I landed in LA last night. Holy shit, America's actually real! Been walking around going "this place is INCREDIBLE" because it's off the telly and that except I'm actually here. It's like finding out Narnia actually exists. Any suggestions as to what I should do? I've already eaten Cheetos in bed and gotten yelled at by a cab driver I'm here at the behest of my employer to cover E3, but today we've got a free day to chill out. Going to Santa Monica later. Would genuinely appreciate any suggestions from locals, I know there's a few about Also how does paying with a card at the till work - Jim
Disneyland, Knott's Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, and Universal Studios Hollywood are all interesting places to see. If amusement parks aren't your forte, try a studio tour. Warner Brothers, Paramount, NBC, and CBS all have nearby studios. The studio where Star Trek filmed is in nearby Culver City, CA. If you like museums, the Los Angeles Museum of Natural History is interesting. The La Brea Tar Pits are also said to be worth seeing. Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon both have Presidential Libraries (really museums) in the Los Angeles Area. The Petersen Automotive museum on the Miracle Mile is fun, as is the Griffith Park Observatory near Burbank. If you are into history, try seeing some of the California Missions of the Roman Catholic Church. If you have access to a car, take a drive up through Santa Susanna Pass into Ventura County. For Restaurants, Pink's Hot Dogs in Hollywood and Bob's Big Boy in Burbank are musts.
There is also JPL, The Getty Center, The California Science Center, Olvera Street, Old Pasadena, and Santa Monica Pier. Have fun!!
Define "till." If you're just talking about any old cash register, you just give them the card when they tell you your total. Here's my only advice for foreigners in America: TIP YOUR SERVERS AND BARTENDERS! I don't want to derail the thread with that statement (as has happened before), so I'm just gonna leave it there. Do it. I don't even care if you tip poorly; just tip something. 10-20% is customary depending on the quality of service you receive.
If you're a film buff, I would highly recommend taking the Warner Brothers studio tour. It's not an amusement park, like Universal, and not nearly as limited as the Paramount tour. It was probably Hubby's favorite thing when we last visited.
I did the Warner Bros tour when I had 10 days to spare in LA (was staying in Hollywood), but it actually made me realise how little recent WB TV I'd seen, or non-fantasy films. Still good though. But I personally got more out of Universal.
The California Science Center was already mentioned, but as an additional selling point, it has the space shuttle Endeavour on display there now. If you're willing (and able) to venture a little further afield, you could book a day trip boat tour to Catalina Island out of Long Beach or San Pedro. This time of year you'll likely see whales and dolphins swimming alongside, and possibly some flying fish leaping ahead of the boat. On the island there are glass bottom boat tours of Avalon Bay which show you shipwrecks and reefs and lots of fish. There's skin diving in the bay too. The Catalina Casino has a beautiful theater, huge dance hall, and a museum featuring artifacts from the local Native American population. There's a herd of 150 free-roaming American Bison that grew from a population of 14 that were left over from a Western movie production in 1924 when the budget overran, and now they're a thriving part of the ecosystem. There's also some amazing salt-water taffy and other old school candies at a place called Lloyd's of Avalon Confectionery. The Fillmore & Western Railway in Fillmore offers themed rides on their own private track, and have numerous movie trains in their museum.
^totally agree about the tipping. In the US waiters etc are extremely badly payed as it is expected that the customer gives a tip between 15 and 20%. I find it very irritating that often the price is not given in total but excluding the taxes. You'll have to add some 10% to get the actual price an item costs. Found that particularly irritating with the food stalls in Olvera Street. I can also recommend Farmers Market (yummy stuff there!). If you're into Ethiopian food try Messob's or (imo even better) Rosalind's, right opposite. (South Fairfax Ave, a little south of the intersection with West olympic Blvd) If you walk out of Union Station, there's the original LA settlement right across the street (around Olvera Street). Historically interesting, good food (particularly the fresh fruit salad from the street vendor at LA Plaza Park) and souvenirs. The Walk of Fame, Grauman's Chinese Theatre etc are of course a must LA's Chinatown is smaller than London's - not really interesting but authentic food. The Aquarium of the Pacific at Long Beach is very interesting - one doesn't often get the chance to stroke a shark http://www.aquariumofpacific.org/ They actually are rather cuddly, curious and quite intelligent animals =) No-go-areas: Be careful when out alone in the evening, particularly Downtown and east of it. The same goes for Hollywood: safe during the day, not safe after dark. Silverlake is disputable - I've been there and had no trouble. Still, some say it's a high crime area. Inglewood - hmm... I used to walk there alone (much to the horror of my BF LOL) but that was a few years ago. From what I hear there is a lot of tension building up there again. Frankly, I'd not go there atm. As a general rule LA is safer the further you get to the west. Give my regards to the terns and pelicans at Sta Monica I miss them (And frankly, I miss Croydon and The City too. *sigh*)
I can't say about now, but back when I went (07ish) I needed ID to show with the card and had to sign the receipt where as over here in the UK, it was more chip and pin.
Having visited a year ago, I have a few suggestions. Palomar Observatory if you can make it and you go there when tours are available. When I went though, I did have a tour personally done by the Observatory director herself, and I hear the tours aren't usually as extensive. But I'd still highly recommend it. Also, Yosemite! If you like hiking, this place is a real treasure, even if you just go for the sights of El Capitan. Santa Barbara is a beautiful city. Spent a week there with my Uncle who lives there, and he lives close by to one of the Missions.
I might be wrong, but I think the USA still hasn't really adopted Chip n Pin cards, seems almost ancient to have to sign a receipt, unless you have a Chip n Sign card or the rare time when there might be a computer/comms issue and you have to sign a card. But of course we are also now on contactless cards where you can pay upto something like £20 without having to enter a PIN. Though these can be limited to X uses per day and you might still be asked to enter your PIN as a random security check.
This is the best hotel. Walking distance of CBS studios and the La Brea tar pits. http://www.yelp.com/biz/beverly-laurel-motor-hotel-los-angeles-3
Griffith Observatory and Planetarium is also a good way to spend a few hours. It's conveniently close, and the view of the city should be pretty good from there at this time of year.
You would be correct; pretty much everywhere in the US is (currently) the swipe-and-sign system. We will be joining the rest of the world eventually, though; in the wake of an enormous security breach at a major retailer earlier this year, there are plans to switch over to a chip and PIN system in late 2015.
Reading some of the comments there, it seems like there is still some education to do regarding Chip n PIN cards.
It is close to a lot of attractions. LA, we are told, is not a walking city--but while there, I walked to Paramount and went up the hill to Forry Ackerman's original home. (my camera was out naturally) and walked all the way up to Griffith observatory. I got about half way back before I wimped out and took a cab the rest of the way.