Trips tips for weekend visit to LA and Huntington Beach

November 21, 2013 1:44 PM

I'm flying down to SoCal on Saturday morning and flying back back Sunday evening after spending Saturday evening visiting with some friends in HB. I'll be flying into LAX, picking up a rental, then head south to Huntington Beach. On Sunday, I'll head north to catch the plane flight back. How can I make this easy to do, where can I stay, and what beaches might I visit along the way with the short time I have planned?

I need to get a car arranged, and a place to stay Saturday night. All else is pretty flexible. I'm thinking I'll have time to perhaps spend some time at the beach on Saturday, and again on Sunday.

I'm talking beaches here because I don't think I'll have enough time to do much in the way of sightseeing or travelling around the area. Just in and out the next day. It would be nice to have some time on the beach to go for a walk or watch the waves, get some exercise.

I'm thinking of going to Venice Beach on the way north Sunday as I've always wanted to see the boardwalk and spend a few hours there sightseeing. I'm bring minimal stuff, just a carry on, and need to rent a car and find a place to stay for Saturday night.

I'm looking for tips on how to make this easier to do, suggestions on car rental agencies, motels or places to stay in Huntington Beach, how to get down there (coastal or freeways), perhaps suggestions on places to stop along the way. What's the weather likely to be like, for example?

posted by diode to Travel & Transportation around Los Angeles, CA (5 answers total)

The weather will probably be in the 60s and sunny, but there's always a chance of rain this time of year. I think you've already got your schedule sorted. Go to Huntington Beach on Saturday and Venice on Sunday. You're probably not going to have a ton of time at either, and Sunday traffic around LAX is going to be the Ninth Circle of Hell, so make sure you have lots and lots of extra time.

You're going past the airport (very, very, slowly) to get to Venice. No idea how bad it will be, but a shot in the dark says 2 hours or more to get to the airport from HB on Sunday.

I could see an advantage in staying up toward LAX in that you wouldn't have to drive back that way on Sunday. (Saturday night traffic will be fine).
posted by cnc at 3:10 PM on November 21, 2013

I'm assuming you already have your tickets, but if not, and flying into John Wayne airport in OC is a possibility, you'll save yourself some major 405 schlepping.

We are having deliciously gloomy weather by the beach right now, but it will probably clear up for you by Sunday. Depending on what kind of SoCal beach "experience" you have in mind, your Sunday LAX-adjacent options are:

1. Manhattan Beach. You'll be super duper close to LAX. Iconic L.A. beach scene, lots of disgustingly fit pretty people, some good eats (reccy: Manhattan Beach Post), but otherwise kind of a big fat snore in terms of the town itself.

2. Venice Beach / southern Santa Monica Beach. A whole lot more shakin' in this stretch of beach than MB. There's the weirdo-fest of Venice Boardwalk (wildly over-rated in my opinion, but some seem to enjoy it); there's nearby Abbot-Kinney Blvd for all your too-cool-for-school windowshopping needs; and a bit to the north, walkable, is Santa Monica's Main Street district (more window-licking opportunities), as well as the Santa Monica beach walking path. You're still close to LAX, but if you will be returning your car during shit-show commuter hours (3 pm - 7 pm), you'll need to allow plenty of time to share lovely Lincoln Blvd with bumper-to-bumper southbound commuter traffic.

I'm a big fan of the local Venice airbnb scene; I can't speak to the HB options, though.
posted by nacho fries at 4:45 PM on November 21, 2013

And: HB to LAX on a Sunday in winter? An hour and change, tops, unless a mayonnaise truck overturns and blocks all lanes or something.

Also: Duh, me, re: my earlier point about commuter traffic, since you'll be rolling on a Sunday. You'll be fine getting from Venice to LAX-- 15 minutes approx. -- if you choose that option.
posted by nacho fries at 4:49 PM on November 21, 2013

I like the beach on the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach (just south of Huntington Beach), specifically the section between Newport Pier and Balboa Pier. You can also go out to the end of the peninsula to see the sometimes big waves at the so-called Wedge, and you can take the tiny car ferry across to Balboa Island. If you'd like to visit a nice Southern California outdoor mall while you are there, Fashion Island is very nearby. If you have time you can go further south to Laguna Beach which has nice restaurants and art galleries. Anyway, all this depends on what you like, so if you have further questions feel free to MeMail me.
posted by Dansaman at 5:09 PM on November 21, 2013

Since it's been raining, just an FYI if you were thinking of going into the water: You should avoid the ocean for a few days after it rains (animals, too.)
posted by Room 641-A at 9:56 AM on November 22, 2013