Los Angeles Reccomendations??

Buena Park has a few cool restaurants. I don't think it is that far from Anaheim, not sure though. Claim Jumper is good, it's in Beuna Park.

Going to Los Angeles....... well LA is huge so it depends on which part you're going to.... but here's my advice.

If you have to see Hollywood then go to the main drag right in front of what used to be called Mann's Chinese theater and take some photos (the dressed up characters work for tips), walk around and look at the theaters and Ripley's if you want, and then eat hot dogs at Pinks on 709 N. La Brea (at Melrose). Pinks is famous if you don't know about it, google it.

If you stroll on Melrose you might see someone famous.... that's the only place near Hollywood I've ever seen any stars out and about.

The La Brea tar pits are cool, especially for kids and the tar pit museum is excellent. I'd check it out. You could do Hollywood, Pinks, and the tar pits in one day. Just start early.

Other than that, I'd recommend Redondo Beach Pier. It is the most family friendly beach and pier in the area and it's a beautiful beach with a great strand. Lots of good places to eat on the Pier.... a great place to go is Old Tony's on the Pier. May be a little pricey but lunch might not be too bad.

Disneyland and Los Angeles are no where near each other. It's a good hour between the two, without traffic. Be careful, the drivers are crazier than here times 10.

Palos Verdes is a nice drive, too and it's near Redondo. There's a lighthouse out there and they do whale spotting from there, too. It's a great view.

Hermosa Beach is a cute little town and the shops are wonderful. Again, a great strand. You have to get down to the water to see the cute parts of any of the coastal towns. Pacific Coast Highway or PCH as it's referred to, will not get you close enough. You have to turn off it and go west till you hit the sand.

Have fun!

Hi R.,

I am also from southern california, Moved here just 9 months ago, you have some good advice given, take the one for In-n-Out OMG I miss those burgers!!! No burger compares.
If you want to see famous people, make reservations at the restaurant inside Chateau Marmont, it takes some convincing to get a reservation there but I guarantee you will see someone famous there, and yes it is the famous Hotel where the Hotel California song (The Eagles)was actually written in the lobby, it's on Sunset. Everyone that goes there meets someone big like Scarlett Johansson, Nicole Kidman to Bono.
Also I would definitely visit the Santa Monica pier, there is something about that pier that is SO CALIFORNIA and it is very family friendly of course. The prominade there in Santa Monica is always great on a Saturday evening, they have all sorts of entertainment right on the streets (no cars allowed in that particular street).
If you guys get some adult time definitely go to Sunset at night you will be so amazed at how busy just the street is on the weekend nights. Very california as well.
I miss it just thinking about it. In orange county where Disneyland is you can find Huntington Beach it is a great beach.
Good Luck and have all the fun I miss so much!!

One place you have to try is In-N-Out, they have the best hamburgers ever, trust me. It's just a little fast food restaurant and they are all over so pretty easy to find. I grew up in Southern California for 20 years, I ate there all the time. I took my native Texas husband there to eat on a trip a couple years back and he still talks about how good it was.

The suggestions already given are good ones. I would add Universal Studios. City Walk is right next to it too, which is a "street" full of great restaurants and tourist type stores. If your family is interested in TV at all, try the studio tours. I think all the major networks have them, but I know for sure NBC has a great one.