What should I see my first time in California

June 2, 2006 3:31 AM

I have a wedding to attend in the San Fernando vallery area. What should I see? Touristy and Non-touristy thangs welcome.

I've searched and found this. GF wants to do that, and so do I, and of course the walk of fame, gruammans chinese theatre, and maybe, hopefully touching the Hollywood sign.

posted by Botunda to travel & transportation (13 comments total)

Just to warn you, you're unlikely to be able to actually touch the Hollywood sign. It's meant to be looked at from a distance, not touched.

The best view of the sign I know of can be had from in front of the Griffith Park observatory.
posted by yankeefog at 5:22 AM on June 2, 2006

Disneyland? Dunno if that's your scene, but I know that whenever I head down that way, I plan on visiting Disneyland (even if I'm 75 years old!)
posted by antifuse at 6:33 AM on June 2, 2006

The Hollywood Forever cemetery.
posted by brujita at 8:35 AM on June 2, 2006

Right, you can't really get close to the Hollywood sign.

I've heard the Warner Brothers Studio Tour is better than the Universal Studios Tour, but I've never done either.

If you like baseball, attend a Dodgers game while you're here. The stadium might remind you of the older parts Disneyland's Tomorrowland -- both seem to share a kind of early 1960's Optimistic Futurism. Since Dodger Dogs aren't what they used to be, get a pre-game sandwich at Phillipe's across the street from Union Station (and up the block from Olvera Street, which I would skip. I wouldn't skip a glance at the old Catholic church on Olvera Street's western border, however.), then, if you're handy with a map, sneak the back way up to the Stadium (up Broadway through Chinatown, left on Bishop, right on Stadium Way, under the freeway!).

The Valley gets hot in the summer. Malibu isn't far away. Ventura County beaches are almost too far away, and Orange County beaches probably are. If you make it that far, Bolsa Chica is a good one. Plenty of people frolic in the waters north and south of Santa Monica (Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, etc), but I wouldn't. Santa Monica Bay, the part of the Pacific these beaches abut, is kinda icky.

If you don't want to actually get in the water, a drive down Pacific Coast Highway from Malibu to Torrance, through Pacific Palisades and all the little beach cities south of Santa Monica is a nice afternoon. When you get to Redondo, get off PCH and find your way to Palos Verdes Peninsula and make the loop all the way around to San Pedro. Then get on the 110 Freeway (the check out that 110 Freeway/105 Freeway interchange) and head back to the Valley.

You're not ready to call it a day? Then skip the 110 and cross the Vincent Thomas Bridge and have a look at America's busiest harbor. Just before you get to Long Beach, catch the the 710 Freeway north and dodge through phalanxes of semis hauling their container loads of foreign made goods to East LA railyards, Downtown warehouses, and probably the Walmart back home.
posted by notyou at 8:48 AM on June 2, 2006

Another vote for the Museum of Jurassic Technology.
posted by billtron at 9:50 AM on June 2, 2006

As a native San Fernando Valleyian (and expat) I'd suggest you try these relatively close by attractions (ok, I was really born in Hollywood but spent all my childhood years in the Valley):

The Gamble House (and other Green and Green architecture) in Pasadena, Huntington Gardens in San Marino, the Getty (just over the hill in West LA), and the Autry National Center near Griffith Park.

That's just for starters.
posted by Taken Outtacontext at 10:17 AM on June 2, 2006

Or drive north on PCH to the Ventura County Line and have lunch at Neptune's Net.

Want to stay in the Valley?
Sagebrush Cantina
Leonis Adobe Museum
Tokyo Delve's Sushi
Swapmeet (kidding)
posted by clh at 10:28 AM on June 2, 2006

Native Valley Girl speaking: I second the museums already mentioned.

If you go to the Museum of Jurassic Technology (which is great), there's a great, cheap all-you-can eat vegetarian buffet at Govinda around the corner. (It's also the Hare Krishna headquarters. I'm not a Krishna, but damn, the food's good.)

If you'll be here on a Saturday, take a walking tour downtown, then catch an outdoor movie at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Have fun!
posted by Lillitatiana at 10:28 AM on June 2, 2006

By the way, I've written quite a bit about the L.A. area for a recent travel writing class.
(Pardon the self-link, but in this case, it may prove useful.)
posted by Lillitatiana at 10:33 AM on June 2, 2006

the La Brea Tar Pits are also kinda cool, nice museum there too...

but the valley is kinda lame...

you could also go down to Venice Beach and 3rd street.
posted by TheDude at 10:36 AM on June 2, 2006

And don't leave without seeing the Pirates Dinner Adventure. Arrrrrr!
posted by FearTormento at 12:05 PM on June 2, 2006

I'll have to disagree with yankeefrog on the Observatory as the best spot. You're better off near the Lake Hollywood dog park, at the crest of the hill. On one side you have the Hollywood sign, the other is a rather nice view of the city.

If you see a shot of someone and the sign looks like it's right behind them then it was probably shot there (remember that Radio Shack/Verizon ad with Howie Long?). One of those spots that's great for false perspective shots of people holding the sign up.

If you want to grab a shot of the sign with a palm tree-lined street in the foreground, then you'll want Beachwood Avenue, just off Franklin.

Also note, the observatory is still closed for renovations.
posted by raygun21 at 2:14 PM on June 2, 2006

Ditto on Warner Brothers. It's really fun. Bring your camera.
posted by radioamy at 8:25 PM on June 2, 2006