Crazy LaLa Beach Land

The best thing to do is to cruise the boardwalk and people watch. Venice Beach (aka Muscle Beach) is everything you imagine it to be. Also, believe it or not, Venice is convenient to several other desired visiting spots such as Malibu and Beverly Hills.

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Hey, this is LA baby. You will drive a car!!!

I know it seems I always stay at these things - I have a ton of Priority Club points, OK. This place was not as nice as most HI Expresses. The room had a ratty carpet and was small. It was situated over a noisy road. Plus the hired help had the LA attitude. Too much money (if you pay) for this level of room. It is about a half mile from the beach, and is convenient to the liquor store, and a few restaurants, as well as being .4 miles off Highway 1 (Lincoln).

The Queen Mary is docked in Long Beach, and operates as a hotel. You can also tour this think, for $17 on your own, and more if you take a guided tour. It's also $8 to park. But I thought it was worth the bucks. This ship is HUGE! You start off by entering the lower area of the ship, and it is worth it to watch an introductory movie. The history of the ship as the ultimate ocean liner, as well as a busy troop carrier, is explained. Then you get to visit the Engine Room, which is really a treat. The ship was incredibly engineered. After this section, you walk and escalate to the upper portions of the ships. You see all of the formerly functioning areas - a quarantine area, the different levels, a simulated dining area, simulations of the hospital, even an old exercise area. There area several places (too many) to get food, drinks, and souvenirs on board. I spent three hours here. It may be a bit much for the little tourists.

This is something everyone should do once in his or her life. It is such a treat to walk this amazingly interesting boardwalk - which is really concrete. It is miles and miles of shops and sights - not too many places to eat, except for junk food. The real attraction is the people. The folks selling stuff seem to be in many cases leftovers from the hippie days. There are a lot of performers too - some better than others. The colors, sights and smells are incredible. Some of the more famous sites are the Muscle Beach Outdoor Gym, where the big beefy guys (at least in the movies) work out. The guys I saw in there were not quite as huge. The outdoor basketball courts are very lively, and the guys could really play some ball. This has also been featured in many movies. You can but tacky T-shirts, as well as a massage, a tarot reading, or a hot dog. Also, of course, headgear for your dog.

All tourists go here. There were tons of them just pouring off of the buses at Mann's Chinese Thater - formerly Graumann's. Of course, I went too. I got to see the famous hand and footprints, or noseprint in the case of Jimmy Durante. But walking up Hollywood Blvd. is a treat too. The Stars of Fame go for miles - some famous, some I had never heard of. Frederick's of Hollywood, the original, is about a mile to the east of the theater, and a little further is Hollywood and Vine (not much to see) and the Capitol Records building. If you go north here, you can walk to an overlook point and see the famous Hollywood sign in the hills.

If you drive north from Venice on Highway One for six miles, you will hit Topanga Canyon Road on the right. Turn here, and enjoy the drive. This is classic So Cal canyon country, and has been written about and sung about for years. T.C. Boyle's famous book "Tortilla Curtain" was written about the various characters in the area here. I could actually see the stores and the post office from the book. Anyway, there are beautiful mansions along the way as you drive up and up and up. At the summit, there is a small park where you can enjoy the view and take pictures. Continue on down to hit the freeway to LA and more sights.