Things to do in California?

I live in California (northern) and have my entire life. I have a friend (possibly more) coming out here from Australia in November and he's never been here before. I am attempting to find things that we can do while he's out here - he'll be here for about 3-4 weeks. Obviously, I can think of the normal things like Disneyland, San Francisco, etc., but I was wanting to get as many ideas together as possible in order to kind of give him some options. I know that November kind of cuts down on what we can do, since chances are the beaches will be cold, not really any amusement parks open and all that, but I'd appreciate any ideas given.Things to do in California?
There are literally hundreds of things to do here in LA. Here is my top ten list:



Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth. Half a billion visitors can’t be wrong. (Sometimes it seems all at once). November is a GREAT time to visit, especially early in the month.



Universal Studios: A theme park that grew out of a studio tour. And Universal City Walk is a fun place to hang out in the evening after your day inside the park.



Hollywood: Hollywood Boulevard is ready for its close-up, thanks to years of urban renewal and renovation. Enjoy the Walk of Fame, Entertainment Museum, Chinese Theatre and more. You can see a lot for free. The Hollywood %26amp; Highland complex has lots of shops and restaurants, and the Kodak Theater (home of the Academy Awards). I also like the El Capitan theater, because it has been restored to its former glory.



Rodeo Drive, 90210: Packed with exclusive shops, full of gawkers. They all came to enjoy the excess. Free, unless you intend to buy something.



Venice Beach: Los Angeles kitsch and over-the-top culture at its best. Here you'll find Muscle Beach, street performers and tacky shops galore. Fun, VERY interesting, but I avoid it after dark, when it gets a little TOO interesting for my taste. And it's a short bike ride from Santa Monica Pier.



Santa Monica Beach and Pier: Great beach scene and a classic seaside amusement park, complete with antique carousel that has been in a lot of TV and movies. (The Sting and "Three's Company" come immediately to mind). After visiting the pier, you can ride a bike south a couple miles to Venice Beach.



Santa Monica Third Street Promenade - Downtown Santa Monica's shopping promenade is often the scene of movie star-sightings. Just a short walk from the Santa Monica Pier.



Sunset Boulevard: Perhaps one of the world's most famous streets, it began as a route between the stars' posh neighborhoods and the Hollywood studios. It runs from downtown to the ocean, passing through the "Sunset Strip" on its way. It makes for a fun drive. Along the way, you see a lot of different neighborhoods: Hollywood, West Hollywood, Bel Air, and Pacific Palisades. When you get to the ocean, stop at Gladstone's for Fish.



Queen Mary: Once the largest ship afloat, she's been docked in Long Beach for longer than she sailed, and her elegance never fails to impress. Free to visit. You can actually stay on board, for a price.



Farmers Market and The Grove - A new shopping complex right next to a Los Angeles landmark, The Grove and Farmers Market coexist. Enjoy a movie or shopping, and then take the trolley to the Farmers Market for lunch or dinner. It is right next to CBS, so walk across the lot to see if they are taping "The Price is Right". You might even get in.



Griffith Park - Home of the Los Angeles Zoo, Griffith Park Observatory, Travel Town, the Greek Theatre, and Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage.



Getty Museum - The Getty's architecture is so beautiful that it keeps me fascinated. No matter whether you like their art or architecture better (or maybe you'll just enjoy the view), the Getty is sure to please. Free.



Attend a TV taping - You can get free tickets at audiencesunlimited.com, tvtix.com, or see the booth at Universal City walk. It's very interesting to see a show being taped. The most popular, by far, is the Tonight show with Jay Leno. Check the NBC web site for all the details there.



Places to eat:

In-N-Out Burger: Multiple locations, best burger in LA, ask anyone.

Pink’s Hot Dogs: 709 N. La Brea, just north of Melrose. You might even see a celebrity. Maybe.

Tommy’s Chili Burgers: Look for the shack, an LA tradition. The original location is at Beverly %26amp; Rampart, a couple miles west of downtown.

Canter’s Deli: 419 N. Fairfax, between Beverly %26amp; Melrose. Near CBS, you might spot a celebrity.

Phillippe’s: 1001 N. Alameda. Great roast beef sandwiches. Near Union Station and Olvera Street. Watch the mustard, it’s hot.

The Pantry: Corner of Figueroa and 9th, downtown. Huge portions, they never close, GREAT steak and eggs.



Places to Stay:

In Hollywood, I recommend the Renaissance Hotel at Hollywood and Highland, the Best Western Sunset Plaza, or the Holiday Inn Walk of Fame.

