LA.

[big_whitey]

We are leaving February 17 on our trip to CA. Looking for ideas as how to best tour LA. We have a TC and would like to just park and use public transportation,tour vans etc. Not sure how much time we will spend there,guess it just depends on how much there is worth doing. Thanks again everyone for your help.

[Karanavore]

Another thought: Look at Metrolink, the commuter train service that runs in LA, OC, Ventura, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. The trains into/out of Downtown LA are pretty constant thru the day and into the night. You'd end up at Union Station, which is awesome. Across the street is Olvera Street, and Chinatown a short walk. Also, from Union Station, you can pick up the different subway routes, which would take you to Hollywood and Vine and Universal Studios. The Gold Line goes to Pasadena. As other posters recommended, you could stay in the Anaheim/D-Land area, San Dimas/Bonelli Park, or even the Riverside area and you would be near a train station. (There should be ART- Anaheim Resort Transit- shuttle service from the Anaheim RV park to ARCTIC, the new transportation center.)

Just remembered: I think Metrolink has a special $10 fare for all weekend.

[big_whitey]

Thanks guys for all the info. I must say that we might rethink LA as i wonder if it will be more trouble than its worth. With the lack of good public transportation,traffic and the spread out nature of things just not sure if we will be up for all that. It might end up as a last minute decision depending on how frazzled we are at that point of our trip.:)

[Pangaea_Ron]

bighatnohorse wrote:
LA area is not RV friendly.
As others have stated, a rental car, a good map and a plan would be the best bet.

Recommendations:
LA: La Brea Tar Pits & the LA County Museum
JP Getty Museum

Pasadena: Norton Simon Museum - you've seen the outside of it if you've ever watched the Rose Parade
Also in Pasadena, the Gamble House is magnificent. And the Frank Loyd Wright's "Millard House".
Nearby Pasadena: The Huntington Library

You could make a four for one in that area alone.

Good advice on places to see in LA. We love visiting, but probably would not want to live there.

We have friends that live on the beach at Malibu, where we stay. Walk along the beach there, you never know who you might see. The beachfront houses are truly amazing, and present a much different view from the beach than the walls and gates that you see from Pacific Coast Highway.

Also do the Venice Beach boardwalk for an odd and truly interesting view of CA.

My wife's cousin was the curator at the Norton Simon Museum. We ran through with her immediately after the Northridge earthquake to help protect and straighten artwork. Her husband is a director at The Huntington, and the library, artwork and gardens are truly amazing. There is orginal artwork from Audubon, journals from Darwin, and a Gutenburg Bible. The Chinese and succulent gardens are a must to see.

As an architect, I love the Gamble House by Greene and Greene. I've been to meetings and receptions there.

Santa Monica is interesting, and you should probably do Rodeo Drive for for a look but not buy shopping experience.

You should probably rent a BMW convertible.

[Two_Hands]

I just noticed an article about sightseeing and rv camping in Los Angeles in this month's FMCA magazine. Certainly seems worth a look.

[bighatnohorse]

LA area is not RV friendly.
As others have stated, a rental car, a good map and a plan would be the best bet.

Recommendations:
LA: La Brea Tar Pits & the LA County Museum
JP Getty Museum

Pasadena: Norton Simon Museum - you've seen the outside of it if you've ever watched the Rose Parade
Also in Pasadena, the Gamble House is magnificent. And the Frank Loyd Wright's "Millard House".
Nearby Pasadena: The Huntington Library

You could make a four for one in that area alone.

[kknowlton]

As the song says, "L.A. is a great big freeway." (Or rather, a bunch of them.) Not really in tune with public transportation. The suggestion of using several different base camps to see the different areas is a good one.

[NMDriver]

You might want to plan on seeing the different areas from different RV parks. Even in good traffic it can take 2 hours to drive from Disneyland to Burbank or Riverside to Malibu.

[RicJones]

I would suggest one of the campgrounds near Disneyland, from there you can branch out.
The best time to be on the road is between 9 am and 2 pm, any other time expect traffic.
As far as things to see and do, you could spend a lifetime just visiting attractions in the area. One good source for advice is the people working at whatever campground you stay at.
If you don't have a gps, I would suggest getting one and getting to know it before trying to get around in the LA area.
Come and have a great time and enjoy our weather.

[the_bear_II]

LA is a big spreadout area. Most folks want to see:
Hollywood (Chinese Theater,Hollywood & Vine, Stars Homes...etc) A few miles north of downtown LA
Downtown LA historic sites like Olvera Street,Union Station, Angel's Flight...
Universal Studios or other studio tours (several miles north of LA)
Venice Beach (several miles south & west of downtown)
Ocean & Beaches
Museums
Disneyland (about 30 miles south of Downtown LA)
and more

You may be able to find one tour for all of these areas or several tours to see each venue.

Public transportation is available but not always convenient to some of these.

Driving a TC around LA can be an adventure in itself. Traffic, parking, obstructions, theft all come into play.

My choice would be to setup camp in an RV Resort near LA (Frank Bonelli Regional Park, Fairplex KOA or one of the parks near Disneyland) then rent a car to tour the venues where tours aren't available.

To beat the traffic do as much as you can during the weekend, the venues may be croweded but traffic will be good. During the week days plan on waiting until 9am before venturing out and returning to camp by 2pm. This will avoid the rush hour traffic. Or leave before 6am and head back after 6pm. During rush hour it often takes an hour to 90 minutes just to go 30 miles.

[Campfire_Time]

The LA metro area is huge and there is lots to see and do. As said above, knowing what you like will help narrow it down. I'd also suggest renting a car when you get there. Traffic isn't as bad some make it out to be as long as you stay off the freeways during peak times (morning and evening rush hour).

[Pangaea_Ron]

LA is not very public transportation friendly and embraces the automobile. I'd rent a car from a non-airport facility (to avoid those taxes) and tour the area that way. Most of the tours seem pretty cheesy.

What do you like to do, and since it's LA, almost anything is possible.

[Gonzo42]

Far too much to list unless you could make a preference.
Museums?
Theme Parks?
Historical places?
Food?
Theatre?
Sports?
...