SoCal things to do for visitors

B

BigWill

2,500+ Posts
Just thinking of you cats with a little downtime. Another rambling deal..post things as I think of them, answer questions, etc.

Others, please chime in.

OK, for starters, two presidential libraries.

The NixonThe Link located in Yorba Linda (North Orange County) approx. 40 miles SE Pasadena.

The Reagan LibraryThe Link about 45 Miles W of Pasadena


Aviation buffs? Flying into SNA?
This is newThe Link
and is located adjacent to the airport. Good stuff.

Here's a better one, located in Chino CAThe Link This one is about 15 miles south of the Ontario Airport. It's located at Chino Airport, a fairly large general-aviation place. If you visit, have breakfast or lunch at Flo's. It's been there forever.

And, over at the old March AFBThe Link is another. About 30 miles E of the Chino one, I'm guessing.
 
How's the weather in comparison to Austin?
biggrin.gif
 
skiing/snowboarding?

BIg Bear in the San Bernardino Mountains (1 hour from Ontario area, 2 hrs from OC)
The Link

Mountain High in Wrightwood: The Link
This is off I-15 and will be a bit closer for those in LA/OC.

Also, Mt. BaldyThe Link which is even closer yet.
 
whale watching is cool. See the CA Grays on their migration, along with Dolphin and other mammals. I see in the paper that there are a few Killer Whales cruising the OC coast lately, which is strange. Here's one place that offers it out of newport. Similar can be found at almost any port.
The Link
 
Almost forgot: if you are doing the amusement park thing, the Costco's out here sell passes to Disneyland, Universal Studios, etc and at a pretty good savings. Maybe consider grabbing passes there before going.
 
Fyi. Longhorn Band will be performing on Wednesday at Universal Studios and on Friday at Disneyland.
 
Peterson Auto museum in L.A. The Link

They have a fine collection. And, possibly of significance for you younger folks, this is (I hope I get this right) the place where they "busted a cap in Biggie's ***".
 
If you have a car, drive Sunset Boulevard to the ocean. Try to start in Silver Lake which is working class Hispanic and proceed through Hollywood, Beverly Hills and onward until you spill out on the beach. It's a great drive that presents a pretty broad taste of what LA is all about. Eat seafood at Gaylords on the Beach at the end of your drive.

Another great and shorter drive is Mulholland. From Sunset, go up Beverly Canyon and then turn right on Mulholland. It runs along the ridgeline of the Hollywood Hills so you can see both the Valley to the north and the Basin to the south. It's a pretty drive taken either day or night. You will end at an overlook of the Hollywood Bowl.

When I lived in LA I loved taking people on these drives and never tired of them.

If you want to get close to the Hollywood sign, go up Beachwood which is west of Western drive off of Franklin. Just keep feeling your way up the residential streets. Pretty houses and neighborhood.

Another destination that is pretty interesting is the Frank Lloyd Wright Hollyhock House, info below.

Hollyhock House

Wish I were going. I haven't been back to LA in years.
 
If you like the ocean and beautiful views, you'll enjoy this:

Drive west on I-10 (the Santa Monica Freeway) to Pacific Coast Highway and it will send you north toward Malibu. Or if you take the drive to the beach along Sunset Boulevard, just turn right when you reach Pacific Coast Highway.

Drive along the beach through Pacific Palisades and up into Malibu.

Then, optionally, you can have lunch or dinner at the Beach Cafe at the Malibu Pier (formerly the Sand Castle Restaurant). It's not quite the same place it was 20 years ago, but it's still great for the views. If you do decide to dine there, ask for a window table so you can watch the waves splash up onto the beach.:

Malibu Beach Cafe

and

Malibu Paradise Cove Beach

28128 Pacific Coast Hwy (Paradise Cove Road)
Malibu, CA 90265
(424) 644-6457

You'll probably recognize the area since the restaurant, the pier and even the parking lot have been featured in countless movies and TV series.

Be sure arrive with plenty sunlight left and walk out onto the pier and stroll along the beach in front of the restaurant.

Last time I was there (in 2005), parking was free. Just ask the guard at the gate if it is (if you're going to the restaurant) and then get your parking ticket validated in the restaurant.

You might want to call ahead for reservations.

Follow up with a drive (3 miles north) to Point Dume State Beach.

A great trip if you want to enjoy the coast while you're in southern California.
 
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