In Anaheim, I recommend the HoJo Anaheim, and the Candy Cane Inn. If you want to splurge and make this a most memorable trip, stay at Disney’s Grand Californian. You get the full Disney experience.

In Santa Monica, the Holiday Inn Santa Monica is close to the pier and reasonably priced.



Places to Shop:

Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica

The Grove, Los Angeles

Americana @ Brand, Glendale

Beverly Center, Los Angeles

Citadel Outlets, Commerce

Brea Mall, Brea

The Block at Orange, Orange

South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa

Fashion Island, Newport Beach

Santee Alley, Los AngelesThings to do in California?
Napa is nice.. if you are of drinking age. There is the Winchester mystery house %26amp; San Simeon on the way down to LA. Santa Barbara is really nice %26amp; LA has tons of stuff to do.

Try citysearch.com %26amp; see if you can find some cool things out of the ordinary...Things to do in California?
The Redwoods National Parks--Cresent, CA

The Monteray Bay Aquarium--Monteray, CA

go to a winery in napa valley--if yous are of age

Yosemite national Park

Winchester Mansion--San Jose, CA

Hearst Castle-- San Simeon, CA

The Big Sur

Venice Beach, Long BeachThings to do in California?
OK Ally here are some SoCal ideas...Have FunTry these things to see in L.A.---Have Fun-----%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;%26gt;



1.Eat at Pinks or Pinkberry or In and Out burger-In and Out has really good chesseburgers.

Their totally fresh French fries ironically I don’t like because they are too “crumbly”? I like McDonalds crispy French

Fries better (even though they are not fresh and are flash frozen. Pinks is OK but not worth a real long wait. They need to clean up and freshen up the street area a little.

2.Farmers Market at the Grove. Go to Charley’s Café in the Farmer’s Market. Go the closest booth to Fairfax. Charlie and Bob are great. Reasonable food at a reasonable price. Charlie is about a 50 year old female…..

(@ Fairfax and W. 3rd)

3.See a movie at Graumin’s Chinese theater

4.Griffith Observatory, note--reservations now required. The new Oschin Planetarium show is the best part of it.

5.Getty Museum in town off 405 (reservations- NO LONGER REQUIRED) First Class Art of many periods and interesting Architecture. Cool Tram Ride and great city pics if it is not smoggy or cloudy.

6.Getty Villa Malibu (reservations)

7.Norton Simon Museum (Pasadena)

8.Hollywood Bowl concerts (arrange parking first)

9.Walk of Fame/Stars (3 ? miles round trip%26lt;warning—lol)

10.Rodeo Drive, (via Rodeo)-walking Rodeo

11.Trolley tours of star homes, Hollywood or downtown

12.Ivy, Kitson (on N. Robertson) , Hotel Marmont,

13.Santa Monica pier (Pacific Park), Mariasol Mexican Restaurant on Pier ****** and 3rd St. promanade, ride ferris wheel (Pacific Wheel) kiddieland, Ivy by the sea… ii…dinosaur/arbors…

14.Bicycling Venice Beach (street performers, muscle beach)

15.Catalina Island (concerts) (catamaran to Avalon) out of Long Beach or Newport beach..the casino.

service now available out of Marina del Rey (Helicopter Service $150. now available out of San Pedro)*****

16. Studio tour (Universal/City Walk or Warner Bros.)

17.check out Disney, Dreamworks, Paramount, NBC

18. Dodger stadium baseball game

19.Downtown L.A.-Lummis house, Angels flight

20.Club at Hyde, Area, Teddy’s, Priviledge, Les Deux, Parc, Mood

Skybar, Roxy, Tryst, Whiskey (a-go-go), The Spyder Club,

The Viper Room, House of Blues.

21.Beverly Hilton, Trader Vics, Sparkles

22.Beverly Hills City Hall and Fritelli’s donuts (Canon Dr., BH)

23.Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf + Tito tacos (Culver City)

24.Huntington Beach Surfing and Surf Museum

(they spend a lot of time and money on constant activities)

25. Disneyland (Anaheim)

26.Knotts Berry Farm, 6 Flags/Magic Mountain

27.Lebrea Tar Pits and Page Museum on Wilshire @Fairfax

( It’s OK, less interesting than anticipated)

28.Lakers basketball- Staples arena

29.L.A. Open at Riviera Country Club

30. L.A. Equestrian Center

31.Big Bear skiing

32.Palm Springs golf and tram ride

33.River Walk and L.A. River Gardens

34.Eat at Mr. Chow’s or Koi or Yamashiro

35.Visit Zuma beach, pier at Malibu and Paradise Cove

36.Foose Auto Design (See Overhaul’in TV Show) and Huntington Beach boardwalk

37.Aquarium of the Pacific (Long Beach) and Queen Mary ii

38.Los Angeles zoo (parking site for Griffith Observatory/Hollywood Bowl)

