Safe, fun things to do in L.A. (Los Angeles, Long Beach: 2009, amusement parks)

[fatmancomics]

I've noticed that there is a great concern with safety by people who are either planning to live here or who are newcomers. So what do you do for fun that is safe? Most of my activities are done during the day since I'm an old fogie but the rest of you young 'ens can post the places that you go to at night (clubs, bars and what have you) that you've never had a problem with.

My list:
During the day
Museums- LACMA and the Natural History Museum are my favorites but there's also the Ghetty Center, MOCA, the Ghetty Villa in Malibu, the Museum of Science and Industry (free!), the African American museum and tons of little historical association museums in each city.
The L.A. Zoo- I still love going to the zoo every once in a while. I can go by myself and draw the animals or with my wife just because or with my nieces and nephews when I babysit.
Griffith Park- has the observatory, the carousel, the L.A. zoo, traveltown, the pony rides and just the park itself is great if you're a jogger, biker or hiker who lives nearby. They also have seasonal events that are worth doing at least once.
Little Tokyo- great for sight seeing and food, day or night. There's also a community center next to the fisherman plaza that is open during the day and almost always has a display of some sort up as well as a japanese garder that you can walk through.
Downtown L.A.- though I don't frequent it as much as I do Little Tokyo (a part of downtown) anymore, the rest of downtown still has the grand central library, the water court and restaurants on bunker hill, the grand central market, olvera st. plaza, chinatown and all of the shopping districts. All areas where I've been with my family when I was a kid, alone as a teenager and now with my wife and all areas where I've never had a problem or have even been concerned with my safety or with the safety of the people accompanying me.
Hollywood- from Fairfax and Melrose to Highland and Hollywood to Vermont and Hollywood can be quite entertaining during the day and, again, I've never had any concerns over safety whether alone or accompanied by someone else. I used to drive all the way to Fairfax and Melrose to buy my comics at the Golden Apple, eat at Johnny Rocket's or Pink's and hang out at the shops nearby on the weekends. The Golden Apple has since moved to Melrose and La Brea so it's closer to Pink's and Highland and Hollywood has that mall that tourists just love and locals like me love because we can laugh at the tourists.
Beaches- for swimming no local goes anywhere nearer than Zuma beach. At least no local who still remembers how poluted Santa Monica used to be. For sight seeing and people watching you can't beat Venice and Santa Monica which are within walking distance of each other. Venice also has the canals (ask a local and they'll gladly give you directions on how to get there) and Santa Monica has the 3rd St. Promenade. I've just recently discovered Redondo beach which has the best of all worlds because they have dining that is similar to the Port O' Call in San Pedro without the ghetto feel and a walkway that leads to the beach where you can take a dip. Manhattan beach is nice as well.
Amusement Parks- Six Flags Magic Mt. is my favorite with Dysneyland at a close second. Universal Studios is fun every once in a great while but I never go to Knotts because it is too ghetto and dirty. Six Flags has been known to have a disturbance here and there but I've never seen one in the 25 years that I've been living here.

At night

Hollywood- The Room, Miagi's, The Laugh Factory, The Comedy Store, The Magic Castle, Yamashiro and the theatre on La Cienega and Sunset for the Sick and Twisted Animation Festival. All fun and safe places that I used to frequent and still visit every once in a while.
Santa Monica- the 3rd St. Promenade has bars and restaurants worth going to. The Promenade is still full of people at night as well.
Little Tokyo- for the dining. My wife and I frequent Oomasa for sushi. No better sushi in all of L.A.
Downtown- we don't do it often but we will visit the music center every once in a great while. Always fun and safe.

Everything else is eateries. Now contribute your list

[NaplesRes]

Aquarium in Long Beach is fun for kids.

Laugh Factory in Long Beach just opened with a comedy club hall of fame.

While you're in LB, gondola cruise through Naples Island and then night out in Belmont Shore.

[LaoTzuMindFu]

Originally Posted by fatmancomics

I've noticed that there is a great concern with safety by people who are either planning to live here or who are newcomers. So what do you do for fun that is safe? Most of my activities are done during the day since I'm an old fogie but the rest of you young 'ens can post the places that you go to at night (clubs, bars and what have you) that you've never had a problem with.

