What's THE best L.A./So-Cal tour guide/book?...

[Westegg]

I actually lived there for more than a decade, until 2000, but I'm going out there for a few weeks this summer and I realize that I DO need a great reference source to help me get the most out of my holiday, and allow me to plan well ahead.

Thanks!

[ronnykmarshall]

1. Try this link

http://www.bestofla.com/

[Westegg]

2. Thanks. That looks cool. (n/t)

[radwriter0555]

3. I can't imagine why anyone would come here to SEE anything....

The farmer's market isn't anything special; santa monica bay is polluted, Venice Beach is a freak show, and I suppose kinda fun, if that's what you like; what's the point of canned entertainment based on media, like Universal Studios and disneyland?

I mean think about it; everything LA 'has to offer' is based on rampant and greedy consumerism; shopping and media.

Chinatown is VERY small, Olvera Street is almost embarrassing, or let's go look at a train station? (Union station)

Restaurants are mediocre at BEST; there is NO theatre to speak of; museums are again, mediocre at best.

I live here and I LOVE it, but I would never travel here to visit... does that make sense? Go to San Francisco, see the Monterey Bay Aquarium; stroll Santa Barbara and Hearst Castle.. see the redwoods and sequoias or be amazed at El Capitan in Yosemite or pan for gold in the Merced river near Mariposa, in the Sierra Nevadsa... but there really, honestly isn't anything of merit to DO in Los Angeles.

:)

[theoceansnerves]

5. hmm

you're saying the getty, the lacma and the moca are mediocre?

[radwriter0555]

6. Yes actually. I'm not impressed by their collections at all.

But then, I'm a bit of a snot about those things.

Now the new disney hall is VERY spectacular, but it's probably the only remarkable piece of genuine architecture in los angeles...

And I LOVE los angeles!

[theoceansnerves]

8. hmm weird

i've heard other people say they weren't impressed with the getty's collection either, but still enjoyed the architecture. for what it's worth, i like their collection.

also, theres tons of awesome architecture in l.a. i'd recommend the original poster look at a site like this:

http://www.usc.edu/dept/geography/losangeles/lawalk/

i'd recommend seeing the library, the bradbury building, and in general just walking down wilshire, spring or broadway.

[tigerbeat]

11. no theatre?

in addition to the larger taper forum, geffen playhouse and pasadena playhouse there are literally HUNDREDS of smaller theatre...a sizable portion of which are doing exemplary work. in fact, there are more theatre companies in Los Angeles than in any other city in the US.

i've busted my ass as a director for five years in the los angeles theatre scene and i find it distressing that LA's residents refuse to open their eyes to the vibrant, exciting theatre community in their very midst.

[Champion Jack]

4. Check the L.A. Weekly

[devilgrrl]

7. Here's one of my favorite guide books!

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/031215562X.01._PE30_PIdp-schmooS,TopRight,7,-26_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/031215562X/qid=1086384445/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-5921187-9510327?v=glance&s=books

[Westegg]

10. Sounds great! Thanks.

[rucky]

9. I second LA Bizarro

I lived there 10 years & it got infinately more fun after I purchased that book...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/031215562X/qid=1086385592/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/102-3963040-4382501?v=glance&s=books&n=507846