Visiting CA this summer for the first time ever!

[Coexist]

We are visiting Yosemite, Kings Canyon, Napa/Sonoma, San Francisco and L.A.

I have two older teens and am looking for something "cool" to do with them in L.A.

We will hike a lot early, but ending up in L.A. I want to do something a teen will remember for a long time.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

[OffWithTheirHeads]

1. Believe me, you WILL remember Yosemite!

If you can, take the hike up to Nevada Falls. If you are strong and healthy, take the warerfall trail up there. You will come home a different person. Whatever you do, get out of the valley and go for a hike. Yosemite has to be on the top 10 list for most beautiful places on earth. If you can do it, go there last because everything else you are going to see pales in comparison and that is saying a lot because Kings Canyon and the wine country are fabulous! L.A., not so much.

[Sequoia]

21. Yosemite is HEAVEN!!

That hike past Vernal Falls to Nevada is wonderful. Watch out for those little squirrels though. The minute you set down your backpack they're in it. They also do cute tricks so you'll feed them. But don't, as Ranger Rick will tell you.

[Auggie]

2. Can't help with L.A., but I will suggest the tour of Alcatraz

That should impress the heck out of your teens.

[Coexist]

3. we are planning on taking the night tour - is it really better than the day one?

it sounds spookier!

[Auggie]

7. Never took the night tour. It sounds very cool though.

Whichever one you take, get your tickets in advance -- they sell out.

[mitchtv]

4. One of the best tours yet Alcatraz

a ferry ride to Sausalito is always a nice way to spend the afternoon.
Twin Peaks for the View. Fort Point

[stopwastingmymoney]

17. The Golden Gate Bridge

Walk or bike across it while you're in that area, it's amazing

[stopwastingmymoney]

24. ps

start from the north end, it's more dramatic with the city in the distance

[LeftCoast]

30. Here's the view from Twin Peaks

You can see a bigger version here if you like!

You can see the TransAmerica Pyramid in the back left and the Bay Bridge on the right. Market Street is the blvd in the center of the picture.

[bemildred]

5. How long do you have?

What sorts of things do you think are cool?
LA is a big place. You can do almost anything here.

[Coexist]

8. my kids are very excited about seeing L.A.

they just know it is the center of reality - tv universe.

We will be doing lots of 'beautiful America' sightseeing prior to that (Grand Canyon, Yosemite, King's Canyon), so I want to do something .... I don't know.. MTV oriented (sorta?).

If there was no writer's strike, I thought it might be cool to get tix to a taping of a show they like or something.

We have 4 days there. I thought about going to a "surfer" beach - any suggestions?

[bemildred]

9. There is Universal Studios, a theme park.

You might be able to get into a studio tour. I don't know a lot about stuff like that. There are always lots of shows, plays, movies, etc.

I like Leo Carrillo State Beach and County Line just up the road from it, and so does my kid, who surfs. There are also a lot of nice beaches down towards San Diego. Santa Monica is nice and there is lots to do down there, Venice Beach, the pier, places to eat.

One out of the way suggestion I have is the Tram up to Mt. San Jacinto in Palm Springs:

http://www.pstramway.com/

[roody]

6. The Santa Monica Pier is nice. You can ride

a Ferris wheel and roller coaster. It is fun to rent bikes or skates on the beach.

[XemaSab]

15. Santa Monica's a good tourist beach

:)

[katty]

33. Yup, we have plenty of tourists here in SM-it's very safe :)

[Juneboarder]

10. Fun Things To Do in Los Angeles...

1. Walk down Hollywood Blvd and see the stars, see the Mann's Grauman Chinese Theater, take in all the craziness. (http://gocalifornia.about.com/cs/lahollywood/a/lahwblvd.htm)

2. Venice is a must for the boardwalk on the beach and people watching.

3. Santa Monica Pier

4. Some shows are still running and there's talks of the strikes going away, so maybe by the time you come, there will be live tapings all over the city again.

5. Griffith Park - See the stars at night at the Observatory.

6. Universal Studios

7. Marina Del Rey - Shops and eating only.

8. Big Bear - Much better than the tram from Palm Springs to Mt. San Jacinto for the simple fact that you're in a full on mountain town as opposed to driving all the way to Palm Springs and riding a tram. The drive to Big Bear and Palm Springs runs you about the same time depending on what part of LA you are in.

9. Day Trip or Overnight trip to Catalina Island (Ferries leave from San Pedro, Long Beach, Newport Beach and Dana Point).

10. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills - For all that expensive shopping urges you might get.

11. Free Museums - California Science Center is free and so is the Getty Museum and Getty Villa; however at the Getty you pay to park.

12. Free jazz concerts every Friday nights in the summer at the LA County Art Museum

13. Great Beaches - Santa Monica, Venice, Newport Beach, Zuma, Laguna Beach.

14. Train Ride to San Diego.

[Coexist]

11. thank you so much!

[roody]

13. And don't forget the La Brea Tar Pits in L.A.

Densest fossil site on Earth. Incredible museum!

[XemaSab]

14. The tar pits are cool

:D

[Juneboarder]

23. Born and raised in LA...

and never been to the tarpits. What rock am I living under!?! :)

[Sequoia]

20. Yes, the Pier and Venice Boardwalk.

I'm homesick.

