clooney. Everything in L.A. seems larger than life.
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mollycrismondReviews: 2
Posts: 2
I love LA
08/01/2008
Rating
88%
Los Angeles, CA, USA
The first time I went to LA we stayed in the financial district where the convention we were attending was being held and by the end of the week I was in a full on death spiral. I called my husband and said "I finaly understand the whole East Coast-West Coast rap star fued and I am soooo the Notorious BIG! Get me back to the East FAST!" Every one I was with laughed at me because I had been so excited to go and then I hated it. I was like a home sick puppy. But the next year when I went back everything changed. I took control of the trip for my colleagues and made sure it would be different. We stayed at the cutest hotel ever, the Grafton on Sunset (www.graftononsunset.com) - a much more affordable option right in the heart of West Hollywood next to the more expensive Mondrian and down the street from the celeb-central Chateau Marmont. The Grafton had a really tasty & chic restaurant, Balboa, on site and rooms with back doors that opened to a pool that looked like the one in the middle of the apartment complex on Melrose Place. Not only that but Chaka Kahn and Dan & Coral from The Real World: Miami were both staying there. Suddenly, I was in heaven. We held our meetings in a private room at the House of Blues down the street. While we were on a conference call with the UK at 8AM in the morning LA time, Coldplay was playing a concert for radio station winners in the room below us. Unbelievable. I was hooked. I went back to LA several times after that and always stayed at my home away from home, the Grafton. The difference between my first trip and my second trip made me realize how important it is to research an area before you travel and know what you want from the trip. The financial district was asleep after dark and was just like a city in any other part of the country. I wanted the LA, I'd seen in the movies and read about in US Weekly. I'm glad I went back because that's exactly what I got on my second visit. And if that's what YOU'RE looking for, then give West Hollywood and the Grafton on Sunset a try. And keep your eyes peeled for Lauren Conrad or Brody Jenner because you're in "The Hills", Baby!
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JMFordReviews: 1
Posts: 0
Sun Coming up over Burbank Boulevard
07/31/2008
Rating
90%
Los Angeles, CA, USA
I lived in L.A. for six years -- more precisely in "beautiful downtown Burbank." Honestly, in a place where the sun shines nearly every day, where roses and orange blossoms bloom year-round... Burbank has plenty of natural beauty. L.A. is the quintessential tourist destination -- beaches, mountains, museums (the Getty!), world-class shopping and, of course, the one-of-a-kind allure of the "stars." There are also the lesser-known gems -- Huntington Gardens, Griffith Park, Channel Islands National Park, day trips to Santa Barbara. As tour guide to my visiting friends (including in my carless starving artist days), I've been to them all countless times. I can't say it ever got old. I lived in a studio apartment but passed by my dream house every day -- green shutters, trellis, white picket fence, horses from the Equestrian Center ambling by. Ultimately, when it came time to settle down and have kids, I chose to move back to my native Maryland. But L.A. is still one of my favorite places to visit. The first time my daughter saw the ocean, I made sure it was the Pacific, and the first plane ride she took was to Burbank.
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