Fun Stuff to do in LA

Definitely go to Disneyland (I love it even after having gone there at least 20 times), visit the new J. Paul Getty Museum, Walk down Universal City Walk, go to the beach, eat in Chinatown ... The list is unending!

Quick Tips:

Visiting Los Angeles for the first time is probably an intimidating experience. Plan all your major activities in advance, including transportation, to make your stay less stressful.

Less touristy places can also be fun, so be open to asking for ideas from locals.

Best Way To Get Around:

Do you remember that song from the 80's with the lyrics, "Nobody walks in LA..."? Well, that's pretty much true, unless you count the business types who go out during lunch breaks wearing suits and sneakers.

Renting a car is probably the best way to go. Public transportation is an option, but I don't have personal experience with it, so I can't say whether its a good choice or not.

What's it like -- well according to the park's sign; Disneyland is the Happiest Place on Earth! Maybe not, but I'm always pretty happy when I'm at Disneyland.

The atmosphere of the park is what makes it better than Six Flags amusement parks. The rides may not be as heart stopping as some parks that boast big roller coasters, but I think the Disney ambience outweighs that factor.

Food is expensive in the park, and so are the souvenirs and pretty much everything in the park. I recommend taking lots of water with you, and maybe keeping lunch in a cooler and storing it in a locker to save some money.

Maps are given out at the admissions gate -- I like to go through my favorite rides first (the big ones) and then kind of wander through the park.

Fantasmic is an evening show on The Waters of America. It involves lasers, water, stage performers, music -- it is spectacular! Get your spot staked out as soon as possible. I recommend sitting in front of New Orleans Square or the Pirates of the Caribbean.

Have a great time!

Universal Studios theme park is based on movies made by Universal (duh).

Some of the attractions are rides, like Back to the Future and Jurassic Park. My personal favorite is Jurassic Park because it’s like being in the movie, and there's a ten-story drop at the end that is such a rush!

Other attractions, like Backdraft, are like walk-through, interactive experiences -- it’s hard to describe.

Outside the park, there is Universal City Walk, which is a strip about 2 blocks long with shops, movie theaters, restaurants and clubs. Hard Rock Cafe is at the end of the City Walk -- and as with all Hard Rocks, it is overpriced, but still fun.

The Getty Center was rebuilt a few years ago, and now sits atop a hillside so that you can see it from the freeway if there isn't too much smog.

After parking, you take a trolley-like ride up the hill to get to the museum.

The Getty collections are extensive, and the grounds are beautiful. You may need to spend more than one day at the museum to really appreciate all it has to offer. I suggest picking your favorite styles of art and concentrating on them if your time is limited.

Knott's Berry Farm has a western theme, so if you're a cowboy you'll fit right in.

I haven't been to Knott's in a few years, probably because I like Disneyland so much better, but Knott's can be fun, too.

One thing I recommend is Knott's Scary Farm which is held in October (Halloween theme). Employees are dressed as monsters, etc and there are mazes and haunted houses to walk through. The rides are decorated with spider webs and other halloweeny things, spooky music replaces the usual soundtracks, and it's a safe atmosphere to have some halloween fun.