Drive up the beautiful coastline of the PCH and check out Malibu too.

Griffith Observatory, Getty Museum if you have time.

[demosincebirth]

12. Take a tour of the USS Hornet in Alameda (next to Oakland).

[msongs]

16. see my soCal mountain panoramas video to see what it looks like

though in the summer you may never see these mts. in so cal cuz of the lovely air quality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fibRM-KCZ7A

Msongs

[MindPilot]

18. If you time it right, you might be able to get into a Bill Maher broadcast

8:00 pm Friday night at CBS studios. Hit Bill's web site for free tickets.

If the teens are into cars, there is the Peterson Automotive Museum. But far and away the coolest thing would be Universal Studios; be sure to allow a full day--there's a lot to do and see.

[Ecumenist]

19. If you can, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE don't skip the NORTHCOAST

the Redwoods, the BEAUTIFUL mountains and LOVELY views of the Pacific. The part of California where you can see the Rivers empty into the Pacific, Fern Canyon, the Roosevelt Elk that blythely graze right off highway in Orick where you're guaranteed world class photo ops EVERYDAY!! If it's possible, don't miss Mount Shasta. It's a breathtaking mountain and unforgettable view. There is so much beauty that you would NEVER regret taking in in the northstate.

[proud patriot]

34. I second that

north coast and the redwoods is beautiful.

[kestrel91316]

22. Hmmm, what to do in LA? I live here, and am having trouble thinking

of fun stuff to do and why anyone would waste money to come here......

Well, now that you ask, we have a few cool places:
The Getty - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Getty_Center
Catalina Island - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Catalina_Island,_California
Central Library - http://www.lapl.org/central/
Disneyland, of course - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disneyland
LACMA - http://www.lacma.org/
La Brea Tar Pits/Page Museum - http://www.tarpits.org/
LA Natural History Museum - http://www.nhm.org/
Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rodeo_Drive

[Coexist]

25. THANK YOU ALL so much!

what a help you have been. I can't wait to visit your beautiful state.

[Duer 157099]

26. Your teens will love Venice beach

I think it's a must-visit part of So Cal, just because it can be so bizarre (the people, that is). It's just a walk away from the Santa Monica pier, too (or a bike ride - you can rent bikes or skates at the boardwalk and there's a bike/skate path).

Universal Studios is a good idea too. And a visit to Hollywood Blvd is practically required.

If you'll be up in Sonoma coast area, plan to drive along the Russian River to the coast, and wave at Bohemian Grove (in Monte Rio) as you drive past... :D

Have fun!

[puerco-bellies]

27. Head to the Venice Beach boardwalk, and rent them surfboards

If they are excited about visiting L.A. they will remember surfing! Just stroll the Venice Beach Boardwalk and you can rent foamies (soft/foam-top surfboards) all along the boardwalk. Rents run around $10 an hour or around $25-30 for the day. Rent longboards, at least 8's but a 9' will be easier for them to stand on. Check the water temperature before going and if the water temp is above 65 do not rent wetsuits. If you are going to be here before say May the water is still pretty cold. Venice Beach is pretty cool, but don't wonder side streets after 10, and in general be aware after dark there. I used to live just up Washington Blvd, crime there is not too bad for a major city, just use common sense.

Here's a website that has everything they will need to know.

http://www.surfing-waves.com/beginners_guide_surfing.htm

[Hope4all]

28. Visit LA

Great city.

[SouthPasadenaDem]

29. The Hollywood Forever Cemetery.

Many of the old-time movie stars are there, and on Saturday nights during the summer they show classic movies on the side of the Mausoleum as a fundraiser to help restore the cemetery.

[ourbluenation]

31. Take them to the beach. n/t

[katty]

32. Sequoia National Forrest - it is fantastic - all of it

[Beaverhausen]

36. Sequoia and Kings Canyon are amazing

I might get back there myself this year!!!

[begin_within]

35. My suggestions:

1. Yosemite National Park, the best park in the world, period.
2. Highway 1 through Big Sur, the best drive in the world.
3. Point Lobos State Reserve, on Highway 1, just south of Carmel. "The Greatest Meeting of Land and Sea"
4. Disneyland, the original Disney park (but skip the tacky "California Adventure" park adjacent to it.

Those are the must-sees. I recently went to some of those spots and posted pictures of them in this thread:
http://upload.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x7770590

Also good are Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, Redwood National Park, but Death Valley National Park is too hot in the summer. The trees at Sequoia National Park are like buildings - incredibly huge trees. Muir Woods in Marin County north of San Francisco is very pretty. San Francisco is the most sophisticated city in the U.S., almost like a European city. Los Angeles is not all that interesting, to me anyway. Lake Tahoe is nice. San Diego isn't that scenic compared to other areas of California, but it does have a good zoo, Sea World, and many beaches. For small children, Legoland in Carlsbad, California. San Onofre State Beach, just south of San Clemente, gives a feeling of what beaches in California were like 100 years ago (unspoiled). If your kids like thrill rides, the best amusement park to go to is Six Flags Magic Mountain, in Valencia, California, on the I-5 about 30 minutes north of Los Angeles. But the central coast (Big Sur from Point Lobos to San Simeon) and the Sierra Nevada (Yosemite, Sequoia, Kings Canyon) are the best that California has.