( not up to L.A. standards frankly)

39.Gene Autrey western museum + Travel Town (railroad museum)

40.Hike up Mt. Lee and visit Bronson (Batman) caves

41. USC. UCLA football, LA Colusium or Rose Bowl

42.Petersen Auto Museum (car “rallys” from Huntington Beach) OK,

see the stars cars and the ferarri collection

43.Hollywood Park race track

44.Dana Point whale watching (75 milles south)

45.San Simeon (250 miles north)

46.Huntington library and gardens (San Marino)

47.Hollywood Wax Museum and Kodak Theater tour

48.Drive Mullholland Drive

49.Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museum (across from wax museum)

50.Commerce Casino Club, Commerce, CA.

51.Santa Anita race track, and L.A.. Botanic Gardens -Arcadia, CA.

52.Fred Segal (this is mostly for women and gay guys I guess)

53.Redondo Beach and Pier

54.Beverly Hills Hotel, Polo Lounge

55.Bicycle Club Casino (Bell Gardens, CA.)

56.Mt. Wilson observatory-(UCLA astronomy-Cal. Rt #2))

57.Hollywood sign hike and pics, L.A.pics

58.Beach bonfire—monthy special

(free wood and hotdogs)

59.Drive on Pismo Beach-mention u saw this ad...lol

60.Helicopter tour of L.A or trip to Catalina out of San Pedro..(cheaper than you think and cool too)

61.Gondola ride at Naples Island (Alimitos Bay)

62. Renaissance Festival

63. Haunted Hollywood Tour

64. China town, Korea town

65. Rockwalk at the Guitar Center..

66. Graumans Egyptian Theater

67. Melrose Trading Post (Saturdays only)

68 El Capitan Theater

69. Dominator ship wreck hike

70. Tilmann Japanese garden (San Fernando Valley)

71. Little Tokyo

72.Fashion district-(11th St. + Santee))L.A. Fashion week (bargains)

73. Volley ball and tournaments (Huntington Beach)

74. San Bernadino Route 66 classic car show (Sept.13-16)

75. Descanso Gardens (La Canada)

76. Exposition Park (USC)

77. Brand Park/Glendale library

78. Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles Diner

79. Canter’s Deli or The Pantry

80. Museum of Tolerance

81. Eat at Mortons (Pam is closing at the end of the year)

82. LACMA

83. San Antonio and Temecula winery tours

84. Lake Arrowhead

85. Malibu ocean kayaking (also at Mothers beach- Marina del Rey)

86. Hike Joshua Tree National Park

87. Horse back riding (in the Santa Monica mountains)

88.Water parks-hurricane harbor, soak city, raging rivers

89. L.A. barhopper mystery bus

90. Mission san fernando, mission hills (north 5/405 intersection)

91. Papa Christo’s Thursday Greek Dinner (pico/normandie) Real Store with restaurant attached. This authentic experience including belly dancer and classes for the ladies won’t last in it’s present shape too long as it is sold out on Thursdays now, it’s inexpensive and Chrys’s Daughter graduates from business school next year and if she has any sense will turn this into something bigger. (butI like it as it is). Make sure to make reservations for the Big Fat Greek Thursday Dinner and not just plain dinner **********

92. Mel’s diner (Hollywood and highland)

93. Bob’s Big Boy—Toluca Lake-Riverside Dr.-(Friday nights only 5 to 10:00)******

94. Marina Del Rey Dinner Cruise-Hornblower Co.

95. Segway rentals at Segway L.A. on 1660 Ocean Blvd.—Santa Monica.-Ask for Gianni or Tresa*****

96. Ford’s Theater (across the 101 from the Hollywood Bowl) smaller shows than the Bowl.

97. Spago-Beverly Hills---Great Wolfgang Puck restaurant, Great service, Great professional waiters, Great food

try the Cobb Salid or Lobster 5 stars?Club sandwich…You might meet Wolfgang…*****

98. Bob Morris’s Paradise Cove Café—Sunday Morning Brunch…the best food ever, right on the beach if you want.****** (North of Malibu maybe 5 miles—look for Paradise Cove signs)*****

99. MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art)

100. Walt Disney Concert Hall (downtown)—stunning architechture…..

101

Temecula Wineries and tours ( a few hours drive away)





Please send good ideas I have forgotten…Thanks