Things to do on a trip to Los Angeles and San Francisco?

I'm possibly planning a trip there and would like some key things to do in those two cities. Also, I need enough stuff to last me about a week and a half. I'm looking for anything from common tourist attractions to hidden treasures. Thanks :)Things to do on a trip to Los Angeles and San Francisco?
Hollywood: walk of fame, wax museum, Kodak theatre (Oscars), chinese theatre w/ handprints, get a star map, etc.



Santa Monica! The beach is amazing, the pier is wonderful (the rollercoaster, ferris wheel, Bubba Gump), and you have to go on the Promenade! The shops are really fun and there are always live acts going on. You'll be lucky if you catch Chelsea Williams. Her vocal chords are golden!



Drive through Beverly Hills and Mulholland Dr.



Shop or Window Shop in Rodeo Drive (and maybe see a celebrity).



Eat at In-N-Out burger (you can find one anywhere) and uWink (2nd story of Hollywood %26amp; Highland mall).



See if there are any movie premieres going on. You could stand by and watch the stars walk across the red carpet.



Go see Paramount Pictures and Universal Studios...and speaking of Universal Studios...



As far as theme parks go, I see it like this; If you're in Hollywood, you might as well go to Universal. It's all about movie magic. The rides are phenomenal and you can go on the studio tour as well where you'll learn a lot about movies, experience special effects, tour sets, and just have fun. The theme park itself really makes you feel like you're in movie land. Of course Disney gets the #1 destination spot because of the name but I would rather save Disney for Orlando (it's better there.)



Good luck %26amp;%26amp; have fun!Things to do on a trip to Los Angeles and San Francisco?
Well...I think you've got L.A covered. As far as San Fran goes...places to check out would be Fisherman's Wharf, Alcatraz (the former prison/ famous inmates include George "Machine Gun Kelly" and Al Capone) the cable car museum, Lombart St. (known as the steepest or most 'crooked street) union square (there's a lot of shopping there), peir 39 (more shopping), of course you can't forget the Golden Gate Bridge!



If you're looking for another 'shopping' experience, you could check out the Menlo Park Shopping District. It's pretty close by.



Personally, I think driving would be a pain in the butt to do in the city, so I'd take full advantage of public transportation. I heard of something called a 'City Pass', I've never tried it, but I think it offers you a good deal on public transportation as well as giving you discounts @ certain places in the city....with some research it may be worthwhile depending on what you're planning to do. Another mode of transportation would be the BART. It's just the name of the metro system they use.



Anyways hope some of the info helps...and if you have a chance....there are some great places on the Central California Coast to check out too! (I:E San Luis Obispo)Things to do on a trip to Los Angeles and San Francisco?
For L.A.:



1. Spend a day at the Getty Center

2. Tour a Frank Lloyd Wright house if you like architecture

3. Drive up Laurel Canyon and back down to the valley on the other side, also check out Mulhulland drive. All the Hollywood Hills streets are fun and winding and great for a drive.

4. Splurge and spend a night or two at the Chateau Marmont Hotel, it's worth it.

5. Visit the Getty Villa, (not part of the main Getty Center). It was recently renovated.

6. Take a horseback ride up to the Hollywood Sign.

7. Drive west on Sunset Blvd to the ocean, then go to Santa Monica, then back to Hollywood on Santa Monica Blvd.Things to do on a trip to Los Angeles and San Francisco?
Universal Studios

Six Flags (Magic Mountain)

Warner Bros. Studios (maybe catch a show)

CBS Studios (maybe catch the Price is Right live)

Hollywood Blvd.

Sunset Blvd.

Rodeo Dr.

Griffith Park Observatory

3rd Street Promenade

Aquarium of the Pacific

Garment District

Little Tokyo

Chinatown

Beach

Raging Waters

Hiking

Downtown LA

Queen Mary

Ripley's Believe it Or Not Museum

La Brea Tar Pits

Wax Museum

Griffith Park





Knott's Berry Farm

Disneyland
There are literally hundreds of things to do here in LA. Here is my list of “must sees”. Visit as many as you have time for.:



Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth. Half a billion visitors can’t be wrong. #1 Destination.

Universal Studios: A theme park that grew out of a studio tour. #2 Destination.

Even if you don’t visit Disneyland or Universal Studios Tour, Downtown Disney District and Universal City Walk are very fun places to visit for shopping and eating. And they’re free to visit.



Hollywood: Enjoy the Walk of Fame, Entertainment Museum, Chinese Theatre and more. You can see a lot for free. The Hollywood %26amp; Highland complex is AMAZING. It has lots of shops and restaurants, and the Kodak Theater (home of the Academy Awards). I also like the El Capitan theater, right across the street, where Disney shows their movies. And the Hollywood Bowl is a GREAT place to listen to concerts outdoors.



Olvera Street/Union Station: Olvera Street is the birthplace of LA, and it emphasizes our Mexican heritage. In addition to the Avila Adobe (oldest building in LA), you can eat at some pretty good Mexican Restaurants, do a little shopping, and taste a churro. If you don’t want to go to Tijuana, this is as close as it gets without going there. Union Station has great architecture from a bygone age. Also, you are 2 blocks from Phillippe’s (see below).



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.



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. Third Street Promenade - Downtown Santa Monica's shopping promenade is often the scene of movie star-sightings. Just north of 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.



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. 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:

Since LA is so spread out, there is no single place that is close to EVERYTHING. Most people who come here tend to stay in Hollywood, Santa Monica, or Anaheim. In Hollywood, I recommend the Orchid Suites, Hollywood Celebrity Hotel, or Holiday Inn Walk of Fame, all near Hollywood and Highland. Another one is the Best Western Sunset Plaza. In Santa Monica, the Holiday Inn Santa Monica is close to the pier and reasonably priced. In Anaheim, I recommend the Howard Johnson (HoJo) Anaheim, and the Candy Cane Inn. There is also a nice place in Burbank called the Best Western Media Center, very close to Warner, NBC, and Universal Studios.



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, Cost