At the end of June I'm going to LA for an underwater hockey tournament! see my thread about underwater hockey for explanation if you haven't heard of it

http://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=602468

I have two friends in LA who may let me crash. Two questions!!

1. The pool is in Santa Clarita. How easy is it to get there? Should I rent a car? I don't want to burden my friends with driving me around. Is it even possible to get around LA without a car? Airline ticket websites usually have a ticket + car rental deal, is this the best way to go? Looks like I can get about $30/day from those places.

2. I'm taking a week off work after the tournament, and I'm thinking about making my way towards San Francisco, maybe doing wine country. Any advice on stuff to do in the area? places to stay/ stuff to do? My sister will be joining me for the week.

Thanks!!

5/19/2011 3:07:00 PM

where in LA do your friends live?

you're pretty much going to need a car as public transportation sucks here, especially since santa clarita isn't really LA anyway (it's pretty far north, though that makes your SF trip easier)

5/19/2011 3:43:13 PM

I was about to make this thread! I'll be in LA from 6/5 to 6/12 and could use suggestions for fun places to go.

I'm staying at the SLS Beverly Hills and the W Hollywood ... prob will venture as far as Malibu for sightseeing. Definitely want to try some great restaurants and do a little hiking.

5/19/2011 4:46:20 PM

I'll be there as well.
June 21,22,23 - Vegas
June 24 - Grand Canyon
June 25,26,27,28,29,30,31,1 - Socal
July 2, 3 - Vegas.

5/19/2011 4:55:05 PM

5/19/2011 4:58:46 PM

Have fun sitting in traffic

5/19/2011 7:04:19 PM

Definitely get a car. Santa Clarita is 1.5-2 hours north, depending on traffic. And getting around the rest of LA wouldn't be a peach, either. If you're going to be around more than a week, most car places have even better deals for a week-long rental.

[Edited on May 19, 2011 at 7:40 PM. Reason : Where in LA are your friends? It's a big place.]

[Edited on May 19, 2011 at 8:07 PM. Reason : ]

5/19/2011 7:39:53 PM

I, too, will be in LA. My family lives in Huntington Beach, time for a nice visit.

5/19/2011 7:40:22 PM

Quote :

"I was about to make this thread! I'll be in LA from 6/5 to 6/12 and could use suggestions for fun places to go. I'm staying at the SLS Beverly Hills and the W Hollywood ... prob will venture as far as Malibu for sightseeing. Definitely want to try some great restaurants and do a little hiking."

if you like good beer, there is a great beer bar in hollywood not too far from the w called blue palms brewhouse (it's on hollywood blvd near gower) -- they also have great bar food

i've also been to another 'gastropub' in hollywood on sunset called boho that was good as well

a couple not-too-strenuous hikes near hollywood would be hiking to the hollywood sign (take beechwood up into the hills), or hiking near the griffith observatory (with great views of the hollywood sign) -- if you're wanting to combine being a tourist with 'hiking'

there are tons of great hikes all over LA though, i usually just google what part of town i want to hike and see what's there and have usually been pleased -- a few weeks ago i did this loop in pacific palisades with amazing ocean views (temescal canyon -- kinda random location for me but i was going to the getty villa that afternoon), that would be a good option if you're heading to malibu...

5/19/2011 8:23:28 PM

one friend lives near the intersection of I-10 and I-405. (actually that looks like it's not too far from Santa Clarita! awesome!) Haven't heard back from my other friend yet.

Maybe during the tournament, I should just split a hotel room in Santa Clarita (they have shuttles to the pool) and rent a car afterwards to save a little $$. During the tournament I'll be too tired to do much else!

5/20/2011 7:16:35 AM

^^ Thanks! I love good beer. Will have to try that. And Boho looks amazing. Other restaurants that I'll prob try are:

The Bazaar by Jose Andres (it's located at the SLS and I'll get a discount)
Asia de Cuba and Skybar (good for girls' night ... I went there two years ago and wouldn't mind returning)

I love Top Chef and really want Stefan's LA Farm in Santa Monica, but not sure I'll have time to go.

Was definitely considering the observatory, so I'll check that out.

Thanks for the tips!

5/20/2011 9:17:34 AM

Quote :

"Maybe during the tournament, I should just split a hotel room in Santa Clarita (they have shuttles to the pool)"

depending on the tournament schedule, this probably makes a lot of sense -- while it's a straight shot up the 405/5 to santa clarita from your friend's place, traffic can truly be a nightmare so going back and forth could waste a lot of your time (welcome to LA)

^ those restaurants sound great, though i've never been to them -- there's definitely plenty of good food all over LA (it's big enough that there's plenty of everything, yelp is a pretty good resource for any random stop you might make)

[Edited on May 20, 2011 at 10:12 AM. Reason : ]

5/20/2011 10:10:38 AM

Mmmmmm In-N-Out

5/20/2011 11:36:03 AM

Also, for some odd reason, I'm intrigued by Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles

5/20/2011 12:05:51 PM

in-n-out is a given, for sure

i was disappointed in the fried chicken at roscoe's but they do have grits

5/20/2011 1:07:51 PM

Quote :

"one friend lives near the intersection of I-10 and I-405. (actually that looks like it's not too far from Santa Clarita! awesome!) Haven't heard back from my other friend yet."

