Things to do in LA for 12 hours?

December 1, 2005 9:39 PM

Something to do in Los Angeles for about 12 hours?

On January 14th my friends and I (males/early 20's) are going on a backpacking trip in Thailand/Vietname, but on the way there we will be landing in LA at 10:48 AM and the plane to Malaysia doesnt leave until 11:35PM.
Any ideas on things to do to kill the time? I work at an airport(YVR) so I know how boring an airport can be.

I've only been to LA once before, to go to disney land with my parents.

posted by Iax to travel & transportation (10 comments total)

Well, my favourite would be to take a taxi or bus down to Manhattan Beach, go to Rubio's fish tacos for lunch, (best fish tacos in the universe.)

Just a couple of blocks away you'll find the geek wonderland that is Fry's Electronics. I can't go to LA without a visit.

After that, I would go to the pier at Hermosa Beach and watch the seagulls.
posted by Dag Maggot at 9:56 PM on December 1, 2005

If you're all inclined to enjoy the inexplicably weird and have strange senses of humor, a trip to the Museum of Jurassic Technology in Culver City would be quite manageable in that time frame.
posted by scody at 10:10 PM on December 1, 2005

Ditto on the MJT. Don't miss the Tula Tea Room upstairs, or the bell wheel in the old morgue annex. And right next door is CLUI, another quirky and beloved institution. Have lunch across the street at India Sweets and Spices.

Quite a lot of fun things (though not the MJT) can be visited if you get a day pass for the light rail lines: the astonishing Watts Towers, Union Station and olde tyme Mexican Olvera Street downtown, Hollywood Blvd with its human circus and goofball museums, Marcel Duchamp's favorite hotel, even the shore at Long Beach.

And at the airport, save a few minutes to visit the Theme Building, aka Encounter Restaurant, with it's very jazzy recent retro interior courtesy of the Imagineers, novelty beverages and a swell view of arriving jets.
posted by Scram at 10:26 PM on December 1, 2005

Seconding the suggestion for Manhattan Beach. Sit on the beach and watch the sunset.

Venice and Santa Monica aren't too far, either. But dirtier and "edgier," whatever the heck that means.
posted by frogan at 10:36 PM on December 1, 2005

Paramount Studios gives an awesome tour. It'll run you $35, but you're escorted in a private stretch golf cart all over the studio lot, go inside lots of working movie and TV show bldgs., and have no more than 6 people in your group. Very worth while. You can then lunch up the street at the world famous LA Farmers Market at 3rd & Fairfax.
posted by thebarron at 10:45 PM on December 1, 2005

My favourite place in LA is the Getty museum. Even if there's no exhibits I'm interested in, I go for the architecture and the views. You can take a cab straight up the 405 to the Getty Center, should only take 30 mins in average traffic. You can wander the grounds, check out the views of LA and get some lunch at the cafe. There's a great exhibit of architectural photography right now, if that's up your street.

For some funky crowds and entertainment, then go to Venice Beach (I see Jan 14th is a Saturday, so it should be busy and fun). Lots of good people-watching, weird alternative stuff to see (along with tacky tourist crap), plenty of places to get food right on the sidewalk, and a nice walk along the beach to stretch your legs between plane rides. Its only about 15 mins cab ride from LAX. I'm sure you will see plenty of much nicer beaches on the rest of your trip though :)
posted by Joh at 11:27 PM on December 1, 2005

There is also an awesome exhibit at the Geffen right now that should keep you busy for a couple hours.
posted by speicus at 12:10 AM on December 2, 2005

I would go to Venice beach before going to Manhattan or Hermosa beach, if you only have 12 hours to check out LA. Venice is reasonably close to the airport, and it's more of a quintessential LA experience. I third going to the MJT, it's pretty wacky, definitely not something that exists anywhere else. Culver City is right up the road from Venice.

You might also consider going up to Hollywood or to Melrose, just to check out Sunset Blvd., if you've never been, and then on the way back, take a cab down Rodeo blvd. It's pretty insane at Christmastime, and classic LA. That might be crazy expensive with all the cabbing, I'm not certain, but if you don't have to be at the airport until, say, 9PM, it's totally doable.
posted by pazazygeek at 5:36 AM on December 2, 2005

Another MJT vote.
While you're at the airport, do visit the Encounter restaurant (warning: sound) in the old control tower. You don't necessarily have to eat, but you do have to go to the bathroom.
posted by Aknaton at 7:43 AM on December 2, 2005

According to several pages I looked at, the Paramount tour is a walking tour. (Which isn't a bad thing, just a different thing.) Warner Brothers offers a riding (golf cart/tram) tour, for $39, that this page says is better than the Paramount tour.
posted by WestCoaster at 11:17 AM on December 2, 2005