I’m going to LA with my parents in a couple of weeks for my cousin’s wedding. We’re only going to be there a few days, and most of the time will be filled with wedding stuff, but we will have one more or less free day (a Sunday). We’ll be staying in the Brentwood area.
So I’m looking for something I can do with my parents that we’d all enjoy - none of us are into the Hollywood/movie star/Beverly Hills kind of thing. My mom had a stroke last summer and she tires easily, so it can’t be anything too strenous. We will be relying on public transportation/taxis (I know, public transportation is a joke in LA but there’s no way I’m driving there!). We do like historical/cultural kind of things. And like I said, it’s a Sunday, so I don’t know what things may be open.
I suggest the Getty museum. http://www.getty.edu/
Admission is free, fee is for parking only.
The Peterson car museum is a bit off the beaten path but interesting: http://www.petersen.org/
Admission is $10 for adults.
Each is good for maybe half a day. The Getty is in a beautiful area and worth planning to have a meal at. Sunset can be spectacular from the hilltop, but double check the bus schedules as many stop running at an early hour especially on Sunday.
It might help to plan out your bus/light rail trips in advance: http://www.mta.net/default.asp
The people at the hotel might be helpful, but might also be clueless.
Don’t rule out driving. Seriously. LA has a bad rep, but it’s one of the EASIEST big cities to drive in, in my opinion. I get hives at the thought of driving through San Francisco, and you wouldn’t get me to drive in Washington, DC, on a dare, but LA doesn’t faze me.
A place we really enjoy visiting in that area is La Brea. The tar pits are fascinating, and the museum is quite well done, I think. Also, don’t rule out Universal Studios. Yes, it’s “Hollywoody,” but it can really be fun to see how movies are made.
Rats. I was going to recommend the Griffith Observatory, but just checked their site and they’re still closed for construction; won’t open until some time in 2006. That’s a shame… the exhibits and planetarium are terrific, and the view from up there on Mount Hollywood of the smog–er, city–is superb.
I haven’t been to LA for quite awhile, but as Redwolf mentioned, the driving there is better than any other big or even smaller city I’ve been in. A Sunday is going to be a better day than the others. You wouldn’t have to take the freeways if you didn’t want to. I’d love to see the Getty. I’d just stay there all day. I’m sure they have a lot of nice resting areas to just sit in and look at the building.
I did used to find the Farmer’s Market sort of fun. It is sort of tacky I guess, but that’s kind of why it’s fun. There is some really good food there. I wonder if that mynah bird is still there?
The Huntington Library, Gallery and Gardens (nr. Pasadena) are a wonderful way to spend a day. You can see a Gutenberg Bible, the painting Blue Boy (and Pinkie, across the corridor) and extensive botanical gardens all in a day.
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. There are some good ideas there. Not renting a car is twofold - one for the driving (I don’t like driving in ANY city being the small town girl I am) and two, the expense. Since I’m in the middle of buying a house and my parents basically have no money anyway and this trip is already costing enough, we don’t want to add on more expenses.
So I guess whatever we do on Sunday needs to be something cheap/free too.
Along with the Getty, also in the free and cheap category are trips to Universal City Walk, Santa Monica Promenade, or Venice Beach. You can walk around, window shop and perhaps see some street performers, then get a snack or drink.
Whenever I am out and about, I usually carry a bottle of water which I refill at rest areas plus a light snack. This can save quite a bit as in tourist areas a bottle of water might cost $2.50, and I go thru a couple in a day of being out and about.
If it is hot, I would recommend the coastal areas. September/October sometimes brings Santa Ana wind conditions and a heat wave.