I-10 and I-405 is santa monica, that's 1.5-2 hours from santa clarita. Not far from where I live, actually.

Quote :

"I love Top Chef and really want Stefan's LA Farm in Santa Monica, but not sure I'll have time to go."

If you do get a chance, don't pass it up! I've eaten there twice, and it's amazing. There are also several other Top Chef restaurants in Santa Monica; I really like The Yard, which is CJ's gastropub (the really tall guy from Season 3). It's only a few blocks from the Santa Monica Pier, if you want to check out the beach.

I've also eaten at Street, which is run by Susan Feniger from Top Chef Masters. Also from Masters, Mary Sue Milliken owns the Border Grill, but that's not as good as some of your other options.

Quote :

"Also, for some odd reason, I'm intrigued by Roscoe's Chicken & Waffles"

I like it. Ain't nothin' wrong with some chicken and waffles, hehe. But for fried chicken around here, I prefer a place called Honey's Kettle in Culver City or Compton.

5/20/2011 3:24:43 PM

^ Thanks! Was considering checking out The Yard bc I liked CJ during his season ... but then recalled the horrible broccolini and figured I'd bump him to the bottom of the list. Then again, that was the airplane food challenge.

One of my friends is a big foodie and worked for Suzanne Tracht in LA (now lives in FL but will be in LA at the same time as me). We're doing dinner one night and he is dying to go to Osteria Mozza (Nancy Silverton's restaurant) bc he claims it's amazing. I'm not a big fan of Italian food, so I just want some really good alternatives to present to him.

I love most foods, but not big on Italian.

5/20/2011 3:40:27 PM

Lol this reminds me of adumb vs mytwocents

http://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=500672

There's probably some useful information if it's not all outdated.

[Edited on May 20, 2011 at 3:52 PM. Reason : ]

5/20/2011 3:51:33 PM

That thread makes my head hurt.

Some info in there might be helpful, but I feel like LA is such a trendy town that a 4-year-old thread won't necessarily reflect the best restaurants, nightlife and hotspots.

5/20/2011 3:57:24 PM

Mozza is great, but it's crazy expensive, too; Valentino is the other "best Italian in town" with a Michelin star, but for either one, if you're not big on Italian it's probably not worth the price unless your friend will get a lot out of the experience.

The Yard is nice because it's got a very chill atmosphere with a good beer selection right off the beach, so you can go out and walk around the pier area, then relax over a drink and some small plates. CJ is usually there making the rounds, talking to guests; he sang to my friend when we went on her birthday.

5/20/2011 4:07:38 PM

Cool! Love a good microbrew, so will def add The Yard to the list.

My friend and I are both celebrating new jobs as part of the trip, so we definitely want a special occasion meal or two. Am willing to spend a little more for the occasion if the food is amazing. We may go to mozza just bc it will be special for him.

5/20/2011 4:51:28 PM

1. Umami burger http://umamiburger.com/ best burger in the world by far. unique and must have.
2. greenblatts deli http://greenblattsdeli.com/ best deli i've ever been too. very high end though. great wine. they make all their meets fresh. roast turkeys all day
3. village pizza http://www.villagepizzeria.net/ best ny style and best sicilian pizza i've ever had. this includes nyc. they make their sausage and sauce krispy kreme style
4. farmers market http://www.farmersmarketla.com/ my favorite place in la. tons of shopping. tons of ethnic foods. tons of fresh popular foods. most of the stores are family run for several decades.
5. grand central market http://www.grandcentralsquare.com/ more of a normal class farmers market
6. milk http://www.themilkshop.com/ best ice cream ever
7. bowery http://www.theboweryhollywood.com/ great bar and burgers

[Edited on May 20, 2011 at 9:10 PM. Reason : woah]

[Edited on May 20, 2011 at 9:11 PM. Reason : in front of you]

5/20/2011 9:08:29 PM

No way dawg, Bay Cities Deli >>> Greenblatt's.

(But maybe you haven't been there.)

5/20/2011 11:19:55 PM

Thanks E Man!! that's a great list!

After finding out how far the drive is from LA to SF ... probably not gonna happen But what else is good within a few hours of LA? I'd like to do mountains, hiking, or WINE!!

5/22/2011 2:59:49 PM

go wine tasting in Santa Barbara or Solvang, Napa is at least a 7.5 hour drive

5/22/2011 3:19:29 PM

There's actually someone I'd like to visit in Santa Barbara ... any specific recommendations?

5/22/2011 3:20:18 PM

It's been a few years since I've been down in Santa Barbara, but I remember Shoestring in Solvang was pretty cool. I think it's about a 45 min drive.

