Have you ever been to LA? I have not, however my husband has traveled there many times for business. Guest Blogger Becky has written this great article about traveling to LA, and since I have always wanted to travel to LA, I thought I might share it with you.
The Los Angeles metropolitan area sprawls for several dozen miles across Southern California, providing enough excitement and things to do for families, couples, singles and groups for days, if not weeks, at a time.
The country’s hotbed of movie and television entertainment also has plenty of sightseeing opportunities and chances to take in show tapings and sporting events.
You cannot possibly take in all of Los Angeles in one sitting, even if you lived in the city. That is why, when you take a trip to LA, you should prioritize what you want to do and get that done in the course of several days’ time. Here are some great examples of how to pass the time away in the nation’s second largest city.
Keep in mind, depending on where you are going, that it might be wise to stay in the area that you will be spending the most time. Spending time by the Pacific Ocean may mean staying in Los Angeles. Time at Disneyland or Orange County attractions might mean Anaheim lodging. It all depends on where you go (although, contrary to popular belief, Los Angeles travel is not a nightmare for the most part).
1. Sporting rules
The Staples Center plays home to the National Basketball Association’s Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers. There are rare occasions when the teams play in the arena on the same day in two games, so basketball lovers could have a good time. Also sharing space in Staples is the Los Angeles Kings, the 2011-12 Stanley Cup champions in the National Hockey League. Major League Baseball welcomes fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, their stadiums split from each other by around an hour’s driving time. There is no pro football in late-night talk shows – not yet, anyway – but a burgeoning college football scene, led by USC and UCLA, gives vacationers a chance to whittle away a Saturday afternoon.
2. See a show
Numerous theaters and arenas in Los Angeles play host to legitimate stage productions every week, not to mention concerts from some of the country’s biggest bands and singers. Not ready to see a show? If you’re lucky, maybe you’ll see a famous musician when you’re out and about. If you are in Los Angeles at the right time, there may be tickets available to tapings of television shows. Three late-night talk shows (Jay Leno, Craig Ferguson and Jimmy Kimmel) tape in Southern California, so check for tickets. Tapings of prime-time sitcoms also dot the landscape of Hollywood and daytime shows like Ellen DeGeneres also record in LA. Tickets for some of these shows may be hard to come by, but it never hurts to ask.
3. A family affair
Do you have family in Southern California? If your family has a lot of children, consider a group outing to a theme park. Sea World, Universal City, and Disneyland are three prime examples of major theme parks with enough to do to help families spend a whole day making memories of their own. Magic Mountain and Knotts Berry Farm are two examples of older theme parks still popular with all generations.
4. Have a good time and don’t get too full
All sorts of restaurants dot Southern California, from the famous chains to the even more famous individually-owned hangouts. Most up-to-date travel guides and websites have information on great restaurants to look for in Los Angeles, and some even have menus to look at so you get an idea on how pricey (or inexpensive) this trip to dinner might be.
Take these tips into account and have a fantastic time in Los Angeles. Of course, you may want to hope Mother Nature doesn’t awaken suddenly and shake off a little of the rust…
*This is a Guest Post by Becky W.
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