My friends and I are planning a trip to southern California for our spring break in mid-march. We are four 21-22 year old females from Connecticut. Our plan is to stay somewhere close to LAX and the beach (ie. Manhattan beach), then travel down the coast to Orange County and San Diego before coming back to LAX for our flight home.
I have a few questions I am hoping can be answered by a local:
A) We are planning to rent a car, but are hoping to use it only when necessary. If we do stay in Manhattan beach, we would want to see Hollywood and Beverly Hills one day. Would it be best for us to attempt to drive (and park?) somewhere around there, or is there some form of public transportation we can take? I%26#39;ve been to L.A. before and I used the metro to get to Hollywood, but is there a metro stop in Manhattan beach?
B) Are there any types of things we should see and do while we are in the area? I am the only one of the four who%26#39;s been to California, so my friends would be seeing everything for the first time.
C) any suggestions for inexpensive hotels that are within walking distance of some nightlife where there might be other college aged people hanging out?
Any suggestions would be wonderful!
Spring BreakA. A weekly rental on a car is worth it. Check out the rates with FOX as they are usually dirt cheap. Also there is an ENTERPRISE in MB that is also cheaper than the major rental agencies. Beverly Hills %26amp; Hollywood in a day is doable and taking your own car is recommended. There are MetroRail stops in both Manhattan Beach %26amp; Hollywood - but it would take 1.5 hours and you could not get to BH. Better to take your car.
B. There are too many things to list for you to do here. It all depends on the kind of trip you and your friends are looking for. Santa Monica Pier %26amp; Main Street %26amp; the boardwalk in Venice can fill a day. In Manhattan Beach you can rent bikes at Fun Bunns 310-372-8500 and ride along the 22-mile bike path. Down near Long Beach you can skipper your own boat electric boat provided by Bay Boat Rentals around Alamitos Bay. 562-598-2628. Or rent a kayak or windsurfing equipment. 562-422-1014. March is pretty nice weather and the desert is in bloom. You could head out to Joshua Tree National Monument - prehistoric looking landscape and not that hot in March http://www.nps.gov/jotr/ and good shopping on the way at Cabazon http://www.cabazonoutlets.com/. Or stop at the flower fields in Carlsbad on your way down to San Diego - pretty amazing looking and only for a six-weeks. http://www.carlsbad.ca.us/flowers.html.
C. This one is hard to find. If you%26#39;re splitting the room 4 ways - you may want to try the Sea View Inn http://www.seaview-inn.com. It%26#39;ll be less expensive than Shade Hotel. In Hermosa you could try the Sea Sprite Motel. www.seaspritemotel.com/. Check out the ratings here. Since you have a car, I%26#39;d consider staying at the Summerfield Suites (El Segundo) or TownPlace or SpringHill (both Marriotts) on Aviation Bl. You get a bigger rooms (that aren%26#39;t shkeevy) and breakfast. Since you%26#39;ll have to drive anyway there%26#39;s no point staying close to the beach.
You%26#39;ll find your crowd at Sharkeys in either Manhattan or Hermosa, Panchos, Harry Os, the Hermosa Pier area, Manhattan Brrewing Co, Henneseys, Ercoles, and the Side Door.
Spring BreakCan you rent a car at 22 years old?
There isn%26#39;t a metro (train) station in Manhattan Beach. Only buses serve the areas to the south of the airport. The Green Line train runs to Redondo Beach, but you%26#39;ll most likely need to take a bus to get to the nearest train station. This is true with the airport too: the trains don%26#39;t go directly to the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) terminals. If you are relying in public transportation for your trip, the beach cities south of the airport (El Segundo, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, and Redondo Beach) aren%26#39;t the best places to stay--unless you spend most of your time at the beach.
If you%26#39;re trying to see Hollywood and Beverly Hills in one day, the rental car%26#39;s the best way to go. If you stick with public transportation to sightsee, there%26#39;s a good chance you%26#39;ll be wasting time waiting for a bus. If you just wanted to go to Hollywood and walk around, or just go to downtown LA and walk around, then public transportation would work, but the larger of an area you want to see in less time sort of dictates using a rental car.
Down in Hermosa Beach, there%26#39;s an inexpensive, somewhat rundown beachfront motel that%26#39;s within walking distance of the nightlife in Hermosa Beach (which is five miles south of the airport):
The Sea Sprite Motel, 1016 The Strand, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254, telephone: (310) 376-6933, http://www.seaspritemotel.com/
As far as things to do while in Los Angeles, there%26#39;s just too much to mention. Do you want to shop? Do something outdoors? Music? Museums? Amusement parks? There%26#39;s a lot to do here.
1. When in L.A., do as the locals do. Drive your own car (versus public transport-big hassle).
2. You can stay easily in any of those beach towns Manhattan, Hermosa, Redondo.
3. Nightlife is all over the place (L.A. is huge). Free weekly guides (such as the LA Weekly) that you can find all over the place - can help you figure out nightlife.
4. At least during the day and happy hour times, the areas around the beach are pretty fun. For example, in Hermosa - at the end of Pier Ave. on the beach - is a closed off (to cars) area with a ton of bars/restaurants with college age people hanging out, having beers, lots of people watching. All the bar/restaurants have packed outdoor patios. Just go to the end of Pier Ave (right at the beach) and you%26#39;ll see it.
5.Hollywood and Beverly Hills in one day is lofty (just remember that traffic HELL is unavoidable).
6. Plan what you want to do ahead of time. Such as Rodeo drive, Melrose Ave, Hollywood Blvd, the Beverly Center, etc...or maybe even take a ';tour'; so you don%26#39;t have to drive.
7. The Crowne Plaza (redondo beach) is nice and very convenient. The Seaview Inn (Manhattan) - great location, Hermosa is fun too -though I don%26#39;t know a hotel.
8. Keep in mind that any hotels on Pacific Coast Highway are several blocks away from the ocean. (which is why I recommend the above two hotels).
9.There are a few packed restaurants in the Redondo area of the Hollywood Riviera area, too.
10. Definitely check with the local free papers when you arrive and you%26#39;ll find a ton to do!
11. Allow yourself a lot of driving time (despite actual miles). For example, driving from Manhattan to Hollywood or Beverly H, can take you at least an hour (parking, traffic, etc...). And from Beverly Hills to Hollywood (another hour of stop and go traffic, parking, etc...). It%26#39;s part of the L.A. experience.
12. If possible, try not to do too much (believe me, you%26#39;re not missing much) and stick around the beautiful beaches and enjoy yourself. Ride bikes up and down the strand. Fun.
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