I'd just drive up 101 from LA to SB and stop off along the way and see if you find anything. The Central California Coast is pretty spectacular and worth exploring

5/22/2011 3:57:56 PM

If you would be at all inclined to rent a road bike, the Pacific Coast Highway and Santa Monica Mountains have some of the most beautiful, fun rides on the West Coast. The stretch of the PCH between Malibu and Point Mugu is gorgeous and pretty easy, with great views of the Pacific Ocean. If you want a challenge, there are a lot of canyon roads branching off inland from the PCH, everything from moderate 5-10 mile climbs to long and steep grades that Lance Armstrong and other professionals train on. Depending on when you're coming, I've got a friend in Malibu who probably has an extra road bike you might fit, and we could all go for a ride.

The same area is also great for hiking--Temescal Canyon, Solstice Canyon, Malibu Creek. I don't know Santa Barbara very well, but Los Padres National Forest is right there and has a lot of good trails, I believe.

Solvang is a traditional Danish village near Santa Barbara that would be fun to visit--lots of delicious bakeries, fun architecture and craft shops. There are also tons of wineries that have tasting rooms there, since it's in the middle of the Santa Ynez valley. Another good place near Santa Barbara for wine would be Ojai, but there's not as much else to see there as Solvang, unless you would be there at the same time as their music festival.

[Edited on May 22, 2011 at 4:06 PM. Reason : ]

5/22/2011 4:00:41 PM

^ OMG that sounds AWESOME!! My sister was in a bad car accident 2 years ago and can't do extended/strenuous walking. But a short hike or easier bike ride would be amazing!

PS ... I'm playing in the tourney with the San Diego team who could definitely give me a ride to SD if I was interested. Any recommendations in that area??

5/31/2011 4:06:30 PM

^^ the bike tours sound great! Thanks for the great advice.

I fly out this Sunday and arrive at LAX at 11 am. Am thinking of heading straight to Malibu or Santa Monica for a bike tour or just a little hike/walk. Which option offers a better option for someone wishing to stretch out their legs after a cross-country flight?

After that, I'm working in Glendale all week, so will have to find fun evening activities that won't take a million hours to get to after work. Will do Griffith Observatory sometime during the week. May end up doing studio tours bc of my job, but we'll see.

5/31/2011 4:34:33 PM

I lived in SD for 2 years, it's definitely worth checking out. Hit up the zoo, the beach, La Jolla Cove, and the Gaslamp for some decent nightlife.

5/31/2011 4:47:02 PM

Nerdchick, SD is gorgeous. Gaslamp is fun and Coronado Island is beautiful. Be sure to have fish tacos while there.

5/31/2011 5:07:42 PM

Restaurant in Beverly Hills called The Stinking Rose. Garlic is in everything and everything is delicious.

5/31/2011 5:11:09 PM

Quote :

"I fly out this Sunday and arrive at LAX at 11 am. Am thinking of heading straight to Malibu or Santa Monica for a bike tour or just a little hike/walk. Which option offers a better option for someone wishing to stretch out their legs after a cross-country flight?"

If you just want to relax and stretch the legs for a bit, I would probably recommend Santa Monica over Malibu. You could walk around the pier area or you could go down to the Venice Boardwalk to do some people-watching, and depending on how tired you are after the flight, you could rent a beach cruiser bike and ride up and down the coastal bike path a bit. There are about 7-8 miles of bike path stretching from Will Rogers Park north of Santa Monica down to Marina del Rey, and it's all right along the beach. If you're really feeling good, you can take the path inland around the Marina and then keep going south another 10 miles, through Hermosa and Manhattan Beach all the way down to Palos Verdes.

5/31/2011 5:40:49 PM

lol @ going to LA and wanting to spend your time in a car hours away from it to do your sight-seeing

5/31/2011 8:18:04 PM

eh, i much prefer san diego to LA so i would encourage such actions

i've been to the stinking rose in san francisco and had no idea there was one in LA, weird

the best fish tacos in san diego are at a place called south beach on newport in OB -- i wouldn't bother with the gaslamp unless going to the padres (though my idea of nightlife is hanging out a beer bar, of which there are excellent ones in san diego, so i mostly avoid the gaslamp)

if you are catching a ride down to san diego and need a way back up, the train is actually a pretty good option (assuming you can get dropped off at a station in san diego, either downtown/old town/solana beach) -- it's a gorgeous trip right next to pacific most of the way and is probably only ~$25

i would second shadowrunner's suggestion of cruising around santa monice/venice -- if you want to get straight to the beach from LAX as soon as you arrive, i'd go to manhattan

5/31/2011 9:39:46 PM

Day 1) Flew in at 11 am, drove the pch and enjoyed a relaxing sushi lunch by the beach just north of pepperdind in malibu, then met a friend at Runyon Canyon for a 2-hour hike

Will prob hike the observatory tomorrow after work. The hiking here is phenomenal!!! I will not want to leave. I wish Orlando had amazing natural areas like the LA-area parks. Sigh.

Thanks for so much great advice!

6/5/2011 11:33:28 PM

Any cool shit to do between now an Tuesday?

12/15/2011 9:27:16 PM