My list:
During the day
Museums- LACMA and the Natural History Museum are my favorites but there's also the Ghetty Center, MOCA, the Ghetty Villa in Malibu, the Museum of Science and Industry (free!), the African American museum and tons of little historical association museums in each city.
The L.A. Zoo- I still love going to the zoo every once in a while. I can go by myself and draw the animals or with my wife just because or with my nieces and nephews when I babysit.
Griffith Park- has the observatory, the carousel, the L.A. zoo, traveltown, the pony rides and just the park itself is great if you're a jogger, biker or hiker who lives nearby. They also have seasonal events that are worth doing at least once.
Little Tokyo- great for sight seeing and food, day or night. There's also a community center next to the fisherman plaza that is open during the day and almost always has a display of some sort up as well as a japanese garder that you can walk through.
Downtown L.A.- though I don't frequent it as much as I do Little Tokyo (a part of downtown) anymore, the rest of downtown still has the grand central library, the water court and restaurants on bunker hill, the grand central market, olvera st. plaza, chinatown and all of the shopping districts. All areas where I've been with my family when I was a kid, alone as a teenager and now with my wife and all areas where I've never had a problem or have even been concerned with my safety or with the safety of the people accompanying me.
Hollywood- from Fairfax and Melrose to Highland and Hollywood to Vermont and Hollywood can be quite entertaining during the day and, again, I've never had any concerns over safety whether alone or accompanied by someone else. I used to drive all the way to Fairfax and Melrose to buy my comics at the Golden Apple, eat at Johnny Rocket's or Pink's and hang out at the shops nearby on the weekends. The Golden Apple has since moved to Melrose and La Brea so it's closer to Pink's and Highland and Hollywood has that mall that tourists just love and locals like me love because we can laugh at the tourists.
Beaches- for swimming no local goes anywhere nearer than Zuma beach. At least no local who still remembers how poluted Santa Monica used to be. For sight seeing and people watching you can't beat Venice and Santa Monica which are within walking distance of each other. Venice also has the canals (ask a local and they'll gladly give you directions on how to get there) and Santa Monica has the 3rd St. Promenade. I've just recently discovered Redondo beach which has the best of all worlds because they have dining that is similar to the Port O' Call in San Pedro without the ghetto feel and a walkway that leads to the beach where you can take a dip. Manhattan beach is nice as well.
Amusement Parks- Six Flags Magic Mt. is my favorite with Dysneyland at a close second. Universal Studios is fun every once in a great while but I never go to Knotts because it is too ghetto and dirty. Six Flags has been known to have a disturbance here and there but I've never seen one in the 25 years that I've been living here.

At night

Hollywood- The Room, Miagi's, The Laugh Factory, The Comedy Store, The Magic Castle, Yamashiro and the theatre on La Cienega and Sunset for the Sick and Twisted Animation Festival. All fun and safe places that I used to frequent and still visit every once in a while.
Santa Monica- the 3rd St. Promenade has bars and restaurants worth going to. The Promenade is still full of people at night as well.
Little Tokyo- for the dining. My wife and I frequent Oomasa for sushi. No better sushi in all of L.A.
Downtown- we don't do it often but we will visit the music center every once in a great while. Always fun and safe.

Everything else is eateries. Now contribute your list

Everything you said This is a list that I agree with on everything - I love LACMA, MOCA, Getty, Griffith Park, Zoo, Melrose, Pinks, etc. Perfect post for those new to LA and want to know what there is to do. All those things you listed are many of the reasons why I am glad to be a native Angeleno.

[FinnishAmerican]

Fun & Safe = to sit in my computer, watching Simpsons and drinking vodka.

Fun & not safe = Join a gang and start gang banging

[SandyCo]

My contribution: Universal City Walk. I think the Universal Studios tour isn't worth the money, but City Walk itself can be fun, especially in the summer. Lots of free concerts, free movies, etc. Parking is the only expensive part at $10, but it's worth it. There are lots of stores and restaurants at City Walk, as well as actual dance clubs, like Rumba Room, if you want to go out.

Universal CityWalk Hollywood Los Angeles, California

[Charles]

I think the anxiety of planning around and experiencing the traffic traveling to these venues is by far a bigger negative than the risks of crime. For the most part they are well lit, well patrolled, and busy with people going in or out or eating dinner or something. However, for example, it is just so difficult to go to a Dodger game unless you have public transit or a bus ride (like an employee group outing). Even on a Sunday it is a hassle to drive places. Just wipes you out.

[bettedaviseyes]

I love spending the day at Griffith Park Observatory. We also go to the outdoor shopping area (the Country Mart) in Malibu a lot, and then take Topanga Canyon (hitting up a few stores along the way) to the Valley, where we stop to eat at the cheapest (and best) sushi joint in L.A. - Crazy Tokyo. They have locations in Woodland Hills and Tarzana. Of course, there is so much more to do in L.A. but this is a sampling of what we like to do.

[Bunjee]

This is gonna sound cheesy, but free tickets to live TV tapings. (Yes, I do read too...) But it's in very few cities (LA, NYC, Chicago for Oprah) where you can do this. American Idol, Jimmy Kimmel, Ellen... And if you go to an Ellen taping you might get free giveaways!

There's horseback riding in Topanga. I was just told about moonlight rides, which but for this damned economy I'd plan right now.

LA stage theater, the LA Philharmonic (curiously unacknowledged though internationally very well respected), Frank Lloyd Wright's Hollyhock house (hopefully the Ennis house will soon be open to the public too). That's some of the more highbrow stuff. Lots of author appearances year 'round and then pretty highly concentrated at the LA Times Festival of Books.

[TDE]

I've heard the Magic Johnson Theatre if pretty fun, the audience is more entertaining than the movie!

[asielen]

Saturday nights. Movies in the Cemetery. Mostly people in their 20-30 however I have seen little kids and old couples come. It is something that feels uniquely LA.

Cinespia - Cemetery Screenings 2009